The newbie's guide to concerts

So, you're going to your first concert and you don't know jack about it. I've been there, but thankfully I had family to help me out. If you don't have that, I made this guide so you can figure everything out and have a great time!

First,

Tickets

This is probably the most daunting part of the whole experience. If we're being honest, I don't know much about it either. Here's an article with some tips that I probably couldn't have given you.

The only tricks I know are...

If you're buying for a high demand show: Multiple people, multiple platforms. The queue for tickets on one platform may be 1,000, where on another platform it may be 500, and your friend might get the 100 spot where you get the 500 spot. Treat it like a raffle. More entries, more chances to win.

If you're buying on a budget: Wait until a few days before (or even the day before) the show. The remaining ticket sellers will be getting desperate and will drop their prices realllll low. This is a risky tip because it requires a lot of quick planning and being okay with the chances that no ticket sellers will drop low enough for you, but if you're really desperate, it's a good opportunity.

Before the concert

Here is where you need to do some hardcore preparing if you're trying to get good spots in the pit or trying to get merch at a big concert (I'm looking at you, My Chemical Romance fans.) If you're going to a smaller venue, you don't need to worry as much about the prep, but you still need to make sure you're good on the big three: 

Sleep. Water. Food. 

Hydration is arguably the biggest one of the big three. If someone is passing out at a concert, it's because they're dehydrated. You need to make sure you're drinking enough water the whole day of the concert and especially right beforehand, drink Liquid IV (or another electrolyte supplement, Gatorade works too) if you tend to forget to drink water. You need those electrolytes. You're probably gonna be up late and doing some jumping and singing, so also make sure you get 8 hours of sleep beforehand so you don't crash and burn afterwards, and eat a big dinner full of protein and good carbs (Like potatoes and pasta. Marathon runners eat pasta before they run for energy, that's how you know it's good.) so you have enough energy and you don't crash and burn in the middle of the concert either.

This is also when you are packing and getting ready. Make sure you have deodorant on (PLEASE) and then check your venue's rules on bags. Usually it's only small to medium clear bags allowed. Now that you have the right bag, I made you a handy dandy little list of what to pack in it! Check the rules on your venue's website too though because there's some really unexpected things some venues don't allow.

Also, don't forget to leave space for merch...

Packing list

- Phone

- ID

- Wallet

- Battery pack

- Hair tie

- Earbuds

Hearing loss is no joke, kids. You usually won't need these but they'll help preserve your hearing over time if you go to or plan on going to a lot of really loud concerts.

- Medicine

Medicine is something that seems like it wouldn't be allowed at venues, but most venues actually don't care. Take some painkiller pills just in case you get a headache or some other problem (It's usually a headache though lol.) This is pretty important to have even if you don't usually have problems with anything. Concerts are extreme situations and people have all kinds of issues at concerts that they never do in any other places. Always be careful.

Also, DON'T headbang if it gives you headaches. The medicine might help the immediate pain, but either way, that's your body telling you to stop. It's not sustainable and it's not worth the damage.

- 2 full, unopened bottles of water

One for drinking while you wait outside the venue (This could also be an electrolyte drink like I said earlier. I also don't recommend drinking alcohol before the show, for hydration reasons) and one for potentially bringing it inside. Sometimes venues will have their outside food and drink rules on their website, but sometimes they won't. Generally, the rules are one of these: 1. Every outside drink allowed (This is usually the deal at small venues, but rare at bigger ones) 2. Unopened water bottles allowed (So they know they're full of water and not anything else) 3. Water bottles with no caps allowed (So you don't throw caps at the performer) 4. No outside drink allowed at all (So you buy drinks there) So it's safer to just plan for the first rule and remove things accordingly if the venue tells you they have one of other rules.

- A pre-concert snack

I recommend trail mix. Make sure it's something you can eat before you get into the venue, because most venues don't allow outside food. Again, check the website to see the rules on this.

70% of you can probably stop here. If you're going to a big show in hot weather where you'll be in the heat for an extended period of time, read on.

- Sunscreen

- Sunglasses (mostly optional but they can be helpful)

- Electric hand fan

Electric hand fans like this one are literally lifesavers at hot concerts and they're pretty cheap too.

- Cooling towel

Same goes with cooling towels like these. These absorb water (you might need to sacrifice some water bottle for this, though some bigger outdoor venues will have fountains) and keep you cool when you put them on your neck. My family used to use these for hiking trips on summer vacations in Utah, so I can confirm they're super helpful. I can also confirm that I'm not sponsored. Actually no, can a cooling towel brand sponsor me please?

Getting to the venue

First of all, you have to figure out how early to get there. A general rule is 3-1/2 hours. 

3 hours if you're trying to get good spots in the pit or early in the merch line at a big concert

2 hours for both of those things at a medium concert (basically if it isn't sold out)

1 hour for good pit spots at a small show

1/2 hour if you have seats (or don't want front spots in the pit) and don't care about merch

Of course use your own judgement, but that's generally the guide I use.

Now if you're going to a stadium or a big venue, my favorite little pro-tip is to find the side or back door. We did this totally by accident at our MCR concert and it saved us near hours of waiting outside. We only got there like 2 hours early (yeah I know we broke my guide, we were running late) and, since we were stupid, we accidentally went to the side door of the venue instead of the front. Turns out, nobody goes to the side door, and we were only behind like 3 people and we got to the merch line IMMEDIATELY and dodged the horror story situations of the MCR 2025 merch lines. It was glorious. I don't know if venues always have open side or back entrances but check it out anyway.

If you're going to a small venue, I'd recommend getting takeout dinner and eating it in the wait line to get in.

In the pit

From here you can sort of figure things out for yourself. Don't lock your knees (locking your knees increases your chances of fainting like sevenfold,) if you're near the moshpit, stay behind the people that guard the barrier (if you're lucky there will be a bulky guy that's guarding the edges,) get IN the moshpit if you are a mosher, watch out for crowd surfers and stage divers, and have fun! Of course this is a personal decision but I'd really recommend taking a few pictures and videos at the beginning of the show and zipping your phone in your bag after that. It will really up your enjoyment of the show.

My final tip is to be present and have fun in your own way. Sing, don't sing, dance, don't dance, jump, don't jump. Just be polite and considerate of others and nobody will be judging you for how you enjoy your concert. If they are, they're not worth your energy anyway. Just have fun how you want to have fun and F the rest.

I hope this helps all you newbie concert goers! Just like my last post, this is a perpetual WIP post as I learn more things. Tell me any tips in the comments and I'll add them to the list. Have fun at all your future concert ventures!