Have you ever
wanted to see your favorite band live but don’t know where to begin? Has it
been awhile since you’ve gone to a concert? Here are some tips and tricks for
the next time you plan on attending one by an experienced concert attendee.
Step 1:
Getting Tickets
Getting
tickets to a concert can be a challenge. They can sell out quickly because of
pre-sales and be hard to find. First and foremost, you should figure out when
they go on sale and on what websites (if you have options, I recommend ticketmaster).
Now pre-sales can make or break how good
your seats are, so if you plan on investing into some good ones, look up
presale codes for the concert you want to attend, and remember to type it in to
get your tickets. Look up a seating chart of the venue you are going to see the
concert in as well. Websites are always vague about where the seats are. But
wait! My website says general admission! What the heck is that? General
admission means there are no seats. It is first come first serve so if you want
to be close to the artist, plan on showing up at least an hour early. Depending
on the venue you can be smushed and sweating (yes sweating) with a couple
thousand people on a floor or spread out on a lawn behind the actual seats
(which can still be an awesome experience). Buying tickets online requires a
credit card, debit card, or sometimes a PayPal account so be prepared with your
account information. When you purchase them, print them out. Keeping
them just on your phone can be risky if for some reason your phone breaks. If
you want to get them in the mail, there is a chance they can get lost in
it. Keep your tickets in a safe place and write down that place a couple of
times if you are forgetful.
Step 2: What
to Wear
The most important thing about your
clothing is that it is something you feel happy and comfortable in. You
shouldn’t have to dial down your wardrobe for a concert and should express
yourself the way you feel is right. A concert should be a time to embrace who
you are, not hide it for the sake of fitting in. Wear a shirt you don’t
normally wear, try a new makeup look, fix your hair differently, do what you
feel is right. But if you want some more in depth guidance, you should know
your venue first. If it is outdoors, consider bringing a jacket because it can
get cold. If it is indoors, dress in as light clothes as possible. Make sure
whatever you are wearing is something you are comfortable in. If you know your
new shirt constantly rides up the wrong way so you have to fix it, don’t wear
it, it will definitely take away from the experience. If your concert is
general admission, do not wear sandals unless you’re okay with getting your
toes stepped on for the entirety of the concert. Otherwise, I would wear sandals,
not flip flops; those can be a hazard. I suggest genuine sandals to an outdoor
concert for the sake of comfort in the heat. Do a little research and read up
on the experiences people have of concerts with the artist you are seeing. Search
“-Artist name- concert experience” into YouTube or Google and see what pops
up. Some artists promote dressing up
more extravagantly and others may be more chill.
Step 3: What
to Bring
Recently, there has been efforts to
heighten security at concerts for safety purposes, so venues can be strict on
what you bring in. I would look on the venue’s website first to see what they
allow and don’t allow. If the rules are not clear, here are some general tips.
Try to pack lightly and not bring any large bags or purses if it is possible. They
will most likely need to be searched and it can be time consuming and it can anger
the security personnel. Leave your pocket knife or any other thing that could
be dangerous at home; they will confiscate it. Do not bring bottled water
unless it is sealed. Some security personnel won’t even let sealed bottled
water in so be aware. Do bring a phone charger and a portable charger. Your
phone can die quickly which is never good. Do bring a small camera if you have
one. I have a small camera (that I got for Christmas a few years ago) that can
fit easily into my purse that I use to get a couple good quality pictures of
the artist I am seeing. However, I turn off the flash and only use it a few
times because enjoying the show is most important. Do bring some gum and
painkillers. Sometimes you need to freshen your breath a little and you don’t
want a headache (since medical areas can be cumbersome to locate).
Step 4: What
to do at the Concert
First of all I highly recommend arriving
to the venue an hour early. This may seem excessive to some, but with the
heightened security at concerts these days, it can take a long time to get into
the venue. The show won’t wait for you so the closer you are to the
entrance, the better your chances of getting in on time are. Next I recommend
buying some piece of merch. Yes, it is overpriced but having a piece of concert
memorabilia is something special that you will appreciate dishing your money
out for in the future. Now, find your seats and make sure you keep your ticket
somewhere safe. It is the easiest way for an usher to help you find your seat
and lets them know that you are in there legally. As soon as you know where
your seats are it is a lot easier to find bathrooms, etc. Finally enjoy the
concert. Have fun and live in the moment, not through your cellphone; you’ll
have more fun. Post a few snapchats here and there but don’t let it consume you;
after all you paid for those tickets, not the people who have you on snapchat.
By: Evelyn Sims
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