Going to concerts alone

[Fisting Ackbar]

Trust that this isn't a duplicate thread, as nothing popped up during a search...

But I was curious about the gig habits of you fine schmoes, and whether or not you mind attending a show by yourself.

I, for one, have only recently acquired a taste for concerts/festivals. The people in my life don't always have the same interests as I do, especially in music. So far, I have been buying two tickets for each show that I wanted to see, and would look for someone who cares to tag along at the last-minute (sometimes less than 24 hours in advance). This has worked out for me as my friends like accepting such free invitations, and it has been a good motivator to arrange a date. However, this gets expensive after a while. Obviously that's the price I pay to have enjoyable company, but it isn't my ideal situation.

Went to one festival alone - well, that wasn't my intention, but I wasn't able to meet up with someone due to cellular inactivity. I still had a good time, but I found myself bored in between sets. Going to the cinema solo is a non-issue for me, but live music falls under a different ballpark. Perhaps it is something I need to get used to. I realize that there are perks (don't have to buy beer for anybody, get to sit/stand wherever you like).

What are your thoughts/experiences?

[Tyler_Durden_208]

I haven't yet gone to a show alone. I dunno, I just for some reason don't like being in a crowd of strangers.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

It depends on who is playing.

[bluesbrother965]

Like Brando says, how enjoyable it'll be depends on who's playing. I have never been to a show alone, but I only go to shows that I really want to see, and if no one else can go, I'm not gonna let that stop me from seeing it.

[Lazy Boy]

I'm the exact opposite -- I don't mind going to movies alone (not all the time, mind you), but I can't stand to see a concert by myself. I'd rather go along with somebody to share the moment.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by Lazy Boy
I'm the exact opposite -- I don't mind going to movies alone (not all the time, mind you), but I can't stand to see a concert by myself. I'd rather go along with somebody to share the moment. i went to see devendra banhart on my on infact i was one of 7 people who turned up to see him support micheal gira on a boat in bristol, one fireworks night, i was amazing gira was sweet too though very creapy when i talked to him afterwards, the next time he played was to a paked out cinema i was magic also

[therealjohng]

I'll be going to a concert alone for the first time ever in a month when I see Tool in Sioux City, Iowa. I love taking people who don't go to concerts that much to shows of my favorite bands to let them see what goes down. But I've already seen Tool so it doesn't really bother me. I took some friends to NIN a year ago and they don't go to shows that much and they both said it was by far the best experience they've had musically.

But concerts alone I don't mind I guess. It's only an hour drive, so it won't be that bad.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I'm going to see Morrissey in July and I'm so psyched about it that I think it won't really make a difference if someone is with me or not.

[dreamcurls]

there's definatly nothing wrong with going to shows alone. i just went to The Killers alone and had a blast. i like to share those experiences with friends, but if I want to see a show bad enough and nobody else wants to attend with me, too bad, i won't let that stop me.

[Hatfield]

Never been to a show alone but will be seeing Tool on July 29 all by lonesome.

[unspoken]

I go to concerts by myself a lot more now then I used to. Far too often, I'd find myself in a group with someone who would find something to complain about and generally ruin it for everyone else. When I go by myself, I don't have to worry about that happening.

Out of roughly 500 concert experiences, my 2 favorites I saw by myself...Pearl Jam and The Pixies.

[g05]

Originally posted by unspoken
I go to concerts by myself a lot more now then I used to. Far too often, I'd find myself in a group with someone who would find something to complain about and generally ruin it for everyone else. When I go by myself, I don't have to worry about that happening.

Out of roughly 500 concert experiences, my 2 favorites I saw by myself...Pearl Jam and The Pixies.

wow that's a lot of shows. i've probably seen less than 100 shows, but they were from the years 1985-2004. i'd say at least 95% of them i was by myself and i prefer it that way. i pretty much have given up going to concerts now. too much of a hassle. now these days bands will release DVD's of their shows anyways, i'd rather watch from home.

[Strider]

I've never gone to a concert alone. But I definitely would like to one of these days, just to know what it's like. Honestly, if I went to a concert alone, I don't think I would mind. I think going to the movies alone is awesome, so perhaps I'll feel the same way about concerts.

Strider

[unspoken]

Originally posted by g05
wow that's a lot of shows. i've probably seen less than 100 shows, but they were from the years 1985-2004. i'd say at least 95% of them i was by myself and i prefer it that way. i pretty much have given up going to concerts now. too much of a hassle. now these days bands will release DVD's of their shows anyways, i'd rather watch from home.

Actually I realized I worded it wrong. I've seen roughly 500 bands..so take into account some festivals and things of the such, I've seen roughly 150 concerts, the first being in 1997, but those aren't counting the small, local band shows that I frequented during college.

[bowieee]

I go alone quite a bit if it's an obscure artist that my friends have no interest in whatsoever. What's great is I usually meet all sorts of interesting characters whenever I fly solo as opposed to when i go on my own we usually form our own little group.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by bowieee
I fly solo as opposed to when i go on my own we usually form our own little group. umm you have masturbation games with strangers?

[moviemaniac8210]

Originally posted by Lazy Boy
I'm the exact opposite -- I don't mind going to movies alone (not all the time, mind you), but I can't stand to see a concert by myself. I'd rather go along with somebody to share the moment.
Same here. I've been to one concert where the person I went with and I got split up so I ended up being front row floor by myself and that sucked. I had no one to rough it out with.

[bowieee]

Originally posted by Roy L Dennis
umm you have masturbation games with strangers?


That was a typo royo. Don't be jealous.

[Castro]

I go alone because I have no friends.

[Shockwave]

Depends on who is playing, but either way its easy enough to have blast.

If they dont come with, u just gotta find the right people.:cool:

[The Heart Collector]

I've gone to a few concerts alone and I can't say I enjoy it a whole lot. I've generally gone for writing assignments so I at least have a camera and paper-pad to play around with, but I wouldn't go on my own paying for it. I've met the rare person if I go to a show REALLY early and someone on their own happens to be there early too, but other than that it's not really a 'let's get into someone else's group' thing. It's not so much the music itself, but rather waiting around idly while the band is setting up or going to the venue alone, etc. If I could teleport myself to the 1 hour set, then sure. If the venue was next door, sure.

I should add that as I'm not 21 yet, I can't go to smaller shows and meet people at the bar, since I can't attend the fucking bar. :mad:

I dunno man, I went to Lollapalooza last year and a few of the bands I saw without my friends because I lost them at one point and it took ages to find them, and it took out a lot of the fun.