Fold vs pockets vs what?

January 31, 2008 4:17 PM

You're standing at a rock concert. The support band is, at best, reasonable. You've no inclination to dance, but find yourself with neither pint nor cigarette nor shoulder bag to hold. What on earth do you do with your hands?
posted by cillit bang to media & arts (26 comments total)

pockets?
posted by limon at 4:20 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]

Cross my arms or put hands in pocket and discuss how crappy the opening band is with the people I came with.
posted by Diskeater at 4:21 PM on January 31

Send text messages, browse the web, or play games on your mobile phone?
posted by altcountryman at 4:26 PM on January 31

You use your hands to pay the bartender and get a drink.
posted by goo at 4:27 PM on January 31 [6 favorites]

I struggle with this since quitting smoking. It's not a problem if I'm with someone, but if I'm alone, I find myself thinking about it. Mostly I try to stand up straight and relax my arms. I either put them in my pockets or just hang them at my sides. Sometimes I fold them behind my back for a while.

The kids with their arms crossed tightly and shoulders hunched up high just look so darn self-conscious. I often look at them and think how happy I am to no longer be 22.
posted by climalene at 4:28 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]

You use your hands to pay the bartender and get a drink.

Quoted for truth. You're in Britain, yeah? There's really no better/other answer.
posted by Burger-Eating Invasion Monkey at 4:30 PM on January 31

I thought I was the only one...
I always feel that crossing my arms somehow expresses disapproval. I used to vaguely drum along with my hands on the side of my legs, but that's not a viable solution in case of a tepid band.
Now I just make sure to well and truly intoxicate myself to the point where I stop worrying about these things.
posted by Ziggurat at 4:30 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]

If you've got a cell phone, take it out and start taking pictures of the band making weird faces or people in the crowd that look funny or interesting.
posted by ignignokt at 4:33 PM on January 31

In Seattle (almost) no one dances - everybody crosses their arms and nods their head.
posted by emyd at 4:35 PM on January 31

Gesticulate at the band with gestures outlining how reasonable at best they are. You can return to toe tapping and pint holding when the really good stuff starts.
posted by fire&wings at 4:37 PM on January 31

I end up hooking my thumbs in my back or front pockets. Or I drink from a bottle/cup of water. Or I make out with my date (kidding, but I never quite understood how concerts are so romantic for people).
posted by ml98tu at 4:38 PM on January 31

I would pick between putting them in my pockets, using them to acquire a drink, or wrapping them around my girlfriend.

If the support are really quite crap, I may well fold my arms.
posted by pompomtom at 4:43 PM on January 31

but I never quite understood how concerts are so romantic for people

They're drunk/stoned/whatever. Watching ice cubes form would be romantic for people in the state of mind that many concert-goers are in.

What on earth do you do with your hands?

Usually I'm standing at the back of the (rather small) room, so I just lean against the wall and cross my arms.
posted by LionIndex at 4:43 PM on January 31

Air drums, but nothing too violent or you'll hit someone and make a new enemy.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:45 PM on January 31

(you) find yourself with neither pint nor cigarette

Bum a smoke from someone nearby.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:47 PM on January 31

If your mind is focused on something, anything, other than yourself, you won't worry so much about where your hands are.
posted by amtho at 4:56 PM on January 31

1 go browse the gift shop place to see what is for sale

2 flirt
posted by silkygreenbelly at 4:57 PM on January 31

You need a lady to hug on (or a man to be hugged by)
posted by ZackTM at 5:04 PM on January 31

I actually have a story about this. Years ago a friend of mine got free tickets to a gig in Wembley Arena because a friend of his was in one of the support bands. I won't name the headlining act, but suffice to say that it isn't one that I would ever pay to go and see in a million years. My friend's friend's band were good, but the other support act was bad, so we both stood there arms crossed. We didn't go to the bar as we were poor students so we just had to stand there. The headlining act came on and we thought we'd watch them for a bit just to see how bad they were. We still stood there with arms folded. After a while we noticed that there were three people a few rows ahead of us that not only were dressed like us (jeans, black leather jackets) but had also adopted a similar pose, like they didn't want to be there. Later on, they went to the bar, and we followed them as we couldn't take the bad any longer. It turned out that the three were music journos, and as we seemed similarly disinterested, they thought that we were too. I'm not sure why but we said that we were starting a music mag in college and did they have any advice. They did and they bought us drinks for the rest of the night. So there's an advantage in standing at a gig with arms crossed not holding anything.YMMV
posted by ob at 5:38 PM on January 31 [3 favorites]

Wave them around in the air? Like you just don't care?
posted by jquinby at 6:42 PM on January 31

Why, the Hand Jive, of course.

Or just stuff them into your pockets.
posted by jamaro at 7:14 PM on January 31

You pump your double fisted devil horns up and down, over and over. Duh.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:49 PM on January 31

I think people don't notice your hand positioning as much as you would guess. I like to let my right arm be down along my side and hold onto my right elbow with my left arm....or do the same behind one's back....depending on posture and flexibility.
posted by mamaraks at 8:38 PM on January 31

An OK support band gets the arms crossed/head nodding from me.
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 9:03 PM on January 31

You, young lady/sir, need a stylish cane.
posted by kookoobirdz at 11:28 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]

In Seattle (almost) no one dances - everybody crosses their arms and nods their head.

It's true. I'm that one person dancing. If the band is really that bad that I don't want to, I go out for some air or look at the T-shirts.
posted by herbaliser at 1:19 PM on February 1