As someone who's been to way too many concerts to even count, I thought it would be helpful to share some Tips on how to have The Best concert experience. By no means am I a professional ticket buyer, venue worker, or anything of that sort, but I have been to a lot of different concerts in venues across a few states. Your experience may differ depending on the size of the venue, the popularity of the artist you're seeing, and how close or far away the concert is being held to your home. These tips are essential for the avid-concert goers who don't believe any distance is too far to see their favorite singer or band perform live.
1) Top tip, start saving money now
Concert tickets can be pretty pricey depending on how famous the artist you're seeing is, and how close to the stage you want to be. You'll also have to pay for gas, parking, and potentially a hotel if you're traveling far. If you plan on buying anything at the venue, like food or merchandise, you'll need to save up even more.
2) Get your tickets as soon as possible
Tickets can sell out in minutes, so it's crucial that you try to buy tickets the moment they go on sale. It is possible to get tickets the day before or even on the day of the show, but it's not always a guarantee. Buying from an official ticketing site or the venue's website is your best bet at securing good tickets for face value.
If you wait too long to get tickets, you'll most likely have to resort to buying from a resale site where the prices can be inflated tremendously.
3) Plan transportation and accommodation in advance
Concerts in your hometown are great and convenient, but what if you want to go somewhere 200 miles away to see your favorite band?
You'll need to figure out how you're getting there and where you're staying sooner rather than later. You don't want to miss out on a show because you couldn't get a ride. Also, reserving a hotel early on will most likely save you some money in the long-run, since prices usually increase based on demand. For example, if you book a hotel three months in advance you may spend $80 for a night's stay.
If you book a hotel three nights before the concert, you might end up paying $100 for the same room.
4) Eat before you go to the show
Pretty much everything is overpriced at arenas, and the food is no exception. Try to eat something before you get to the venue, that'll keep you full and energized. Concerts usually run about three hours long depending on how many opening acts there are. Plus you'll have to take the time you wait to eat before and after the show into consideration. You usually can't bring outside food or drinks into the venue, but you could keep some snacks in your car for after the show.
5) Get to the venue early
The last thing you want to happen on your way is getting stuck in traffic.
Plan on getting to the venue early to beat the rush, get a parking spot, and get lined up to go through security. You should definitely plan on arriving early if you have general admission tickets because your seat is a first-come-first-serve basis.
6) Have fun
At the end of the day, you're spending a lot of time and money to go to this concert. So let loose, go crazy, and have a great time! You never know when you'll get the chance to see your favorite artist again.
