On Jun 26, 2011, at 7:52 PM, Hitoshi Doi wrote:

> Joe Petrow <joepetrow@gmail.com> wrote:
> |
> | Well it can be quite loud and distracting, especially if you've  
> spent
> | a lot of money to hear the artist actually sing. But to complain  
> about
> | it seems as naive as complaining about going to a showing of "The
> | Rocky Horror Picture Show" and not being able to watch the movie in
> | peace. For better or worse, that's just the way things are.
>
> I won't complain about the "noise", because if done right
> I think the calls make the songs sound better. (^_^;

I definitely agree. It also can help pump up the performer.

Actually, there's what my friends term "Calls" and then there's  
otagei. There is some cross over between them (Calls typically have  
PPPH, chants and some times mawari or spinning around), but generally  
are not considered the same. Usually otagei will have the more wild  
movements.

> But in the case of Sphere and Toyosaki Aki's concerts
> (this wasn't the first time those otaku caused problems)
> some people get too wild and physically bump into or
> hit others with their arms and light sticks.

This is generally what gets others mad; bumping into those that aren't  
so into it. It's usually a problem when there's not enough room to do  
it; the respectful otagei practioners retreat to the back if possible;  
if not, they scale it way back or just don't do it. The ones that just  
do it regardless are the ones that cause fights to break out. It's not  
the noise (because people who are cheering more normally make noise,  
too), but the bumping into others, not reading the atmosphere, etc.  
that causes the fist fights and whatnot.

--Tim