To not understand the appeal of arena music shows?

[wellingtonsandwaffles]

YABU - arena shows are great
YANBU - don’t get it either

Please help me understand the appeal! I understand if you’ve spent ££££ and are close enough to see the artist but in all the pictures I’ve seen recently of people going to big shows, they are so far back it seems as though they’d be watching the show through the screens anyway. I’d be very surprised if they can see anything properly on the stage.

I understand the draw of a big crowd and atmosphere but is that really enough to warrant £100+ tickets each?

I also understand that for many kids musicians are idols. But this isn’t limited to Taylor Swift, all big musicians put on these huge shows and huge numbers of people go from around the world. I just don’t get it!

AIBU?

clearly getting old

If IABU please help me understand and share what is great about massive concerts - particularly for the everyday goer who is miles back!

It is a different experience to seeing someone in a small venue live you should perhaps give it a go.

Saw blur at Wembley last week. Before they came on a was feeling a bit disappointed about my life choices.... I couldnt see the stage.... My feet hurt from standing..... But then they came on. And it was probably one of my top 10 nights of my life. There was something about the collective experience I think. It was really transformative. Damon called Wembley a " temple for agnostics" and I see where he was coming from. Sport does the same.

No, she wasn’t “only asking”. It’s that faux innocence thing of “oh I don’t get it, I must be old! Tee hee!”

Okay, you don’t “get it” So what? Who cares? Why do you need to? Writing this thread isn’t going to make her think “oh yeah, I understand, I’ll go to them now!”

I don’t get why people piss away their money drinking alcohol, or smoke, or go on outdoorsy type holidays, are childfree, wear make up etc etc etc.

I don’t go starting threads about it pretending I don’t understand and oh please just explain! because I know these things are shit enough for me not to be interested. As does OP.

I'm on the fence. Never been to one, and don't live somewhere with arenas. Also it seems like a PITA to actually get tickets for things like TS. But if someone else organised it for me I'd give it a try.

It's replaced religion as a form of spiritual experience for a lot of people!
Communion with others of a similar belief, group singing, feelgood factor with non of the judgement.

YABU, the vibe from the crowd. being part of the whole experience is amazing and can't be captured on screen at home.
Singing along with your favourite band and thousands of like minded people is unbeatable.
Hence the post gig blues

YANBU can't think of anything worse! I get why people like going! But not the experience I want to have when seeing live music

I am so jealous of you!

I was at Wimbledon yesterday for the ladies final (amongst other matches). Where we sat we had a decent view (still far) but would have had a much better view on the television.

Worth every penny! It was amazing to be part of the crowd and watching it unfold live. You cannot replicate the feeling watching it on tv.

Going also made me appreciate invitational matches as well, to the point I enjoyed that much more than the actual finals!

I know, just couldn't make the timings work 😭

I'm not sure why it's any more unexplainable than thousands of people crowding to football matches every week ...? You'd see more on TV.

Queue early and get to the front, though hanging at the back can be fun too.
I go to loads and love them, it's one of my favourite things to do.
I was at Maroon 5 at the O2 the other week and had an amazing time, it was my 4th arena show this year, also been at a stadium, a park, an outside city venue and two nights at a small festival.
Another city park on the 28th and I can't wait.
Next arena show in September, Let's go girls!!!

I'm seeing The Killers next month.
I missed Pulp, chose Billy Joel in Hyde Park instead but I'm desperate for them to do more shows so I can see them.

I like smaller gigs too. I think most live music fans love smaller gigs. But if you want to see the really iconic successful bands or artists, then you really only have stadium gigs to choose from. And even then you’re not guaranteed to get a place in the ‘crowd’ as they sell out so fast. If you’re lucky and see a lot of live music you’ll see people on the way up in the smaller venues who become stadium artists in time. Anyway, £100 for a cannot-be-replicated experience doesn’t seem outrageous to me.

I saw someone I really like a few times last year, a theatre, arenas and a small venue, plus a festival this year.
He was great at all of them.
I do agree that £100 for a stadium isn't a bad price, it's pretty standard, and I was 2 people off the barrier paying that and queueing for 8 hours

Same for me. My most recent big gig I spent a fortune on tickets and the seats were excellent and the whole thing fantastic. Atmosphere brilliant etc. If given the choice I prefer standing in a smaller venue.

It also does depend on the artist. Some just have the knack of uniting a massive audience and making it feel much more intimate.

Last one I went to I was about 20 rows back in front of the stage. I probably would’ve had a decent view but for the fact that everyone in front of me was trying to film the entire fucking thing on their phones. All I could see were screens held up in the air. If I did go again, I’d make sure it was tiered seating so I could see over them. But more likely I won’t go again because it pissed me off so much.
What do people do with all of this coverage? Watch it later? Don’t get it.

We most recently went to see Elton John but in the past have also seen Muse, Kings of Leon and Ed Sheeran as well as to various festivals. All fun and agree singing along with the huge crowd is something worth experiencing at least once but on the whole I don’t enjoy it enough to want to do it regularly. It’s is quite expensive and on the whole I’d rather do other things but if money were no object then I’d go more.

Presale always gets me the tickets I want, or has so far.
Tbf I don't want Taylor Swift though!

You know YABU OP because just because it doesn't appeal to you, it's not hard to understand why it wouldn't appeal to others. I've always loved festivals but for a long time I put off going to larger stadiums such as Wembley as I want to see bands I live in smaller places. But ive relented now as its stadiums or nothing for many of the bands I want to see.
Yes of course it's going to be a better experience watching someone in a 509 or 1000 capacity venue BUT the stadium experience is also wonderful just in a different way.

It is far better than outdoor concerts/ festivals. I don’t bother with outdoor gigs anymore.

I was there too-wasn’t it amazing!
We were seated but laid for decent seats and had a really good view. Also seen a couple of other acts at Wembley with not so grey seats but the atmosphere and the ‘being there’ made up for it.
I just love live music though and yes, for me it’s like a spiritual experience which often moves me to tears. I know what they look like so not seeing them in detail doesn’t bother me.

Excuse typos, it’s early.

I saw Pulp on Wednesday. It was truly amazing, the atmosphere of being in the crowd added to the experience.

Done a few. Standing around for hours, waiting for an hour and a half of performance. Not for me anymore thanks.

Last couple, I checked the time, thinking, can you finish now, I want to go to bed!!

I have been to quite a few concerts in big venues over the years and, even seeing artists I absolutely loved didn't make me feel how I wanted or expected to feel. I do wonder if it's my personality and that I'm just not great at experiencing something 'in the moment'. I tend to be standing/sitting there thinking 'this is really great', but on a more objective/analytical level rather than emotionally. I'm glad I went though.