In my eyes, there\u2019s nothing better than live music. The real-time, in-person connections shared between performers and audiences are something truly sacred and special. At their best, gigs and concerts can foster a sense of belonging, help you make friends for life, and bring you to tears for all the right reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The highs are certainly high, but with rising prices and poor crowd etiquette, how low can they go? Here are some of the best and worst parts of the live music experience\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
High Prices<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone else pay ludicrous amounts for an Oasis ticket? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cost of living crisis, paired with large-scale, mainstream events dominating the industry, has resulted in gig-goers struggling to keep up with skyrocketing ticket prices. Recently, we\u2019ve seen outrageously high \u201cdynamic pricing\u201d on sites like Ticketmaster, and while many performers have pushed back against this, others have kept quiet or even actively supported it. The rich are getting richer and the public are forking over hundreds just to catch a glimpse of them; all the while, grassroots local music scenes are left struggling to stay afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Perfect Setlist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While there are endless setlist archives online that can give you an idea of what to expect, there\u2019s something wonderful about letting yourself be surprised time and time again throughout the set. The excitement you\u2019ll feel when you hear the first note, chord, or words of your favourite song will not be forgotten. Different kinds of setlists have their individual strengths. Acts performing a body of work in its entirety really harvest a sense of cathartic storytelling, while those playing all the hits will have the crowd singing along with every word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phone Screens vs. Living In The Moment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve all been there. You\u2019re seeing your favourite band or artist live in concert, and just as they\u2019re about to play your favourite song, the person in front of you holds their phone up into the air, recording a long video they\u2019ll never watch again, selfishly blocking your view. To keep myself in check, I remind myself that there will always be a better quality recording of that same song, probably from that same show, so other than a short clip to document my own perspective, there\u2019s not really much point in using up my phone storage and annoying the people around me. Living in the moment just feels so much better, and you\u2019ll feel a greater connection to those around you and the performance in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personal & Shared Connections<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s nothing quite like physically experiencing the music that means so much to you. In today\u2019s digital age, we often find ourselves developing parasocial relationships with our favourite musical artists, so the opportunity to see and hear them in real life is not to be missed. There\u2019s no better feeling than screaming your lungs out to those oh-so-relatable lyrics, and that split second of eye contact with another audience member, or even the performers themselves, that conveys just how much it all means to you both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concert Etiquette<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mosh pits and crowd surfing are both so fun, but I\u2019m often put off by people, usually inconsiderate men, whose poor etiquette makes it unsafe to partake in either. While it is important to be realistic in your ability to hold your own in a busy crowd, moshing, crowdsurfing, and standing in general need to be better maintained as inclusive activities; regulated by venue staff, performers, and audience members looking out for each other. You\u2019re all part of the same community, so when someone falls, pick them back up again and make sure they\u2019re okay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Words by Tom Pilkington<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo courtesy of Lobar Qudratovna. No changes have been made to this image.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In my eyes, there\u2019s nothing better than live music. 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