In the past year, my life has consisted of eating, sleeping, studying, and basically living at the Filmore. As a person who goes for fun as well as to cover concerts as press, I've amassed 5 tips that will help you have an enjoyable time.
- Dress cute, but comfortable. At the end of the day, no one is going to remember what you're wearing, the band especially. Unless of course you plan on taking full body photos (why? just take a selfie). The reality of a concert is that you're going to be standing around for a while waiting for either to be let in or for the band to start. Wear shoes that are comfortable and anything but canvas/cloth. Liquids tend to get spilt more often than not.
- Buy/Bring water. Staying hydrated is key. It's usually hot in the pit, so either bring a water bottle with you (some venues don't check) or buy one from concessions before going in. Trust me, it will make a world of difference.
- Don't put all of your money in one place. You can thank my mother for this tip. In the case that you get pick pocketed (it's never happened to me but you can never be too wary) having your money spread out through your pockets will ensure that you don't lose it all. I would also recommend not bringing too much money with you in the first place.
- Bring ear plugs. But Viv, aren't I going to the concert because I want to listen to their music? Yes anonymous blog reader, you are, but you shouldn't have to sacrifice a life of hearing for one night of good music. This is especially important if you're in a venue that is known for bad acoustics. And trust me, if the music is so loud and ear drum piercing that you need ear plugs, you'll still be able to hear the band/artist perfectly fine with them in.
- Make sure your phone is charged. I CANNOT STRESS THIS MORE. It sucks when half way through the show and you're already at 8% battery. It then becomes a game of "which song should I sacrifice recording" and "I guess I'll have to live with only taking 10 photos of the really hot lead singer." You should never have to look back on a concert and think "wow I really would have had fun if I wasn't so concentrated on my phone." A solution to this is buying one of those on the go chargers like this one. They're small, inexpensive, and pretty efficient.