What do y’all do for concerts any tips?
What I do is I research the set list on setlist.com. this makes the show it’s way better knowing exactly what the bands are going to play.
Ear plugs are a must have.
I will try my best to buy tickets in person, tonight I avoided a 17 dollar fee. While waiting in line to buy my ticket the person in front of me bought his ticket from a 3rd party website and was counterfeit…
Ive found if you try walking down the sides or near the walls you can sneak towards the front easier sometimes.
Merch, check Amazon first because the $40 shirt is $20 there.
I recommend not using amazon for merch, the band won’t see a penny of it. Instead if you don’t want to pay the inflated prices at the venue, use the bands webstore or bandcamp.
Bands pay venues a merchandise fee to sell items, why the price is so inflated. The curmudgeon in me is a cheap bastard, I don’t wanna feel like a custy.
You need to take care of you, try to make sure it’s official merch if you care about the band though.
Personally I also don’t mind supporting the venue if we’re talking about independent locations and not stadiums. I want them to have enough staff for drinks, security and hygiene so that they can stay in business. Metal is a niche to begin with so supporting your local venues is part of supporting the scene, for me. I recognise it’s easy to say for me since I can do so without any financial pain, but I really feel it’s important to keep that perspective in mind as well.
I’m the exact opposite of you in almost every way. Setlist - that shits all new to me. Cool it exists, but I like to be surprised.
Earplugs - definitely. I’m old and a drummer so have always protected my ears.
I almost exclusively buy tickets online, because I don’t like standing in line when I arrive, I want to go in and get settled in some dark corner or the pit depending on the opening acts. I mostly arrive late these days.
Agree on getting to the front along the sides. Merch - I always buy in person. It supports the bands, you interact with the bands many of the times (or girlfriends), and it adds to the experience. Plus you see the product first and know it’s real.
Some to add:
- research the opening acts
- tuck your laces in or go laceless
- stretch before going (seriously)
- bring a friend. Never know when you might get your ass kicked.
- all ages venues pay extra close attention to your surroundings. Lot of weird stuff at these depending.
Good post. 👍🤘
Setlist is great, it’s like getting a cheat sheet for a before test, singing along is easier, or I just saw a couple punk bands I never listen to before but really enjoyed the show because I knew what I was gonna hear try it. I make a playlist in Amazon. What’s cooler is after you can replay the play list and re experience the concert sorta. I got a loud AF home stereo system with car subwoofer, I don’t fuck around.
I saved 17 bucks the other night by buying in person. I also have a physical ticket stubs for my collection. Wasn’t really a line 2 people in front on me buying, the line was at the security checkpoint.
Bringing a friend, good advice but I usually go alone or with the wife, I stay the hell away from pits, too old for them things and got plenty of scars to prove it.
I’d love a resource that shows local/international bands playing in Australia. I’ve missed too many of my faves the last couple of years not tracking them enough on Facebook really.
@Nfntordr
What about songkick?
@cokane_88Oh yeah sick! I can see the Be’lakor gig I’m going too on there, this should work well. Thanks!
Interesting, never heard of that before, checking it out now. Showing me a lot of stuff from venues I probably won’t go to, over 100 miles away.
I follow my favorite concert venues on social media to keep track of stuff. Y’all got some good bands down under. Recently saw they art is murder