7 Tips for an Amazing Concert Experience

By Alyssa Laffitte on November 13, 2017

So many people can attest that concerts are their “happy place.” There’s something so wonderful about being in front of your favorite band members who are playing your favorite songs and singing along with other people who love them as much as you do.

It’s a good idea to prepare for a concert so that you have the best experience. Having been to quite a few concerts before (small GA shows and bigger arena shows), I can share with you some of my favorite concert hacks.

Image via Isorepublic.com

Show up early

Showing up early is definitely better than rushing in right before the headliner is about to start! Arriving early is especially important if you will be attending a general admission (GA) show and want to be close to the stage.

Dress comfortably

Yes, you want to look cute at your favorite band’s show. But at the same time, you don’t want to be unable to enjoy the show because your fashionable outfit is uncomfortable. Remember, you are there to dance and sing along to your favorite songs, not to look like a model.

For example, do not wear heels and a dress. Your feet will kill you by the end of the night. Sneakers, shorts, and a t-shirt will do. Plus, no one is paying attention to your looks, anyway. They are all here to see the band!

It’s also a good idea to put your hair up! Hair in your face will bother you by the end of the night.

Don’t bring too much stuff

A rookie mistake I made the first time I went to a concert was that I stuffed my bag with so many unnecessary items. All you really need is your phone, ticket, an external phone charger, some cash, and your car keys. Unlike me, I brought lipgloss, body spray, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses.

Do you think I needed any of those things throughout the show? Nope. Do yourself a favor and don’t stuff your bag! Simply bring a small cross-body bag or a fanny pack with the bare necessities, and you should be fine.

Be nice to fellow concertgoers and to band members

Especially if you are at a GA show, people can be rowdy. Be aware of your fellow concertgoers. It’s way too easy to accidentally hurt someone. If you do accidentally hit or step on someone, apologize. I say this as a 5-foot girl who was almost elbowed in the face by a 5-foot-9 girl at a show.

Similarly, if you happen to run into a band member, be nice to them. At my first GA show, we saw a band member get out of the tour bus, and nobody chased after him. We just said hello and let him make his way into the venue. I liked that they treated him like a normal human being, as all band members ought to be treated. This doesn’t mean that you can’t go up to them and ask for a photo, you can definitely do that! Just be polite to them and treat them nicely.

Don’t watch the show through a screen

Lots of people like to record as much of a show as they can. I don’t blame them, because I love having those memories, too. But I would recommend that you record only a little bit because you do want to focus on enjoying the moment rather than on getting the perfect photo for Instagram.

Spend more time enjoying the show than recording it. Chances are, your recordings won’t come out that great anyway, and someone else will probably record it and put it on YouTube later.

Stay hydrated

Concerts can get very hot, especially GA shows (and even more so in the front row of a GA show). There will be many people in a small space generating lots of metabolic heat from jumping, dancing, and singing. There will be many bright lights. This causes it to get very hot very quickly.

So be sure to stay hydrated before the show! You don’t want to pass out from dehydration and miss the rest of the concert. Water bottles at the venue can be expensive, but it’s worth it.

Learn the songs beforehand

If it’s early enough before the show, try to look up the band’s previous setlists and learn those songs! I’ve been to a few shows where I regret not doing this because there were some songs the band sang that I didn’t know, and I could have known them if I had done a little more research and spent more time learning their songs.

Concerts can be amazing experiences. Be sure to prepare beforehand so you can enjoy it to the fullest.

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