Concert-going suggestions for all

Suburbanites are blessed by access to scores of free summer musical events offered by towns and villages at some great venues.

Sadly, there is a bad side to the summer concert etiquette that would include the following:

1. The audience behavior and how they conduct themselves has escalated to frightening proportions - with an increase of rude and thoughtless people attending these events. These "talkers" are the people who talk loudly and endlessly through concerts without any sense that their boorish behavior is having upon those who thought they were going to a concert where the music would be the main attraction.

2. Many children attending do not care about the music and end up running, yelling, and standing in front of others - like their adult parents - without caring about anyone else.

3. The making and taking of loud cell phone calls during a concert is also is selfish - same thing for smokers in close quarters.

4. The lack of a sponsor provided dance area.

I would like to offer the following suggestions for concert goers and sponsors:

1. Offer a large "Listeners Here" space near the stage for those who go to actually hear and enjoy the music.

2. Offer and enforce a "Talkers Here" area that would be a distance from the stage for those who want to socialize.

3. Create a play area for kids that would keep them happy, occupied and away from the stage.

4. Construct a near-the-stage dance area for those who want to show off their moves.

Brief comments among concert goers are in order. However, it is time to hold those responsible entities - concert goers and sponsors - accountable. This will allow legitimate concert goers the opportunity to enjoy the music, while the rude and thoughtless talkers are isolated to non-disturbing areas.

Jim Lentz

Wheaton