Freshman year of college was when I first started going to concerts. My roommate (and now one of my closest friends) took me to see The Wanted in one of their last shows in New York City. It was an amazing (but slightly annoying) experience. Even though I enjoyed myself, I still felt out of place. I had no idea what was going on 99 percent of the time. At the time, it didn't matter to me.
I still had a lot of fun that night. From there on, I started going to multiple concerts every month for almost two years. Along the way, I began to learn several pointers when it comes to going to concerts. Most come from experience; others come from word-of-mouth. Here are a few tips that I wish I already knew before going to my first concert.
1. Waiting on line all day is painfully boring. So if it you don't entirely love the artist, don't wait all day.
At the start of my concert craze, I would be up at the crack of dawn already waiting outside the venue. It didn't matter if I liked the artist or not, I always wanted to be front row. The desire to be in the front meant you had to spend over eight hours bored out of your mind. And for most of these concerts, I ended up not listening to the artist right after. Nowadays, I can show up 30 minutes before doors open and feel perfectly fine with my spot inside the venue.
2. Stay hydrated if you're planning on waiting on line.
I've seen people who've waited all day outside faint right after entering the venue. Most of them go all day without eating or drinking anything. I've also felt as if I could pass out at any moment. That's the reason why whenever I decided to wait on line for a couple of hours, I liked to bring a bottle of water and a snack. Not only that, but most places offer water bottles to people in the first couple of rows before the artist goes on stage.
3. Just because you waited all day on line, does not mean you'll be in the front.
There have been instances when waiting on line never guaranteed me a spot in the front row. People who show up ten minutes before a venue opens their doors will end up being closer because they bought a VIP or fast-pass ticket. Don't get upset whenever this happens. You will still end up being close.
4. A portable charge is a lifesaver.
Having a fully charged phone is very useful whenever going to a concert. It's a great way to tell your friends and family where you are and when you'll be home. If you spend the day on your phone and you're nowhere near an outlet, a portable charger is your best option.
5. Dress to impress and for comfort.
There have been a handful of times where my friends and I have planned concert outfits months in advance. We get our hair and makeup done, we wear articles of clothing that are just too uncomfortable. Then at the end of the concert, we look like we just left a battlefield. After thousands of incidents like this, I learned my lesson. I still try to look put together, but I don't treat every concert like it's prom.
6. Be prepared for a lot of pushing while at a concert.
Once the first song starts playing, the crowd automatically scrunches together. Everyone is trying their best to get a closer look at what's going in the stage. Don't be surprised if a stranger is pressed up on you. It's nothing to be upset over. It is perfectly fine to ask security to pull you out if you're beginning to feel uncomfortable.
7. Don't care about what other people in the crowd think. Just dance and enjoy yourself.
You go to a concert for one purpose and one purpose only: to have fun. Dance and sing along to your favorite songs. If the person next to you looks like they're not enjoying themselves, don't worry about it. Just enjoy the fact that you're seeing your favorite musician perform live. You sometimes only have one chance to see them, so take advantage of the opportunity.
