After months of losing the ticket war, I finally scored $100 obstructed-view seats for night 2 of Olivia Rodrigoâs Unraveled Tour, and I wouldnât change a single thing. Weâre constantly told that our college years and twenties are for collecting experiences and making memories. But in a live music economy where nosebleeds can cost as much as a month’s rent, âliving your life to the fullestâ can come at a steep price.
I would be lying if I said the âobstructedâ label didnât make me nervous, especially considering it was opening weekend and I had no idea what to expect in terms of stage design. Even though $100 is considered ‘cheap’ for a concert these days, at the end of the day it is still $100 I could be spending on more practical things as a college student like rent, groceries, or textbooks. But when that Ticketmaster countdown clock is ticking, itâs easy to panic and lose sight of rational financial decisions with a college studentâs budget in the rush to secure a seat.Â
When stepping into the arena and seeing the view from our section, I immediately realized Iâd worried over nothing. In fact, I was impressed by how close we were â especially considering people paid over $200 for a view just a few feet to our left. While my view of the screen was at a strange angle, I didnât even feel the need to look at it because I was in awe of how my ‘obstructed’ seats allowed me to see Olivia from closer than I had ever been at a concert.
Itâs not often you get to visualize what the artist sees when they look out into the crowd, but from my seat, I practically got to experience a sea of faces singing back. We even caught backstage moments that no other section could see. Between the three different stages and a U-shaped stage design, the setup ensured there truly wasnât a bad seat in the house; she made sure to utilize every inch of space and give attention to all corners of the arena.
Going to concerts as a college student can be tricky, but I believe the key is snagging cheap seats to enjoy the live experience and make memories without breaking the bank. There’s a constant pressure from social media to have front-row floor seats for aesthetic pictures and status, but it’s a mindset we need to unlearn in order to have fun while making smart, realistic financial choices. Before pulling the trigger on tickets, itâs always a good idea to check online view-from-my-seat pictures or websites for the venue. This is a great way to figure out whether those âobstructed viewâ tickets are a steal or if itâs worth spending a little bit more for a more enjoyable experience.
Concerts aren’t about having an Instagram-perfect view; theyâre about the shared adrenaline of screaming your favorite songs alongside thousands of strangers. So save your money, text your best friend, and buy the cheap seats. You wonât regret it.
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