When scrolling through a list of local concerts, you can see a band or artist at a venue that holds 15,000 people, or 50. There is a possibility that you're seated in the farthest row, or just close enough to touch the lead singer. All of these possibilities are dependent on money, timing, and size. For each ticket that is purchased, a lifelong memory is underway.

Let's say I wanted to see Beyoncé perform. Of course, this means it will be at a festival or a large arena. If I am a die hard fan, I will have to pay an arm and a leg in order to get that up close experience. If not, I get to watch her from a big screen, while I sit 100 rows from the stage. Now, this all about preference. Some people do not mind just sitting listening to live music, but there are others who want to be apart of that moment. Nothing beats feeling the vibrations of the drum, or the way the guitarist stares at you while he is shredding the riff to your favorite song. At a larger venue, it's not simply music that is punched with a ticket, there is a performance from countless hours of work unfolding right before you.

I personally have been a part of an event like this with one particular band. This past summer, Twenty One Pilots had their Emotional Road Show tour. Over the past few years, they have blown up. From playing at the at bars hosting 50, to 800, and now 15,000 people in an arena. I had hopes of getting pit tickets. Using pre-sale and was waiting for the moment to click purchase, when I was stuck middle of the row with pavilion seats. I was not quick enough; the timing wasn't right. Despite this, the concert was wonderful. Tyler and Josh put on an amazing show, but I was stuck watching it at a distance. I needed to be up close with the band I love. Coincidentally, my friend living in Georgia had an extra pit ticket. I had already planned on visiting later in the summer, so I lined my dates up with the concert.

We arrived at 6am to the arena, and met with four of our friends. The whole floor was general admission, so we were determined to be front row. Sprinting to get in line at 8 am, we managed to be the first six. After 12 hours of waiting, sleeping and playing mindless games, the doors finally opened. We were right against the bar; front row. Back home, I thought the opening bands were decent, but nothing spectacular. Being there in Georgia, I was blown away by the drummer as he is wrapping duck tape around his head to keep his headset from flying off. This is nothing I would have noticed in my pavilion seat. When the headliner came out, I could see Tyler's tattoos and the seams of his jacket. I would screaming the words to my best friends, and then in the lens of the camera man in front of me. I grabbed his arm as the fans helped him on to the drum stand floating on top of the sea of fans. Just before the last song ended, confetti erupted from cannons and covered the audience. There was something about standing right there in the moment that is worth all the money in the world.

Now that I look back, there is such a deeper connection to the live music when you're up close and in the show. It gets quite expensive to continually experience concerts on this scale, so this is where the smaller venues come into play.

While spending $10 to $40, this same type of feeling is still obtainable. There are smaller more casual places that make getting up close and personal, way easier. Also, tickets do not usually sell out as quick. Only having to get to the venue an hour and a half early, I was around the third row of people to the stage for Young the Giant (the whole fast past lane got to go in front of all those who were not willing to pay twenty extra dollars). There is definitely a variance in intensity between this and TOP, but since it is a band I love, there's no difference.

If you like something that is closer, more relaxed, and intimate, a smaller venue is the perfect fit. Or if you want something that has thousands of people chanting the lyrics to a popular song with you, then a big area is more up your ally. Each is an individual preference, but once the right fit is found, you'll be hooked.

One way to stay on top of local music is having an app on your phone that can alert you when your favorite bands are in town.

Here are two that I like

Live Nation

Apple- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/live-nation-concer...
Googlehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=en&i...

Bandsintown

Apple- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bandsintown-concer...
Googlehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....

All photos by Bre Weaver