What a feeling. Standing in a tight crowd with your best friends on both sides of you. Drink in one hand, phone in the other. Your favorite artists are in the flesh and you’re about to hear them sing your all time favorite song. You’re going to see the sweat running down their faces, see their heads bounce back and forth as they sing the lyrics and you’re going to catch a glimpse of them playing musical instruments. Everything you’ve experienced, while listening to their album on Spotify or through your headphones, is now going to be experienced live, in person.
There is no doubt that I’ve spent over two thousand dollars on concerts in the past few years. As immense as that sounds, if I had the chance to go back to the past and change my actions, I wouldn’t. In fact, I would probably go back and buy tickets to those shows that I sadly missed. While some tickets were only $30 and others were horrifyingly past $250, every penny that I’ve spent on live music was worth it.
My brother always tells me, “I’d rather listen to the album.” As much as I love my brother, I disagree with his words more than anything. Although listening to an artist’s album in your room is a whole sensation in itself, hearing a band or artist live is a feeling that is indescribable. Nothing will ever be comparable to the electrifying feeling and noise you hear at a live concert. Hearing a guitarists strings live is way different than hearing it through your Beats headphones. Listening to your favorite rappers passionate and powerful voice in person will never compare to hearing it through your laptop speakers. Seeing your idols jumping up and down and seeing them in the zone is never the same as watching a video of them on YouTube.
Concerts are seen as a luxury; they’re not considered a necessity to some. Although there are more important things to spend money on first, such as food, bills and clothes, concerts should be equally important or at least a second tier necessity. The experience is what you’re paying for and in 50 years you won’t care about owning another white t-shirt, but you will remember and care about that late night concert you attended with your best friends. You’ll remember the trip there, the feeling after getting your ticket scanned, seeing the entire crowd and hearing your favorite artist live for the first time.
Even though you can jam out to your favorite song in your room and sing along to it in the car, being less than 100 feet away while also being surrounded by thousands of other fellow fans is something else. No car ride, no basement dance party and no 2:00 a.m. jam session can compare to being in the same room as your favorite artist while swaying your hips or bobbing your head up and down. This scene is one that is thrilling, exhilarating and memorable. The second those beats are heard live, a smile will form on your face and all that you will be focusing on is that moment right there. Everything else that was in your mind before clears away and nothing is more important than that song. You close your eyes, clear your head and all you care about is the vibe you're in with the people who share the same musical tastes as you. This intense setting is worth the $30, the $100 or even the $250 because you’re paying for a once in a lifetime experience. At the end of the day, as long as you had a great time, that ticket price is the last thing you’re going to think about.
Remember, every concert is different. Even though you might persuade yourself that “I’ll see them next time they go on tour,” remind yourself that their setlist will be different, the crowd will be different and the vibe will be different. Don’t wait for the future, live in the now. No song can ever be performed the same way, so try to get yourself out there and hear it live and be part of that once in a lifetime experience.
The feeling of your heart pumping, smile forming and your blood rushing is the reason why investing in concerts is crucial. Save up, buy a bunch of tickets and make memories. You’ll eventually regret those live concerts that you missed. (I know from first hand experience; I regret not buying tickets to Kanye’s Yeezus tour and Bastille’s concert more than anything.) One ticket will give you a lifetime memory, an out-of-body experience and passion running through your veins, so make sure you buy a load of tickets for this upcoming year. Without a doubt, you’ll walk out of that venue after the show happier than ever and thankful that you purchased a pass! In the end, have you ever heard someone say, "that was such a waste of time" while speaking about a show? Probably not.
