“Why Do People Like Concerts?” Here’s 10 Reasons From A Convert

Growing up, the idea of live concerts never appealed to me. I guess I should make it a bit more clear though. I’ve always liked performing, and was in almost every performance focused club in school including choir, cheerleading, drum line, and I even joined drama club one year to put on a musical. If there was an assembly, there was a high chance I was in it.

So when it comes to why people want to be on stage, I totally get that side of it. I actually wrote an article on that here. But when it comes to me paying to go to some concert to see a big artist, it was just never something that interested me.

I wasn’t a fan of loud music, big crowds, or standing up for hours. I also never had an artist I admired so much that I would actually shell out money to see them in person. As someone from a low income background, it also didn’t make sense to spend money on celebrities who were already better off than I was.

On top of that, when it comes to music, I’ve always been just a listener. I didn’t have the internet for most of my childhood, so if I was at the library, I was getting stuff done. Ya know, homework, sending out job applications, and maybe catching up with some friends on Facebook, but I wasn’t watching music videos or researching my favourite bands. My songs were on my iPod shuffle (that I won in a contest), and I would just listen to them. The music was enough for me.

But after 2017, when I picked up guitar the first time with a mission of bringing my teenage band dream to life, I knew concerts would be more of a learning experience. I was still kinda scared of them (I’m from Toronto, from the hood as well. I just always feel like something bad would happen at crowds), but I came to like a band so much that I was open to seeing them live, and that band was One OK Rock.

I would listen to their songs on repeat, but that was about it. I didn’t know most of the songs names because there’s no screen on my shuffle. I didn’t look them up, only knew Taka’s name for a while, couldn’t watch MVs or anything like that. But since they’re from Japan, it’s not like I’ll have many opportunities to see them.

I already missed a couple concerts in the past, so once I was informed of their 2019 tour, I just had to get my ticket. I went alone, off Toronto’s shoreline to the sketchiest area ever, but…it was worth it! While not the most comfortable, I knew I would do it again (…..and I just did this year haha). But thanks to a wonderful first experience, I was definitely open to more in the future.

Now, the last couple years, I’ve still been living like I’m in lockdown. I’ve been working from home since late 2018 and the only reason I leave my place is to run errands, along with the occasional mall crawl or activity. Thus, when I got invited to a few more Jmusic events and going to a few more concerts, the feeling of community and the energy received was a lot higher. It was a lot more enjoyable for sure.

While I definitely won’t be someone who’ll go to a concert every week or anything like that (and I still hate having to stand up hours, I’m really not used to it), I’m definitely not against concerts and what it represents.

Here’s 10 reasons why I enjoy them and why I think others love going to them as well:

1. It’s Entertaining!

I’m going to put the most obvious one first, a concert or live performance is entertaining! When I would watch money shows like Til Debt Do Us Part, as much as they are eager to save money, they will always include entertainment in the budget.

Life can be boring if all you do is chores and work. Everyone should be able to partake in what they love as long as they can afford it, and different things appeal to different people. Some may prefer to play video games at home, some may hang out at clubs and bars, some would rather do activities like bowing and escape rooms, and then you have those who want to enjoy live music.

Not to mention, it’s just nice seeing what people can do, what they’re capable of. Seeing some belt those notes, seeing a guitarist shred, maybe there’s some funny backup singers/dancers, or a the drummers just going crazy. The music may be great, but seeing people perform with their personal touches adds another layer to the musical experience.

2. You Get To See Something Unique

Well, maybe outside of Kpop where routines are rehearsed to a T, in most concerts, the artist has more freedom to walk around, do choreo, and just have fun. They may have some things prepared, but it will never be the exact same thing you see in a music video. There’s definitely times I smiles or laughed by what I saw artists do on stage.

Then there’s the other aspect in that there may be songs performed at a concert which have no MVs to go with it, so the only way you’ll see them perform that song is live. I didn’t get to really listen to the album before the One OK Rock concert, but I loved the energy and choreo of this song. After looking into it a bit more, it’s definitely the song I relate to the most.

Even for something more rehearsed, like a musical, seeing people on screen in a movie production vs seeing them act it our live in a theatre is a different experience. Different cast, different voices, different set up and so on. They may even play around and change a couple things to make it more modern or relatable. There’s a reason why some people go out of their way to see the same Broadway show every time it comes out.

3. You Get To Feel The Energy & Emotions

Emotions can come through well via music and that’s why we can listen to them often, it helps us express ourselves. But considering songs are recorded to perfection and edited to studio quality, we may not know just how much a song means to an artist until they’re singing it live. Some have started crying because it reminds them of someone, like a lover, an ex, or a late friend.

But even the band members can express themselves better live. The guitar riffs become more edgy, the bass lines become more noticeable, and the drum just attacks your heart. If the songs don’t have music videos, just seeing them perform it live can let you know what the band was feeling when they wrote it. Everything hits a bit differently live.

4. You Feel More Connected To The Artist

For many people around the world, music touches us in a way that other mediums can’t. Everyone has their favourite songs, songs that drive them, songs that remind them of someone, songs that help them relax.

If an artist creates many songs you love and connect to, or even if they’re just an inspiration or role model for you, you may feel a need to get closer to that artist. Sometimes, all it takes is being in the same room as them, to be like ‘I was there, I got to see them, I got to hear them live’. You really can’t replicate that feeling or experience elsewhere.

Some will gladly pay the VIP cost to get to meet the artist, talk to them for a minute and take a photo, a beautiful memento that they may hold on to dearly. Even the few moments of banter where the artist just says what’s on their mind and how they really feel, how much the audience means to them and how much they love them, it does leave an impression.

5. You Feel A Sense Of Community

Similar to being in church where you’re around people with the same beliefs and you get to all sing together and learn together, that sense of community can be so vital to those who feel lonely, whether literally or just in their interests.

I definitely felt lonely as a Jmusic fan. I discovered it in 2006 but I really didn’t have people to talk about it with or share my favourite songs with til much later. And even then, some just have a few anime songs they like and aren’t really invested in it. So going to my first concert ever and seeing my favourite band, it was amazing seeing so many local fans and getting to sing songs with them.

My little sister desperately wanted to see Jazmine Sullivan but had no friends to go with. She knows I don’t listen to R&B either but she was desperate enough to ask me a few days before as tickets were running out. Even when we were just listening to the opening acts, she told me how much she dug the environment. She really loved being somewhere where everyone knew the songs, was grooving along, and was also admiring Jazmine’s voice.

I could go into detail about why people may connect to an artist or band, but this goes for anything! The gym, art classes, museums, arcades, karaoke, etc. You could just stay home to work out, practice, play games, sing, but instead you made the journey and paid your fare to be there. Sometimes being in a certain place can help you focus and truly take in the beauty of something, but for others, its a chance to meet new people and to share a mutual love for something.

If none of your friends or family like it as much as you, you can go to a concert or those places and find people who do. If you felt like a weirdo or an odd ball, you’ll feel a little more proud knowing that all these people from various walks of life also admire and enjoy what you do.

6. It’s A Way Of Saying “I Support You”

At the end of the day, no matter how many followers an artist has, they are still regular people like you and me. People with goals, dreams, and of course, feelings. I don’t think there’s a single artist that doesn’t get hate or negative comments, so their fans who support them make all the difference. Knowing people are there to listen to their music and come to their concerts keeps them going.

While it may not seem like a big deal, parents showing up to their kids games, performances, and graduations truly does mean a lot to the kid long term. Even if the parent can opt to watch the recording later, it means a lot more that they made the trip or took a day of work to be in the crowd and praise them when their emotions are high. They’re not just saying “I’m proud of you”, they’re showing it by being there.

When it comes to artists, many have their doubts and insecurities, but they’re pushing through it. Very few go viral and become over night sensations so others have to work for years and slowly build up their fan base. Sometimes, those few fans that show up at their first few gigs is all it takes for them to keep going. Not to mention, preparing for a live performance and actually getting on stage takes a lot more time and energy than a lot of us will ever know, so the more people who can witness it, the better <3

When my band debuted, we performed at a small Jmusic event where other idol dance groups were also performing. There were maybe 60 or so people in the audience, about 20 being people we brought ourselves, friends, family, and coworkers. But for those who never knew us and may have come for the dance groups, it truly meant a lot that they still gave us their full attention and was dancing, cheering, and just being present.

There aren’t other bands in the community, so we weren’t sure what the reception would be like. Regardless, we worked really hard over the last year to finally get on stage, and just getting that support gave us the boost we need to keep running with this and hopefully do it again 🙂

Even if an artist now has thousands and thousands of fans, if only 10 showed up at a concert, I’m sure you can imagine how that would feel. There was actually a story this year of an influencer having over 1 Million followers online, but no one showed up when she had a meet & greet (may be lack of promo but regardless). She brought a lot of handmade bracelets but had no one to give them to. Even if 5 people showed up, heck even just 1 or 2 people showed up, it would have made her day, trust me.

While you may be one of many fans, just like for elections, if everyone decided ‘meh, other people will go and vote, I don’t need to’ the politician will lose due to lack of support. Fans definitely matter a lot more than people think to many artists. While there are some artists who only care about the money and fame, many do want to perform and spend time with their fans.

7. It’s A Chance To Go Wild

While I would definitely never go to a concert that had a mosh pit, some people live for that. Concerts are a chance to ‘get lit’ and ‘turn up’ or whatever the young kids say these days LOL But trust me, there are a lot more civil concerts where the fans can still jump, dance, and sing at the top of their lungs to their favourite songs. Maybe even cry a little and release some built up emotions.

I shared a room my whole life until a couple years ago when I moved out. Never had my own car or anything either, and then my immediate circle definitely judge the kind of music I listen to, so I never really had a space to really let things out. Going to my first concert, a place where the music is way louder than I’ll ever be and other people are singing and shouting just as much, it’s a chance to let things off your chest.

I remember watching a couple videos about Japan’s rock and idol scenes. Japan is a place that enforces unity and belonging. Those who stand out will get bullied and those who rebel against the norms will be excluded. School life is hard and then they stick with whatever jobs for the rest of their lives, working til they pass out even.

There’s really not much opportunities to be a kid again, to go crazy and explode, outside of concerts where they can blend in with other crazy people. Sometimes, that hour or two every couple months is all the need to keep going when life is tough and depressing.

8. Concerts Are A Breath Of Fresh Air

As someone who stays inside a lot of the time, who runs errands and does activities alone, and may hang with a friend ever blue moon, concerts take you to another world. It may not be the most comfortable world, especially for me who would rather sit than stand for 3 hours, but once the performances start, you kinda forget about everything and just embrace what’s going on around you.

Regarding the mini investigative video above, I’m sure many have the same views as him regarding Japanese idols. The girls acting young and wearing kawaii outfits is one thing, but seeing these old guys cheer and go crazy for them is kinda weird and creepy. Even though I’ve been aware of idol culture for a very long time and even listened to some songs and learned some dances, it was a very long transition period.

One time though, I went to a big Jmusic event that my guitar friend was performing at, but the majority of the other acts were idol groups. I went with a friend and when the cute girls came out and were super bubbly and such, we definitely found it cringey and judged. It got even weirder when the fan boys went crazy with their light sticks and would dance around in a circle. Like clearly, they spent time learning and practicing to be so in sync with each other.

But I don’t know what happened. A few songs in, when you see how much the idols worked to dance and sing for us, and them trying their best to entertain and engage with us, getting us to clap and chant, and just spreading positivity and happiness, you can’t help but get swept up by their charisma. It felt like I went to another world for a moment, but I came out feeling refreshed, and with a much better mood than I went in with.

I definitely had a similar feeling leaving the Scandal and One OK Rock concerts more recently. The songs were all pretty positive or motivational, and the artists gave it their all. Their smiles, their banter, their dances, their energy, they gave their all to us. As a band member myself, there are times I feel drained and tired, but seeing them re-energizes me and reminds me of my mission.

9. You’ll Feel Inspired

As humans with dreams, goals, and motivations, I think our enthusiasm to work towards things can run low at times. Life can be super depressing at times, and when times get hard, it’s easy to give up. It’s really hard to keep running towards something that you don’t even know if it’ll work out.

Thus, when you go to a concert and you see someone who was just like you years ago, just a random every day person who had a dream and went after it til they succeeded, it can certainly motivate you to keep at it. If they can do, why can’t I? Seeing them grow and improve each time they get on stage is also really inspiring.

I definitely felt that way when I got to see the guitarist from my first band attempt go on stage solo a couple times with his own music. When I later picked up guitar, he was definitely one of my biggest supporters, believing in me, answering my questions, and even giving me one of his picks after his gig. I definitely thought getting on stage may be hard, but seeing someone you know do it made me believe it was possible and thus I was able to push through with a lot of hope and faith.

On top of that, getting on stage takes courage. I was one of those kids who were always on stage, but probably 80% of my classmates never performed. Whether it is lack of interest or due to fear, I’m sure most of them recognize how much guts it takes to get up there. It’s even more inspiring when the person is aware they’re not that great right now, but they’re eager to work on it and get better.

When we see someone do something we are scared to do or have yet to do, I think it does have an effect on a lot of us. Sometimes, we do start to admire them and may want to work towards that as well. I for one always admire people who can speak clearly and confidently on stage, cause I tend to mumble and rush and such, so seeing them inspires me to work on that skill.

10. It’s A Shared, Intimate Moment

All in all, I think one of the most beautiful things about attending a live event is that it’s a shared moment between the artist and fans. Even if I didn’t bump into certain people at the event, it’s awesome getting to connect with others online, share what we loved about the show, and get others hyped up for their turn.

I guess you can put concerts on a similar level to attending a party, or to the carnival, or even just watching fireworks during a holiday. People who weren’t there won’t fully know what you’re talking about nor can relate to how it felt in that moment. The online version doesn’t give you the full picture and may have parts cut out. Thus, those who were there will have like an instant bond and a shared memory, like an inside joke.

I guess another way to phrase it is, when have you ever watched something on a screen and it became a core memory for you? Memories usually only apply to events you witnessed and took part in in person. You feel everything differently in person and you feed off the energy, emotions, and screams of those around you. Being part of that inner circle can certainly bring a sense of belonging.

Additional Reasons

Now, the 10 reasons above are why “I” enjoy concerts, but I know there are many other reasons why others love to go to them. Here’s a few:

Exclusive Merch

I’ve noticed at quite a few concerts, exclusive merch is sold before and after the concert. These can include tour T-shirts, hats, bracelets, banners, and much more. You really wouldn’t be buy them elsewhere, so unless you want to pay double to get it second hand, it’s better to buy it at their concerts.

Bragging Rights

I’m sure you knew this was coming. In this day and age where social media reigns supreme, people are desperate to show off and be envied. If you’re at a concert where a super famous artist is performing and tickets ran out in minutes, obviously being there can give one some serious bragging rights. If it’s an expensive concert and you got to be near the front, even better!

To Party With Friends

Just a little different from going wild. If you actually have friends to attend these concerts with, then it can be a great night heading to a concert, grabbing a drink, and dancing the night away. This probably works better for smaller gigs, open mics, venues that usually don’t sell out and they can just stop by between bars.

Hoping To Get Noticed

Why do you think front row tickets are so envied? Some will camp out the night before if it means they can be at the front of the line and at the front of the venue. If you’re at the front, you’re more likely to be noticed by the artist. He/she may shake your hand, may sing directly to you, you may even get a freebie! For die-hard fans, this can be a dream come true.

It’s A Part Of The Plan

Finally, sometimes, a concert is just part of the plan. I’m sure you’ve seen videos of someone proposing at a concert for example. Or perhaps the person is a budding artist themselves and they hope with a VIP ticket, they can meet the artist and have them listen to their CD. Whatever the reason, there may be a reason why someone is waiting for a concert to do something.

Conclusion

So that’s 10 reasons why I, someone who never thought I’d care for concerts actually don’t mind checking them out every now and then.

Being such a home bug and rarely seeing people outside of my roommate, it’s nice getting to be around a crowd of individuals who are into the same things I am and where you don’t have to explain your interests. Even for the smaller events, it’s inspiring and motivating seeing them on stage and also a great opportunity to connect and maybe work together in the future.

Now, I still have my limits. I don’t think I’d pay over $100 for anyone unless I had a lot of money to spare and was getting the VIP treatment (meet and greet, photo with artist, front row, etc), but I definitely wouldn’t pay over $200. Regardless, even if it’s not that valuable to me, I’m sure it’s well worth the cost to others.

Though, I will say, anyone who pays over $100 to be in the back of a stadium, like so far back that you have to look at the mega screens to see them….yall are crazy haha If I have to watch a screen anyways, I may as well do it for free from the comfort of my home. The community aspect wouldn’t be worth it. Just my opinion.

How about you guys? Did you always like concerts? Are you in the so-so area where you don’t mind them but it would have to be something really special to attend? What was your favourite concert? Let me know in the comments! 🙂