Last week, I went to my first concert in Boston. All I remember is a crazy crowd, burly security guards, and a whole lot of screaming—but I also remember that it was nothing like what I imagined it to be. Here is a list of all the things I thought were surprisingly different from what I had in mind:
- The Wait
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Expect a wait. Expect to wait to be seated, to hear the first beats of music, and even to catch a glimpse of the main artist. I remember waiting outside the venue for about half an hour before they finally started letting us in. The opening acts took up around two hours, and by the time the artist showed up on stage, the crowd was exhausted. It also happened to be around 30 F that night, and if I hadn’t brought a jacket with me while I waited outside, I would’ve frozen from the cold!
- The People
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What kind of crowd you will encounter entirely depends on the type of concert you attend. If you’re at an EDM festival or a hip-hop artist’s concert, expect a wild crowd and tons of moshing (when concert goers aggressively slam into each other in the middle of a crowd) and if you’re at a pop artist’s concert, prepare for crazy fangirl screams. Just know that you’re going to be surrounded by super energetic people from beginning to end!
- The Sensory Overload
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If you’ve never been to a concert before, the sheer amount of light and sound is going to be overwhelming. I remember my ears popping as music began blaring from speakers and my feet thrumming as thunderous bass shook the floorboards. If that wasn’t enough, the lights mounted to the wall spun in crazy patterns, different colors coalescing into a rainbow of shine. The air smelled like an odd combination of sweet perfume and rancid food, and after a while my nose just stopped trying to differentiate the scents. Your senses are going to be so confused for a while because of the sudden flurry of activity, but trust me– you’ll adjust in no time!
- The Safety Checks
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A concert attracts people from different parts of town, with some even willing to travel outside their cities to attend one. It’s important to understand that in compact environments like these, a person’s safety may get compromised– especially if there’s alcohol involved. To avoid situations you don’t want to be in, try going with a group of friends so you all can stick together. Always make sure the people next to you aren’t too drunk, and if they are, move away (I would suggest pregaming at a safe place if you want to go to a concert tipsy). If you’re not into moshing, don’t stand in the middle of the crowd– that’s where moshing tends to start! Be aware of your surroundings and you’ll be just fine.
Going to a concert is definitely an experience worth saving up for. Nothing beats seeing your favorite artist in real life, and the fact that the stadium is packed with people who are just as hyped as you are is an inexplicably euphoric feeling in its own right. The lights, the hollers, and the beats are going to make sure you have an unforgettable time!
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