Festival enforces -œshirts-on' policy

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Tue 17th Nov, 2009 in Local News

Are you sick of shirtless sweaty punters rubbing up against you at music festivals? Well it sounds like the organisers of this month’s travelling dance event Stereosonic are too, because in a first for an Australian music event, they’ve implemented a strict “TOPS ON” policy.

“Anyone not wearing tops (singlet, t-shirt etcÃ¢â‚¬Â¦) will be rejected at the gate,” it says on the festival’s website. “Anyone inside the event not wearing a top will have their wristband removed and will be ejected from the event.”

Speaking to our sister site inthemix, Stereosonic rep John Curtin said: “We will continue to make Stereosonic a friendly and safe environment and after extensive market research feel that having a – œtops on’ policy was a move in the positive direction. It’s caused a lot of discussion but at the end of the day, we want our patrons to feel comfortable in their surroundings and enjoy the day.”

As we all know, the shirtless phenomenon is not solely the domain of dance festivals. So how would you feel if the likes of Big Day Out said – œno’ to airing the upper body?

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28095

mr_doobi said on the 17th Nov, 2009

hahaha how would ya feel if u were that guy. he is the typical wanker hahahahaha

dontgoaway said on the 17th Nov, 2009

thank god.

should be enforced at every festival.

muzbuz

muzbuz said on the 17th Nov, 2009

I approve. Festivals are soon becoming attention-seekers conventions and this is a step in the right direction! Next should be no Facebook "self portrait" photo taking and to set up snipers to take out people getting on others shoulders in the middle of the moshpit.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 17th Nov, 2009

daveyac8881

daveyac8881 said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Keely K

Keely K said on the 17th Nov, 2009

hellboy1975

hellboy1975 said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Females excluded?

ashryn

ashryn said on the 17th Nov, 2009

I'm waiting for midriff tops on boys to make an appearance at festivals after this :)

badjonni

badjonni said on the 17th Nov, 2009

there go half my photo opportunities

darve

darve said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Muzzas got to love them!

dream_brother

dream_brother said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Whilst I find it a blatant violation of basic rights, I still endorse this pretty much completely.

Zeppeloholic

Zeppeloholic said on the 17th Nov, 2009

I wonder if they'll ban the southern cross tattoo next

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Blatant violation of basic rights gah wtf are you on about?

kinksta said on the 17th Nov, 2009

thank you! ahhh best idea ever :)

tyler07

tyler07 said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Regardless on rubbing up against sweaty, hairy, shirtless men being disgusting, and i will admit i don't mind the ladies being bikini clad and what not
Whether they intended it to be this way or not, I think its good that its also being sun smart.

dream_brother

dream_brother said on the 17th Nov, 2009

There are no laws about the wearing or lack of wearing shirts. Regardless of whether you like the douche bags or not it doesn't stop it from being another liberty taken away from people. It's like attempting to rule out spitting on the street. I hate the fuckwits that openly do it, but every time you outlaw something (on whatever level and no matter how good a move you think it is) it merely acts as a reference point to aid organisations and governments from banning anything else they deem "inappropriate". Sure, I don't wanna see shirtless fuckwits, but at the end of the day if I had to choose I'd let the toss pots let the pecks hang out.

dream_brother

dream_brother said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Oh and btw, I endorse that I don't have to be subjected to it, but it doesn't mean I agree on the terms.

Trent Slatter

Trent Slatter said on the 17th Nov, 2009

i don't get the whole violation of right thing.

it's exactly like pubs and clubs having a dress code. if you disagree with it you find somewhere else to go.

i think this is a friggin' great idea.

Original_Sin

Original_Sin said on the 17th Nov, 2009

^ what he said - by entering the event you agree to abide by the terms and conditions. its exactly the same as pubs and their dress codes.

oh and btw - spitting is illegal, try doing it front of a copper and you'll land yourself a fine.

mondo22

mondo22 said on the 17th Nov, 2009

a positive move in the right direction me thinks

baka_roo

baka_roo said on the 17th Nov, 2009

if only they'd do something about drunks pissing all over the place in a r.a.t.m. pit. maybe its a sydney thing.

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 17th Nov, 2009

That logic is flawless...don't criminalise anything.

I think you have missed the point, this has nothing to do with a law being broken. It's not illegal to bring a bottle of coke into the Big Day Out but they can refuse entry to anyone that trys to bring it in to their licenced event.

Is it cool to not wear a shirt in a pub? heck I might start wearing a g-banger and mesh tank top to the movies. Stereosonic the event is licenced, you have to abide by their conditions, so no you don't have the right to go shirtless, they have the right to refuse entry to anyone who doesn't co-operate. You aren't just strutting down in a public park.

In regards to spitting, you can get a $110 fine if caught doing so in a public place. Oh and it is also illegal in Europe...

adam12

adam12 said on the 17th Nov, 2009

Regardless on rubbing up against sweaty, hairy, shirtless men being disgusting, and i will admit i don't mind the ladies being bikini clad and what not
Whether they intended it to be this way or not, I think its good that its also being sun smart.

don't you mean sweaty hairless men?

amemt

amemt said on the 17th Nov, 2009

im for it
now ban the wankers sitting on your boyfriend shoulders

LiamNoir

LiamNoir said on the 18th Nov, 2009

this rule should only apply if you're big and ugly and in the mosh. if i'm exhausted from the heat and have to take a breather off to the side - removing my shirt and pouring water on myself in an attempt to cool down - i shouldn't be thrown out for this.

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 18th Nov, 2009

If you went to the bathroom and did it I'm sure there'd be no problem.

Like others have said, all this festival is doing is creating a dress code then saying they will enforce it. I don't see any problem with that.

yetiite said on the 18th Nov, 2009

that's awesome.

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 18th Nov, 2009

Don't worry too much, if they actively enforce it I am almost certain they would give you the chance to put your shirt back on before taking further measures.

icutmyownhair

icutmyownhair said on the 18th Nov, 2009

That logic is flawless...don't criminalise anything.

I think you have missed the point, this has nothing to do with a law being broken. It's not illegal to bring a bottle of coke into the Big Day Out but they can refuse entry to anyone that trys to bring it in to their licenced event.

Is it cool to not wear a shirt in a pub? heck I might start wearing a g-banger and mesh tank top to the movies. Stereosonic the event is licenced, you have to abide by their conditions, so no you don't have the right to go shirtless, they have the right to refuse entry to anyone who doesn't co-operate. You aren't just strutting down in a public park.

In regards to spitting, you can get a $110 fine if caught doing so in a public place. Oh and it is also illegal in Europe...

You speak the truth.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 18th Nov, 2009

why not just pour the water on yourself with the shirt on? that way you cool the shirt down a bit too...

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 18th Nov, 2009

hehe, it could be guards on tower posts with sniper rifles, and as soon as they see the tiniest bit of man nipple, BAM! Headshot!

But probably not...

Original_Sin

Original_Sin said on the 18th Nov, 2009

Fel-a-Fel

Fel-a-Fel said on the 18th Nov, 2009

This is AWESOME!

Nothing worse than dancing about and having the topless guy in front of you step back, pressing his sweaty back firmly against your face. DISGUSTING!
Plus they've always got a few pimples right where your eyeline is...not a pleasant sight!
PLUS they're usually guys with too many muscles. ERGH!

dream_brother

dream_brother said on the 18th Nov, 2009

That logic is flawless...don't criminalise anything.

I think you have missed the point, this has nothing to do with a law being broken. It's not illegal to bring a bottle of coke into the Big Day Out but they can refuse entry to anyone that trys to bring it in to their licenced event.

Is it cool to not wear a shirt in a pub? heck I might start wearing a g-banger and mesh tank top to the movies. Stereosonic the event is licenced, you have to abide by their conditions, so no you don't have the right to go shirtless, they have the right to refuse entry to anyone who doesn't co-operate. You aren't just strutting down in a public park.

In regards to spitting, you can get a $110 fine if caught doing so in a public place. Oh and it is also illegal in Europe...

It's not supposed to be flawless, it's subjective.

But yes, admittedly there is a substantial difference between venue/event rules and nation-wide illegalities. Part of my problem is the assumption that making a "compulsory shirts" rule will somehow put an end to (what i'm assuming would be) violence within the venues. Seems slightly over the top seeing as many people might actually take their shirts off because a lot of these events happen to take place on sweltering days.

If event runners are generally concerned then why don't they enforce a stricter policy on alcohol serving and drug monitoring. Oh that's right, because they want the place to be as " safe and friendly" as possible so long as they are still reaping in as much revenue as possible.

I did not know about spitting being illegal (from what I was told it was an act that was in the process of being outlawed, but I'll cop that one).

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 19th Nov, 2009

I think the stereosonic guys made it pretty clear that it wont deter/aggravate violence, it's just anti-social behaviour that they've found out through their punters is not only annoying as fuck, but can ruin a day for some (those that are left permanently scarred because they're stuck for hours in the mosh next to Barry with the BO who decided going shirtless to show his tats was a smart idea right)

Piko

Piko said on the 19th Nov, 2009

who knows, maybe some f-wits won't go just because they can't walk around with their shirt off all day

knate

knate said on the 19th Nov, 2009

The conversation i overhead...

"who da fuk do they think they are bro, tell me i can't take mah fuken shirt off cunt. Why tha fuk do ya think i spent all that mony on the clen and sten bro? chicks bro? chicks fuken love us bro, fuken festivals bro, all those weedy fuken cunts bro, they're should be a fuken festival just for us, and your cousins bro.. ulleh'

Seriously, on the train to st peters

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 19th Nov, 2009

The conversation i overhead...

"who da fuk do they think they are bro, tell me i can't take mah fuken shirt off cunt. Why tha fuk do ya think i spent all that mony on the clen and sten bro? chicks bro? chicks fuken love us bro, fuken festivals bro, all those weedy fuken cunts bro, they're should be a fuken festival just for us, and your cousins bro.. ulleh'

Seriously, on the train to st peters

And that is why the rule is being created...

knate

knate said on the 19th Nov, 2009

was pretty much the point i was making, thanks for clarifying

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 19th Nov, 2009

I have to say, I found it impossible to read your previous post about the train conversation without creating a certain accent in my head.

knate

knate said on the 19th Nov, 2009

I wrote it with said accent in my head

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

I refuse to believe that rant was complete with a "ulleh" at the end. It's almost TOO stereotypical

knate

knate said on the 19th Nov, 2009

ulleh is used as much as we use mate

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

I've never heard a person aside from Tahir/Habib from Fat Pizza actually use it.

knate

knate said on the 19th Nov, 2009

spend a day in western sydney, or an evening in kings cross

ashryn

ashryn said on the 19th Nov, 2009

good point... they're usually hairless

ashryn

ashryn said on the 19th Nov, 2009

im for it
now ban the wankers sitting on your boyfriend shoulders
and tall people

^sarcasm^

(duh.)

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

That's just retarded.

ashryn

ashryn said on the 19th Nov, 2009

hey, can anyone animate me a picture of a security guard running in ninja style to snip off an arm band and eject a dude the second he takes his shirt off?

( this post would be awesomer if I could do it myself and just post the picture here, but I have no animationing skillz *sadface* )

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 19th Nov, 2009

and tall people

^sarcasm^

(duh.)

Ashryn probably couldn't have made the sarcasm any more obvious...

Getting asked at concerts "I'm short, can I stand in front of you" is one of the dumbest things ever. Why would I say yes?

ashryn

ashryn said on the 19th Nov, 2009

Ashryn probably couldn't have made the sarcasm any more obvious...

Getting asked at concerts "I'm short, can I stand in front of you" is one of the dumbest things ever. Why would I say yes?

to be fair, I edited the sarcasm label in there.

I thought it was obviously sarcasm without it, but clearly not, as MAB so kindly pointed out

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

Aren't you the one who seriously didn't know the difference between hardcore and metal?

I'd have no idea if you were being serious or not with a back-history like that

ashryn

ashryn said on the 19th Nov, 2009

I just wanted to quote the chick I was talking to at the time and claiming ignorance seemed like a good idea.

Zeppeloholic

Zeppeloholic said on the 19th Nov, 2009

Ashryn probably couldn't have made the sarcasm any more obvious...

Getting asked at concerts "I'm short, can I stand in front of you" is one of the dumbest things ever. Why would I say yes?

I always say yes to that haha. Damn I thought I was being nice...

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 19th Nov, 2009

Aren't you the one who seriously didn't know the difference between hardcore and metal fans?

One less day since their last shower? Am I right?

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

ashryn

ashryn said on the 19th Nov, 2009

ha ha
I can't remember what she said the difference was now, but it amused me at the time

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

The moral of the story is that the whole affair made you look a bit of a douchefag.

Zeppeloholic

Zeppeloholic said on the 19th Nov, 2009

You need to get out more... seriously.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

hell yeah! *highfives*

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

Ashryn probably couldn't have made the sarcasm any more obvious...

Getting asked at concerts "I'm short, can I stand in front of you" is one of the dumbest things ever. Why would I say yes?

ive said no to that so many times, the reactions range from 'whatever' to the chick who abused me for 10 minutes, despite the fact that id been standing right up on the barrier for 2 hours, and she showed up 5 minutes after the main band came on stage.

i get it, it can be difficult for short people to see. but if you're short, and you have a desperate aching need to see the band, plan your shit together and get there early.

Zeppeloholic

Zeppeloholic said on the 19th Nov, 2009

ive said no to that so many times, the reactions range from 'whatever' to the chick who abused me for 10 minutes, despite the fact that id been standing right up on the barrier for 2 hours, and she showed up 5 minutes after the main band came on stage.

She sounds delightful I hope you asked for her number!

If you were standing right on the barrier she wouldn't have had much trouble seeing the band from behind you anyway right? Unless they were playing on the floor or you're 8 feet tall...

tyler07

tyler07 said on the 19th Nov, 2009

This.

I am rather tall, so i never have trouble seeing a band really. But if you're desperate to get a good spot for a band then freakin' plan for it.
Example: Soundwave i shall see 2 or so bands before AFI to get maximum awesome spot.

ashryn

ashryn said on the 19th Nov, 2009

only to you, and that's ok :)

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 19th Nov, 2009

Siiiiiiiick. Sorry, who are you?

Metallifux

Metallifux said on the 20th Nov, 2009

lame, i hate dance music but if you wanna get some air you should be allowed. what are we communist china, if the reason is sweat, well your gonna get peoples sweat on you if they are wearing shirts but maybe even more because the shirts collect the sweat instead of having it evaporate like it is supposed too.

Metallifux

Metallifux said on the 20th Nov, 2009

lame, i hate dance music but if you wanna get some air you should be allowed. what are we communist china, if the reason is sweat, well your gonna get peoples sweat on you if they are wearing shirts but maybe even more because the shirts collect the sweat instead of having it evaporate like it is supposed too.

Metallifux

Metallifux said on the 20th Nov, 2009

lame, i hate dance music but if you wanna get some air you should be allowed. what are we communist china, if the reason is sweat, well your gonna get peoples sweat on you if they are wearing shirts but maybe even more because the shirts collect the sweat instead of having it evaporate like it is supposed too.

knate

knate said on the 20th Nov, 2009

Aren't you the one who seriously didn't know the difference between hardcore and metal?

I'd have no idea if you were being serious or not with a back-history like that

ones good ones shit?

knate

knate said on the 20th Nov, 2009

it's electronic music

Natty76

Natty76 said on the 20th Nov, 2009

i think the rule is crazy, to many laws & rules being introduced into festivals, that's what aussie festivals are about, going crazy & letting your hair down or taking your shirt off, seriously how it that a problem, i personally love checking out all the hot sweaty bodies & if someone is annoying me, i move away.. your there to have fun.. your at a festival, enjoy it & shup up..way to much politics going on!!

Bognashavin said on the 20th Nov, 2009

too many rules, seriously if you can't take your shirt off and dance or jump around wtf?

themoz3 said on the 20th Nov, 2009

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 20th Nov, 2009

One of the dumbest first posts I have ever read.

icutmyownhair

icutmyownhair said on the 20th Nov, 2009

and tall people

^sarcasm^

(duh.)

i think she meant 'all people'.

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 20th Nov, 2009

I actually lol'd at every single post anti-this-ruling.

Fel-a-Fel

Fel-a-Fel said on the 20th Nov, 2009

Ashryn probably couldn't have made the sarcasm any more obvious...

Getting asked at concerts "I'm short, can I stand in front of you" is one of the dumbest things ever. Why would I say yes?

Cause how is someone who is shorter than you being in front of you going to affect your view?

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 20th Nov, 2009

yeah theres not a lot of constructive arguments you can make FOR the ability to take your shirt off and act like a loon.

Fel-a-Fel

Fel-a-Fel said on the 20th Nov, 2009

Having said that...I only ask the tall people standing in front of me to move if I was standing there first and then they come up and stand directly in front of me...one of the most INFURIATING things ever!

Yes, I am short, but I am NOT invisible...check to see if you're blocking someone's view before you stand there!

Even I worry about standing in front of people and I'm shorter than most of them!

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 20th Nov, 2009

If thats the case, even though I'm tall, I should ask someone in front of me who happens to be taller if I can stand in front of them? And short people don't need to worry about getting there early, cos they can just rock up whenever they want and get ushered up to the front of the crowd?

I've only ever been asked to move when I've been standing right up the front, and if I'm standing front, it's because I want to, and I bothered to get there early enough to do that...

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 20th Nov, 2009

Because I have to move backwards.

If I have wandered through a crowd late, I will happily avoid blocking the view of shorter people immediately behind me.

If I've been standing there the whole time though, I'm not going to let some short girl who has just wandered through the crowd come and stand in front of me just because she wants to be able to see better.

ashryn

ashryn said on the 20th Nov, 2009

I just carry a step ladder with me into the mosh these days...

MAB please note: ^facetious^

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 20th Nov, 2009

You don't have to keep doing it anymore.

knate

knate said on the 20th Nov, 2009

but taking off your pants and acting like a loon... well, different story

Fel-a-Fel

Fel-a-Fel said on the 20th Nov, 2009

Because I have to move backwards.

If I have wandered through a crowd late, I will happily avoid blocking the view of shorter people immediately behind me.

If I've been standing there the whole time though, I'm not going to let some short girl who has just wandered through the crowd come and stand in front of me just because she wants to be able to see better.

Yeah, I'm totally cool with that. I wouldn't stand behind a tall person and then ask them to move.

I guess I'm bitter from having some kind of magnet stuck to me where the tallest person in the room/festival gravtitates towards the spot in front of me...then them giving me shit cause I politely indicate that it's a bit slack of them to stand right in front of me!

My friend and I once had 2 tall guys stand in front of us at a festival after we'd been standing in that spot for an hour...when we asked if we could stand in front of them, they were like, "Nah, cause then you'll want your boyfriends to go with you and they're taller than us!" pointing towards 2 guys behind us who we didn't even know!
When we told them we didn't know them, they still refused!

ashryn

ashryn said on the 20th Nov, 2009

Yeah, I'm totally cool with that. I wouldn't stand behind a tall person and then ask them to move.

I guess I'm bitter from having some kind of magnet stuck to me where the tallest person in the room/festival gravtitates towards the spot in front of me...then them giving me shit cause I politely indicate that it's a bit slack of them to stand right in front of me!

Hey I have that superpower too.. we should go to gigs together and stand on either side of the room and see whose is strongest!

I invariably end up standing behind some shit without a shirt who has pushed in front of me and stands so close that all I can see is his backne. all I can smell is his cheap cologne or his BO