deciding to go to a concert alone is so huge, so yay on that !!
definitely agree with whats already been rec’d, but i actually found that going on my phone before events was rly helpful ? that and getting a drink before the show starts gives my hands sth to do, and makes me feel a lot less anxious about being there alone. i’ve noticed that lots of concert venues also tend to have rly shitty reception / data, which can be a good conversation starter with other people around u (esp if you see someone else by themself).
i’m a pretty anxious / self-conscious person in these types of environments, especially if i’m alone. i found that the act of going to a show alone wasn’t as scary as actually being there and trying to enjoy the moment (fear of being perceived and whatnot). i think i’ve had to learn over time:
a) which artists i actually like enough to go see and
b) using the post-concert regret to fight through the insecurities
HAHA tldr, i guess what i’m trying to say is no pressure if u go to a show alone and don’t have the best experience !! all of this is just a learning curve ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 (but hope u have fun with this concert hehehe)
Oct 20, 2024
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i started out in a similar dilemma you seem to be in where i knew i would regret not seeing an artist at all so i'd rather go alone than miss it. now this is how i go to most concerts. my tips are to do whatever helps you feel the most comfortable and try to put as few barriers between you and the direct experience of the music as possible. for me, this looks like putting my phone on dnd, wearing filtering ear plugs (blocks loudness but not clarity), and maybe bringing a film/digital camera to take some pics without having to use my phone and then getting sucked into checking notifs and being taken out of the moment.
crowd behavior really depends on the show in my experience, but usually if you're at the same show as a stranger there's a good chance you have at least an affinity for that specific artist/genre in common. so if you're comfortable striking up convos with strangers, start there! make some friends! dress however you're comfortable, but in my experience putting on a fit that you're really confident in is like social armor. you feel better and so you present better, and if you feel like drawing attention it will feel more like good attention than anxious insecure attention, "everyone's noticing me 🫣🤭👀🫦😮💨🙂↕️😏" vs "everyone's noticing me 🫠😥🫥😣🫨😶🌫️😵💫"
as far as how to act at a DJ set, i have a whole separate rec about that, but in short just try to engage with the crowd and not the dj whose job isn't really to put on a performance as much as it is to curate a vibe in the room and get folks dancin. just do whatever feels better than standing still and engage with the energy of the crowd. if you have a substance of preference to get you out of your head, use it in moderation to grease the joints (especially if you're flying solo do be safe and know your limits)
Oct 19, 2024
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the best concerts i've been to alone are ones where i accidentally made temporary friends. i know the anxiety defeats this rec a little bit (i usually am in & out silently when i go to shows alone, so this is rare) but i recently went to a show by myself and made a few friends in line and it made the experience so much more enjoyable. sometimes the anxiety stems from feeling like ur standing/staring in a place where u feel totally isolated as if u dont belong there, but learning even the bare minimum about the ppl around u can sometimes eliminate that. talking to strangers is hard all the time but the lucky thing about concerts is that u definitely have at least 1 thing in common :) butt into some conversations. compliment someone's outfit. it gives u someone to vibe with/talk to for a few minutes or hours and then, if u want, u can disappear and never see them again!
Mar 3, 2024
just saw someone recommend going to the cinema alone but going to concerts alone is the real boss move and way more fun. it’s a nice way to make new friends and also just chit chat with other people who have the same interest as you even if you may never see them again.
bonus: way easier to get to the front of the standing area when you don’t have to drag a friend with you !
i’ve done this a couple times i hope to do it again when my anxiety isn’t as crippling
another recommendation in the same vein: going to concerts of artists you don’t know or barely know their music! went to ethel cain by myself and had barely listened to her music now she’s one of my favourite artists and i’m so glad i went
Apr 3, 2024
Top Recs from @cucaraccccha
everything from ichiko is an absolute fking masterpiece but this song has had me in a chokehold, especially for those nights were i just can't fall asleep 🥹
Sep 25, 2024
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definitely takes some time but so worthwhile! i personally love norayogurt and zigs_mom because of how both of them embrace their bodies without needing to be outwardly preachy or performative. as someone whos struggled with accepting her own appearance, its just inspiring to see other people who are SO CONFIDENT, so even if my style doesnt directly overlap with theirs, i find that their contents just a reminder for me to not be so critical of myself :-)
tldr - norayogurt and zigs_mom !!! they’re healing me 🥹❤️🩹
Oct 12, 2024
