Can I wear recovery slides to a concert?

[NicolaCasanova]

I played in a sports tournament for 3 days over the weekend followed by a huge amount of walking and standing for a work event on Monday, and my feet are still hurting quite a lot when I walk or stand up a lot (part of my job). I saw the physio (for something else) and there is nothing seriously wrong just bruised muscle in the foot arches from more intense use than usual. Physio said to rest.

Going to the gig of a lifetime tomorrow night, (standing), DH’s birthday present, and am worried about the foot pain. The only shoes that are remotely comfortable are my Hoka recovery slides. Am I insane to wear these to a gig? They cover most of the foot.

It’s a kind of boomer band so no moshing (not for me, anyway!)

Are you allowed to take in one of those stools-on-a-walking-stick? Think they’re called shooting sticks. It could take the pressure off.

Amazon could probably deliver one in time!

People wear all sorts to gigs, just wear whatever's comfortable for you.

It might be worth calling them to see if they have any disabled seating available? Then you would have somewhere to sit if needed and you will be near the toilets. These are often available after a gig sells out.

No one is going to be looking at your feet.

Sorry I didn’t mean for fashion reasons!

I meant if it could be dangerous (slide off of feet / open toe) or actually end up being more painful if worn for a long time.

I wouldn't risk it in a crowd. Trainers? Maybe borrow a pair from DH if your feet are swollen?

But she’s not disabled. To access disabled seating you need proof of disability.

Oh. Are you seated or standing?

That’s not correct.

How not?

You don’t need to be registered as disabled or provide any medical documents to purchase disabled seating tickets for a concert.

Not to purchase no, but you are very often asked for proof on entry and risk being refused.

That’s not my experience.

I have worked in the live events industry for over 20 years. Most venues ask for proof of disability to stop anyone buying tickets just because they want to sit down and to ensure that they are reserved for those who truely need them. Also disabled tickets come with a free carer ticket so it ensures that chancers don’t try and get away with getting a free ticket. That’s not to say if a disabled area has free seats that security won’t let you in on the day if you have a genuine need despite not being disabled, but that is at their discretion. No one should buy a ticket for a disabled area if not disabled as that is taking away a seat for those who genuinely need it, think of it the same as parking in a disabled space- would you do that if you are not disabled?

That being said, Many venues now have ‘safe areas’ which have seating in which can usually be used for short periods of time by those with a need for a seat but who are not actually disabled (pregnant, broken leg etc). I would suggest contacting the venue to see if they have this provision as OP would be entitled to use this space.

Really? I have to with venue and with Ticketmaster. They aka for PIP copies

Definitely call the venue, explain the situation and see if you can swap for seated tickets. Usually something can be done. You will probably be able to do this on the night too if you go to the box office early.

I can’t see the problem? Plenty of people wear open toed shoes to gigs
I don’t think sore feet from sports and work is a good reason to use disabled seating! Although if there’s space and no one else needs it I guess it would be ok. Just seems a bit overkill.

I’d just take ibuprofen and get on with it-the gig will distract you from the pain!

Personally I wouldn't wear open shoes in a standing area at a gig, due to the number of unseen drinks/cups/general bits on the floor. Hopefully there should be little in the way of glass/cans/other sharp items down there these days, but you can never be sure....

I wore teva sandals to Wembley, standing for a gig. I wouldn’t have worn slip ons but it was fine for general standing purposes. Me and my feet survived. I was not in a mosh pit.

The last ones I bought I had to upload a PIP within 14 days of buying the tickets or they would be refunded.

We’ve also tried to get seats for my ADHD relative at a standing gig as she struggles with standing and watching - but haven’t had any luck being able to do this. And so I’m not sure it’s as easy as you make out.

Thanks, it’s feeling much better (still hurts!) and the physio has just taped it again, I will wear trainers with good support and am taking painkillers already. Hope the gig will be amazing! More worried about the walking to get there!

Thanks for all of the advice. I really appreciate it.

Honestly yes, wear them, I've done exactly this. The wide toe box means your toes aren't crammed together and the arch support gives targeted compression.

The thing I didn't expect is that the heel folds down into a slide and there are these acupressure dots underneath that stimulate tired feet. When you are standing and your feet hurt, flipping the heel down really helps. It’s hard to explain, but your feet feel better after.

Hoka (or Oofos) (or probably other brands too) do closed-shoe recovery footwear, as well as slides. Might be worth getting, if you can get them in time? It's a lot to spend for one evening, but you might get more use out of them at other times as well, if you do a lot of sport.

Could you walk there in them and then change into trainers for the actual gig?