Recounting my first solo concert experience. Throughout my retelling, I have some tips and tricks to guide you on how to have a successful concert going experience by yourself.
A few weeks ago, R&B artist Steve Lacy played a show on his “Give You the World” tour, at The Fillmore in Philadelphia. I’ve been a fan of Lacy since his time in the Grammy-nominated group called “The Internet,” and when Lacy announced his tour, I knew there was no way that I could miss it.
However, something that I also knew is that although Lacy may not be an artist that all parents have heard of, his fan base is young, passionate, and is quickly gaining in numbers. Days before the presale times I scoped out Reddit to see if people had posted presale passwords or any information on how their ticket-buying experience went.
I joined the waiting room for the first presale day minutes before, and I felt relatively confident, which was an absolute mistake. I didn’t even make it into the room; my screen glitched and it wasn’t possible to get back into the waiting room line. At that point I was annoyed but I also had some faith because there was a Spotify presale a few days after. This was also poorly timed, as I did not get a ticket from that presale either. Once I got into the room, tickets were $150. I stuttered. I did not know what to do at that moment.
Now I know $150 is in no way a hidden treasure, but for a 19-year-old college student who buys $5 coffees all week and lives off 6 hours a week student job, calling $150 a treasure would not be far-fetched. I saw this number and immediately shut my computer to think. On one shoulder I felt the devil taunting me with the low number in my bank account, but I also heard the angel reminding me that experiences are worth it, on my opposite shoulder.
That day I thankfully gave into the angel and went back to buy a resale ticket that was around $150. Now unfortunately I was originally supposed to see Steve with a friend (rough plan, no hard feelings, haha). I told her how much the tickets were, and she decided to gracefully bow out. Which she is so very valid for, considering how much the tickets cost.
But in the back of my mind once I realized I’d be going by myself, I hit a quick nervous spell. I would say I’m reasonably independent and I don’t mind talking to strangers, but there was something about having this type of experience alone that felt different to me. I’ve attended many concerts in the past and it always felt like going to a concert as a social thing that you do with groups of people. I always associate concerts with excitement that gets built upon by each person’s presence there. You talk about it with your friends for weeks, planning out your outfits, and getting ready all together. I knew that this was a scenario where I would have to be my own hype man, but I also knew that seeing Steve was beyond worth it.
I got to the concert at about 5:30 p.m. on that day (doors opened at 8:00 p.m.) Luckily, I knew two girls from my school who were going to the concert, so I took an Uber there with them, but they had VIP tickets, so we were not waiting in the same area. Their line was very close to the venue, and when I saw my line, it was already down 2 blocks. I looked down the line and I saw teens and adults in their early 20’s sporting baggy pants, brightly colored beanies, and d** pens; I knew I was in the right place. Being the poor planner I was, I left my apartment with about 50 percent battery. I knew I was going home with those girls, and we established a meeting place, so I wouldn’t be in too much trouble, but I should have charged it more.
Once I saw how low my battery was, and how there was still 2 ½ more hours of waiting, I knew I needed to talk to someone. The girl behind me in line was alone so I spoke to her. It was probably a little awkward at first, but we ended up talking for probably about 10 minutes just about Steve and concerts we’d been to in Philly before. After talking to her for a few minutes her boyfriend came back from getting them food and the conversation sort of fizzled. I was on my phone for a few minutes after that but was yet again reminded of how much waiting time was left, and how low my battery was.
I realized that I wanted to try and talk to more people. The girl in front of me also looked alone, so I decided to talk to her. We really hit it off. She’s been a Steve Lacy fan for a very long time and loves R&B music. She goes to the same college as I do and is in art school. She also goes to concerts alone all the time and supplied much of the actual advice spewed in this article. In line she had a water bottle and was eating a stack of crackers. She also had gum, her needed cards, a little cash, a portable charger, and hand sanitizer in her purse. Clearly, she was at a different level of preparedness. But she said how necessary it was. Small concert venues are intense. Young kids are drinking and doing drugs with hundreds of people in such a small space, and many of them are not realizing the toll it will take on their bodies.
If you are going to go to a concert, especially if you are drinking, you need to be prepared. You must have something in your stomach beforehand, and you should have water to hydrate you throughout. I know that holding things can be oh so annoying, but safety at these types of events is so important. Especially when you are alone.
While waiting in line the cousin of the girl I met, met up with us. We also hit it off. After talking for a little while, she got a text from one of her friends earlier in line that we should move up in line with her. (Warning, this is not a smart decision). At first, I stayed in our spot just to make sure they had a spot closer in line, but we exchanged numbers and I found them a few minutes later. Our “new spot” was way up front, and we thought we were on the top of the world. Without a doubt we were going to be in the front row with our new seats, and we couldn’t wait.
Except, this was simply too good to be true. We lasted in this line for about 45 minutes, until a girl in line behind us told a security guard that we had cut in line. We wanted to punch this girl at that moment. We were sent to the back of the line, which was about 7 blocks down at that point. Group morale was a bit down as we realized we weren’t going to be very close to Steve, but it also just felt like part of the experience. It was a minor setback in the overall journey.
We had about an hour left of waiting before we got inside. That hour was filled with random stories about concerts attended before, talking about wanting experiences but on a budget, taking photos under the streetlights, and any other thoughts that popped into our brains. Finally, we made our way into the venue, and it felt like we reached the top of Machu Picchu. Despite the odds of being at the back of the line, we made it in, and got close actually. Unfortunately, as the opener, Foushee, went on, we got separated. They reached back to grab my hand, but I told them to go on. And honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun at a concert.
I screamed Steve’s lyrics at the top of my lungs, and in that moment truly nothing else mattered.
When I was by myself at the concert it felt so intimate but also so social at the same time. I spoke to more people at that show than I ever had at any show prior. And although I did meet a few people, once Steve hit the stage it felt like no one else really existed. It was fun to sing along to his songs with the girls on the sides of me, us all screaming into the abyss of the sky that greatly juxtaposed the sardines we felt like on the floor, but again it really didn’t feel like I was there with anyone at all. But in the best way. I didn’t have to worry about if all my friends could see and everyone was having a good time. It was just me, and it was so incredibly freeing.
I strongly recommend going to a concert by yourself. To some people I’m sure it doesn’t seem like a big deal doing an activity like that, but for me it proved to myself that I don’t need to feel secure with people to have a good time; I can do that for myself. I obviously think I had some missteps in my experience, and should’ve gone about some things differently, but it was a first experience. I’m so lucky that I had it.