Where are the best seats at a concert?

Question

Im booking a concert soon, but never having done this myself, I have always just taken any seat since they were free tickets.

Basically, is it better to be at the front, back, sides, upper tier?

I would prefer to be on ground level seating as close to the stage as possible, but it seems there are quite a few empty seats in A2 at the moment for the venue I am booking at. I would have thought these are the first places to be taken up.
Layout plans are here
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/seatingchart/279149/10660

It seems the centre back is more popular. Is it because the audio is not as clear when you are too close to the stage, or is the view obstructed by props when you sit in the first few front rows?
What is the best tradeoff between getting the best view and best audio experience?
Finally, what seat block should I book?
I will take the general area that you guys recommend most.

Thanks.

Thanks guys. I booked seats 34-35 in Block B3. Its the 20th row from the front and in the front centre of the arena.

Answer 1

I would like to be as close to the stage as possible too, but if the sound is distorted and the props are in the way then I would sit just a couple rows away, if it were me I would sit as close as possible. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I won concert tickets off the radio. The concert was held at a sports arena. When I looked at where the tickets were on a map, I saw I was in the lower deck. I was disappointed. I thought I'd get floor seats. As it turned out, the seats were right over the big opening where the sports teams come out. They were the best seats! We were right above the floor crowd and could see the stage perfectly because it was almost level with us. The music blared right towards us because there was no one in front of us. I had the best time. If I ever had the opportunity to pick my own seats, that's where I would sit again.

Answer 3

I spent $300 on James Taylor. I was second row center, about 10 feet from him the whole show. It was a very very memorable event. I got an autograph, a handshake, during the break. I didn't have a car at the time, and to get to this show, I also had to put gas in my friend's pickup ($150 more, to get there because her truck is a gas hog. The hat I bought there was $25, so he could sign it. Also flowers (stage bait) at $15. And I had to buy everyone dinner that went along, and send money for my friends to have something to do in Dallas, since I was solo at the concert. That was a very very expensive night for me but definitely worth it.

Answer 4

i would say front because you get to see the bands up close..and thats WAY more fun than being on an upper tier