By Meghan Yip and Sam Martinez
Being only fifteen and sixteen, the average person can find it hard to believe that we’re seasoned concert-goers. Between the two of us, we’ve been to fifteen concerts in 2015 (the total being Meghan: 9, Sam: 6). These are some of the tips that we wish we had learned earlier.
- Research the venue before
- It’s always a good idea to look up the venue online before attending the concert. Look out for things like rules and regulations for cameras, bags, and food, how to get to the venue, and what the interior looks like.
- Don’t buy resale tickets
- Resale tickets from websites like StubHub are typically overpriced, even for sections far away from the stage. Stick to buying at pre-sales and general sales to get the best deal, and use resale tickets only as a last resort.
- GA or bust
- If the venue has a general admission pit, try to buy tickets in that section. GA pits have the best view of the stage and are known to be the most energetic and fun section of the venue.
- Wear comfortable clothing
- If you’re planning to dance, jump, or make any large movements throughout the concert, wear comfortable clothing and shoes. As a general rule, stick to breathable fabrics and sneakers.
- Wear layers
- Wear thin layers rather than one bulky layer. Concerts get hot, especially in the general admission pit, and wearing layers allows you to strip them if needed.
- Take public transit
- Public transit is the best way to get to and from your concert venue, as it’s cheaper than taking a car and you don’t need to find parking and you don’t need to deal with traffic. If the venue cannot be reached via public transit, try your best to carpool.
- Eat before and stay hydrated
- Similar to merchandise, food is overpriced at concert venues. Look for restaurants or places where you could get food near the venue. It’s also important to stay hydrated if you’re going to move around a lot.
- Bring cash
- Bring cash rather than credit or debit cards to purchase merchandise or food or drink. It’s much easier for transactions and the people behind you in line will be thanking you for it.
- Bring something to do in line
- Bring some source of lightweight entertainment to kill time. A smartphone, a deck of cards, or a book are some good options.
- Try not to go alone
- Concerts are always better with company. It’s also a good way to stay safe and occupied while waiting in line. Better yet, try making friends in line!
- Go early
- If you have general admission tickets, wait for a reasonable amount of time before the show starts. It all truly depends on the popularity of the artist, but a minimum of two or three hours before doors open is ideal.
- If you have long hair, tie it up
- No person in the crowd wants to eat hair. If you have long, thick hair, tie it up in a bun or ponytail. Not only will it keep it out of your face, but concerts get exponentially hot as they progress.
- Don’t ‘serial snap’
- Let’s face it: we all want to brag about how awesome the concert was and we want to make sure that’s established on social media afterwards. It’s a given that you want to keep memories from an exciting night but make sure to enjoy the concert through your own eyes as well. Don’t watch the concert through your camera screen the entire time. An easy trick is to Google the artist’s setlist beforehand so you can select what songs to record or take photos of.
- Respect the opening acts
- If the artist performing has an opening act, please be respectful to them even if you are not familiar with their music or if their style is not similar to the one of the main act. Their duty as an opener is to get the crowd excited and ready for the main act.
- Have fun!
- Concerts aren’t an everyday occurrence so make it your duty to have as much fun as possible. Let go, sing and dance your heart out, make friends, and just enjoy yourself!
