# going to concerts?

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by bermuda-triangulese (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Friday, 02-Aug-2013 16:46:06

Hi all,
Well I would like to figure out a particularly irritating situation with which I have been struggling. I am a metal fan...and those of you who have done metal concerts probably know that its not a good idea to go to death/heavy concerts alone when one has no vision. So whilst I do have a good number of sighted friends...they definitely could not handle a 5 finger death punch concert. So how do you guys sort this out?
MJ

## Post 2 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 02-Aug-2013 18:42:25

If you can't find a friend to go with and you go alone, say in the back.
You only need to hear right? If shit goes down, you're in the gack, so can lay on the wall until it passes you buy.

## Post 3 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 03-Aug-2013 17:40:49

That's what I did when I went to a punk show in the early 90s.

## Post 4 by bermuda-triangulese (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Sunday, 04-Aug-2013 10:51:18

yeah. I could see that. punk shows and metal shows though, damn different lol. But we'll see. I'm definitely going to try to make it in.

## Post 5 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 06-Aug-2013 11:20:05

I never went alone but I did go with my best friend and husband who are both totally blind. We had our driver drop us off at the front gate and then asked security to help us find seats. We also asked them to stop back by at least once during the show just in case anybody wanted drinks or needed the restroom. Granted this slightly inhibited our ability to break the no smoking policies but we just followed our noses. The suggestion of staying in the back or near the wall is a good one. Have fun and rock on!

## Post 6 by JerseyGirl1989 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Thursday, 08-Aug-2013 6:13:43

Hey there! I've been to tons of concerts by myself-although they are country concerts---so much different then the meddle/hard rock ya'll are talking about here- but thought I'd contribute to this topic anyways. Most of my family/friends hate country music, so I wind up going by myself, but since I'm a member of the Fan Club, most of us Fan Club members get together before, during, and sometimes after the show to go out to eat and for drinks etc etc... most of my friends and I (they belong to the fan club too) have went to see this particular artist together, and it's a lot of fun!! I do hate though, that when I do go alone, I wind up sitting next to a reallly drunk person, who talks throughout the entire thing, or asks me questions, etc etc... which can get annoying, but otherwise, I love going to concerts, and I try to see as many as I can! For example, I've seen Chris Young going on 17 times, most of which since about December 2011 have been by myself. But the most recent ones I've gone too, (the five most recent ones) anyways were with my friends which was tons of fun! :) I've also met Chris Young over ten times and he's one of the nicest people in country music. anyways, sorry to ramble, but if I were you, I'd go by myself, if nothing else, you'll get to experience it, and+ security should look out for you, at least that's what they did for me. (they would come keep checking up on me throughout the show and stuff to see if I needed anything) so overall I've had a good experience going to concerts alone. But I figure it that I'm not really alone because I'm meeting/hanging out with the fan club members, who when we all get together we all have an awesome time!! :)

## Post 7 by DrummerD (Veteran Zoner) on Saturday, 11-Jan-2014 8:49:47

Last year in March, I wanted to go to see The Dilinger Escape Plan:
http://tube.majestyc.net/?v=WZviju9HQSE
Due to an old friend of mine not having her shit together, I couldn't go, but I'd devised a plan for when I would go.
Considering I'd been to clubnights, and played gigs many times at the venue, I knew the layout of the 2 main rooms enough to get around by myself. Whehn I asked my friend if I could go with her, she naturally was worried about how she'd take care of me when the place was litorally being ripped apart. I thought it would be an idea to put all of my valuables (Glasses, phone, wallet, and even my cane) in my jacket, and leave it in the cloakroom so nothing got damaged. I would go in with my friend, and let the gig happen. If we got separated at any point during the night, I would meet her at the entrence to the main room at the end of the gig. I know it sounds scary and risky, but you have to jump in head first with these things if you want to have the experience you're talking about. Being in venues like that (500 + capasity), afords you the luxury of being more tactile than normal, since everyone is crammed in, and pushing past each other anyway. I think clubbing and gigging are things you can only get right by planning ahead, and getting a few things wrong sometimes. I've been going out for 4 years now, so I have my own system, should anything happen. And believe me, anything has happened.
Hope this helps.

## Post 8 by Striker (Consider your self warned, i'm creative and offensive like handicap porn.) on Saturday, 11-Jan-2014 15:30:45

Hmm, for metal shows, if its in a club setting, odds are the pit isn't going to get super crazy. and even if it does, the floor space isn't huge. so, odds are you'll be fine.
This is what I did at several concerts. I've been with friends, and they were the ones to opt for going in early with security. At the first show, a friend of mine and I walked up to the barricade in front of the stage, and hung out there threw out the hole show. Being at the front is nice, keeping these things in mind.
1. hold on to that gate. People will shove/push either to get to the front, or to get more room, because someone down the line is shoving. 2. you'll be a little pressed in.
3. though, if the pit gets going, you'll be OK, because hey who is seriously going to leave their spot at the front of the stage, etc. this show was SevenDust, Cold chamber, etc. So the crowd was what you'd expect.
the second show i've been too recently where I was actually in the front was all symphonic metal, so a lot more calm.
I've been to festivals and such, as well, and out door venues. It all basically works the same. If you're on the ground/standing level. get to the front if you want, or the back, or sides. Don't stick it out in the middle.
If you actually have seats, you'll be OK.
Most venues have good security that don't mind helping people out if they need it, and if you get yourself in over your head, they'll pull you out, blind, sighted, kid, adult... that's their job.
Have fun at the shows, and just relax. Keep an eye on who's around you, what's going on, and you should be fine.

## Post 9 by Runner229 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 11-Jan-2014 17:18:06

Lots of good advice here. I've also been to a couple country concerts and things can get crazy there too. I think the concert environment regardless of the type of music can provoke people to do stupid crap like get drunk, but I wouldn't let that keep you from giving it a try. I'd love to go to a rock or medal concert some time as well.

## Post 10 by ArtRock1224 (move over school!) on Saturday, 11-Jan-2014 21:22:47

What about giant festivals, such as raves or any sort of EDM event? These aren't really the types of things you want to go to alone anyway ... but would you do anything different?

## Post 11 by Striker (Consider your self warned, i'm creative and offensive like handicap porn.) on Saturday, 11-Jan-2014 22:34:26

No, i'm sorry, but rock/metal shows are a completely different ball game. No one starts a mosh pit at a country show. there are a lot of things that the standing/pit levels do at a metal show you'd never see anywhere else. Like the wall of death, circle, etc. Honestly, as a blind person, i'd advise you stay out of any pit, like I said before stick to the front, back or sides.
Hmm, festivals i've done with a group of friends. How i'd handle it really depends on how good your travel skills are.
In a lot of cases, you're going to be following crowds though. Most of the much people and concessions are more than happy to give you directions, if you get lost.

## Post 12 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Saturday, 11-Jan-2014 23:46:40

Only been to see Megadeth and I was way in the back of a stadium.