This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Clemson chapter.
The best part about live music is that no matter where you end up standing,
the quality of sound does not change; the view and company around you are a
different story though. SO whether you are a novice concert-goer or you constantly
have 2-3 shows planned a week on your SongKick app, we can all relate to these five
typical experiences everyone will eventually encounter, and if not, hope you’ll get a
kick out of mine because you can meet some interesting people at concerts.
1. The Nosebleeds
This is the back of the bar, field, stadium, etc. and it usually only exists
in large venue types. Meaning if you bough these tickets, you are a
dedicated fan, but the reason you ended up in these seats was because
A) you aren’t a millionaire, B) you were unsure about going, C) you
were unaware the tickets were already on sale or D) all of the above.
It’s not the worst thing in the world to sit here. When my parents and
I saw Fleetwood Mac we were extremely high up, but we didn’t have
to worry about dancing too obnoxiously or blocking someone’s view,
and it ended up being one of my favorite concerts!
2. The Balcony
Like the nosebleeds, this spot does not always exist at a concert, if the
venue is small enough it might just be one large open room with a bar,
but when it does exist, it’s slightly better than the nosebleeds. A few of
my friends call it the best spot at a concert if you’re claustrophobic or
an introvert! The reason for this is because there is no one directly in
front of you, and you get a great view of the stage without being
pushed or shoved around. One of my favorite venues, The Georgia
Theatre in Athens, GA, has a phenomenal view of the stage and
everyone standing in the pit. So if you’re someone who is a people-
watcher and into the band but not in a know-every-song obsessed
kind of way, I would say this is the place for you!
3. The Back of the Pit
You probably just got out of college and believe that you still need to
be right where the action is, along with everyone else who is raging
around you, but then you remember you’re an adult and you have to
get up early and do adult things the next day so you can’t get too
rowdy, and so you’re in the back of where the party is at. More than
likely you will get a contact high and ruin at least one article of
clothing (more than likely your shoes) from the constant movement of
the crowd to and from the bar that’s located behind or next to you. I’m
going to emphasize that this is a high-traffic area due to people
walking between the merchandise, bathroom, and bar. I stood in this
area for Cold War Kids at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC, and let’s
just say RIP to my black booties.
4. Middle of the Pit
You are young and full of adventure, and want to get as close as
possible but you aren’t dedicated enough to show up five hours before
anyone else. I call this area the Wild Wild West of the venue because
you will more than likely to witness something illegal or strange
activities, usually it’s nothing more than X’s being washed off hands
and weird dance moves, but this is usually where I stand for shows
because if the band decides to crowd surf or pop a bottle of Andre
onto the crowd that’s exactly where it all lands.
5. Front Row
Before I explain this position, a round of applause to anyone who
makes it to the front row and is able to keep it. This is an intense
section for those who are very serious about shows, and I’m going to
warn for those who like to always look cute, you’ll go into the front
row cute, but after hours under the stage lights, you’re going to come
out a hot sweaty mess.