i’ve been to 22 concerts… here’s what i’ve learned

your concert survival guide from a type-A, sensory-challenged concert lover

me & my friend Andrea in line for the pit at a Ruel concert in 2023

if you know me, you know i love music. you might also know that i’m a huge planner who also happens to have some sensory issues. i know firsthand that concerts are awesome and fun and cool, but can also be an overwhelming and confusing experience for many people. i also have a lot of friends who have never even been to a concert. 

i’ve been to a LOT of concerts. i’ve been fortunate enough to attend 24 concerts in my 20 years of living, 22 of which have been in the past 10 years (with the exception of The Wiggles and Yo Gabba Gabba! in Kindergarten). from tiny concert halls to massive sold-out arenas, i’ve learned a thing or two from my concert-going experiences.

so if you want to go to a concert soon, but don’t know what to expect or how to prepare, i’m here to help. everything from tips on surviving presale ticket sales, to concert dress codes and sensory-friendly hacks, i have you covered. 

Securing the Tickets

first step- securing the tickets. the hardest part of trying to see your favorite artist is dealing with that pesky presale. i’ve noticed a trend of artists scheduling their ticket sales within a few days of tour announcements. i would recommend buying during presale over general ticket sales so that you have a better chance of getting the tickets you want in the city you want.

my strategy? immediately after the artist announces the tour, keep a close eye out for presale information. monitor instagram stories, websites, twitter/x accounts, anything you can. artists can announce presale codes at random and odd times of day, so make sure to turn notifications on for their socials so you don’t miss any posts. 

lesson learned: Charli XCX & Troye Sivan. Sweat tour, September 2024. i bought nosebleed tickets for this show during presale in April 2024 for $60/piece. when the general sale opened to the public, that same ticket was being sold for $300.

a very zoomed-in pic of my view from the very top of Wells Fargo Center (totally worth it)

it’s also important to keep location in mind. if you have the option to choose between different venues/different cities, do your research. see which venue is cheaper, but also see which venue has better parking, is closer to your home, is most familiar, easiest to navigate, etc.

when picking out your ticket, it’s also important to think about what kind of ticket you want. many venues are standing room (general admission [GA]) only, but many venues also offer seated tickets in addition to GA. 

you should also take into consideration who to go to the concert with. of course, you can always go alone if you wish, but i would highly suggest you go with someone for safety purposes (and also fun!) 

furthermore, if you have anxiety and/or sensory issues, it’s especially important that you consider going with a “safe person” so that you feel comfortable and safe at the show. 

lesson learned: The Driver Era. Obsession tour, June 2025. i was in the pit at this concert with a close friend of mine. the crowd was packed extremely close, and i became super overstimulated and claustrophobic mid-concert and began to have a panic attack. without hesitation, my friend made sure we got out of there safely and made sure i was okay. if it wasn’t for her, i would have been forced to stay in an incredibly uncomfortable (and borderline unsafe) space.

a pic i snapped in the pit at Obsession tour moments before a panic attack lol

lastly, you need to consider transportation. how are you getting to the venue? how are you getting home? if you drive, you need to look into parking in advance. many venues don’t have parking, and many that do often require you to pay to reserve a spot in advance. you can also choose to pay for an Uber/Lyft/taxi to/from the venue, but keep in mind, this can get expensive. if you do choose to do it, schedule rides in advance, especially when leaving a large arena. there are thousands of other people trying to schedule Ubers at the same time, so order in advance when possible and make sure to find a safe and secluded spot for your ride to pick you up at. 

lesson learned: SZA. SOS tour, September 2023. i saw SZA at Wells Fargo Center, a giant arena in Philly. for context, the venue is in a sports complex with two other major sports arenas, and a Phillies game at a nearby arena was ending at the same time as the concert. my friend and i had to wait outside the arena for almost three hours after the concert ended because we could not find a ride. we had to move far away from the massive crowds and wait hours for an Uber to arrive. multiple taxis trolled the parking lots, but we refused to pay the hundreds of dollars taxi drivers demanded for a $50 Uber ride. it was so hard to order an Uber, we even considered stealing someone else’s. so if you’re going to Uber, schedule that Uber in advance.

the view that made the post-concert traffic all worth it :)

Concert Wear

Oftentimes, concerts can feel like a fit-off. if you don't know what to wear, look on Instagram, Tiktok, and Pinterest to find some outfit inspo. i usually search “____ tour outfit ideas” on tiktok and it works like a charm.

lesson learned: Tyler, the Creator. Chromokopia tour, July 2025. i had very little time to put together an outfit for this show. normally, i like to spend the weeks before a show curating an outfit tailor-made to the “unofficial official” dress code established by the artist & their aesthetic, but this time, i was caught in a time crunch and totally stumped. tyler’s concerts are known for being pseudo-fashion shows, and i knew i had to show up and show out. i searched “chromokopia tour outfit ideas” on Tiktok and looked at what other people were wearing to see tyler. some of the outfits were a little more high fashion, but i was able to see the more casual side to tyler’s audience, which was a huge relief in my time crunch. at the end, i was able to put together a simple, yet stylish outfit from items already in my closet that did the trick, but i definitely wished i had started putting something together sooner.

me & my friend Bella at chromokopia tour

regardless of if you have a sitting or standing ticket, chances are, you’re going to be on your feet for the majority of the time. so just wear your most comfortable shoes!!!! your feet are going to be hurting no matter what, so you might as well just try to minimize that pain as much as possible. for example, some comfy, but fashionable shoe options that i tend to wear at concerts are my New Balance 530s (SUPER comfortable), my Doc Marten boots (always broken in of course, never wear brand-new Docs to a concert), and platform heels (as opposed to a skinny heel that is more prone to breaking). be prepared to walk, stand, and potentially run for extended periods of time.

lesson learned: Megan Thee Stallion. Hot Girl Summer tour, May 2024. i threw my outfit together super last minute for this show too. i didn’t know which shoes i wanted to wear until it was time to go, so i just threw on a pair of cowboy boots (with a 3 inch chunky heel). rookie mistake. my feet began to hurt 30 minutes after entering the venue. four hours later, my feet were covered in blisters and in excruciating pain.

left: the tour merch i secured before i ruined my feet in those boots

right: me & my friend Athena sitting in our seats in between shaking ass to Megan

if i had to give just one piece of advice about concerts, i’d say just wear the comfy shoes. no fashion item is worth the excruciating pain of blister-covered feet.

now for some bad news: everyone sweats at concerts. you may think you won’t, but regardless of your personal sweat levels, you’re going to be singing, dancing, walking, standing. you will work up a sweat.

so, always be prepared to sweat. prevent excessive sweat by wearing clothes that are made of lightweight materials and if possible, bring deodorant in your bag for quick touch-ups.

speaking of your bag, always be sure to check the venue’s bag and security policies before going to a concert. be mindful of the size of your bag. check if it needs to be clear. like TSA at the airport (or your favorite nightclub), most venues have forbidden items such as pepper spray, outside liquids, etc. what you especially need to be mindful of is the bag policy, especially if you’re a purse girl like me. double check your bag before you go and make sure there are no forbidden items, but also make sure you have the important things (wallet, ID, credit card, cash, keys, etc). many venues don’t accept cash, so always be sure to bring a credit or debit card just in case.

lesson learned: Ariana Grande. Sweetener/Thank U, Next tour, June 2019. unfortunately, the world is a fucked up place. following the tragedy at Ariana’s Manchester show on her previous tour, Dangerous Woman, the way that many people, artists and concertgoers alike, view concerts was changed forever. many concert venues began to instill clear bag policies in order to prevent future terror attacks. luckily, i happened to remember to research the venue’s bag policy before the concert and was able to purchase a clear bag in advance. however, many other concertgoers were unaware of the clear bag policy and were denied entry to the show unless they found clear bags. 

a pic i took of Ariana Grande at her sweetener/thank u, next tour in 2019

what else can you put in your bag, if you have room? personally, i like to bring ear plugs to prevent hearing damage and a massive post-concert headache. they’re also very sensory friendly to those who are sensitive to loud noise. you can also use torn-up tissues or toilet paper to stuff your ears if you don’t have access to ear plugs.

never be ashamed to protect your health and accommodate your sensory preferences. concerts are meant to be enjoyed, not tolerated. there is no shame in doing what you can to make yourself comfortable and enjoy your experience.

At The Concert

if you want to get tour merchandise (merch), look up what the merch is on Tiktok or the artist’s official website and look at prices/design options. many artists sell their tour merch online, but some sell exclusively in-person at the concerts. when considering whether to purchase online or in-person, keep shipping costs and size availability/preference in mind. unless you go straight to the merch stand upon arrival of the venue, it may be difficult to secure tour merch in person due to the high volume of people buying at the same time. it is not a guarantee that the design you want will be in stock nor that they will have your size in stock. also consider you will have to carry your merch with you for the rest of the night throughout the concert. if you are dead set on purchasing merch in-person, do not wait until after the concert to purchase merch, you will be disappointed af. 

typically, official artist merch is super pricey. if you’re going to a larger venue, like a stadium or arena, there will most likely be people selling bootleg (fake) merch outside the venue when the concert is over. bootleg merch is almost always significantly cheaper than the artist’s merch. if this is your jam, bring a bunch of cash. 99.9% of these street vendors usually are cash-only. 

finally, the lost art of concert etiquette. have you ever had a concert, trip to the movies, a Broadway play, etc. be ruined by a nasty stranger sitting/standing near you? i know i have. so don’t be that rude person that spoils someone else’s experience. be mindful of your surroundings. if you’re in the pit and are above average height, please try not to stand directly in front of shorter people. and most importantly, be respectful of everyone’s personal space. choose to be kind and respectful always, even when people forget how to say excuse me, or stand in your way, or accidentally elbow you in the face while dancing. 

in my experience, a concert is one of the most memorable and joyful things you can experience in life. the feeling of hearing live music and seeing your favorite artist perform make all the planning and preparation well worth your time. so if you’re hesitating to buy those tickets, go right ahead and add them to your cart. you won’t regret it.

thanks for reading!