Concerts are a way of forgetting the world around you, and helping to create memories that you'll never forget. Getting to see musical acts that mean the world to you or getting to experience something altogether new is always exciting, but being a college student at the same time can be... difficult, to say the least. If you are in this position, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
1. Concerts can be expensive
Nowadays, being a college student is basically synonymous with being broke, having loans, or having to curb unneeded spending. So when a concert is announced and it isn't cheap, sometimes it can be very, very hard to convince yourself that you have the means to go. I am very lucky, and my parents have taken to buying me concert tickets for Christmas or birthday gifts. Honestly, I'd rather have it that way. Still, I sometimes have to buy tickets for myself at my own expense, and without being careful about it, the money can really add up.
2. Picking and choosing
This next hurdle goes hand in hand with the last one. Picking between some of your favorite bands that are all touring at the same time is a soul-sucking task. I'm currently in that position right now, as Bastille, The Lumineers, and Green Day are all coming to my area and I can't go see any of them because of money and the reasons that are to follow. Knowing that I'm missing out is a bummer, but it's something that my bank account will thank me for later. (That doesn't really make it hurt any less, but you have to pick your battles, y'know?)
3. Finding people to go with
Time for a blanket statement: not everyone likes the same kind of music. Your friends might not like the same musical acts you do, or be able to spend the same amount of money as you on a concert. In this way, finding a concert buddy can be easier said than done. However, when it works out, it makes the anticipation to see a concert even greater.
4. Scheduling can be hard
One of the hardest things about getting ready to buy a ticket for a concert is the preparation that goes into the whole thing. You have to be sure that you can make it to the concert venue in time on the night of the concert, decide when you want to leave to go to the venue, and estimate when you'll get back. This can be somewhat difficult logistically, but when it's all figured out it makes going to the concert so much more worth it; you had to plan to get to this point, and can celebrate by listening to some awesome music.
5. Making sacrifices
Above all, when going to a concert as a college kid, you have to be prepared to make some tough choices--whether they're related to money, merchandise, transportation, timing, or even whether you can go to the concert at all. Unfortunately, making sacrifices is just a part of life, and juggling classes and homework with outside-of-school activities is a perfect way to showcase this.
So whether you're trying to earn $80 to go see a headlining tour or trying to corral friends into seeing a local band with you on a school night, going to concerts as a college student can be very tough. But with the right mix of patience and persistence, the end result is almost always memorable and enjoyable, and that's definitely worth all the heartache.
