“Do’s & Don’t’s In The Sandbar”

Attending a Kenny Chesney show in the “Sandbar”  has always meant dealing with a few unruly people, many of them very drunk – but it can still be an amazing time if you are prepared! Attention spans can get low for the “non-fans” in the Sandbar, and with all the smartphones it has resulted in a small percentage of the audience in the sandbar barely paying attention to the Kenny’s actions onstage. Here are the 10 most annoying behaviors in the “Sandbar”. Remember… if you are a  No Shoes Nation member use this as a guideline for your behavior as well!

1. Taking pictures during the entire show.
We get it. You want to show all your friends on Facebook and Twitter that you saw Kenny Chesney close up. Awesome, take a few photos. But please, don’t take 100. You will probably manage to hold your phone right in the line of someone’s sight. You don’t even look like you’re enjoying the show while you’re doing this. All your attention is on taking the perfect photo. And you know what? Those photos are all going to look blurry because Kenny is like a jack rabbit up there. Plus… Kenny wants your attention! He wants to see you singing and he actually loves looking into his fans eyes and singing back! Hard for him to do that with a camera/phone between you two.

2. Checking e-mail, Facebook and Twitter every couple of minutes.
Unless you’re a surgeon or a firefighter, this is one time to leave your worries behind. Live in the moment. Enjoy the show. You paid good money to be in the Sandbar. A quick video can always be sent later. You can text or FB your friends after the show. 

3. Incessantly talking to your friends.
Maybe Kenny isn’t singing YOUR favorite song… but that doesn’t mean it’s not someone else’s. Please. We can’t tell you how many shows we attend where the two people in front of us are yelling in each others’ ears the entire night. Not only is our sight line blocked when their heads come together, but it takes away from the moment. After the show is the best time to talk about it!

4. Yelling out requests.
Yes, we all wanna hear “Be As You Are”  That would be cool – but stop screaming for it. Most of the time the set list is pre-determined, and you’re screaming in our ear. Kenny is going to play what he is going to play. Go along for the ride. And to the guy screaming for a super obscure B-side from 15 years ago? Nobody thinks you’re cool. 

5. Holding up and item to be autographed!”
This request deserves its own subcategory of irritation. This completely annoys Kenny. Just stop… He as not going to stop mid song and grab your boot and sign it. Plus, It is now up in front of our view and we can’t see because of it! He is wonderful about signing stuff at the end of the show… Ed is ready on the side stage with a sharpie! Be patient!

6. Pushing your way to the front.
There are a few simple facts in the Sandbar, the people in front earned their spots. They got there early and laid claim to their space. The people all the way in front might have even spent all day camped out by the doors, so when the lights go off and you shove your way to the front, you’re being a huge asshole. Don’t do that. If you show up late and there’s only room in the back, you’ve just gotta deal with it. Even if your friends are all the up front. Don’t try to get to them. PERIOD! One exception during the night is to be polite if someone leaves to go on a beer run or to the restroom. It is No Shoes Nation code to let them back to their spot. They will do the same for you. It’s a team effort!

7. Getting so drunk you puke.
At pretty much any big concert, you’ll see a janitor emerge after a couple of songs with a big broom and a bucket of sawdust. It means somebody puked. It’s a bummer for the puker, but the people all around have to deal with the aftermath. Don’t be the vomit guy. There’s no worse kind of person to be at the concert.

8. Bringing a large sign.
OK, We know Kenny can’t hear you so you make signs for him to announce a birthday, 50th show or whatever. We get that! But once Kenny acknowledges the sign there is absolutely no reason to keep holding it up and blocking the view of other people behind you. We have witnessed Kenny get very angry because he nods to the sign and says thank you and then he come back around and the same person is waving it again right at him. Want him to avoid your area? Doing this will be a sure fire way to keep Kenny away!

9. Filming the entire show on your iPhone.
This really distracts people even more than taking pictures, and usually results in an equally bad end result. People tend to film their favorite songs, but the smiles on their faces are gone when all their concentration goes into capturing these moments via video. Tomorrow morning, YouTube will be cluttered with crappy cellphone videos of every song from whatever show you’re seeing. There’s no need to add to that. You paid good money to see a show, and you’re joylessly watching it through a tiny screen on your iPhone. It just doesn’t make any sense and you are missing the true meaning of living through Kenny’s music! a quick shot or video is understandable but not any and every song.

10. Don’t be a grumpy pants.
This is a real problem for people that are in the No Shoes Nation. The sandbar is not enjoyable for everyone. Inevitably, there are some people standing right in front of people that wish they were right up at the stage. But the person that has that spot looks like they wish they were anywhere but at the show. Sour faced and looking irritated! We see this so much and it makes us so said for Kenny. He is up there pouring his heart out with some amazing music and this person is starring at him like they don’t really want to be there. The stander as we call them, is hard to understand and never sings one word to one song. Often the person is standing in the perfect spot for the show and will not budge or share space to make someone behind them a little closer to the stage. If you are going to be grumpy or miserable stand in the back of the sandbar. Out of respect to everyone including Kenny! It’s very easy.  We’re all in the Sandbar together and if you really could care less if your that close to Kenny Chesney move to the back and give someone else the experience of a lifetime. Spread the love! One last note…if you are with your significant other and they are the real fan and you are just along for the ride, then please at least smile for their happiness. You never know you may find your self making new friends and having a good time, the No Shoes Nation are a fantastic bunch of people!