If you’re under five foot five, you’ve probably gotten elbowed in the face at a lot of concerts. You may be bruised and battered but you are not alone! I too know the joys of being used as an arm rest, getting stepped on without apology, and the leg cramps associated with jumping up and down in the hopes of seeing the stage for one rare, beautiful moment. All of this has really been on my mind lately and has manifested itself into a list of my biggest concert-related pet peeves. They aren’t all about being the tiny person, rather general grievances about rude public behavior. Perhaps you or someone you know has been guilty of one of these faux pas in the past. I won’t judge you, but I will help you avoid making the same mistakes in the future. Read on to discover my top five countdown of what not to do at a show.

5. Poor Planning of the Bathroom Break or Snack Run

Number five on the list pertains mainly to seated shows, where each specific butt is actually assigned to a specific chair. Why does it seem that everyone in my row is suddenly dying of starvation right before the main act goes on? It’s one thing at a sporting event where the lights are still on and you start the night off assuming that you’ll get beer and popcorn spilled on you by the end of the night. If it’s a concert with seats, the lights are dimmed and there’s a good chance the music is on the more mellow side. No one appreciates having to stand up and risk spillage because you didn’t know you were thirsty ten minutes ago.

Solution: Check the clock. Is the headliner slated to start in under five minutes? Wait it out and make a 7-Eleven run before catching the train home: you have missed your chance. Got more time than that? Excuse yourself from the aisle, carefully, and try to keep all food and drink in its respective containers on the way back.

4. Extremely Tall People With Tunnel Vision

No one wants to be behind that guy.

I’ve already stated that I’m a bit on the vertically challenged side, but that doesn’t mean I’ve got anything against the tall music lovers among us. Heck, I’m marrying one later this year! What does stink is standing directly behind someone over 6′5″ in the front row who won’t let me stand next to or in front of them. I was put in this position once. When I asked if there was enough space to sneak in front of the person – I was just being polite, as there was clearly a ton of space – he looked around for a moment, finally glanced down and found me, and then angrily yelled, “NO!” before turning back around. I decided that getting what I paid for was more important than being polite with this guy and simply walked around him so we could both see. (I don’t even think he noticed.)

Solution: No one thinks it’s your fault if you’re extremely tall. It’s not my fault that I’m little either! So please, all I’m asking is that at a show, if you’re very tall, just be aware that you are indeed very tall. It’s not your responsibility to make sure short people have a good time, but at least bear in mind that you might technically be causing an Obstructed View that just doesn’t have to be.

3. The Floor is Not a Trash Can

Unless you are actually watching a live performance from the inside of a dumpster, there is no excuse for leaving empty cups, bottles, and cardboard trays all over the floor. This seems to be quickly forgotten as concertgoers rush out the door hoping to beat traffic. No one feels like they have to pick up their trash because “everyone else is leaving theirs.” Haven’t you ever heard of setting a good example?! It wouldn’t be appropriate to leave your trash all over the floor at a friend’s house, and it’s not fair to just expect someone else to clean up after you in a public place either.

Solution: Think of picking up your trash like a small step to something greater. Maybe if everyone starts doing it, there will be so much less trash on the floor that venues will have to hire fewer people to work after hours, costing them less money, and dramatically lowering ticket prices! Or, you know, just do it because you don’t want to look like a slob.

2. No One Came to Hear You Sing

It is perfectly acceptable to sing along at a concert. Everyone is there to have fun! It is not acceptable, however, to shout every single word to every single song for the entire show, at full blast, even during the quiet parts. This is especially true at an intimate folk performance. (True story.)  I’m sure the band totally loves the fact that you’re so excited, but the guy next to you does not. If you’re so loud that the people around you have to block one ear to hear the people on stage, there’s a problem.

Solution: Hum! Dance! Clap! There are so many great verbs you can do during a show that won’t drive everyone around you crazy. So have a great time, but remember that the spotlight isn’t on you.

1. What Have You Got in That Bag?

She's hiding her face for a reason.

This is undoubtably at the top of my list of concert pet peeves. It never ceases to amaze me how many girls find the need to bring everything they own with them to a general admission concert. It boggles my mind trying to figure out what they’ve got in there… I wonder, “Is she going camping? Has she just rescued an abandoned baby raccoon from the parking lot that is now safe and sound hanging over her shoulder?” One of the biggest offenders on the list of unnecessary items I’ve seen at a show has to be The Hairbrush. I have witnessed countless instances of girls whipping hairbrushes out of their massive bags at a show and beginning to use them. Apparently they were in such a big rush they couldn’t get ready before leaving the house!

These bags cause problems for everyone they come near in the audience, squishing people, taking up valuable space, and basically just being a nuisance.

Solution: If it’s not your phone, wallet, keys, earplugs, or in some cases some sort of asthma inhaler or other lifesaving device, I promise you don’t need it that badly. Leave the bag at home and wear something with pockets or switch to a smaller accessory.

I hope that my list of issues and solutions can help educate the less experienced rockers among us. Working together, we can make each concert a happier place to be!