I recently went to a very small concert in a bar where I was at the very front of the stage and had one of the best nights of my life. The bands, Sleeping Lions, Narrow Waves, and MOTHXR, weren't too popular, and venue wasn't too fancy, but that made it all the better. weren't too popular, the venue wasn't too fancy, but that made it all the better; everyone in the audience was authentically passionate about the music being played. Everyone was living in the moment, the live music was incredible, and the strong connection between the fans and artists was exhilarating.

I'm sure anyone who has been to their fair share of live concerts can say whether they prefer big or small shows. Let's face it, though -- any venue, big or small, where good live music is played, always holds amazing experiences. But different sizes have different pros and cons. Personally, I see small concerts as being overall better for multiple reasons.

Firstly and most importantly, small concerts are usually significantly cheaper than larger ones (a huge win for broke college students like me.) Since the venues are small and cost less to rent out, and the bands playing there are usually less popular than others, the tickets are usually extremely affordable. This makes the experience all the better; who doesn't like paying twelve dollars for a night of live music, new friends, and lifelong memories?

Smaller concerts also mean intimate concerts. There's a more genuine connection between the artists and the audience that you can't get at a bigger venue. The bands play at the energy level of the listeners standing only a few feet away, make eye contact while singing, and can even engage in conversation in between songs. The vibes are shared through the music and the experience is unlike anything else.

After small concerts, you won't ever see crowds of screaming fans running together like mobs to follow a tour bus. There's not a drastic line or traffic jam to get out of the venue either, like there almost always is after a big concert. Rather, the artists can walk out of the venue with the audience, and if you're lucky enough, will stick around to take pictures, sign tickets, or even engage in conversation with their fans.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good big concert every now and then, complete with finale fireworks and giant tables of overpriced merchandise. It's a different kind of energy and lively experience. But nothing beats standing close enough to the stage to converse with an artist, and standing in a crowd of people who are feeling the music in the same way as you. I would take a twelve dollar ticket for that over an overpriced re-sold Ticketmaster one any day.