A few days ago, I was having a conversation with some of my friends about music and what concerts we have been to. This was a fantastic conversation for me because concerts are my absolute favorite thing. It shocked me to find out that some people have never been to a concert before. I went to my first concert when I was a tiny little baby, and after that I got hooked. My roommate was counting out loud how many artists she had seen in concert, and that got me to thinking about how many concerts I have been to in my life thus far. So I got out a pen and a pad of paper and started jotting down every artist that I had ever seen perform live. I was stunned when I looked at what I wrote and saw that I had seen over 50 singers/bands in concert.

That seemed like a crazy number to me, because there have been too many times to count where there was a band that I was dying to see but I lacked either the money, the company or the mode of transportation. But that amount was the truth. Some people spend their money on clothes, or a new phone, or a countless amount of other things, but I save my money and put it towards concert tickets.

Some people may wonder why I have been to so many concerts, or think that they are a waste of money. My answer would be this: When I am at a concert, I am the purest form of happy and of myself. Nothing matters except for the music when I am there. I am in the presence of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of people that love the same music as I do, just as much as I do, and it's a fantastic feeling. Feeling the bass in your chest and having the stage lights blind you are signature to a good show. The moment that one of your favorite songs that you have listened to for countless hours in your room starts to play on stage is indescribable, as you scream the lyrics you know by heart with a permanent smile painted across your face. I wouldn't consider myself to be an overly outgoing person, but when I am at a concert I sure am. I will jump up and down with the crowd and make conversation with the people around me between sets. Being front row is a goal of mine at every concert that I go to, and many times I have been successful. Front row adds a whole new level to the experience. To put it simply, concerts are my escape from reality.

I have seen big artists from One Direction, to Rihanna, to Cage The Elephant, to Ed Sheeran. I have also seen a lot of smaller named bands from Bad Suns, to We The Kings, to New Politics, to Parachute. Whether a big venue or a small venue, the feelings are the same.

However, I tend to go to more of the smaller concerts because I am in no way, shape or form affluent enough to afford going to multiple big named concerts. With a smaller venue comes many perks, however. The intimate setting brings you closer to the artist. The chances of being able to get front row increases exponentially. You will be able to have a way better interaction with the band or artist. Sometimes, they will randomly just chat with members of the audience or bring them up on stage. (That has yet to happen to me but my fingers will forever be crossed.) Meet and greets are also way more affordable.

I have been lucky enough to meet a few of my favorite bands and artists in the past few years, partly because I saved up the money, and also partly because my uncle is in the Goo Goo Dolls and sometimes I get lucky enough to meet whoever they are on tour with. The Goo Goo Dolls was the concert I went to when I was not even a year old that I mentioned in the beginning. I think that having a relative in a band, seeing them perform so much and being a part of the atmosphere so many times sparked my love for concerts. Through my uncle, I have been able to meet a few people they performed with, such as Matt Nathanson and The Plain White T's. Through me saving my money I have been able to meet the band Parachute, New Politics and also Austin Mahone (when I went through my dark and scary pop music phase). Being able to meet the people that make the music that comes out of my speakers all the time is such a special occasion that I will never take for granted, and it just adds to the bliss of the overall experience.

To end my little tangent here, I will leave you with this. Life is too short to not do the things you love. Find something that makes you happy and allows you to be completely yourself, and do just that. Mine just happens to be going to concerts. The ability to just let go of my worries and experience the music that I love is something that I will never take for granted, and that is why concerts are my thing.