I love concerts! I have been to many in my lifetime, starting with Justin Bieber when I was 8. My concert-experience repertoire is full of a variety of show experiences: sitting in the back of the balcony, sitting in the front row, lodge seats, you name it! But with Harry Styles going on tour this year, I was going to be in a general admission pit for the first time, leading me to go on a massive search for concert advice so I could be prepared. My extensive research, coupled with my personal experience, inspired me to put together a guide to impart my wisdom.

Thus, I present to you, Amanda’s 8-step guide to concerts!

1. Hydrate! Concerts are a crowded, sweaty place regardless of where your seats are located. However, this is especially important if you are seated in a general admission pit, where you will be standing for hours amongst other enthusiastic fans. If you decide to purchase a drink during the show, make sure to keep an eye on it: you are in proximity to so many people and you want to be careful!
2. Get lots of sleep! You’re going to be spending a lot of energy dancing around and singing, so make sure you get enough sleep the night before. There is no worse feeling than zombie-ing around at a packed concert venue; you want to be alert and enjoy the show!
3. Eat before the show! This is particularly important if you are in the pit for a concert because once you’re in, chances are you will not be getting back out. Like the other two tips, you want to be alert, able to enjoy the show, and not hungry. Not only will being hungry take away from your experience, but if you want to be safe and not have to leave the pit because you don’t feel well, you should eat a snack (and stay hydrated)!
4. Stand your ground! If you have seated tickets, you may not need to worry about this as much, but if you have tickets in a general admission area, be prepared to take up space and stand your ground. Be kind to the other people in the pit, but if you want to keep your spot, make sure you take up the space you need and stand firm.
5. Charge your phone! Your phone battery is one of the most important things you’ll need all night. You’ll need it to take photos and videos of your favorite songs, text your friends, and post to social media. Plus, make sure to keep it charged so that you can contact your guardians and whoever is picking you up. If you’re worried about your phone battery dying, portable chargers are a great investment that can keep you topped up during the show.
6. Dress for the heat! Regardless of the time of year, concerts are always hot! If you’re going to a concert in a colder month, make sure to bring layers so that you don’t overheat during the show.
7. Stay up-to-date on alerts! Check your email and the venue’s and artist’s websites. Make sure you keep up with the latest information about your show! It’s good practice to double check vaccination and mask requirements at your venue before your show to make sure you have all of the necessary information with you. Plus, many venues will send out details about where to be and what time to be there in the days before the show, and you want to keep up-to-date with that information.
8. Have fun and stay safe! Concerts are meant to be a fun experience for everyone involved! Let yourself enjoy the energy of the crowd and the artist’s performance.

Hopefully with these tips you will be able to have an exciting, safe, and comfortable concert experience!

-Amanda