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How to: Prepare for a local concert

By AnnMarie Hall, October 24th, 2023

Looking to go to a concert, but you don’t know where to find them or what to do once you’re there? This guide will help answer all of your questions.

Figure out which local restaurants or bars host events

Many local restaurants and bars love to host musical events — one, to bring in more customers, but two, to highlight the local artists that make the community shine. It offers good publicity, and great opportunities for photo ops all around. So, if you are in the mood to discover new music and have a bite to eat or a drink, look up restaurants in downtown communities and you may find an events page filled with multiple opportunities. In downtown Harrisonburg in Virginia, restaurants and bars like Clementine’s, Ruby’s Lounge, and The Golden Pony host all types of different amazing local and small artists. 

Find a date that works for you

Once you have found the restaurant that looks the most inviting, or has the best menu, you can find many opportunities that are free or cost money. Many events are also hosted in the evenings after the typical dinner rush, but I have seen both weekday and weekend events if you are busier during the weeknights or the weekends. Some events are 18+ or 21+ if it is hosted by a bar. Some events are also more expensive if you wait to pay at the door to encourage people to make the commitment online. So, before showing up to a date that you think works for you, make sure to clarify that you are old enough, and you are finding the most affordable option for you — whether that be free or paying for a lower price ahead of time.

Research the artist you’ll be seeing (if you’re picky)

Many diverse types of artists will perform at these events. So, another thing to consider when finding a date and time that works best for you, is to consider what type of music you might want to hear. You are sure to find your typical indie-folk singer-songwriter artist who will woo you with their guitar and blow you away with their lyricism. But I have found that a lot of local restaurants also host events with multiple rock or metal bands. You may not care what type of music you show up to hear and just need the serotonin of a community all sharing an interest — which is great. But if you like a certain musical genre over others, it’s worthwhile to look up what type of music the artists make. So, you know if you’ll be crying to a ballad or jumping up and down to an electric guitar solo.

Dress to fit in (or don’t, but it can be fun)

Once you have determined what band or artist you will be seeing, you might find it fun to investigate the fashion culture that surrounds the type of music you will be listening to. For example, fans of a rock or metal band might dress in dark colors with stripes and grunge-y band tees. But some fans of an artist with an indie-folk sound might wear flannel or flowy skirts to feel like they are in the mountains. It’s not necessary to participate in this culture to simply enjoy the music. This type of “dressing to the theme of the music” stems from the type of clothes the people who like that music naturally already dress like. So, whether you dress up or not, remember to wear comfortable shoes if you plan to dance!

Pack light

Most restaurants don’t have a bag requirement, but now-a-days many larger concert venues require you to bring either a small bag or a clear bag, if it is bigger, for safety precautions. But even if the event does not have a bag requirement, it is still smart to pack light. While you are trying to enjoy the music, you don’t want to have to keep track of a large bag you have placed on the floor or to try to hold everything in your hands. You should bring your phone, money/keys, and a phone charger. Many restaurants and concert venues provide free water, so there’s no need to carry around a clunky water bottle.

Make space in your camera roll

Taking pictures or videos is a fantastic way to remember a concert and keep some memories. You may need to make space in your camera roll because there are a lot of cool lights that make for great pictures. You may also want to take long videos of some of the songs. A good rule of thumb, however, is to not take too many pictures or videos — especially videos. Concerts are an exciting time to live in the moment — as cliche as that might sound. When you are trying to take a video of an entire song, then you are missing everything else going on around you. You don’t want to constantly be looking at the world through your phone, just to get the perfect shot. A rule I set for myself is to take a lot of pictures, about 20–30 second videos for some of the songs, and one video of a full song. It is fun to look back at those memories, so don’t limit yourself too much.

Be ready to cheer and dance

There is nothing worse for an artist than a quiet, stagnant crowd. Even if you do not know the words, or if the song they are playing isn’t upbeat, you can sway to the beat. Live music is a lot different than hearing it through your headphones or speakers, so really try to feel the music. Whenever an artist shreds an awesome riff on a guitar, goes crazy on the drums, or hits that high note, give a cheer. It isn’t an orchestra concert, so you don’t have to save your applause for the end. If the rest of the crowd is being quiet, you don’t have to match their energy, even if you might think it would be embarrassing. Think about how appreciative you would be of that one person who is cheering and dancing if you were the artist on that stage.