I’ve been to 18 (I think???) total concerts and currently have ten planned for this summer (hopefully that number changes to eleven but who knows…) so I feel like I’m qualified to give you good advice. Some of this may seem like common sense but it’s easy to forget and still good to know.

Get There Early

• This one may seem like common sense but you should always always get to a concert early. It mainly depends on the venue and what seats you have but I would recommend if you have general admission tickets with no guaranteed seats you get there right when doors open to have the best view. If you have guaranteed seats then you don’t have to worry as much, but typically I like to be at the venue right when doors open to ensure I can get a good view and have plenty of time to look around and get merch before the opener comes on.

Don’t Miss the Openers

• This kind of goes with the last one but it drives me crazy how many people purposely skip the openers at concerts just because they “don’t know them” (it’s almost like that’s the point…). Look I’ll admit I’ve seen some bad openers but also I’ve discovered so many good artists because they have opened for my favorite artists, so I cannot stress enough how important it is to go see them. You truly never know who is going to be big next, like for example I saw Chappell Roan around a month before she blew up open for Olivia Rodrigo and I loved her. I also saw Beach Bunny, The Japanese House and Gracie Abrams open for artists I like and it got me super into them. Pretty much every artist starts their career by opening for someone, and I can’t lie it fills me with so much joy to tell people I saw Chappell Roan before she got famous. 

Get Merch Right Away

• Concert merchandise is crazy expensive (but in my opinion worth it), however if you make the decision to get something always go right away. No matter how long the line is it’s always better to get it over with right away then to wait until the end. I feel like the true concert experience is never complete without a $50 T-shirt complete with the tour dates on the back. Also sometimes bigger venues (like arenas) have multiple merch places open, so make sure to look at those. Also some artists now have options to get merch early way before the concert (around an hour or two before doors open), so I would recommend that if you’re close to the venue.

Eat Before

• I cannot stress to you enough how crappy concert food is. You never ever want to wait to eat at the venue. Not only is it terrible, but it’s also expensive. Personally I like to grab something quick before and eat in the car or if the venue is in Downtown Columbus I like to stop at North Market before.

Mind Your Volume 

• Concerts are a great place to hear your favorite songs live and I know it can be exciting however, PLEASE do not scream the entire concert. Nothing drives me more crazy than when I’m trying to enjoy an artist and someone is screaming uncontrollably behind me. Maybe one song fine, but it gets to a point.

Mind Your Space

• This is common sense but nothing bugs me more than when people keep bumping into me at a concert. This also goes with not pushing past people so you can see better. As a short-ish person nothing drives me more crazy than people “meeting their friends” and pushing past me just so they can get a better view. 

Stay Hydrated

• This is very very important at concerts. You’ll be moving and singing a lot and it’s super easy to get dehydrated very very quickly. Venue water is often crazy expensive but honestly sometimes it’s your only option. However my strategy to avoid buying it is to keep a filled up water bottle in the car for after. Also sometimes venues allow you to bring your own water bottle as long as it’s unopened, but just to be safe I recommend checking the venues website before you go.

Live in the Moment

• I sound a little old saying that but I feel like it’s a good thing to remember. I know how it feels to want to record every song, especially when it’s a favorite artist of yours but I highly recommend narrowing it down and only recording your favorite parts. Also this isn’t me saying don’t record at all for the record, you just need to find a middle ground. 

Have a Good Bag

• If I’m being honest I don’t actually follow this rule every time, but I definitely should. You do a lot of moving at concerts and it’s very easy to lose your phone or wallet (it’s also hard to hold onto sometimes … .I accidentally dropped my phone several times and almost hit someone when I saw Charli XCX so definitely don’t make my mistake…). Each venue is different with their bag policy and typically it is posted on their website. I have a clear bag that fits venue requirements that I like to bring to hold my phone and wallet. 

Check What The Venue Does or Doesn’t Allow in

• This sort of goes with the last one but every venue is different and you definitely don’t want to get turned down by security trying to get in. Most venues as I mentioned before allow some type of bag, but I’ve also been to venues that allow no bags whatsoever. You also definitely want to check if a venue is cashless before you go if you want to pay with cash, as most venues are now. If you want to make a sign to go see an artist (which I personally don’t recommend as they are annoying to the people around you), make sure you check to see if the venue allows it and what size it has to be. Most venues’ policies are pretty typical and just safety things, like no fireworks or anything illegal, but it’s always good to double check. Also sometimes artists have their own things that aren’t allowed in, like some artists don’t allow certain types of camera, so sometimes you may have to check there as well.