When we think of concerts, typically we don’t think of it as a solo endeavour. We’re going with friends or family or both, and making an entire event out of the main event. But has the culture changed? Lately a lot of people, including myself, are starting to go to concerts alone and it’s becoming increasingly popular to do so. A lot of factors can contribute to this recent trend though.
Pricing:
Concerts in recent years have been increasingly more expensive, especially for the big artists we have been dying to see since childhood. Not only are ticketing sites tacking on more hidden fees that can make or break purchasing a concert ticket entirely, but as more artists gain more traction, their concert ticket prices rise because of their popularity.Â
Pricing is also a factor when going with friends. There might be situations where you’re able to afford a ticket one time but your friends can’t or vice versa. And because sometimes artists going on tour are limited time opportunities (there’s a chance they may never perform live again or if they do, it’s way down the line or at an unexpected time when you can’t realistically attend), you’re down to going alone just to not miss the chance altogether.Â
Scheduling:
Not only do concerts have unexpected pricing (good or bad), they also have unexpected timing. Some artists give you a few months to a year to purchase a ticket because they aren’t touring right away or they start touring basically tomorrow when you have bills due and of course, your town or city is one of the first to be visited. Along with that, you have to work around your work and potentially school schedule. And if you want to go with friends, you have to work around theirs as well, which can get complicated. Sometimes artists are staying in a city for more than one day so you may have some flexibility but other times, they are in your town for one night and one night only so you have to make a decision. Contemplating whether you’re going or not then if you’re going with friends or alone. Going alone, which may not be as fun as going with friends (but I guess this depends on who you ask), allows you to not miss out on seeing one of your favorite artists because your friends are busy (which is okay!).Â
Focus and freedom:
Going alone then allows you to work on your schedule freely without worrying about somebody else. You can get ready when you want, eat when you want, and arrive at the venue at the time you want without worrying if someone will be running behind. Especially if this is an artist you truly love that potentially also your friends didn’t want to see because of differing music tastes. It also grants you the freedom to fully immerse yourself into the experience and get to focus on it without keeping a group together. You are still able to enjoy the concert as a whole experience and even potentially connect with new people who have the same or similar musical interests as you.Â
Going to concerts with friends is definitely not a bad thing, it is still a very fun thing that should still happen as much as possible because it’s such a unique experience that should not be celebrated alone. But in case it is, it’s not half bad to go alone either. It can still be just as rewarding as going with friends and may just be more realistic for some people than others in order to still attend social events while balancing a life filled with work and other interactions. Whether you’re going to concerts alone or with a group, it’s important to remember to have fun but also stay safe.Â