Are New England Concertgoers Rude or Nice? Survey Reveals

Thank goodness summer is almost here and concert season is now underway.

It's been a long winter, and people just want to get their ya-ya's out and hear live music.

That said, how does New England rank in the politeness of those who attend shows and outdoor concerts?  Are we absurdly obnoxious, belligerent, and boisterous?

No Deposit Fan conducted a study earlier this year to see where the worst concert fans are.  The study, as reported by Loudwire.com, asked over 1,000 people across the 50 states about their 2023 concert experiences.

The study states most of those polled were Millennials, and only 6 % were Baby Boomers. Slightly more men than women were polled, and 3% were non-binary.

Two states scored worse in concert behavior than prior to Covid-19.  Those states were Kentucky and Maine, and reported dramatic changes (for the worse) in concert crowds.

Maine shocked me.  Vermont also scored low in the disruptive behavior scale at concerts, while Rhode Island and New Hampshire saw no change in concert behavior over the past few years.  Massachusetts and Connecticut saw ticks up in obnoxious concert behavior, but didn't score as high as Maine and Vermont.

Let's get back to Maine for a second.  Consider Augusta, Bangor, and Portland to be the central places to see a concert, and with limited concerts in the winter months, I wonder how the Northeast compares to warmer climates with year-round live music.  With 67% of Mainers saying rude behavior is much worse now, that could be a percentage that's hard to argue, especially after the "Covid Effect" of being cooped up inside for a couple of years.

The survey goes on to expand what bad concert behavior is.  Examples include loud talking, overuse of cell phones, littering, pushing, lack of personal space, and intoxication.  All of these would annoy most people.

So as the concert season gets into gear, remember to be courteous to your fellow music lover as you bop to the beat of your favorite artist, and give your phone a break.

Peace out.