Comments on: Fold vs pockets vs what?

Question: Fold vs pockets vs what?

cillit bang — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:17:33 -0800

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?

By: limon

limon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:20:51 -0800

pockets?

By: Diskeater

Diskeater — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:21:34 -0800

Cross my arms or put hands in pocket and discuss how crappy the opening band is with the people I came with.

By: altcountryman

altcountryman — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:26:18 -0800

Send text messages, browse the web, or play games on your mobile phone?

By: goo

goo — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:27:38 -0800

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

By: climalene

climalene — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:28:34 -0800

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.

By: Burger-Eating Invasion Monkey

Burger-Eating Invasion Monkey — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:30:14 -0800

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.

By: Ziggurat

Ziggurat — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:30:22 -0800

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.

By: ignignokt

ignignokt — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:54 -0800

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.

By: emyd

emyd — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:35:29 -0800

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

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:37:10 -0800

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.

By: ml98tu

ml98tu — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:38:12 -0800

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).

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:43:19 -0800

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.

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:43:33 -0800

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.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:45:28 -0800

Air drums, but nothing too violent or you'll hit someone and make a new enemy.

By: Cool Papa Bell

Cool Papa Bell — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:47:27 -0800

(you) find yourself with neither pint nor cigarette

Bum a smoke from someone nearby.

By: amtho

amtho — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:56:17 -0800

If your mind is focused on something, anything, other than yourself, you won't worry so much about where your hands are.

By: silkygreenbelly

silkygreenbelly — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:57:04 -0800

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

2 flirt

By: ZackTM

ZackTM — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:04:30 -0800

You need a lady to hug on (or a man to be hugged by)

By: ob

ob — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:38:25 -0800

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

By: jquinby

jquinby — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:42:58 -0800

Wave them around in the air? Like you just don't care?

By: jamaro

jamaro — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:14:55 -0800

Why, the Hand Jive, of course.

Or just stuff them into your pockets.

By: Cat Pie Hurts

Cat Pie Hurts — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:49:39 -0800

You pump your double fisted devil horns up and down, over and over. Duh.

By: mamaraks

mamaraks — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:38:17 -0800

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.

By: exquisite_deluxe

exquisite_deluxe — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:03:15 -0800

An OK support band gets the arms crossed/head nodding from me.

By: kookoobirdz

kookoobirdz — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:28:15 -0800

You, young lady/sir, need a stylish cane.

By: herbaliser

herbaliser — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:19:34 -0800

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.