Everyone remembers their favorite concert, the one that stood out amongst the rest. That core memory that solidified in your mind, “this is the best concert ever!” What determines that? What makes that one so much better than the rest?
There are a few key factors that go into making a concert a memorable experience.
The first main factor is the music. Going to a concert for a band you actually like, and music you actually know, makes all the difference between an okay time and a great time. There are always those concerts we agree to for a friend or a partner to be supportive but our hearts aren’t really in it. Then there are the ones we’ve been waiting forever for! Those concerts from artists you found in middle school that got you through your first heartbreaks, the ones where you know every word to every song and you sing along all night long.
Then there's stage presence. Don’t get me wrong, performance is important, no one wants to listen to out of tune instruments or bad production but having a strong presence makes it a whole different ball game. Having musicians that know how to engage with their audience on the most human level, a heart to heart, if you will, is what you do it all for. Musician or listener, we’re all just here to experience this moment together.
Most importantly, the audience is what makes or breaks the experience. Having a good crowd, a kind and supportive crowd, determines the energy for the entire evening. People next to you screaming along to the lyrics, knowing every word, cheering for the encore; there is no other feeling like being in a room full of people who are all as equally as entranced as you.
The last thing to bring up is the venue. Most people may not be giving a lot of thought to where the concert is taking place, except for maybe how difficult parking is going to be, but more than that, the intimacy of a concert is determined by its size. Smaller concerts that take place in local theaters boast their own perks as do the massive stadiums or festival grounds. Stadium shows are great for headliners, big concerts, big energy, they are certainly the most exciting concerts to go to just based on sheer volume alone. But there is something special about a smaller crowd, a kind of connectedness that the bigger venues can’t offer. Being able to see everyone in the room with you almost makes it feel like you all know each other, even when you’ve never spoken.
So much goes into making a concert a good experience, both from artist and audience member alike, so what are your favorite concerts you’ve been to and what made it stand out?
Marina Noack, the senior arts editor, can be reached at marina.noack@ubspectrum.com.
