What to do when someone tries to steal your seat at a concert? Justice is served in these unhinged cultural event interactions with some entitled Karens: ‘If you want me to get up, you’ll have to make me’

Author image for Melissa Knudson
Melissa Knudson • Writer
Oct 31, 2026 12:30 PM EDT

How do you deal with conflictive people at concerts?

Etiquette needed for cultural events is a little different from everyday behavior. There are some things you do and don't do during concerts, sporting events, and all sorts of public gatherings. Expert concertgoers know what I'm talking. Even so, now and then, some entitled people come to break the rules of politeness and disturb the peace altogether. These following stories, share some internet experience on the matter. 

In this story, an internet person complains about an unexpected interaction with a horrible Karen during a concert. The family was attending a concert but got there a bit late under normal circumstances. Because of that, a group of people thought they had the right to take their seats. After it was all sorted out with one of the ushers,  a couple of them still came back to try to steal the seats again and, once more, were kicked out. They did move, but of course, they maintained their entitled attitude till the very end. 

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  • Pink concert
    via Getty Images Signature ( Via Freder )

    Pink concert. 

    Licensed media provided as editorial context.

  • Got cursed out for sitting in my own ticketed seat at a concert

    Went to Garth yesterday. Due to some circumstances beyond me and my family's control, I was a few minutes late and my husband and son a bit later. Wasn't sure where
    via BadaBingStamps
  • my seats were so I asked an usher vs fumbling around disturbing people. I assumed they were somewhere else because there were three people in what turned out to be our seats. She asked them
    via BadaBingStamps
  • to leave but it took a bit. Fine, whatever. They seemed ped. I was confused because they weren't bad seats but also like not premium seats because when I finally got in to buy tickets, I panicked lol! Anyway, they
    via BadaBingStamps
  • came back a few minutes later and two of them still tried to sit in our other two seats. I very nicely said, oh sorry we have these seats or something. The
    via BadaBingStamps
  • woman absolutely cussed me out and told me they weren't our seats if we couldn't be on time LOL! I said ish happens because I couldn't think of a better comeback quickly and then her husband called me a female dog. Nice. I'm the bad
    via BadaBingStamps
  • guy here for sitting in the seats I picked and paid for. Not you guys. What if we were in the bathroom or getting food? People are beyond ridiculous.
    via BadaBingStamps

  • Coexisting with other people, especially in mass events like these ones, requires a certain base level of respect. Not taking other people’s seats is one of the main behavioral rules, as everyone has to pay for designated seats nowadays. 

  • People enjoying a film at the movie theater
    via Africa images

    People enjoying a film at the movie theater.

    Actor performance of story events.

  • Story #2

    anotheritguy Had a similar issue earlier in the year when I went to take my kids to a movie, the seats were reserved and when we got to them there were people sitting in them. I
    via anotheritguy
  • politely let them know these were our seats and the guy had the gall to ask me if I expected them to move with an attitude. I smiled and
    via anotheritguy
  • said yes I do, he stared at me for a few min and got up and told his kids that they need to move since someone was being røde and entitled, I replied "I'm glad you are honest enough to admit it" He was not happy.
    via anotheritguy

  • On the other hand, as a basic survival skill, don’t cross a soon-to-be mother, who is just trying to go to a concert. She probably doesn’t get a lot of relaxing entertainment time as it is, so it is best not to get on her side. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens in this next story. At the end of the confrontation, the general public step in an take the woman’s side, serving justice against seat robbers. 

  • Empty stadium seats
    via Getty Images ( Via bpuhanic )

    Empty stadium seats. 

    Photo is a representation of scenes.

  • Story #3

    LookItsMyDawg Had this happen to me when I went to a show earlier this year at Stanford stadium. This couple sat in my seats right next to the aisle and refused to get up and out. My husband
    via LookItsMyDawg
  • was away trying to use the restroom or something, so it was just me. I purposefully bought those seats when tickets dropped because I will be 7 months pregnant and didn't want to blimp my way across a row to use the bathroom every 40 minutes.
    via LookItsMyDawg
  • There are few things in life more unpleasant than witnessing a ped off preggo. I caused such a scene that I am still surprised that I wasn't the one kicked out. Luckily, the
    via LookItsMyDawg
  • people around were very understanding and told them to get the out. Someone got an usher and got it all squared away. I was ready to give birth on their laps if I had to. I was so mad
    via LookItsMyDawg

  • I love concerts. I feel like they are spaces of shared love for music and good vibes all around. Usually, people are kind and thoughtful, keeping in mind that everyone is there to have a good time and build a wonderful collective memory. I truly believe these spaces of art appreciation can create an environment of positive human interactions and wholesome moments all around. In that way, chances are people are going to be nice; they’re already happy to be there. However, if you take that niceness and turn it into rudeness, chances are people are going to be very energetic about defending their space too. As I said, they really want to have a great experience. 

    In this story, a couple of people try to take advantage of a person’s act of kindness, but things quickly turn around for them. Once crossed, the person in this story fiercely seeks justice for the situation and manages to right a wrong white quickly.

  • Rainy concert
    via Getty Images Signature ( Via Casarsa )

    Rainy concert.

    Picture does not depict real parties.

  • Story #4

    Fair-Turnover-9492 I bought tickets for me and my daughter to go to Post Malone and Jelly Roll in Nashville. It was raining lightly at the beginning of the show. I went to go check out our seats to see how wet I thought we might get, and someone was sitting in them.
    via Fair-Turnover-9492
  • I told them that those were our seats. They offered to move. I told them it was okay for now, that we were going to stay up inside the club for a while and wait out the rain. I also told them that if/when I wanted my seats, I expected them to leave. They said okay.
    via Fair-Turnover-9492
  • After Jelly Roll ended and Posty was coming out, the rain had pretty much subsided. So, I walked down and told them that we wanted our seats now, and they said no. They
    via Fair-Turnover-9492
  • basically said...finders keepers, and I told them that doesn't apply in this situation. They were on the end by the aisle and on the front row of the 200's section, that's what I paid for and I want my seats. They said, if you want me to get up, you'll have to make me.
    via Fair-Turnover-9492
  • I'm like...ohh I NO! Consider me activated! I'm like I won't make you, because I don't want to get thrown out of here, but I'm going to go find someone who will make you move, and I did just that. I went and got security and they made them move.
    via Fair-Turnover-9492

  • Now, it is not necessary to always assume the worst of people. Truth is, most of us have been on the other side of these stories. Not on purpose, for sure, but I have mistaken my seat at an event more than once. What to do when you’ve mistakenly taken someone else’s place and get asked to move? The answer is very simple. Apologize and move to your actual seat. You know, if your actual seat exists. 

    In this next story, a simple mistake created a very unexpected situation. Here’s some friendly advice: In this technology era, make sure to double-check that you actually bought your tickets. Happily, it all gets resolved with politeness and an even better deal altogether. That is what you get when you’re just nice to people and work on solving a tricky situation, instead of making it a bigger problem. 

  • Checking tickets
    via Pixabay ( Via jatocreate )

    Checking tickets. 

    Still frame for contextual reference only.

  • Story #5

    whosthere5 Showed up to a Patriots game once and a mother and her son were in our seats. We showed them our (physical) tickets and she showed us her digital tickets for the same seats. Had to get the usher involved who got cops to come and kick me and my brother out.
    via whosthere5
  • Long story short, for NFL prime time games season ticket holders have to log in and specifically state they are using their tickets. If they don't the NFL will take them and resell them (pay the ticket holder still) so that stadiums are always full. My cousin was
    via whosthere5
  • the season ticket holder and forgot about this so his tickets got resold after he already game them to us. Was embarrassing but he hooked us up with playoff tickets vs the chiefs later that year
    via whosthere5

  • At the end of the day, concerts and other cultural events are meant to make you have a happy time with family and friends, or sometimes even on your own. They’re spaces we are supposed to be able to enjoy together, while celebrating the human capacity of creating enchanting art. Let your most humane side take over in these scenarios and follow the example of this last story. Making friends is harder than making enemies, but it is a lot more worthwhile, no doubt. Next time you get to see your favorite artist perform, remember: be empathetic, be kind, and prioritize giving out hugs before fights. A concert is also a perfect opportunity to make good friends for life. 

  • People making friends at concert
    via Getty Images Signature ( Via South_agency )

    People making friends at concert. 

    Featured likenesses do not identify those mentioned.

  • Story #6

    spiritsarise My wife and I were at a packed concert once in the balcony back row. Great sight lines and acoustics. As the crowds settled down and the music started a a woman who was part of a group of four people
    via spiritsarise
  • in front of us started recording with her cell phone held up high, destroying my view. After 20 minutes of this I yelled at her in anger and said it was ride. She apologised and after that recorded with the phone much lower.
    via spiritsarise
  • At the end of the concert she and the others got up and she turned back towards me and apologised again. I felt awful for tearing into her. She had
    via spiritsarise
  • been recording with such a look of joy. So, I apologised for coming at her so strong. Told her I was wrong and impolite.
    via spiritsarise
  • We both smiled and talked about the concert a bit. Then we spontaneously hugged! And wished each other a safe trip home. What a wonderful exchange between two humans. A memorable concert!
    via spiritsarise

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Tags

karens concertgoers drama ushers concert concert conflict internet people karens in the wild justice served cultural events reddit thread stories politeness stealing seats
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