What seat is ideal for concert going: up close or middle center?

woodsyi · « **on:** 14 Jun 2007, 12:39 pm »

I went to a Joss Stone concert last night. I was in the middle of second row in the orchestra pit in an outdoor arena. The sound was the pits.

Sure, I could see individual sparkles on her face and split ends on her hair, but I had a hard time figuring out what she was saying let alone singing. She is a talented young lady with lovely timbre but her voice is not loud. The instruments overpowered her voice from where I sat. I am sure her miked and amplified voice was carrying to the back of the arena. Lovely as she looks -- quite enchanting as she frolics around barefoot on the stage -- I found myself wishing I was listening to her in my basement.

Where do you want to sit when you go to a live event?

BradJudy · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 12:56 pm »

It depends on the venue. At the most common venue for me to attend around here (Boulder Theater), I like being at the front of the first tiered step. It's still quite close to the stage, the sound is very good and I can see straight over the heads of the front section people. It's about at the same height as the stage, so you're at direct eye contact level with the performers. That's my favorite arrangement.

martyo · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 01:25 pm »

My experience over the years is always center, even if its further back. When you're talking about an arena, (depending on the size)15-20 rows back, always center. Smaller venue the 10th might be fine.
You saw her at Wolf Trap?

woodsyi · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 01:35 pm »

Quote from: martyo on 14 Jun 2007, 01:25 pm

My experience over the years is always center, even if its further back. When you're talking about an arena, (depending on the size)15-20 rows back, always center. Smaller venue the 10th might be fine.
You saw her at Wolf Trap?

Yes, it was at the Filene Center. It was a mad scramble to find picnic area under a cover before the show but we managed.

martyo · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 01:52 pm »

What did you think of Ryan Shaw? The review of the Toronto show said he almost upstaged Joss.

woodsyi · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 02:16 pm »

Ryan Shaw is a talent. He definitely has a set of pipes and a good stage presence. I would go see him again. He still needs to fine tune his act as he reminded us too often who he was and IMHO he tried too much to get the audience to clap and sing along. He is engaging (to a fault) and his singing is definitely worth listening to.

Beezer · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 02:45 pm »

Vocals are sually run directly through the PA system, while the instruments are amped onstage and then miked from the amps. So no big surprise that they were down in the mix right up front.

My taper friends always tried to be center and a bit in front of the soundboard, ideally shooting for the point of an equilateral triangle formed in relation to the speaker stacks. That seemed to work for the Grateful Dead shows they were taping.

B

martyo · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 03:13 pm »

The Dead are who I ended up "seeing" many times over the years buying tickets directly from them and ending up in the first few rows. Even with the center fill, or stage fill, whatever you call it, it was not like hearing and feeling the "big set". Their sound was really good (probably without equal)for those kind of shows while Healy was there. In front of the soundboard is definately a good spot.
And the triangle analogy is correct, just like at home, sitting at least as far back as the speakers are apart.