Summer 2016 is approaching faster than we realize, or would like it to. Artists have started announcing their tour dates, so I have been stalking livenation.com. Adele has already announced (and sold out) her U.S. dates, and Coldplay has just started releasing dates for the North American leg of their tour. The point is this is the time when every artist who intends to tour makes it public. Concerts are an amazing experience that can make you feel alive in no other way. Yes, they can be expensive, but I promise you it is worth the experience. (Note: Depending on the venue and the artist, it can be reasonably within your #brokecollegestudent price range). Here are six reasons you should buy those tickets that you have been secretly eyeing:
1. Seeing your favorite artist.
This is the main reason people go to concerts. There is nothing like seeing your favorite artist in person. Artists have the magic and the means to turn a concert into a party or a hard core jam session (depending on who you see.) When I saw Rush they incorporated lights, music videos, and animations into their show, but it can be just as satisfying seeing your beloved artist, sitting on a stool, strumming a guitar.
2. Meeting new people.
Concerts are a great way to make new friends. When I went to see U2 this past summer, the guy next to me struck up a conversation with my friend and I. This guy (I never got a name) had been traveling with U2 all summer with his wife. They were from England and had traveled to Australia and Europe, among other countries, all in the name of music. He had the best stories about previous tours and special guests they saw. (Note: Ask a nice security guard if there are any famous people around and they may or may not tell you Paul McCartney is breathing the same air as you, i.e. viewing the band.)
3. Way to relax.
Concerts are a great way to unwind after a long semester of school or a long day at work. It does not have to be a huge stadium tour, it could be a club performance of a semi-known artist that you love. Live music is always a relaxing experience. Depending on the venue, you can tailgate before the show with friends or enjoy a beer during the show.
4. Great date night.
Nothing is more romantic than a hot summer night under the stars with your significant other listening to music. Outdoor arenas with lawn seats are the best venue for a couple reasons. You can put down a blanket and cuddle up, and they are significantly more affordable. (Check the weather reports before you go!)
5. You don't have to be an adult, yet.
Your 20s are a time where not everything needs to be figured out. You are not a full adult yet. You need to be responsible with savings, but you can splurge on a ticket or two.
6. Feeling infinite.
In the moment of the music, nothing else matters, but the music and the people you are with. You feel like you are young forever and the moment will never end. Concerts are a way to chase the infinite. Standing in the crowd, bonding with hundreds or thousands of people over that special song, that is what infinite feels like. You deserve that feeling.
