Concerts hold a special place in music lover’s hearts for being an experience shared with their favorite band or artist. For some, it might be their very first time and they might be unfamiliar with proper concert etiquette.
Research the venue in advance
Each venue has a different layout and regulations for customers to follow. A common rule of thumb is to follow the big crowd of people in line because they will lead you to the general admissions area where the stage is located. Depending on if it is an indoor or outdoor venue will determine what you might wear along with being mindful of the weather for that day. Some shows, depending on the venue’s location, are standing room only while others will have seats or lawn options. Also, certain locations will require you to store larger bags and cameras in your car since they are not permitted during the concert and this protects the liability of the venue if things get broken or lost during the concert.
Be realistic
Don’t be the person who comes late to the lineup saying, “I am going to push through everyone to get to the front,” because those are the same people who get stuck in the back with a bad view. Depending on the band’s fans, some people will stay overnight to secure a barricade spot which is the closest spot to the performing artist. Most tours give people who bought the VIP experience early access to the venue and merchandise first, compared to those with general admission tickets. So, if you want to get a good view the best thing to do is show up hours before the concert starts, but please come prepared to wait outside with ample food and water.
Don’t be a crowd killer
Mosh all you want, but wait until you have some form of open space so no one gets severely hurt, unless you are at a punk show where that is a common occurrence. Be empathetic to the other people who paid to be there and read the room when deciding to dance because I sincerely doubt anyone will be partaking in a mosh pit at a family friendly Taylor Swift concert. Also, save yourself the troubles of immense arm pain the day after by not recording the entirety of the show because not only is that inconsiderate for the people around you, but takes away from the overall experience of the concert. The purpose of concerts is to take a pause in one’s life to just be in unison with the music, not your phone, which feels like a waste of money. It’s most likely that someone else recorded the whole performance and plans on uploading it to YouTube, so plan to just record your favorite songs of the night.
Come Hydrated
It is vital for all concert attendees to be hydrated before, during, and after the concert to achieve the best overall experience. Be prepared to have your drinks taken away from you upon entering the venue for safety precautions and in hopes that customers will purchase the venue’s overpriced beverages. If you are in the dead center of the pit, surrounded by other sweaty people, it is easy to just pass out from the heat. Also, some venues will have security passing out cups of water in between band’s sets but this does not guarantee you will get water. Do not feel bad for bringing yourself out of the crowd to catch your breath so you will still be able to hear the music. Save yourself from the possibility of missing your favorite artist because you ended up in the hospital due to dehydration.
For anyone new to the concert scene, I highly suggest reviewing some commonsense concert etiquette tips to ensure a safe fun music filled environments for all attendees.
