Going to shows by yourself

LukinFan

Another thread reminded me of this. I guess I'm at a point in my life where the majority of my friends don't want to go to shows any more- which sucks. My wife doesn't even like the small club in door ones because the smoke really bothers here, which I completely understand.

Live concerts are my drugs. They are a way to relive stress from work- just a great way to rock out. So, when I really want to see a band, I'll venture off to the show by myself. I've only done this three times in my life and they are all in the past year and a half.

The three are...

1. Pearl Jam in West Palm Beach- my boy backed out at the last minute, but it was okay beacuse I met Release30 there tailgating and he rocks so I had a blast!

2. Nonpoint w/ Drowning Pool and Egypt Central- Nonpoint is one of my favorite bands. I've seen them a ton of times, but it had been awhile. After the show I got my pic taken with the drummer and he got the entire band to sign my show poster.

3. Blind Melon- Not a huge fan, but I used to really be into them- had a great time. They blew me away.


So anyone else go to shows by themselves? Any good experiences? Any bad ones? Any funny ones?

norm

went by myself to rem this year at hollywood bowl....besides the ridiculous twats sitting around me it was a great time

kinda went to vh1 honors alone....my buddy was there but in different seats so it was kinda like going alone

MikeLammi23

I'm going to the EV show on Friday, and I will be going alone. It will be my first time going to any concert by myself, but I have no worries. Especially in this type of setting.

I really don't see how the experience can be bad, but it is always better to have a friend there to share the experience with. Hopefully I don't have any bad stories to tell after Friday.

jimed14

I live in the city ... my girl lives in the east bay (WAY out there), so, it's tough for her to come into the city all the time on weekdays. I've got friends that like the occasional show, but, they're usually into the arena type acts and they get tired of the amount of shows I like to attend (30-40 a year, or more).

So, with 2-3 really nice venues within walking distance (bars/clubs >250-300 attendance or so), I've taken in several shows on my own.

I've actually chatted with quite a few different band members this way, easier to chat them up if you're not in a group of people.

gobrowns19

Haven't really gone to a show by myself, but the 3 other friends I went with to see Neil Young in Detroit weren't able to sit together and I felt alone. I still had a good time, but I felt like I would have had even more fun with one of them by me.

Tone

I've seen PJ 3 times by myself... all of them in Toronto... once in '05 and twice in '06. Missing those shows just wasn't an option and finding someone to go with me was just more trouble than I wanted to deal with, so I just bought myself a single ticket each time. I also saw John Mayer by myself in Toronto in '04.

I don't have a problem going by myself, if it's a band I care about, there's no way I'm missing it (especially in the case of PJ). I would rather go by myself than go with someone who was only there for the hell of it, not cause they really wanted to be there.

At one of the PJ shows a guy next to me chewed my ear off ALOT, I had to keep telling him to zip it cause, I'm sorry, no-one talks when Ed does and certainly not when they're performing songs like Sad!!!

PJ fans are great, so you always have people to chat to around you and once they're on the stage, it doesn't matter... you're not talking anyway, so that initial awkwardness, you might feel, disappears. I would see PJ by myself anytime After all, the alternative is just not even worth considering!

By comparison, the John Mayer crowd wasn't at all chatty... mostly boyfriends with their girlfriends and no-one friendly around me. Meh.

wolfbear

I was going to go to the Gorge by myself but I ended up going with another pit member. PJ is probably the only band I would go alone for, but I know so many people now it wouldn't feel like going alone.

hiding103006

well first let me say that i wouldn't go to any show besides pearl jam by myself. i don't know - i haven't tried it - but i wouldn't want to to a concert alone. and even if it were pearl jam i wouldn't travel too far to do it...

wagm

I prefer to go to shows by myself.
When I have gone with others, there have been distractions, friends wanting to talk, do other things, etc.
I find that when I am solo, I can totally focus on the band and the music.

5882300

Yep, I have gone to several by myself. At first I felt kind of akward but after you get used to it, it's actually kind of fun. I don't like to be bothered during the show anyway. Plus the fact you meet a lot of interesting people. I am all for going by yourself.

Capstoner

I ended up going to Columbia by myself after some friends backed out on me. I met some cool people and had a great time.

ozarkcoolchic

I went to Ed's solo show in Santa Barbara with four of my friends, but none of our seats were together. I ended up sitting with some real diehard fans & had a blast. I got to concentrate more on the show & Ed's funny little stories. There were no distractions from friends talking & such. The only distraction was some bimbo screaming "I love you Eddie" several times, she came in about 3 songs into Ed's set, I might add. The guy sitting to my right kept tapping her and telling her to shut up. She just turned around gave him a "fuck you" look. Eventually, there were 2 or 3 of us shooshing her. Finally, an usher came to our rescue and showed the girl to her seat......way down front near Charlise Theron.

release30

I don't mind going to shows alone..I always meet up with great people when I do...

SENROCK

LukinFan wrote:

So anyone else go to shows by themselves? Any good experiences? Any bad ones? Any funny ones?

I went to see Kid Rock earlier this year ALONE. I hadd a friend with me but we wont go there. Once I was by the stage amongst other Kid Rock fans, i felt GREAT!!! I hadd the best time ever ANNNND.......i got to be near him at his after party. :cool: Its great going to shows with other people but sometimes u gotta do what ya gotta DO!!!

Brainofdz

I do it all the time. It's great. It forces you to meet new people. I like to go to at least 2 shows a month, so my friends are worn out. Especially for a GA show, its absolutely not a problem.

JordyWordy

at festivals over the past 6/7 years ive always gone to see certain bands on my own (when my friends didnt want to come)...saw Audioslave, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Massive Attack, Interpol, The Streets, MMJ, Patrick Watson.....all cool shows. u meet & chat to lots of cool new people

Going to my first club show alone tonight. Daniel Johnston, should be great!

Pearl moon

Hi!I'm new to posting,and I'm glad this thread was here.I'm going to the Aug1st Ed show in Boston alone.I got a ticket given to me and had already bought one on my own.Does anyone need an extra ticket?I'm so psyched for the show but a bit nervous about going alone.Is there anything going on beforehand that anyone knows about?

hinx

I'm the only serious Pearl Jam fan among my friends so last tour (2006) when I decided I wanted to travel and do multiple shows, I knew I was going to be doing it alone.

Sometimes I met up with people I knew it other cities, sometimes it was completely solo. I always feel a little awkward before the show, sitting in a seat alone, haha...but once the shows starts it doesn't matter. Definitely worth it.

gregkitefan

I went to several Pearl Jam shows by myself.

Mansfield 2 - 2000

Mansfield 2 - 2003

Boston 2 - 2004

Philadelphia 2005 - flew from Boston by myself

East Rutherford 2 - 2006 - driving home 4 hours right after the show was tough - drank 2 Monster energy drinks to stay awake

San Fran 3 - 2006 - my girlfriend went shopping - she went to the first 2

My buddies are usually good for 1 show. 2 is asking a lot since most of them have several children and wives that are not welcome to the idea of their husband leaving for more than 1 day.

LukinFan

Pearl moon wrote:

Hi!I'm new to posting,and I'm glad this thread was here.I'm going to the Aug1st Ed show in Boston alone.I got a ticket given to me and had already bought one on my own.Does anyone need an extra ticket?I'm so psyched for the show but a bit nervous about going alone.Is there anything going on beforehand that anyone knows about?

Welcome to the board- start a thread stating that you have an extra and it will be gone before you know it. Good luck!

CityMouse

LukinFan wrote:

Another thread reminded me of this. I guess I'm at a point in my life where the majority of my friends don't want to go to shows any more- which sucks. My wife doesn't even like the small club in door ones because the smoke really bothers here, which I completely understand.

Live concerts are my drugs. They are a way to relive stress from work- just a great way to rock out. So, when I really want to see a band, I'll venture off to the show by myself. I've only done this three times in my life and they are all in the past year and a half.

The three are...

1. Pearl Jam in West Palm Beach- my boy backed out at the last minute, but it was okay beacuse I met Release30 there tailgating and he rocks so I had a blast!

2. Nonpoint w/ Drowning Pool and Egypt Central- Nonpoint is one of my favorite bands. I've seen them a ton of times, but it had been awhile. After the show I got my pic taken with the drummer and he got the entire band to sign my show poster.

3. Blind Melon- Not a huge fan, but I used to really be into them- had a great time. They blew me away.


So anyone else go to shows by themselves? Any good experiences? Any bad ones? Any funny ones?

I've been going to shows of all sizes by my self forever. I've gone to PJ shows, I've gone small club shows...there are no more good/bad experiences than if you go with other people. If you really want to see the band in question, you just go. it's pretty much exactly the same. I've never understood why people are so hesitant to go places by themselves.

whichwaysign

I almost always go to shows with people, but seem to have enjoyed the PJ shows that I went to alone more because it forced me to meet other fans as opposed to doing the same ol' things with the same dipshits I always hang out with

peacegirl

Last year I went to see Gwen Stefani by myself and had a great time. So this year I went alone to see the Foo Fighters and I'm going alone to Ed's solo show.

The way I see it is that if it's something I want to do, I shouldn't consider not doing it just because I'll be alone.

Get_Right

1 pj show and one supergrass show
Had a great time no biggie

Jboogie

When it's a group I love I usually go by myself because my friends are not into the diverse cross section of music that I like (except when I'm in Funk mode then I have 1 buddy who goes,George Clinton,Soulive etc.),& I usually have a blast by myself.

Classic example,I took a buddy if mine to a George Clinton show back in 1994,now George has an extensive catalog & usually puts on a 4 hr. show even to this day,well the buddy of mine was a fairweather fan & only knee the hits,well that night they decided to play a lot of their rarely played rock joints,I was loving it while my buddy kept saying what's this bullshit?Lol,he was ready to go home after an hr. then came to work the next day complaining to everbody,needless to say with him never again!

Inhiding230

I am also at that point in my life. If my 16 year old daughter or my husband don't have any interest in going with me, then I really have no one else my age that has any interest in music. I guess as a female it is a little strange, but it doesn't bother me too much. More than anything I just wish I had someone to share the experience with though.

I went to Bonnaroo alone last year (my husband was out of town) - and had a total blast. I didn't have to worry about what bands other people wanted to see, I just did my thing and saw everything I wanted to see.

I am going to see My Morning Jacket in Nashville alone in 2 weeks and really am ok with it.

Gonzo1977

Went to see The Who by myself in 1996...It was great.

Going to shows by yourself is cool; especially if it is a band that you're really into and want to see.

Sometimes friends aren't as into the band as you are and it distracts you away from absorbing the music because you feel like you have to talk to them during the show.

When you go it alone it allows you to go off into your own world.

Not to mention...You may end up meeting some cool new people who dig the band as much as you..

decides2dream

i went to MSG II 2003 solo and i'll be hitting up ed's solo show august 5th in NYC, solo. i've also done a LOT of solo travel for shows, solo travel, period, movies, dinners, etc. nothing wrong with enjoying your own company. and most especially for something like a show, soooo many people there enjoying what you are, always a blast! never miss out on living your life and doing things you love simply b/c you have no one to join you....you nmay meet amazing new friends along the way, and even if not, you will have added another amazing memory to YOUR life!

PJBuckeye

Went to the Roo by myself. It was great, got to do everything on my schedule. It also allowed me to wait all day for PJ. I don't know if my friends or my wife would have done that.

Also, nobody on this board ever really goes to a PJ show alone. You run into so many names that you recognize from the board at shows, it's great. At Roo, I got to spend some time with a handful of message board folks. Also, you make friends with the non message boarders.

ariel

I've travelled alone and enjoyed it very much - as someone else said though, I'd like to share those experiences with someone, but I also don't want to not have them myself because no one else is able to go or just uninterested.

Haven't done the alone at a concert thing yet, will probably end up alone at some shows this year...nervous, but also at a f*** it who cares stage right now


Great thread idea!

firecrotch23

im going to my first show solo next week in newark and im really excited for it. i would it have rather been in philly so i dont have to travel, but oh well, i got lucky and got a pretty good seat, its gonna be the shit!
here`s a question ive been wondering, is smoking at the ev shows the same as a pj show (make sure its cool with peeps around you, offer if anyone wants to join in, etc) or is it taboo? any input would be great.