by
STiCKs13
@ 24 Aug. 2008 - 05:55:27
Hi there. Have you ever wondered what to do regarding gigs to make it more enjoyable? What not to do? What do to before and after the gig? How not to look like/BE an ass? How to avoid getting fucked in the ass?
My name is SJ, I really love gigs and I've been going to them since I was about 17 frequently and I've met a lot of people, famous and otherwise, I'm 19 now.
There are many types of gigs but in this case I guess I'd be talking about a standing music gig. This is only because seated gigs are much easier for people to grasp the concept of, whether it's music or comedy or whatever, and as comedy gigs are usually seated ones, I'm not gonna include them. However, some points from this list will also be useful at seated gigs too.
Before the gig
You have to prepare well, even some little things count big later on, like forgetting your ticket. Imagine you get super prepared for a gig, you've got everything but forget you ticket? It doesn't matter how prepared you are, if you forget that then you're basically screwed...in the ass.
Make a re-useable gig list - I've already highlighted a few key things below but a list would help a lot, and one that you don't have to write out every time you go gigging.
Eat before the gig - nothing is worse than losing your energy at a gig, especially when standing up. I've collapsed at Reading Festival before.
Sleep well before the gig - same as above really. I've fallen asleep at a gig before on someone's shoulder and basically felt like crap.
Go to the toilet before the gig - this sounds like such a mum thing to say but it's actually helpful, nothing's worse than wanting to pee in the middle of a gig cause you lose concentration and just start thinking about wanting to pee rather than about the quality of the gig. Plus, queues at toilets are usually looooong, especially at large gigs.
Double check you know where the venue is - cause nothing sucks like getting painfully lost. I caught the bus about 3 miles out of where I was supposed to go once and was about 2 hours late. Taking directions with you is useful, I usually write my directions in my phone from Google Maps and take the London Underground map with me as back-up.
Double check train times - if you miss your last train after a late gig, I think you're screwed too, especially if you have nowhere to stay. And getting there on time is fun too so check your train times to get there as well.
Phone the venue to confirm things which may be uncertain - if you don't know what time a gig finishes and you need to get home, phone them! If you still get an unsure answer, make a plan B in case you can't get home. Also, age limits, double check with the venue what they are if you're underage and it doesn't specify on the website or something.
Don't forget I.D. - if you look young, some gigs don't even let people in if they don't show I.D. so this is basically as precious as your ticket, just slightly less so.
Make sure you know where your ticket is - don't be an idiot and lose it the day before the gig or something, or like I said, an object and your ass will be becoming very intimate towards each other - you're screwed. Don't put it in a place that could get it taken too. If you have pets or kids in the house, don't leave it out somewhere like on the coffee table, are you insane? Treat you ticket like your own child. Minus the abuse. Disclaimer: Sticks is kidding.
Sort out who you're going with - don't be confused about meeting times and who's going the day before the gig, it'll only stress you out and disappoint you if your friends can't go because they've got a funeral or something. Do not insist that a gig is more important than the funeral of Aunt Betty who died of cancer.
Don't be late - I am the biggest hypocrite in the world to be saying this but please make sure you leave at the right time and don't go something like, "Oh but I've nearly completed my game, I need to just quickly do this then I'll--" look, NO, okay? Just no. Fucking leave the house you tardy piece of shit, no one likes a latecomer.
Make sure you have credit on your phone - again, hypocrite but what if you can't find your friends or get lost or something?
Charge everything before you leave - phone, MP3 player, camera, anything that needs charging.
Make sure nothing clashes with the gig date - what if YOU have a funeral to attend? Again, don't insist the gig is more important...even if it really is. And if you work, make sure you either get off work in time or arrange to have the day off in advance. Or pull a sicky if you forget? No, don't.... Well you can but it's best not to. Only do this is the gig is VERY important. Oh who am I kidding, all gigs are marginally important...
And if you have another gig you forget about then go to the most important one. Both are very important? You can't choose? You're screwed then, mate.
Don't preen to perfection if it's just gonna get messed up later on - moshpit/rough crowd hair should be waking up, combing/brushing/running hand through it [if that's how you roll] and that's it. Unless you think it's important as hell to look really good on the way to the gig. And make-up...no one would be that dumb as to get a full make-over before a crowded gig, would they? They would? Oh, then stop being dumbasses. It's alright if you know the gig is gonna be small or not moshy though, but still, you make get sweaty and it'll fuck it up anyway. Or it might not... But who gets a make-over before a gig anyway? Oh whatever, I don't care.
Bring appropriate clothing for the crowd - why bring a massive hoodie if you're gonna be boiling as hell? Cloackroom or holding it if it's cold outside is the only option...
Make sure you have enough money - this is less important than the ticket but more important than ID [if it messes up your plan to actually get there]. If you get to the train station or the gig and realise you have no money...what the hell? If you're catching a train you're gonna have to go back home and get it and if you're at the gig, you won't be able to have a back-up if you really want merchandise or are really hungry.
Don't set your hopes high that you're gonna meet the person/people you're seeing after the gig - this is never always easy and some leave a different way anyway.
Less accessories at crowded gigs mean you're less likely to get hurt, annoy others and become an ass - I've gotten my lip ring cause in someone's hair while they were headbanging...simple as. This can happen with necklaces, bracelets...anything. If you insist on wearing some jewelery then keep it to a minimum and tuck your necklace in your top, if you can't do so then best not to wear one unless it's like a choker. By accessories I mean bags too, but if you do take a bag into a crowd, make it one that straps across your body, not a backpack or a handbag *is guilty of the latter bag on several occasions, it just hurts your arm*
Don't take a ton of shit you won't need either to lessen the baggage. You do not need hairspray or a stuffed animal [why someone would take one anyway...I dunno]. Use the cloakroom if you really do need a big bag if you really must.
Listen to the stuff by the act you're gonna see - this isn't a must but it's just nice to and gets you more in the mood.
Don't brag - if you do this to people that really wanted to go, you're an ass and I no longer have sympathy if you get screwed in the ass.
What is with me and mentioning being screwed in the ass??
Buy more than one ticket if you have no one to go with - if you really don't want to go alone, just buy two tickets instead. If you still find no one and the gig is getting closer, you can easily sell it to a stranger, I'm sure someone would buy it. If not...you're screwed?
Take a camera - but only if you really do intend on using it, if not, it becomes extra baggage.
Queue at the right time - you think a lot of people are gonna be there? Get there a few hours early then. Make sure you know when the doors are set to open too but you should have got that covered in a point before this one to confirm things with the venue if you're unsure.
At the gig
Make sure you know the lyrics you're singing along to - I hate when people sing really loud at gigs but the lyrics are completely off, and don't be one of those people that knows a few words, mumbles something when it gets to a bit you don't know to try and make it look like you know them, then sing the rest of what you know...you piss me off and sound terrible.
Don't wave you hands or clap for the whole thing - it's alright at moments but if it's all the time...just no, okay? It annoys people around you and plus you lose energy faster.
Don't try and start moshpits if it's clearly not happening - if you do this in the wrong type of music too or at the wrong time, you will be branded an ass.
Clap at the right times - clapping is fine but don't go overboard when people have already stopped, you'll look like an idiot; people will laugh and stare.
Don't try and push your way to the front if the crowd won't let you pass cause then you cause what I like to call the ripple or domino effect. Plus, it's bloody rude.
Don't think you're better than someone cause you got a closer place - it doesn't matter whereabouts you're situated, as long as you enjoyed yourself.
Get excited! - if you just stand there and sway a bit to a band, especially the main act, people will think you're insane especially if it's the type that causes moshing to occur.
Take pictures/videos at the right times - don't hold your camera up for the whole gig, the people behind you will get annoyed. Only get best bits.
Be careful with your words - don't say you hate a band for example if hardcore fans surround you, again, you will be branded an ass. Keep it to yourself.
Feel free to say how much you enjoy it but don't act like you're on crack or shake the person next to you going, "THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!!!!"
Intoxication - being drunk at a gig is never good at the end, you either forget stuff or are more likely to do something out-of-character and be embarrassed. Same with drugs.
After the gig
It's not over yet...
Can you sign this? - don't be so eager to meet the act after that you fuck up your plans to get home or something cause if in the end you don't meet them anyway, I'm just gonna laugh at you really hard, even if I don't know you/have no idea it happened. To be safe, I'll laugh really hard right now for anyone that's ever done this: HAHAHAHA YOU IDIOTS!!!!
Be niiiice - if you do meet them, don't be an idiot. I could list a whole bunch of things not to do but the list would be like another sub-set to this post and there's no need, just remember: they're ordinary people just like you.
Review it - either review the night or write about it somewhere if you don't want to forget it or found it really awesome.
END.
You don't have to memorise this list but a read through once or maybe even twice to get the basics would be cool if you want to survive your next gig. This isn't even a must, it's just help, really...hell, I don't follow a lot of what's on here but I should.
