BY MIKEY MIGO
Introduction
The thing about going to a concert is that you never now what's going to happen. From the performance of the band you're seeing, the attitude of whomever you're with, the tone of the crowd, and the entire experience is a huge crap shoot. You might roll a hot seven or you might toss snake eyes, but it's something you're still going to remember the next day.
So really, it'd be impossible to give you the answers for survival. But what I can do is share my own experiences with you that might give a better idea of what will come. I don't tour or anything of that nature, but I do attend a lot of concerts in many different locations, settings, and crowd types.
Outside of personal experience, what we learn about concerts comes mostly from friends. You share what you know, brag about experience, and tell them not to miss the next one with your friends. And since we're all friends here, I'm going to share with you my own personal concert survival guide.
Getting There
The trip there and back is half the journey. Depending on how far you are from the final destination depends on how extensive you should prepare. For me, I'm about 40 miles away from the heart of Chicago so with traffic and parking it can sometimes take around an hour to an hour and half to get to most shows. It's always good to bring water with you, no matter what season it is. Even if you only take a few sips on the way there you'll want it once you get out. For longer drives, I've indulged in a few energy drinks to stay alert. Staying over somewhere seems to never be an option, so planning ahead and trying to somewhat remain organized and prompt is sometimes key. If you have the next day off school or work, then by all means explore and don't worry about it. Many of us aren't that lucky sometimes though.
Venues
By now, you've arrived to the concert. If you're early you're outside in line with the other early fans waiting to get in. In this line you're almost always going to find the "smart" fans who are talking loudly to the person next to them about how they hope the band plays that B-side from the Japanese import of their first LP. Sometimes, I'm that guy, but don't worry I hate myself too. That's irrelevant though because you're at the concert. You're going to see your favorite musicians and bands or just there out of curiosity. The music you've listened to on your ipod, on myspace, or something completely new is moments away. After the line moves, you go through security and get inside.
Inside of what? That's the question!
Bar/Small Club: This can be the most crowded of venue options or the most laid back. If it's a bigger show the venue will be crowded to the point of getting a drink or visiting the merch booth will be very complicated. If it's a smaller show, you'll have the luxury of spreading out, sitting back, and enjoying the performance. This is the most intimate of settings for a show. This is why most big time stars do "club tours" where they can "get back in touch with the people".
Theatre: I've been to theatre shows in a few different states after this past "Summer of Concerts". These are normally old buildings that used to host theatre, but has been gutted and made into a music venue. These places have the best architecture and the best "feel" for a concert in my opinion. The stage is big, the crowd area is open, and when there's nothing on stage it's a great time for hanging out.
Arena: Most of the time you get two big acts together for a super tour or you're there for one huge band that's either just released an hit album or has just reformed. To me, arena shows seem a bit cold and sterile. It can be a great performance, but it's not as intimate as a theatre or even an amphitheater. One perk is that it's a bigger stage and with that a bigger stage show. For the most part, based on my experiences, these shows are only good if you're there to see someone you REALLY want to see.
Amphitheater: The summer comes and goes and so does the amphitheater shows. You've been to these shows. It's outside with usually a pavilion covering the more expensive seats and the stage. Over the years, these places have been the targets for the staple summer tours like Ozzfest, Warped Tour, Project Revolution, Family Values, and other ones like that. At the same time, I've seen acts like Poison and Rage Against The Machine rock out at amphitheaters. Both of those shows were great for their own reasons that I'm sure wouldn't have been the same in any other location. Again, it all depends on the band. If it rains (like it did at RAGE in Wisconsin), you're pretty much fucked.
Other: I guess the "other" would be for bigger shows like a Lollapalooza, Bonneroo, and big one stop festivals. Grant Park in Chicago used to be the home of The Chicago Bull's celebration parties in the 90's and now it's officially the home of Lollapalooza. These places are usually campgrounds, parks, or huge fields. It's a throw back to Woodstock and shows like that. I've still not attended one of these types of shows, but it's on my "things to do list" for next summer.
The Crowd
You get the pleasure of hearing and seeing your musical choices come to life and you share this experience with a crowd around you feeling the same way you are. The energy of a crowd with a common purpose and common connection is sometimes what makes a concert memorable. Yet, there are a few different types of energy at a concert that can either make it a great experience or a huge annoyance.
Let's take a look at the crowd types:
Standing There/Doing Nothing: It might be a standard at indie concerts, but I've seen this sacrilege at rock and metal shows. The crowd will just stand there as pulse pounding and energetic music is being presented to them. This is sorta depressing because the band is up there giving it their all, but the crowd continues to just watch and not make noise, move around, or show one ounce of the energy the band is giving in return. Then again, sometimes just standing there is all a band wants. But why?
Crazy: These are the shows where the crowd will often make the show even better, but not always. Crowds that see bands like Mindless Self Indulgence, GWAR, or the like give as much energy back to the performers as possible. Then there's a mediocre band where the crowd goes overboard just for the sake of "being crazy". For those shows you can mainly blame the alcohol or the jock/cock rock types who want to be upfront. When they get there they turn the entire crowd into a push and shove pit. I've literally spent 2 or 3 songs at some shows where my feet didn't even touch the ground. That's scary shit.
Rock: Most harder rock shows will contain a group of fans with cargo or camouflage shorts and cut off faded black T-shirts. These are the types that go into the pit to "f*ck some shit up" as I constantly hear. The genre of rock is what determines the crowd. If the music is angry, then the crowd is angry (i.e. Slayer). If the music is just flat out rock, then the crowd seems to just have a good time (i.e. Queens of the Stone Age). If you're watching a good rock band, there will be movement, moshing, and lots of noise. I just warn you to be weary of the sleeveless brutes… they will eventually collide with you.
Hip Hop: The awesome thing about hip hop shows is that if the crowd is angry or just having a good time there is a lot of movement. I recently had the pleasure of seeing Tech N9ne and the entire crowd was dancing to the music and bouncing around. There wasn't a mosh pit or anything, but more just people making the show them and the artist and bumping into each other. It's not too bad, but always a good time. If it's a rapper you're already a fan of and know their lyrics then you'll have an even better time.
This could be a huge influence on a good show, but you can still fight it. If the crowd is too slow or too chaotic for your tastes, you just avoid it and block it out. It's up to you to enjoy the performance so much that it's just you and the artist on the stage. I've been in many different types of crowds and its ruined shows and made them for me. If you really want to see a band none of this should matter to you, but it's still something to keep in mind and be prepared for.
"Thank You, (Place City Here)!"
I'm not going to talk about what happens on stage. You know what you like and went because of that or because someone talked you into it. Concerts are like your favorite sports team winning or losing at the last minute, it's something you're going to talk to your friends about in glee or annoyance. Your favorite band could of completely sucked ass and you'll still talk about it because it was an experience to share. That's pretty much the definition of a social gathering and art in general. When you think about, live concerts are something that can't be duplicated.
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