What Happened at Miranda Lambert’s Vegas Show & Why it’s Now a Major News Story

If you’re a country music fan and you’ve been on the internet today, no doubt you’ve seen the now viral video of Miranda Lambert stopping her concert mid-song due to some fans “…focusing on their selfie” and then instructing them to sit down. While the concert-goers cheered, others have been negatively vocal about Lambert’s actions.

Here’s the thing: we can see it from both sides. As performers and as avid concert-goers. Let’s be clear about one thing: we are not going to bash Miranda Lambert. Music on The Move’s stance is always to empower women and educate. Rather than talk negatively about anyone in this situation, we’re going to present it as an opportunity to learn! (TBH: We were going to write an article about concert going this week, anyway so, it just worked out!)

From a Performer & Songwriter’s Perspective:

As someone who puts together shows both for myself and other people, I know how much work goes in to putting on a concert. On our level, there are at least 10-15 moving pieces going at all times. Rehearsals, schedules, vendors, staging, staffing, costumes, etc. Now take that and multiply it by roughly 1000 and you have a major tour. Multiply it by 1000 again and you have a Vegas residency. Vegas is notorious for being the definition of EXTRA. I can imagine there is a massive amount of pressure on Miranda Lambert to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience every single night.

If we look at this from a songwriter’s perspective and not just a performer’s, we’re then talking about some major vulnerability coupled with some potential insecurities. (Let’s be real, ALL songwriters have insecurities when it comes to pouring their heart out via song.) The song she was singing when she stopped her show was “Tin Man.” A ballad about being jealous of the Tin Man for having a heart that could break. It is arguably one of Lambert’s most vulnerable songs, as it was written during the midst of her very public divorce.

We can also assume that this is not the first time she’s witnessed fans focusing on their phones rather than this huge project she’s worked so hard on. It’s very possible this moment has been bubbling up inside her for a while and it just turned in to a wrong place/wrong time situation.

From a Fan’s Perspective:

Let me start here: I would have been devastated if that happened to me. I would have done the same thing those women did and left immediately. That being said, let’s set the scenario here before we start blaming “bad parenting,” “influencers-in-the-wild,” and the other various, terrible comments I’ve seen about these women, (who’s ages by the way, ranged from 40-60.)(1)

Your favorite, or one of your favorite country artists announces a Vegas residency. Maybe you’ve seen them live before, maybe you haven’t, either way you decide you’re going with your friend and you start saving money or, you maybe you have it already and you set it aside. You pick out an outfit, you plan a whole trip to Las Vegas, you listen to every single album that artist has ever released in anticipation and then finally comes concert day. You grab some snacks, maybe some drinks, some merch and then you go sit at “…the best seats in the house in the whole theater.”(1) All of the sudden, you see an opportunity for a good picture with your friends with great lighting from the show, and the artist in the background! The house lights in the venue weren’t all that flattering before the show so, why not now?

A group of 5 women stand up to take a picture at a show for roughly 30 seconds, and now they’re a part of a major news story for being called out by one of the biggest stars in country music for being “worried about their selfie.” (1)

I think we can all admit that’s pretty humiliating. It’s not like they’re the only ones there who used their phone during that show (how else would we have gotten the video of this infamous moment?) They’re just unfortunately the ones Miranda Lambert could see.

Why I think this was a perfect, unfortunate storm:

I definitely think there was a better way to approach that moment from the stage, and from the stands.

From the stage, Miranda Lambert didn’t have to address anyone specifically. She could have just kept singing the song. She could have said something after like “Put your phones down and let’s all enjoy some county damn music!” I understand her sentiment behind wanting people to pay attention to a song as powerful as “Tin Man.” As someone who sings in bars where people rarely listen to you, I know you have to work insanely hard to get to the point where people are listening to you as intently as they do her. I

From the stands, I don’t think they should have chosen “Tin Man” as the moment to get their selfie. Video Miranda singing to commemorate the song that means a lot to you? Sure. But, standing up for a group picture in the middle of a song, especially a ballad, isn’t the best concert etiquette. It’s even more so emphasized in a smaller venue that’s meant to have an intimate setting.

The digital age has brought a new experience to concerts in that everyone wants to capture it in one way or another. I personally feel as though I’ve seen Taylor Swift’s & Harry Styles’ tours at least twice now with how much content is circulating on social media! However, it’s important to remember that a concert is a collaborative experience between artists and fans. Artists work hard to create music and a show that will leave you with countless memories and a sense of joy & satisfaction that you witnessed something incredible. Fans work hard to save their money to buy tickets and come experience artists’ shows. If fans want to capture pictures and videos so they can relive that evening for the foreseeable future, they reserve that right! On the flip side, if an artist wants fans to be present & in the moment with them, they also reserve that right! For both of those things to work, as with any relationship, there has to be mutual respect and communication. (Respect = STOP THROWING THINGS AT ARTISTS…but that’s a different article for a different day…)

We are not cancelling or boycotting Miranda Lambert. Who knows what was going through her head that day or what lead up to that moment. We are also not calling out that group of women. We’re just saying take it as a learning opportunity and offering you something to think about.