How many DiSers have done this?
Since I have moved, I have gone to two gigs on my todd. The first was okay- it was a large venue and I ended up talking to people in the queue. Once the music started, everyone did there own thing and ignored everyone else.
The second was horrible. Small venue full of groups of people. I got sick of people staring at me and left early.
Sooo...since there are a few upcoming gigs I am interested in attending, any tips on how not to be too conspicuously alone?
I do it quite a lot
my music taste is a bit extreme for most of my compadres. Plus I buy tickets as soon as I see them, instead of waiting to ask people.
I'm gonna go and see Mono and Jesu in a couple of weeks on my own, seems kinda apt to see that kind of thing alone.
yeah
i dun it once, but i knew people that would be there, but i weasn't really "going with them", but i hung out with them a bit, but they were playing, so not much. i'mn hungry
i do it regularly.
it can be a bit crap in between bands, as you are. just. standing. there. waiting.
At least 50% of the gigs I go to, I go to alone.
I know possibly 5 people in total who actually go to gigs at all and only 2 of those go to my kind of gigs.
If it wasn't for the solo option I'd have missed out on a load of great concerts.
I actually really envy people who seem to have a huge crew of friends who all love the same music as them, I haven't really had that since I was 19/20 or so.
I do it quite often
because I have no friends. But I imagine if I *did* have friends, once the gig got going, I'd quickly forget they were there and lose them in the crowd anyway, so it doesn't really make much difference. Oh right. You said that. I just read. At small gigs, I try to find someone to talk to and say I'm reviewing it for the uni newspaper to excuse my loserishness.
.
You get used to it quite quickly. Look at the stuff on the merch desk for a while, get a drink, sip drink, stand and stare at tnothing in particular. Feel slightly lonely. Watch band. Go home.
I actually prefer going alone to gigs sonetimes depending on the type of music. So after a while you come to look forward to it.
yep.
Used to do it a lot last year, it can be a bit boring in between bands, but I normally just order another drink or play with my phone.
I prefer going to gigs alone
That way I don't have to worry if the other person's enjoying themselves or not.
^this, completely^
I rarely go to gigs with people, actually. when i'm with people i feel a bit pressured, especially when I don't know them that well, and I have to force conversation.
Anyway, if you strike the balance of arriving at the right time (not waiting for ages, good view) it can be really awesome. I usually pass the time in between bands deleting text messages.
<3
"I usually pass the time in between bands deleting text messages."
Exactly...
... better to be alone than with people who're there because they know you, not because they like the music. The way I see it it goes like this:
Best: Go with friends who like the music also.
Second best: Go alone.
Worst: Go with people you took along cos you didn't want to be alone.
The bits in between suck, but I guess the rest makes up for it.
Totally agree
Although I find that I meet people at gigs anyway, one of my best friends I meet at a Morrissey gig I went to by myself.
9/10 gigs I go to are by myself
as most of my friends don't know most of the bands I like, it's weird as seeing a band should be about seeing a band not a social event yet I feel awkward and conspicious
Ah, this old 'chestnut'
I'm going to see Andrew Bird tonight on my own. I don't care about people staring at me so I don't have any tips on how to look less conspicuous.
i do this all the time
so much easier than trying to find friends with similar music tastes.
Hiding in dark corners or at the side is a good way to not look too alone. It doesn't really matter anyway, except if you get there way before the bands start at the beginning.
i think i've done it twice
i'm normally able to bully a least one of my friends into coming with. but as soon as i pass my driving test, i'll do it loads. i really don't think that the more popular of the world are looking at gig loners and thinking "look at that weird fuck, how dare he enjoy live music!"
here are my tips
spend alot of time pretending to text people.
bring a magazine.
Thats all I've got
All the time,
probably about 90% at the moment. Just take a book / magazine to read during the changeover bits
wouldn't it be
a bit too dark to read inside a venue?
They pretty much
turn the house lights up between bands here. Which is a bit strange now I come to think of it
I'm so used to it
that I never thought that might be considered strange...
if you're a boy that is
as a girl who goes on her own, my books never get read but only seem to suggest that i want company to some waxy, half-cut youth . i fucking don't.
going on your own is better than not going at all. and sometimes i really relish the chance to be quiet and people watch.
I nearly always go alone
I am always amazed at the impossibility of predicting what the atmosphere will be like. Seems to depend on the day of the week or something, plus the city. Manchester is ace, and also Sheffield. On balance I have found it best to try and get near the front, and mosh it. There is only one thing worse than being stood next to someone who does not want to be there, and that is sitting next to them.
I do it all the time
it does make me drink much quicker though.
I find it makes me
appreciate the main act all the more when they finally start up after the interval!
im doin it for first time in ages tonight
sure ill know someone there though..
Wear..
a suit, and pretend to be the manager.
I used to go by myself a lot
Fortunatly I would make a whole bunch of friends that night. Most of this was beacuase I didnt know many people who have the same music taste and/or are lazy shits.
Fortuantly I met someone online who i formed a band with(not from this site but a different one) who has the same taste as me and we usually go to gigs together
see, i'm thinking i'm just going to have to start doing this soon
cause i literally don't know anyone that shares my taste in music.
the last gig i went to i made my dad come with me (which is probably just as lame), and i noticed quite a few people there on their own. however, i feel like i'd stand out more and feel more awkward than most because of my age. that probably doesn't make sense to anyone else, but i'm a loser like that.
no one really notices though
it's just a bit boring in between the bands.
people there with friends would be chatting to their friends anyway, so the only people looking would be other people by themselves!
yep
I've never done this
because I think it'd be horrible inbetween bands. However it means I've missed out on gigs I wanted to go to so i might start going to some alone.
last gig I went to
this kid turned around and starting talking to me and my friend. He couldn't have been older than 15, and he had the worst teeth I have ever seen, I mean he looked like he was chewing an old piano. He was touchingly obsessed with the Animal Collective and Bright Eyes. I felt sorry for him, but not sorry enough to really engage him, and I didn't talk to him after the lights came up. Anyways the whole episode only served to solidify my prejudices about going to gigs alone
i
have a few times, most people I know arent prepared to go to so many gigs/have the same taste in music.
pick up the fly to read, dont go early, unless you really like the first/second support go later.
Unless its a gig were people go to 'socialise' then i think its not too bad.
Going by yourlself beats not going to see a band you want to see but cant finding anyone to go with and not going.
another tip
keep hold of any of those crap flyers you get thrust in your hand when going in, they make suprisingly interesting reading when you are really bored. Usually it isn't too bad if there are quite a few people there. Used to do this quite a lot when I lived back home but fortunately don't have to now as there is usually at least one person I can bully into going.
gigs by yourself
I love going to gigs on my own and have done since I was 14 (a long time ago). You can enjoy the music without worrying if the person with you is enjoying it. As for the breaks between acts, get a pint, sit on the floor and people watch. Small venues are even better because you can find the best spot to see and grab it early!
tips:
spend the time in between bands to get your drinks (queues take long enough at a big venue) or prop up the bar at small gigs. look at merch table, lean against walls, stare into space, daydream.
most of the people who i could drag to gigs with have left london, not leaving me with too much choice. it's hard to find people who would go to the same gigs as me!
It seems most people in this thread
go to gigs alone because they "can't find anyone to go with me". We should form a "gig club" and make sure we never have to attend a gig on our own again.
^this
Do you really live in Japan though?
Being a member of this gig club could become a tad expensive if you do.
hahaha, no.
I live in Bedfordshire. I changed it to Japan because I was bored at work and it ties in with my profile pic.
i may go to the national tonight in bristol
by myself im intrigued
ever since my main gig buddy
decided to move in with his girlfriend and become a lame-o, I have started to go to more gigs on my own.
^ :S I hate it when people couple up and suddenly, things you used to do
together as friends become redundant. It just seems really wrong. I really admire people who still have their 'ritual' catch up with friends (guys or girls) and nothing comes between that - including gig going.
Poor you. Lame-o friend alright.
^^ this makes me sad
as it's slowly happening to me, now i'm all alone and no one will go to see pete and the pirates with me. Three cheers for people who would rather 'be with' their girl/boyfriends than their bestfriends..everr
I did yesterday for the first time ever.
Beirut.
I saw werk outside and had a chat with him though.
To be honest I wasn't really fussed.
Went to see
Spiritualized alone, and it was probably one of the best gigs I've ever seen.
that's the thing
I'd have missed out on so many amazing gigs if I didn't go by myself.
Pah!
Every gig I go to.
What is the problem???
I've
only just started going to gigs by myself this year, maybe I'm now finally old enough not to care that much anymore.
However, I still allow myself to be put off by the venue, if it's a sit down gig for example, which can make you, (me), feel as though you're the only person there on your ownsome. Not that it should matter, but there's no hiding place.
I'm far happier losing myself in an Academy or Barfly type venue and haven't had a bad night yet.
My people-watching skills have also improved no end. Everyone's a winner.
Kind of.
about 75% of the gigs i go to
are on my own. most of the best gigs ive been at have been when ive been on my own, i like going with groups of people, but sometimes its great to go on me own and just do my own thing for the evening.
i did this
a few weeks ago when i went to see foals. It was mostly alright, i felt a bit awkward and conspicuous before they came on but i didn't get there till shortly before their set so it wasn't too bad. Once they were on -no problem, even participated in stage invasion :-D
I considered going to beirut on my own last night, but wimped out :-/
I've
always promised myself i'd go to a gig on my own if the band was worth it but never gone through with it
good to see its not such a weirdo thing to do, New years resoultion sorted (unless there is a worthy gig before then!)
as other people have said
take a book.
going to a gig by yourself is better then not going to the gig at all.
I always
have a hunt around for the local fanzine or something if I go to a gig on my own
I also like to look for people with obscure band t-shirts who are also most likely to be there on their own
I always prefer going with others though - it's good to chat about the gig/anything inbetween bands rather than constantly look at your watch/phone
i've never been to a gig by myself
which is quite weird, as i don't think i have that many friends...quite lucky to have people to go with in some ways.
one thing i've noticed though is that i always book two tickets for everything, even though i haven't got another person confirmed. one day i will click on one ticket instead :)
I've been to plenty of gigs on my own
For pretty much the same reasons as everyone else. Friends into different music, worrying if everyone else is into it etc. I find it easier at sit down gigs though.
This
is one of the reasons we started musicdating. People can use our site to find a date for a gig or just a mate/mates to go with.
For the more obscure tastes, we gotta have a few more users first, but that's the theory anyways!
I always worried I might have this problem,
once I started going to gigs, because my friends don't have similar enough music tastes, or are lazy.
Luckily, I found a couple of people outside my usual "group", and I have 4 gigs lined up between now and February. I even have a "gig buddy" as such, as we decided to join forces as a reviewer/photographer combo for a newspaper. It's not only company for gigs, but free gigs!
I've gone to quite a few gigs on my own...
- its never as weird as you'd think. Sometimes a little awkward but as someone who usually snaps to be fair you spend most of the gig on your own anyway. Tis a lonely life... ;o)
I do it all the time
My friends all have rubbish (sorry, different) music taste. 99% of the time I don't mind - I either get chatting to people in the queue, or plug into my ipod and read a book/magazine/whatever (though I remember going to see R.E.M. in Hyde Park after one of the Harry Potter books came out, was reading it in between support acts and some Aussie guys tried to take my picture because they thought it was such a weird concept...). I can find it awkward standing around alone once you're inside (found that particularly when I went to see Josh Ritter at the Water Rats the other day :S) but I get over it...I'd rather see my favourite artists alone then be with someone who I'd be worrying about whether they were enjoying it, or not seeing htem at all.
But yeah, pretend to text lots, or get talking to someone else who's obviously alone. 'sall I got. Have fun!
i've never been but
Am really intrigued to go though! What about when everyone is shouting/screaming/singing along with that 'im in a crowd' voice? Do you join in if you are on your own or stand with dignity and nod your head?
I go to gigs alone quite often.
I'd obviously rather see a band with mates but rather go alone and see the band than not. I always found it 'easier' in smaller venues. I've noticed there's more sad lonely people like me in smaller venues. Probably due to the slightly esoteric bands I'm into.
I just start weeping..
and rocking as i fall to the floor in isolation.
Either that or sing along! ;o)
I should so blatently start talking to people but i think people find me weird when i start chatting to them! Like I'm an evil dwarf or something...
That said you see me at Mono anyone - come say hello!
I mostly go to gigs on my own
Nothing wrong with it... I think...
I
don't think there's anything wrong with it- I just wanted to see how common it was :-) I will definately remember to bring a book next time!
as a side note...40 votes for my first thread! Result! 8-)
Mono make me me want to weep and rock and fall to floor
hehe
that isnt true at all :)
your dancing and random chats kept me smiling through the murk of Connect (the weather im referring to of course)
Thanks Jordan!
God knows if any other DiSsers would agree though! HA!
...
well i see no-one rushing to your defence! :)
Just about every gig i've been to, i've gone alone
Same reasons as everyone else.
My habits have started changing though, as I went to Supersonic Festival on my lonesome.
Took the six hour bus ride from Scotland to Birmingham, stayed in a hotel on my own, went to festival alone. I'd never do that again.
i mostely go on my own
but i would love to go with someone.
pm me to go to gigs, please!!!!!
I'm lucky that I have alot of friends that go to the kind of gigs I like
I know 4 people who have tickets to Efterklang already, buying mine next weekend :D
But I went to a gig alone once
I hate the awkwardness
me too
I always find going to gigs so awkward. Maybe I'll take a book next time...thus looking like a geek AND social tard.
doesn't bother me at all.
if it's a band i really want to see i'll quite happily go on my own.
i did so tonight at the amersham arms
Just to see Lovvers mind.. just got back no less. But yeah, Most gigs I go to are on my own to be honest. As the post above says, I'm equally happy to go alone to see a band I'm head over heels for..