OPINION: An Important Note About Cowboy Hats at Concerts

Tis the time of the year where county fairs and outdoor concerts reign supreme as the type of unique, can't-miss entertainment. In divided times such as these, the only thing more unifying than sports is the experience of live music with an enormous crowd comprised of people of all ages singing songs we all know by heart.

Catherine and I love to frequent at least a few concerts a year, including a couple at county fairs. Two years ago, we saw Lainey Wilson and Creed rock the Great Jones County Fair. Last year, we saw HARDY at the same venue. This past weekend, we decided to trek down to the Mississippi Valley Fair in Davenport to see the Goo Goo Dolls.

Mind Your Cowboy Hats at Outdoor Venues:

We had GA/track tickets to the concert, and the Goo Goo Dolls put on a hell of a show. The only cumbersome detail was for a decent portion of the show, we were positioned behind two individuals with large, sombrero-sized cowboy hats that were unknowingly obstructing the view of the stage. Finagling around them in a standing-only section isn't very feasible either when you're elbow-to-elbow with strangers.

Eventually, they (mercifully) departed long before the band played staple songs like "Name," "Broadway," and "Iris," but it got us both thinking about the annoyance of cowboy hats when attending a concert where the majority of attendees are standing.

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Now, look, I am not advocating for cowboy hats to be banned or forbidden at outdoor venues. There's already a litany of items that you can't bring into a venue for safety reasons, and the list gets longer by the year. In addition, frequent attendees of concerts and conventions like Catherine and I have already had to splurge on clear bags to cooperate with security policies.

Plus, let's be honest, cowboy hats at county fairs are as popular as beers at sporting events. They have a place. But this is what I ask of attendees:

If you're attending an outdoor concert and are wearing a cowboy hat, in the midst of your dancing, singing, recording, and Snapchatting, be mindful enough to turn around and check and make sure you're not blocking anyone's view.

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At the Goo Goo Dolls show, there was a tall gentleman near us who made a concerted effort to turn around at various points to make sure he wasn't blocking my view or anyone else's. He wasn't even wearing a hat. He's just vertically privileged, and more-than-likely used to being told by someone that they cannot see what is going on because of something he can't control.

We can control what we wear to shows. I have no inherent issue with cowboy hats at outdoor venues. I just believe in cordiality. We are all sardined into a tight space. We all paid good money to attend this show. We're all here to have a good time, and are brought together by a shared appreciation for a music or whatever is taking place.

A little mindfulness goes a long, long way.