- Venue - I prefer small venues. They're just more intimate and there's usually no bad seat in the house. You get a good view of the stage from practically anywhere you stand.
- Arrive early - my philosophy is to arrive early so I can be as close to the front as possible. I don't mind waiting in line as long as I get a good spot up front when the show begins. (And for goodness sake ladies, wear flat shoes because you'll be standing for a while. Trust me, I made the mistake of wearing heels once and it was torture! Don't do it).
- Concert buddy - I like to go with friends who share my "front of the line"philosophy. It stresses me out if I plan on being at the show early and my friends don't care. It works both ways though, because I tend to stress out if I keep my friends waiting. Whatever your philosophy or plan is, make sure you're all on the same page!
- Tickets - Two things here - 1.I love general admission shows because the tickets are usually a great price. 2.Always buy your tickets together! I almost got separated from my friends at a recent show because I inadvertently bought tickets in a different section (that's another blog)!
- Crowd - Even though I go to concerts to see my favorite artist/band my whole experience is also affected by the people around me. Unfortunately that's something I have no control over. I'm stuck next to joe shmoe for a good couple hours in very close proximity. So I can only pray that my neighbor is there to enjoy the music just like myself and isn't obnoxious, irritating, stinky or sweaty :( There's a lot more I could say about concert etiquette...
- Artist/Band - I love it when artists share the stories behind their music. It's what sets a concert apart from just listening to an album or watching a music video. You get a little bit of insight into them and you get to see if your interpretation of the song is in line with the artist vision. Its the best part.
I've been to many shows that have had all these components, but it took me a while and a lot of concerts before I realised what worked for me. What are the ingredients of your prefect concert experience? I'd love to know :D
