After a slow comeback since its pandemic induced drought, it is safe to say that live music is officially back and better than ever. Live music has always been exciting, but the effects of the pandemic took a huge toll on musicians and their loyal fans. However, within the past few years and in recent months, it seems as though the amount of music and tour dates being announced have increased greatly with some of the best albums and unique new performances coming out.
As someone who has grown up listening to a variety of music and attending live music events since before I can even remember, I have learned a thing or two about ways to improve your overall concert experience.
The first tip I have comes to the ticket buying process. In the age of bots and scalpers, the process of getting tickets has become quite tricky, especially for larger and more anticipated concerts. My best piece of advice is once a concert is announced, immediately start to research the ticket buying process. Look into where they are being distributed from, what prices have been like in the past, if there are presale opportunities, and prepare yourself to make quick decisions.
Before you even enter the queue to purchase tickets, make sure you have a set plan in place. Coordinate with anyone purchasing tickets with you and decide if you want general admission or if seating is available and discuss a price range. Making all of these decisions before minimizes the possibility of missing out on tickets because you were indecisive in the moment.
Once you have your ticket secured, you will probably have to make a travel plan. This is especially true if you do not live in a major city, as most musicians take their tour to bigger places. Make these plans far in advance and do not forget to account for potential weather changes. Along with this, make sure to research the venue and any security policies they may have.
When you have arrived in the city where the event is, the next step is getting to the venue. The time you get to the venue varies depending on whether you have a reserved seat or if you will need to hold your ground in general admission and if you want any merch. I recommend showing up a few hours early if you want to ensure being able to get merch and be up close if you are in general admission. This matters less if you have a specific seat assigned to your ticket. It may seem boring to have to wait in line outside of the venue, but odds are you are going to meet some pretty cool people in that line who you already have a shared interest with, being live music and whoever you are waiting to see.
Once you have made it into the venue and hopefully purchased your merch as well as a great spot, the next thing to be aware of is ensuring yours and others experience is a positive one by understanding concert etiquette. These unspoken rules vary depending on what type of music is being performed. Know your performers and their fan base, and this will help you understand how to behave at a concert. Singing along loudly may be acceptable at a concert like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour or even a more intimate rock show, but you may not want to do that in a small venue with a singer songwriter performing as this disrupts the performers experience as well as other audience members. Overall, just be respectful and enjoy the music in whatever way feels natural and respectful.
Finally, if you are attending the concert of a smaller artist in a small venue, perhaps my biggest piece of advice is this: once the concert ends, do not leave. Not always, but sometimes these smaller artists will take the time to meet their fans at their merch table and perhaps give out their signatures shortly after the venue clears out. Some of my favorite concert experiences have been when I have actually gotten to thank the artist for putting on such a wonderful performance.
Overall, live music is meant to be an enjoyable experience so cut down on stress beforehand to ensure a great time for all.
Nora Lee is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at nora.lee@und.edu.
