OPINION - Camping is Inappropriate in Concert Culture
Nash Jones - @_nash_jones
Camping lines: One of the biggest controversies of concert culture. How long before the show is it appropriate to be waiting? It’s a major discussion, especially among particular fandoms. However, as a long-term fangirl/boy/person, whatever, I have developed a very firm opinion on the topic: It is unnecessary and inappropriate to camp out for an extended period of time, and there are completely feasible ways to solve it that can keep both the fans and the venue happy.
“Band and release will be at 10AM day-of-show. Lines made beforehand will not be honored.” Through emailing various venues or checking their websites, this was stated as the policy for multiple venues on a recent major tour that I kept up with, as I was attending it myself. Meanwhile, lines were reported to start as early as the afternoon before, despite these venue rules. The singer was reported to have advocated for the lines, which is understandable, as no artist wants to let their fans down. However, camping should not be an obligatory part of having a pit ticket, as camping is not accessible to many disabled fans, and they need to stop being ignored as part of the equation. Chronically ill and otherwise disabled fans deserve as good an experience as able-bodied fans.
“I have no shot of seeing my favorite artists up close… because I am not physically able to queue for over 3-4 hours personally.”
“I don’t think I could camp without getting sick for longer than 8 hours.”
“I ended up going about 38 hours without sleep.”
These are three statements from three disabled fans reflecting on their experiences in queuing lines.
Shaughnessy (they/she) makes the first comment. They tell me that, day-to-day, due to their Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Gastroparesis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, they have to “Constantly watch the amount of electrolytes and water I have to drink just to be able to function, being aware to not do any strenuous body motion so I don’t dislocate something.” She also remarks that it’s hard to plan events in advance, “Because I could wake up one day and not be able to function normally.”
When asked about concert queuing they tell me “Because of longer concert queues, I can’t even buy pit tickets anymore.” “What may tire an able-bodied person tires me twice as much… it already takes about 50% of my energy just having to stand and/or sit on concrete before entering the building.” She continues by telling me that, with POTS, it’s best to have barricade for the sake of having something to hold onto in the event of a fainting spell. However, the queuing lines themselves are so straining too, that the choice has to be made to either endure the difficult hours of queuing, or enter during doors and be in the back, interfering with the visual experience of the show.
Shaughnessy uses a wheelchair at times, and states that most venues won’t even allow a wheelchair in pit. She remarks on one positive experience while using their wheelchair in a pit, telling me that the venue was the best they’ve been to, as they had a disabled section in the front that was gated off, allowing her to see some of her favorite artists in the front, which they “never get to experience anymore.”
They then tell me of a negative experience using their wheelchair at a venue, saying that during previous email communication, she was assured she would have a nice spot to see the stage. The experience was, in fact, the opposite. “When I got to the venue, I got put in the ‘VIP’ section, except I was pushed to the side and in a spot on side stage behind a gate where all of the… giant equipment… blocked the entire concert for me. I could barely see the artists on stage, if at all. The staff also treated me poorly, telling me I ‘just needed to get out of the way.”
Sam (she/they) then tells me her story. Day-to-day maintenance of their Chronic Fatigue, Type 1 Diabetes, and Chronic Pain Autoimmune Disease varies. “On a really good day the only things I really need to manage is my blood sugar/ carb counting/ insulin and making sure I’m getting rest and taking my meds, but on a more difficult day, I may need to rest a lot more, monitor a difficult sugar situation, take care of my body if I’m having pain or a migraine/ an autoimmune flare up.” She states, “It’s frustrating to feel bad and have to be vigilant and care for myself. It’s a lot of pre planning,... staying aware of my body and… having contingency plans in place to manage my health.
About camping, they say, “It’s really difficult for me to camp because insulin can’t be left out of refrigeration for longer than 10-12 hours or it loses its effectiveness.” Aside from the insulin, she says she also struggles with lack of rest in a camping line, “A lot of what I have to do… to stay healthy is routine-based, and it’s not the most feasible to do in a line all day, overnight, outside.” They reflect on an overnight camping experience for a recent concert, telling me, “I camped for about 11-12 hours and overall I probably won’t camp overnight ever again because I just can’t swing it without risk to my health.”
Lily (she/her), makes the third statement. She tells me, “I have anxiety, depression, ADHD, and I’m currently being assessed for Ehlers-Danlos due to extreme fatigue and hyper-mobility.”-- “Oh, and early onset degenerative disc disease that has caused severe back pain.. and a permanent numbing from the knee down.” She tells me firstly about camping overnight for a concert in July of 2022, which triggered her anxiety. “Even fully medicated, I had to excuse myself from the line about every 30 minutes to dry-heave behind a bush due to the anxiety that lining up had on me.” As a result, she got no sleep that night.
She then reflects on a more recent concert. After standing for the first opening act, she was “Extremely sore and losing feeling in my leg, so I knew I needed to sit and rest if I was even going to try to make it through [the main act].” She remarks, “The situation wasn’t awful because I truly still enjoyed [the opening act]!”
At the most recent concert I attended, which I was lucky enough to get a pit ticket for, I recall questioning people that had lined up the day before why they had done it. They remarked that it was the best option to avoid an aggressive crowd at lineup. I remarked that if everyone was reasonable, it should be feasible to get a pit safely lined up in about 20 minutes. Looking back, that may have been wishful thinking, and while I didn’t ever think that should be implicated by venues, giving a more specific time frame in which to line up before band and release, while not accepting previously-made lines, is the most effective to save lots of people entire nights, as well as allowing disabled fans a better shot at seeing their favorite artists up-close without having to put themselves in danger.
A seven or eight AM lineup at a specific area of the venue with security in the parking area to monitor the lineup situation and band and release being at 10AM is a great way to keep concert-goers safe and allow disabled fans and able-bodied and neurotypical fans alike the best and fairest opportunity to see the artist they love up close without unfair advantages, and without anyone having to sleep on concrete the night before.
Camping lines have been a major point of dispute in the culture of live music over the past few years, and rightfully so. Once inappropriate customs, such as overnight camping lines, are eliminated from concerts, the experience will be made better for everyone.
