Live Concerts

Similar to the thrill that I find of going to all 30 baseball stadiums and experiencing them in person, I imagine music lovers go to different concert venues to experience concerts. Each concert hall has its own mystique and atmosphere, and nice touches that one wouldn’t expect just from looking from the outside.

Thoughts about live concerts:

1.)    My most memorable concert experience has been at Hollywood Bowl- the bright lights of the main stage that changes color but also serves as a great backdrop for the fireworks show that goes off on select nights in the summer, being able to bring your own food and drink…..and the concerts are pretty artsy. The crowd is a very knowledgable crowd typical of musicgoers: it’s like getting on an airplane or going to a fancy reception: you know most people paid a considerable amount of money to go for something that is appreciated by more cultured folks, high educated people, so it separates the crowd from say an Oakland Raiders game (gang environment, must avoid if one doesn’t like violence, getting heckled)  The biggest problem is parking…the Hollywood Bowl for instance seats about 23,000 people, a little more than the Staples Center, but its own secluded nature is its downfall: there’s very little access in and out, so parking is scarce, plus cars getting into the bowl at 8PM (most concert start times) ensures

2.)    Red Rocks in Denver: I’ve never been to a show, but the venue is a great spot for exercising and people training for intense exercise like marathons, climbing up and down the steps at high altitude (I get very winded at high altitudes and do NOT adjust well) that I’m really envious of. True to its name, the stage is actually surrounded by red rock, Basically, I’m a fan of an experience that allows me to enjoy music without having to strain really hard, and have a nice atmosphere surrounding to really balance out the visual component.

3.)    I would never survive at a rock concert. It’s much too loud, and my ear buds are sensitive.

4.)    Dirty secret about live music performances: they all have an encore ready, so it doesn’t really matter if the audience shows their approval by a hearty round of applause and yells ENCORE or not, there’s gonna be an encore coming (which also necessitates pushing back the schedule for leaving a concert, so budget wisely) As part of the LA Lawyers Philharmonic, our orchestra routinely had an encore ready, even if we weren’t very good (believe me, I was squirming a little bit at the end of our concerts having to play another song in front of an already somewhat-beleaguered audience ready to go home)

5.)    Leaving early from a baseball game is frowned upon but pretty much accepted nowadays, but not sure about music concerts. It does make a big difference to be the first ones out of a music concert, especially at a crowded place like the Hollywood Bowl, but it also requires timing it just right: have to make sure you don’t miss the best part, which is usually the end. An intimate knowledge of the program helps, as well as having been to that concert before, I’m sure.

6.)    How to handle the intermission: don’t go to the bathroom at the intermission. Whereas baseball allows for ample opportunities (after every half inning!) to go to the bathroom, concerts offer just one or 2 intermissions, and it’s like a fight to get to the front of the line. Don’t go during this time, and don’t go after the concert (that’s when you’re pushing to get back to the car!) Go during one of the lulls in the performance, usually the one after the first piece back from the intermission, as that’s the most likely to be filler material, “experimental” music where the band tries to test new music to gauge the audience’s interest, aka “you don’t need to be there.”

7.)    Visual element is pretty key to a concert: you need something for your eyes to latch on. Music played as a movie is playing is a pretty novel way to enjoy a music concert.