Have you ever been to a concert and been so excited to see the musician that's headlining that you just wished the opening acts would hurry up and get off stage?? Many fans, unfortunately, feel this way, but a lot people come to concerts open-minded enough to actually listen and enjoy the opening acts. They may not be the people you paid to see, but they are still worthy of your time and attention.
I cannot tell you how many concerts I've been to where I've heard the phrase: "Let's just go get merch during the opening act. The lines will be so much shorter, and besides, nobody cares about the opening band anyways." Well yes, people do care about them. Some people are actually more interested in the opening acts than the headliners. Letting loose and enjoying the opening bands can make your concert experience more fun, and you may actually end up more excited for the headliner.
Musicians have opening bands for a reason. Many musicians take some of their personal favorites on tour so they can help them gain fans and promote their music. They also provide a nice warm up for the audience and a better concert experience. Wouldn't it be a little weird if the main artist just came out, sang, and then you were done? Something just wouldn't feel right about that.
Some bands also aren't really big enough to tour on their own or they feel like they can get a larger audience by touring with a bigger band. This allows for people to see bands live that they may not otherwise be able to see. It also helps people feel like they're not getting ripped off by the venue. Speaking of the venue, it's a great way for them to make more money because having people around longer leads to more people spending more money.
A common misconception about opening bands is that they are just small bands that nobody has ever heard of. One Direction opened up for Big Time Rush way back when, and look at them now. Panic! at the Disco opened up for Weezer in 2016, and similarly, Weezer opened up for Blink-182. In 1970, Elton John opened for Derek and the Dominos, and Taylor Swift was the opening act for Racal Flatts in 2008. So you see, opening acts can actually become quite famous and make a name for themselves.
If I had skipped out on those opening bands I may have never been introduced to The Knocks, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Demi Lovato, Hey Violet or The Jonas Brothers. Some of my personal favorite bands at the moment, I got exposed to through live concerts. So next time you find yourself at a concert, make an effort to go and support the opening band. You may find some new music that you just might like.
