Going to shows by yourself

acutejam

Great thread, good discussion! Might not just be an age thing, but yeah, solo shows are on the horizon for me. I need the "Release" of Pearl Jam shows, or EV. I was "this" close to $pending bucks to get out to Boston this past weekend ... solo. But I leave for Hawaii with the family in another week so back-to-back trips was just too pricey.

I have a good crew of friends, but each likes totally different music. 2-3 years ago when I arranged for 12 of us to all attend RUSH together, it was nuts, didn't enjoy myself. I usually just pick one friend, buy the tix and treat 'em. We've been chattin up hitting Vegas for shows for awhile ... first step, travelling to see a show.

I used to follow the Dead on the West Coast and loved it. While I was with a large group of friends, many, many times I was "alone" throughout the show. Well, technically I was at the shows.... I was hangin on the rail at the Greek in the late 80s with a buddy and his pals and the Dead were SUPER late going on, and I went, "Huh, i'm not where I'm supposed to be." I wandered off and whamo, show started. Whatever.

Business trips I check out movies solo, I eat at sushi bars solo. Love it. Had a solo Ace Frehley tix for SoCal but trip got cut short....

So I bought EV Santa Cruz single and was stoked, me and Eddie! And then yeah, I started calling friends and we all went with single seats. Berk1 I went with a complete stranger, 10C member who is probably starting to regret it because of how thankful I've been -- 2nd Row!

So now I'm totally ready, Gorge or down to LA LA land, Santa barbara on my list. I got a good wingman for Bridge School, totally into all music and he won't miss that. But WHEN PJ comes out here again, I'm catchin as many as I can!

(Hmm Greek for MMJ...)

KB2578

Like many others have said, I find it hard to get friends to go to shows these days....well, friends who would appreciate PJ shows as much as I do. And living in Houston, I've had to travel the past few years....and I don't have any friends who are die hard enough to do that. Did Vegas in '06 and both MSG shows this year solo. Also doing the Ed shows in Chicago by myself. The first time I went alone was a little strange...but I love it now. Have met some really great people and I've found I can focus and appreciate the show much more when it's just me.

Anon

ive been to a ton of shows by myself. i go to shows to see the band and the music which i can do on my own very easily. it may seem kind of depressing to people, but the truth is, you go there, watch the band, then go home. its not the end of the world if you are by yourself. i would rather be by myself than with someone who doesn't really appreciate the music.

Hawaii 78

I have been to most shows out of Colorado Pearl Jam shows by myself. Seattle, Vegas, Hawaii, San Diego and soon Chicago. I can't rely on my friends to have the cash flow and some of them don't like the music I like. I'm not one that needs someone to hold their hand. I am very independent and if I want to do something I do it even though it may present some challenges for a girl traveling alone. Life is too short not to do the things you want. There are advantages to going to shows alone; I come and go as I please, I don't have to hear them whining about how they want to go home and having to deal with my friends that get stupid drunk at shows.

finnannie

Hawaii 78 wrote:

I'm not one that needs someone to hold their hand. I am very independent and if I want to do something I do it even though it may present some challenges for a girl traveling alone. Life is too short not to do the things you want. There are advantages to going to shows alone; I come and go as I please, I don't have to hear them whining about how they want to go home and having to deal with my friends that get stupid drunk at shows.

Amen.

I traveled alone to see some shows in June from Finland, and I'm a girl too.

Tremor-Chris

I've been to a ton of Pearl jam shows by myself, most of my friends aren't into them or can't make it for some reason.

Hmm, lets see

Montreal, Ottawa & Toronto '05 (drove up and across alone rockin' out to PJ the whole time)
Albany '06
Hartford '06
Boston I & 11 '06
MSG I & II '08
Hartford '08
Boston I & II '08
EV Boston I & II

And I'll keep going alone if I need to

toddiet123

almost everything i got to these days i go alone..people don't want to spend the $$ or be out on a work night.

being a taper its just as easy..I come and go as I please...

pretext

I actually prefer to go to shows alone. Usually I get into such a zone that I block out everyone around me, including friends. I don't want to talk to anyone once the performance has begun (like going to the movies). And I'm not one to dissect a show immediately afterwards.
This isn't to say I haven't met some great people prior to shows over the years. Once, a couple days after 9/11, I had a pastor and his artist wife buy me ice cream and beer all night! Maybe someone will take pity on my poor soul tonight...

ChrissySistrum

I have gone to a number of shows by myself. I would rather go by myself than not go. I have found, I usually end up sitting by cool PJ fans. A few times I met peope at pre-show parties/benefits.

I have gone to the following shows by myself...had a blast!!!

EV solo in 2000, I think it was (in LA)

Gorge 2003

Denver 7/3/2006
San Diego 7/6/2006 (I think it was)

I almost went to Hawaii 2006 by myself...but had some fellow PJ fans join me at the last minute!

Just recently went to EV in Boston 2 by myself.

tditz_gb

Since all my old friends "grew up" I've been to LOADS of shows alone..mostly smaller club shows, punk rock and that sort of thing but I did see PJ at Lolla last year. Stood there by myself for 9 long hours to see PJ. It was totally worth it.

peso5

LukinFan wrote:

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

Pearl Jam March 92, Columbus Ohio. Bought 2 tickets, my friend couldnt make it, so I gave 1 ticket away to someone outside the venue wanting so bad to go to the show. He almost kissed my in front of 50+ people waiting outside Newport.
Eleven was opening for the show.


Breeders (93 I think) Newport Columbus
John Spencer & The Blues Explosion was opening.

leafs4ever

excellent thread that just helped me make a decision.
I will be going to apw festival and the eddie show in nj on the 7th alone. I wanted to go but was worried about doing it alone, thanks to what everyone said here i said screw it and just booked the trip.

melpu

not everyone understands being so passionate about music -- some people think it's obsessive to go to a social event alone--

I like having someone along to share the fun but I do go solo whenever circumstance requires -- it's an oportunity to enjoy the experience on a whole different level

also, anyone else here an only child? i learned early on how to do things on my own

Feedbacker

I have never gone to a show alone, but I can see myself doing so in the near future as not alot of my friends or family share interest in some of the bands I want to see. I would probably go to shows alone more often if I lived closer to a big city that has alot of venues. Right now the places I go to the most are about a 45 minute to an hour south into Massachusettes and it's nice to have somebody with you for the ride there and back and standing in lines. Once I'm in there I could care less where they go.

sherm

melpu wrote:

not everyone understands being so passionate about music -- some people think it's obsessive to go to a social event alone--

I like having someone along to share the fun but I do go solo whenever circumstance requires -- it's an oportunity to enjoy the experience on a whole different level

also, anyone else here an only child? i learned early on how to do things on my own

Middle child, but I completely agree with you on this. My buddy backed out on me at the last minute and I went to the mansfield shows alone, met alot of cool people. did my own thing, and had a fucking blast. I think I'm actually going to the Aug. 22 show alone if one of my buddies doesn't step up to the plate soon.

voodoopug

went by myself to a couple of shows:

WPB Pearl Jam this year as my friend I was meeting down there caught a terrible flu

Rolling Stones United Center Chicago 2003, wife was very pregnant (had the baby a month early the next day!) so I went by myself. My parents were there, just not sitting with me. Went to the pre party and had a great time anyway, nice people sitting near me.

canadajammer

Seeing Toronto 2 By myself. I'm excited

SourDFanatic

Ive never done it before...but looks like i might be doing so tomorrow.

Never fully trust the people who are going to the show just to go to a show. They dissapoint. Lame.

Kathy B

I'm a 50 + yr old woman , so needless to say none of my friends are into Pearl Jam, I have no problem going to a show alone. I am a huge Neil Young fan too, I have a group of friends that I meet up with all over the country at his shows so I have no problem buying a single ticket and going by myself.

Some of those Neil young fans also go to see Pearl Jam and I meet up with them there too. However I was the only one in our group to get tickets to Ed'd Boston 2 show, so I went by myself and I was glad I did, the show was great.

PearlJamVixen

I've been to several shows by myself in my long career of show-attending... because as many others have said, I'd rather go alone than miss a great show! I've been to a couple of Pearl Jam shows by myself (New Orleans '03 and Albany '03), I went to a Blind Melon show myself, Pete Yorn, Brad, and my absolute so-glad-I-didn't-miss this: Alice in Chains in November 1992. That was one of the best (non PJ!) shows I've ever been to in my life and I would have missed it, had I been too self-conscious/afraid/whatever to go by myself.

I went to Ed solo/Boston 2 by myself on Saturday night for a different reason, though...things are a little tight financially for my husband and I right now, so it saved $100 by me going alone.

There is nothing wrong with going to shows by yourself. Some people are so hung up about it, though, and think it's so strange...