With Festival Season in mind it’s time for a few concert tips & tricks!
If you’ve been following Violet Roots for a while then you probably know that I’m an avid concertgoer. Music has always been a huge part of my life and something I strive to include in my life as much as possible. Over the past few months, I’ve been lucky enough to experience some talented acts, which you can check out here, here, and here, and there are even more coming up!
This past weekend I saw Banks & St. Lucia and it got me thinking about all the concert tips I’ve accumulated over the years through mostly trial and error. I don’t claim to know all that there is to know but I think that I have developed a system that works. Without further delay, check out some of my concert tips and tricks below!
(Get to) Know the Venue:
Whether it’s a concert or a festival knowing the lay of the land will help you out tremendously. Get all the small tedious things like finding the bathrooms, charging stations, bars, camp grounds, exits, floors etc. out of the way ASAP.
If you’re at a concert and you don’t map out your surroundings it could mean missing songs because you waited in line for the bathroom near the entrance instead of using the less known option on the 2nd floor. At a festival, it could mean getting lost on your way traveling from one tent to the next and at certain festivals that could mean a heck of a lot of walking!
Know the Set Times:
This weekend I’ll be at the Governors Ball Music Festival with some friends. Most of us have the same taste in music so there won’t be any arguing over which acts to see. Still, festivals have this cruel tendency to place at least a couple of your favorite acts in the same set time. This cruel and unusual punishment should be banned but alas it’s not.
An essential concert tip is to go into each day knowing when each act plays and which artists you might want to try and see at the same time. I’ll never understand why I’ll have to divide my attention between The Black Keys and Lana Del Rey or Flume and SBTRKT. . . but I digress. Also, if you know that the headliner at a concert goes on at 9pm and doors open at 7:30pm you’ll be able to make a good judgment as to when to arrive if you want a good spot.
Dress for Comfort:
I always see at least one person in uncomfortable heels or in an outfit that just doesn’t make any sense in a concert scenario where you’ll most likely be standing for hours. That maxi dress might be cute but if you’re at a festival there is a good chance the bottom will get muddy or dusty.
Recently, as you can see, I forgot about this golden rule so my flip flop clad feet were very sore by the end of the night. Don’t be like me! Comfort doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style so I’ll remember to opt for a pair of boots or funky sneaks next time and my feet will thank me for it.
Pace Yourself:
This is one of the more self-explanatory concert tips. Don’t overdo it on the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll – okay? You want to remember your time at the show and not just have the “pics or it didn’t happen” to prove you were there. Make sure you hydrate yourself and sample the festival vendors or eat something beforehand if you’re just going to a show. Vendors at a festival can be pricey but we all have to eat so it’s a necessary evil.
Pack Light:
Unless you’re at an overnight event where you’ll be camping out on the grounds, one of the best concert tips is to remember to only bring what you’ll need and nothing more. You’ll hate having to carry around unnecessary things and it’ll just make you grumpy.
Beware of Tall People, but be Nice:
I’m 5’3″ so the last thing I want to see when I arrive at a show is someone tall standing in between the artist and me. Still, concerts are cut throat and, unless it’s a seated event, there aren’t really any rules when it comes to where you get to stand. It’s first come first serve and it wouldn’t be right to relegate someone to the back simply because they’re tall. They want to see that band just as much as you and if you want to have a clear visual then you should probably arrive early.
Be Considerate:
Don’t try to shove your way past those who have been waiting for hours for their front row spot. Don’t dance in a way that constantly tosses your hair into the face of the person next to you. Don’t wave your beer around and spill it all over your neighbors or on their shoes. Don’t record the concert and position your iPad/phone in a way that blocks the view of others. Just don’t!
Be Social but Present:
I would be a hypocrite if one of my concert tips was not to take videos or pictures during the show for the purpose of social media or a keepsake. Still, I do my best to balance out my social time with being in the moment. I’ll take a 30-second video during one song and put my phone away for the next two. Recently, someone next to me spent the whole concert scrolling through her Instagram feed and posting on Snapchat and for obvious reasons, that’s not the way to enjoy a show.
Have any concert tips of your own? I’d love to hear your live music experiences too!
NOTE: Now you can check out my exact dress (1st image) and similar styles through the ShopStyle.it widget below and by clicking on the first few images!