The Comprehensive Guide to Concert-Going Part 1
Hi there! Welcome to my blog if this is your first time here. I wanted to start this new series of blog posts because I like to be prepared, and I think that other people do too. Some of my information may be wrong, but don't be afraid to comment and let me know if I am wrong or something needs to be added or corrected. This is geared towards new concert-goers who want to get into the music scene more, and for people who have gone to many concerts, and are looking to improve their experience. If you have stumbled upon this post nearing summertime, here are some links to my Warped Tour posts: Ultimate List: What to Bring to Warped Tour, and What I learned at Warped Tour.
Summer is full of hot days, warm nights, no school, and plenty of music festivals. But as the temperatures outside drop, bands move indoors into more intimate spaces. Indoor concerts have their own set of rules to follow and offer tons of more memories to take with you.
Let's start this post with the basics: how to get the best tickets, what to bring, and when to show up.
Tickets:
Tickets start out looking innocently cheap, but quickly add up in price after processing fees, taxes, and shipping fees are added in. This is a fact of life we all have to suffer through. You could always try to find cheaper tickets from second-hand websites after the tickets go on sale, but sometimes they end up being more expensive. One of the best ways to get the best tickets is to sign up for emailed newsletters from the acts or bands you want to see. Almost every concert will have presale dates where you can get first dibs at tickets before everyone else who doesn't have a presale code.
Are you going in a group? Check to see ticket limits. Some presale and regular sale tickets won't let you buy over a certain number of tickets, such as only 4, 6, or 8 tickets at a time if you are going in a big group.
As for prices? Small acts or less famous ones will have tickets for as little as 5-10 dollars, and really big acts will end up being close to 80 dollars or more after fees are added in. In big venues with seats, prices are tiered depending on how close you are to the stage, floor, upper seating, or nose-bleed seats.
What to bring:
NOT SELFIE STICKS. Some venues won't allow you, and a lot of people will hate you if you bring one.
Bring a small wallet to hold your ticket and merch money.
Bring an ID just in case. (Some concerts have age limits, and if you plan on drinking, you will need to show an ID.)
Do not wear a dress or skirt. I don't know why people think it is a good idea, but it is not. Especially don't wear one if you are going to be crowd surfing.
Cell phone. Don't waste all the battery in case you need to call someone after the show and don't be attached to it the whole time. Update facebook or snapchat then put it away. This also lessens your chances of dropping it into the crowd.
Summer is full of hot days, warm nights, no school, and plenty of music festivals. But as the temperatures outside drop, bands move indoors into more intimate spaces. Indoor concerts have their own set of rules to follow and offer tons of more memories to take with you.
Let's start this post with the basics: how to get the best tickets, what to bring, and when to show up.
Tickets:
Tickets start out looking innocently cheap, but quickly add up in price after processing fees, taxes, and shipping fees are added in. This is a fact of life we all have to suffer through. You could always try to find cheaper tickets from second-hand websites after the tickets go on sale, but sometimes they end up being more expensive. One of the best ways to get the best tickets is to sign up for emailed newsletters from the acts or bands you want to see. Almost every concert will have presale dates where you can get first dibs at tickets before everyone else who doesn't have a presale code.
Are you going in a group? Check to see ticket limits. Some presale and regular sale tickets won't let you buy over a certain number of tickets, such as only 4, 6, or 8 tickets at a time if you are going in a big group.
As for prices? Small acts or less famous ones will have tickets for as little as 5-10 dollars, and really big acts will end up being close to 80 dollars or more after fees are added in. In big venues with seats, prices are tiered depending on how close you are to the stage, floor, upper seating, or nose-bleed seats.
What to bring:
NOT SELFIE STICKS. Some venues won't allow you, and a lot of people will hate you if you bring one.
Bring a small wallet to hold your ticket and merch money.
Bring an ID just in case. (Some concerts have age limits, and if you plan on drinking, you will need to show an ID.)
Do not wear a dress or skirt. I don't know why people think it is a good idea, but it is not. Especially don't wear one if you are going to be crowd surfing.
Cell phone. Don't waste all the battery in case you need to call someone after the show and don't be attached to it the whole time. Update facebook or snapchat then put it away. This also lessens your chances of dropping it into the crowd.
Know what the venue is like:
When you first start going to concerts, you will be surprised to find out just how many different venues there are in your area, or in the areas you go to concerts. See if you can look up what the venue is like. This will help you decide if you want to be in the pit, or if they have multiple balconies or other standing room. It is also nice to know what the layout of the venue is, so that if you have to run to barricade you have a little bit of an advantage if you know where you are supposed to be running to.
How early to show up:
It depends on the band or artist you are going to see, and it depends on the venue. The big arena shows typically have a lot of actual seats, and not a lot of pit room. This means that unless you have a pit ticket or are on the lawn (in some outdoor venues) you really don't have to show up until the last hour just to get a decent place in line just so that you aren't standing in line forever.
Medium-sized venues that hold bands that have a bigger fanbase but not enough to fill an arena are the ones you need to plan ahead for, in my opinion. In my experience, these are the shows that people will get up and be outside the doors at 6 am just to get barricade. If you want to be close to the front but don't want to show up at 6 am, twelve noon or one in the afternoon are ideal. But this is only if you are a die-hard fan or really, really like being up close to the stage and you know other fans are going to be there crazy early too. If you don't really care where you end up in the venue, show up within two to one hour(s) before doors open. Most people show up in the last hour, so you can beat the rush by just a little bit, and still get a good parking spot.
Super small venues, depending on the act, typically see people showing up in the last hour. Again, if you really want to be at barricade plan to show up over an hour before doors open, just to be on the safe side.
Did you find my post helpful or think I forgot something? Please let me know down in the comments! Or, tell me about a concert you went to and really enjoyed. I love hearing people's stories!
When you first start going to concerts, you will be surprised to find out just how many different venues there are in your area, or in the areas you go to concerts. See if you can look up what the venue is like. This will help you decide if you want to be in the pit, or if they have multiple balconies or other standing room. It is also nice to know what the layout of the venue is, so that if you have to run to barricade you have a little bit of an advantage if you know where you are supposed to be running to.
How early to show up:
It depends on the band or artist you are going to see, and it depends on the venue. The big arena shows typically have a lot of actual seats, and not a lot of pit room. This means that unless you have a pit ticket or are on the lawn (in some outdoor venues) you really don't have to show up until the last hour just to get a decent place in line just so that you aren't standing in line forever.
Medium-sized venues that hold bands that have a bigger fanbase but not enough to fill an arena are the ones you need to plan ahead for, in my opinion. In my experience, these are the shows that people will get up and be outside the doors at 6 am just to get barricade. If you want to be close to the front but don't want to show up at 6 am, twelve noon or one in the afternoon are ideal. But this is only if you are a die-hard fan or really, really like being up close to the stage and you know other fans are going to be there crazy early too. If you don't really care where you end up in the venue, show up within two to one hour(s) before doors open. Most people show up in the last hour, so you can beat the rush by just a little bit, and still get a good parking spot.
Super small venues, depending on the act, typically see people showing up in the last hour. Again, if you really want to be at barricade plan to show up over an hour before doors open, just to be on the safe side.
Did you find my post helpful or think I forgot something? Please let me know down in the comments! Or, tell me about a concert you went to and really enjoyed. I love hearing people's stories!
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