How to Get the Most Out of Your Next Live Music Experience
Concert season is surging—and these insider tips will help you own the night, from club shows to festival chaos.
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Music Blog
Nothing like live music is like it. The intensity of the crowd, the light, the sound vibrating in your chest, it is something that could not even be captured on the recording. Big summer festivals and small club shows can make you forget time and become immersed in the performance, and forget everything. Even better about those nights is that it is not only intentional but deliberate how you will experience them. As the years have gone by, I have learned some tricks that not only ensure the focus does not shift away from the music but also leave you with some memories that are not as short as an encore. There are mindsets, practica, and all the others that are meant to make your nights at the concert memorable, as well as virtual events.
Plan Without Overplanning
A lot of the magic of live music is that it is spontaneous, but it is not so bad to plan a little. When you are heading to a festival, you should map out the artists that you are planning to watch, but you should not plan your timetable so tightly that you can miss the fun of accidentally bumping into a show that you had not planned to attend. Find out the rules of the venue, the fixed times, and make sure that you arrive well before the time. There is nothing worse than arriving in the middle of the opener of your favorite band.
Wear Fashion Over Comfort (Mostly)
We all desire to look good in the pictures; however, sore feet and a jacket that could not be tied around the waist when it got too hot spoil a night. Solely comfortable shoes cannot be negotiated upon, and layers are your friend.
Stay Hydrated and Pace Yourself
If you are enjoying craft beer in a local establishment or you are taking what is on tap at a festival, keep in mind that you should be hydrated. The hours of dancing, singing, and sweating are hours to reckon with unless you are filling them with water. And when you are drunk, go easy. It is to have a good time, not to forget half of it.
Make Space for the Moment
Phones give you the urge to document every moment, and the best memories are not always the ones that are stored in your camera roll. Swiftly take a picture or a video, and just put it back into your pocket and relax into the music. The performers on the stage had invested their time and effort to produce a live performance, and the best possible way of appreciating it is being there to get the full experience rather than putting it through a screen.
Build Your Own Rituals
A lot of people like to set the tone for shows with their own little rituals, grabbing dinner with friends beforehand, pre-gaming with a playlist of the artist’s top tracks, or even trying out new lifestyle products that help them relax and get into the right mindset. For some, that might mean exploring something new, like THCA flower, which has been getting more attention lately in wellness and lifestyle circles. If you’re curious, you can view product details on Burning Daily and see if it’s something that fits into your pre-show routine.
Respect the Community
A local community that you have to spend the night with is one of the best things about live music. We are all there because we want to, and therefore, please respect the space, avoid pushing your way to the front, speaking loudly when the song is quiet, and watch over one another in case one is having a rough time.
Let Yourself Go
Concerts are released at the end of the day. Sing out of key, clumsily dance, raise your hands to the sky, it does not matter. No one grades you, and they do not care. It is not what you looked like that people recall, but the energy that you introduced to the room.
The Moment of Living When the Music Begins
Live music communities are one of such rare experiences, one that you cannot forget even after the last note has died. The less spontaneous you are, the more memorable it will be. With a little planning, some comfort, and readiness to be at full attention, the night can be totally different. It is your first gig in years, or your fiftieth festival, and you should allow yourself to take it in. Once the lights go down and the introductory chord strikes, you won’t need to worry about anything, and you will be happy that you enjoyed it to its full extent.
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