No One Sees Your Shoes
Our 5 best concert-going tips
The date is set. Tickets unread (on purpose) in your inbox. Your friends are in. Now make your concert-going experience the best it can be with some tips from the self-appointed professionals at The Starving Groupie. (We’ve been to a concert or two.)
1. The meal
For us, of course, good food is a must. Start off with a pre-show meal at a locally owned joint within walking distance of the venue. Something that represents the city’s culture to truly catch a vibe. And it will save you a buck. Venue concessions are pricey.
This is important: get there early or you’ll be standing with your appetizer. No one is freeing up their table until almost show time. We recommend arriving at least two hours prior.
(Above) Angie pre-showed before Pink with a seafood pasta from the Twisted Fisherman in Milwaukee.
2. The outfit
Glam it up, baby. Fly your freak flag. Show your devotion. Anything goes as far as your carefully curated garb goes, except for one thing: your shoes. No one sees your shoes past standing in line and walking to your seat, so our advice is to wear comfortable ones. Seats or GA, you’ll be standing anyway. You don’t want to be the one sitting because your feet hurt.
3. The merch
A tee, print, pin, vinyl or whatever purchased at the actual show is special and nostalgic. Secure what you want with a little advanced research. For example, read in detail your “know before you go” email from the venue or look back at social chatter from the last show.
You may discover the times and places for pop-up merch stands outside the actual venue, often open throughout the day or a few hours before doors. Pop-ups offer an ideal opportunity to snatch the in-demand item or to simply avoid carrying your souvenir around at the show. For the print warriors, check the FAQs to see if you can bring a cardboard tube (not all stands offer them) to keep your limited-edition print pristine.
Priceless tip! Post-pandemic, many venues remain cash-free, so check ahead to confirm if you should leave the bills at home.
4. The fans
We’re fans of meeting fans. It is the foundation of The Starving Groupie, after all. Chat up your seat neighbor or that fellow fan in line with the vintage tee. Where are they from? How many shows have they been to? What do they think of the new bass player? Small talk isn’t hard when you have something in common. So be brave and reach out. You may find a new friend, hear a fabulous story – or, at the very least, share a cool connection with another soul who gets you.
5. The drive home
Pack snacks! After the encore and the long cattle line out, you’ll be starving and dehydrated. We recommend bringing a cooler with snacks and bottles of water for the hotel room or drive home (maybe something caffeinated for the driver). You and your concert mates won’t want to interrupt the lively debate on the set list with a convenience store stop, so plan ahead with some choice munchies.
