This past weekend, I went to a Zach Bryan concert in St. Louis, Missouri. We drove there and back in the same day. The concert was my 14th concert, with plenty more to come in 2026. Live music is amazing, but there are some ways to do it right or wrong, so here are my personal tips to make the most out of your experience!
1. OBVIOUSLY FIND YOUR GROUP
This could take some trial and error, BUT find a good group that is willing to spend the money and have some experience. Make sure they are people who are able to plan, but also have so much fun. Finding a group where each person can take responsibility is important. In my group, there are four of us. One is the driver; she is always willing to drive no matter the distance. Another one buys and handles parking and tickets. We Venmo him for everything, and he makes sure it’s all on one phone for ease. My job is usually packing things needed like deodorant, hand sanitizer, and obviously the digital camera. The last friend is the one in charge of planning; she figures out the time, where we will be heading, and food plans. Having our group, it makes it easier for everything to go smoothly, so we can focus on the music!
2. LISTEN TO THE OPENER
There is no shame in ‘studying’ for a concert, but there is some in not knowing the opener AT ALL. Knowing and being able to sing as many songs as possible makes the event ten times more fun. Even if it’s one of the ways to the concert, make sure you listen to the opener before the event. Too many times I’ve been to a concert and heard an opener and fallen in love and been mad that I was not able to sing along in the moment.
3. FIND the perfect outfit
Taking pictures beforehand is 100% apart of the experience, but don’t let the outfit ruin how comfortable you are. NO ONE CARES HOW YOU LOOK. I have been to many country concerts where I didn’t wear cowboy boots or a hat…. I was not about to wear some uncomfortable shoes just for pictures, just crop the picture so they don’t show your feet. I think it is fun to pick out a specific outfit, but dont let the cute clothes be the reason you get gonna blisters.
4. DOn’t overpack your bag
This one may be controversial, but honestly, I have walked into a concert with just keys, my phone, and lip gloss. It takes the stress off completely. Cover yourself with perfume and deodorant before you walk in, and you will be fine. Having to carry around a bag and constantly making sure you know where it is can be stressful. Once you attend a few concerts its easy to know what you do and don’t need.
Don’t forget to live in the moment and have so much fun!
