So I just got back from a small concert and I am not sure I am doing concerts right
I have been to three live concerts in total, the first was Imagine Dragons so obviously that one was massive in a basketball stadium, the next was Wardruna so slightly less massive in a concert hall and the last was Moon Walker in a pretty small venue. So standing through a whole concert kind of sucks and the most recent one didn't even have an option for sitting. And the one that I actually could sit at had the most uncomfortable sets I have ever been in. And despite having silicon ear plugs at the last two, I could understand most of the words being sung with the drums drowning out everything at the Wardruna concert. This was once I might have thought that venue had poor sound balancing but twice in a row? The nice thing about the most recent concert is that the openers offered to chat with fan at their merch tables but since they were in the same room at the on going concert so it never really felt quite enough to talk to anyone. I don't know it feels like everyone else there got way more out of it than me that is a sucky feeling.
Edit: I'm going to bed so won't reply for a while but you answers have been reassuring and helpful.
Well, it's unfortunately true that a lot of music venues weren't designed for music first. They were usually designed to hold a given number of people, and make money.
So the acoustics of a lot of places suck. A big, concrete walled joint with no wall treatment in place? It's fucking miserable sound wise, and that's what plenty of places are.
Converted theatres aren't as bad as the usual spaces that get used for music despite out not being their original purpose, but they still aren't music first, so sound can be spotty depending on where you are in the audience. They do better with acoustic music or with minimal amplification (and without drums lol).
It's one of the worst things about trying to enjoy live music tbh. It's why outdoor music venues tend to be the best option for a music fan. They're usually designed with amplified music in mind. Even auditoriums and concert halls that are great with most music can fail hard with really loud stuff, and not all sound guys are equally skilled at whatever it is that lets them tweak things per venue.
There's a place in a nearby city that started as a place for plays. But they now do quite brisk business as a music venue. Bands come through at least weekly all year long. But it's a crap shoot how good the sound will be. Smaller bands? They rarely have the real, high skilled sound engineers. But even bigger bands don't necessarily have the best ones. So you can go to shows there regularly, even seeing the same band, and have totally different experiences.
It's been ages since I talked to anyone that did that kind of work professionally, but the pros complain about exactly what you're talking about when they go to events as fans. They just know what got screwed up lol.
Hell, you can even hear engineers bitch about it when someone that's normally a studio engineer tries to run the board at a concert. And vice versa as far as that goes.
I'll not go into detail because it would pin location too well, but the biggest city near me has maybe three places that a big band, like Metallica level of popularity, can put on a show. Each of them is totally different experience sound wise. I've seen Metallica at each of them (part of why they were my example), and that's a band that does hire the best engineers. The one outdoor sports arena, the sound was utter shit. The other two, one is an outdoor venue built for music, and the experience was the exact opposite, you could totally hear vocals no matter how intense the rest was, and it was all clear. The indoor sports arena was in between. And, other performances at those same places followed that trend.
I wouldn't waste my money on a show at that outdoor sports arena, no matter who it was. Every show I did go to there was waste of money, even Metallica.
Anyway, wall of text reached I think. Point is that you'd be surprised how bad most places are for music.
Go to classical concerts, or just acoustic stuff. If you have to wear ear plugs, dont like standing in a sea of smelly people, or hate chairs designed by psychopaths, maybe they aren’t for you… and that’s okay. I hate concerts, people, most chairs, loud noises, people again.
I don't hate people, just the drunk asshole that spilled his beer on my leg.
Talking at shows doesn't really work. If you're able to carry a conversation, chances are you are being rude to the people trying to listen.
There are many ways that a concert can go wrong outside of the performer's control. All of these have happened to me:
Bad audio engineers. Too loud. Poor EQ.
Venue sold too many tickets and it's too crowded to dance or even stand comfortably.
Incompetent management results in poor logistics. E.g. long lines making people miss the show.
Venue itself just has poor acoustics that can't be fixed.
Crowd has assholes. People putting their phones up to record the whole time blocking your view. People shoving their way to the front. People not understanding how to behave in a mosh pit and hurting someone. People doing so much DMT that you can't breathe without smelling it.
Venue failing to provide free water.
Don't let that sour you on concerts though. I've been to way more good shows than bad ones. Usually if you find a good venue, it will stay good. Some performers are even so professional that they eliminate all possibility of the aforementioned issues by having their own staff take care of everything.
Whoa holdup, which show were you at that DMT use was so high you could smell it?
Asking for a friend.
Lot of cannabis use in public, but DMT would be a whole different animal.
Multiple different electronic music shows. I've never done DMT so I don't know from experience what it smells like, but I was with people who've done it and they were saying that's the smell. I find it pretty obnoxious, please don't do it on the dance floor.
I could definitely smell weed the whole show this last concert.
That's super common, especially in places where it's legalized.
Are they "music" earplugs that attempt to have a flat attenuation across the whole audio spectrum? High frequency sound is the most easily attenuated by earplugs so if you use "normal" earplugs that just aim for max attenuation you might find drum'n'bass overpowering everything else.
Well even without the plugs the voices were muddled, and the plugs have no markings and I was gifted them long enough ago that the person who bought them probably doesn't remember either. Ill look into getting music specific ear plugs.
Edit: the ones I have look near identical to these https://www.amazon.com/Hearprotek-Reduction-Protection-Musicians-Nightclub/dp/B08PBQFQH6
If they are like those they should work well. You might try loop ear plugs if those aren't working out. I used loops for the past few concerts I've been to and they worked well. Variety of bands, venue types, sound quality.
The sound quality will vary. I don't care for arenas (other than being able to sit) very often unless it's a band that cares a lot about sound quality. Saw Nine Inch Nails at an indoor arena and they still sounded great (as much as that kind of venue allows at least, there are still unavoidable qualities).
I really like open air venues. But my top two favorite shows (Tiesto and The Midnight) have been indoor and small. Both were standing room only, which sucks, both were cramped and too warm, one was so humid from the people dancing and breathing that we started to get an indoor cloud, but the energy and excitement and sound pounding through my chest in that one and the sheer ecstasy of the live sax and friendly atmosphere in the other and the excitement of finally hearing bands I loved really made both worth it.
If the the way you listen to music and get enjoyment from it is all about deeply enjoying the intricacies and inflections and tonality, concerts aren't going to be your thing unless it's a venue built for that music's kind of performance. Like symphonies in a concert Hall, or opera in an opera house.
But every modality for music listening has its pluses and minuses. Concerts/live just may not be your thing at the end of it, and that's ok. 🙂 Just know every concert and location will be different. So go with people if they invite you even if you don't seek stuff yourself anymore, you might stumble on a combination that works for you.
Disclaimer: I'm old.
My first concert was with my mom back when I was 12 or 13. Poison at the small local hockey arena. It sounded like shit and I didn't love it.
But the pull of seeing my favorite bands in person was too great. A few years later, friends and I went to see Guns N Roses on the Illusion tour - our first without parents. And it fucking ruled.
Ever since then, I've been an avid lover of live music. Sometimes it does still sound like shit. With or without earplugs, I always had trouble with voices at shows though. Always muffled sounding to me and it's just something I've accepted. I did get a pair of Loops Experience (I think that's what they're called) plugs a while back and those work pretty well.
The draw of live music for me is being in a crowd with a bunch of other people enjoying and appreciating art happening live. Mistakes and improvs happen. New songs and covers can be played. If I want clarity, fidelity, and perfect performance, I have my CDs. But if I want community and just a little of the unknown, I'm going to a show.
Some people just don’t like concerts, and that’s okay
I don't enjoy concerts. I don't want atmosphere, it's full of people.
I want music that tickles my ear holes. And for that, a studio recording is superior.
Have you ever been in a mosh pit?
Last concert I went to was Superorganism, which is a band one wouldn't expect to have mosh pits, but there was. A lot of them. Orono, the lead singer, is a crazy good at hyping up the crowds, probably why there were so many.
What I'm saying is you've probably not been to concerts that were actually good. Which is understandable, doing a tour is rough to say the least...
Maybe try a Gelli Haha concert? I've heard their live shows are awesome if you can get to one.
where you are in the room can massively affect the sound. the best sound often is near the soundboard because thats where the guy mixing it is standing.
if its a band you have liked for a long time and is a celebrity to you, being up close to see them in person is very exciting and can make up for the worse sound near the stage.
you may try another set of earplugs as well. they are not all the same. i would say maybe take them out, because they really do interfere with the sound, but i dont want to encourage hearing damage... i have really bad tinitis at this point in my life. but maybe when your favorite song comes on, or a quieter number, listen raw to see what you think
having some drinks or some pot can help you get more into the music and the experience. and maybe numb/distract from the long periods of standing. but drinking too much can make you tire faster.
wear comfortable shoes. i love live music, but i often find my feet and legs hurting. your instict may be to dress to impress when going to a big event, but you want to be able to enjoy yourself. many venues are just concrete floors.
if you have the option to sit, take it. ampatheater shows often have lawn tickets. bring a picnic blanket and sit down. youre so far back you can only see the band on the jumbotron. youre not missing anything.
it sounds like this is a new thing for you. i bet you find your groove eventually. i used to not care much for live shows because rarely sounds as good as the album. but really live music is not supposed to be the album. the improv and interplay between the musicians, or the experience of seeing it being performed, the band and audience vibing off eachother.. this is really the whole point.
another thing to consider is some bands are better live, and some are better recorded. ive been bored to death watching some of my favorite bands, and completely enthralled by a band i would probably not listen to at home. maybe branch out and see something different. go to some local shows at small venues. theyre usually much cheaper, smaller rooms, you can easilly meet the band. and the drinks are cheaper.
also, maybe live music just isnt your thing, and thats ok too. you dont have to like things just because other people like it.
I do enjoy the live music at the local cafe and you bring up a lot of good points. This time I figured I would do it sober but edibles definitely improved things last time. I did play with wearing and not wearing the ear plugs and still had a hard time making out the words, though I was fairly close to the stage so that may have played a big part in that.
yeah, the closer you are to the stage, youre getting more of the "stage sound" and less of the "room sound". many bands use in ear monitors(earphones) rather than wedge monitors(speakers on stage). so basically you have loud drums, and probably loud amps, but the vocals are coming from speakers further away from you.
also wanted to mention: dont show up at doors unless you REALLY love the band. on a 3 band bill, i might skip the first band, catch the end of the second band, and watch all (or most) of the headliner. this way youre only on your feet for a couple hours.
I'll have to take that into account next time, though the openers were pretty good this time around. Just wish I could make out the lyrics, lol. But like the original replier said, I might just need to stand near the sound booth.
I get what you are saying, but I've discovered some awesome bands because they were the support act. I'm a music slut/glutton, so maybe that's just me?
You may like an outdoor festival instead. You can get as close to or far from the stage as you like and you usually can bring your own seating. They last all day and can have multiple stages with food and vendors in between so if you get tired or overwhelmed you've got somewhere to go recover. You get exposed to a lot of bands in a short amount of time so you can get an idea of the different ways they perform and may discover music you enjoy.
Some 2 or 3 day festivals offer camping on-site and keep the music going from 12PM to 2AM. Being surrounded by music like that for days in a row lets it start to feel like a normal thing instead of the condensed experience of a concert.
Affordable tickets to a festival would be my main hurdle but it is definitely on my bucket list.
As someone who walks with a cane and can’t stand for several hours, you could ask the venue for a seat and they will generally provide one. May have to say you’re disabled and invoke the ADA, but if you can’t stand for long, it counts.
Also yeah, mixing is terrible sometimes.
I guess I feel guilty taking a spot
They’re usually folding chairs, they bring them out on request. There are a lot, and you’ll be okay.
I have noticed this many times with concerts at mid-to-large venues. Not sure why this is a popular way of mixing sound differently in concert, because it doesn't have to be. And it pissed me off every time.
(edit: OP seems to refer to what earplugs do to the sound and not to the mixing. Well, my statement still stands)
IMHO the smaller the venue the better the concert. Not always, of course.
And seated concerts? Ugh. I need to dance.
No one likes this. But it's much harder to get right than people think, and depending on the venue, it can be impossible. Also, a lot of sound technicians in small venues just suck, and many have hearing damage.
I used to work for a small venue that got it right, but that involved constructing the building from the ground up specifically for concerts, coating all walls in the right material, sound techs with years of weekly experience in that room specifically, having our own bass drum to use if that of a band wasn't suitable, and an actual shitload of money for equipment that needed constant maintenance, too.
Sounds great, but I don't buy it. I know for a fact that it is possible to mix the other instruments in accordingly even in larger venues. Probably because these bands were adamant about it. I believe the reason it's often better in smaller venues is because there's less separation between artists and technicians.
It's easier in large venues, actually.
But there you run into the issue that it sounds perfect from FOH, but the further you are from it, the worse it gets.
Sure have there be a dance floor but standing for 4 1/2 hours straight is literally painful. Also I don't know how to dance.
Just jiggle about to the beat, this ain’t the tango. Everyone sucks at “dancing.”
Oh well then I definitely did that
Nobody's asking you to stand straight for hours on end. Yes, that would be painful. As the other commenter said: jiggle.
Oh I was jiggling, fidgeting, stretching, all that stuff. I don't stand straight very often.
The company I work for forces us to stand for 7-8 hours.
Yeah that is an on going issue for me, 6 hours seems to be my limit before the pain becomes too much.
I hate living in this capitalist death cult hell hole. Even the public thinks it's stupid we have to stand.
Yeah it seems like cruelty for cruelty's sake. Though I have never been particularly fit so maybe more active people can handle that no problem.
music is in a deep crisis and live music blows chunks. big hits produce enormous profits while small venues have hard times surviving. quality in general jist sucks but people still love the live music experience, which imho is mostly due to nostalgia with drugs and booze fueled, unhinged fun night out without worries.
maybe you were just too sober? /s
I'll second what a few people have already said: outdoor concerts are usually the best ones IME.
It's okay to not like concerts. It doesn't make you less of a music fan, it just means that standing in a very loud and humid room with thousands of moving bodies just isn't your thing.
Every band's performance is going to be unique to their aesthetic, musical style, and fans' general attitude. But the musicians' personal taste and touch makes a big difference. I've been to one Imagine Dragons show. It was a massive space with a shit ton of people, especially in the pit. I can totally see how it would be hell for people with certain sensory issues. Even the band agreed with that, they had ads on the stage displays directing people to noise canceling headphones and breathing space for people with sensory issues. They were very compassionate.
Accommodations exist for a reason, so feel free to ask for them and use them. And again, nothing wrong with saying that it just isn't your favorite way to enjoy music.
The only concerts I'll go to are punk because of the energy, and Jazz/Blues because I can actually enjoy the music
Every band will put on a unique show that is more distinct between bands than the experience of listening to them on your headphones.
The music is physically pushing the air in the venue. You can feel it in the neat packed between your bones.
A good trick for this is to bring a wheelchair. They won't test if you need it or not.