Summer Concert Season Is Here

We are in the middle of summer concert season, which is full of outdoor concerts, fairs, music festivals and more. From country, electric, rock, indie, rap and pop, music fans are flocking to concert venues this summer to hear their favorite tunes. For some going to these certain music festivals and outdoor concerts is an annual tradition. Get ready for your next concert or music festival with this checklist.

Purchasing Tickets

Depending on the band and type of concert, you may have to purchase tickets months in advance or wait and get them at the door. For most music festivals and big name bands you should plan on purchasing your tickets as soon as they are available. Smaller bands you may be able to wait until the day of and grab some tickets at the door. You can also keep a lookout for voucher tickets as well for lawn seats at some concerts. When buying tickets there are usually several seating options based on the venue.

Arriving and Departing

Plan ahead on how you and your crew will be traveling to the concert. It usually works best to carpool as a group and split the parking fee. If you plan on drinking, designate a driver before you head out or have a taxi company number on hand for after. Another idea would be to book a chauffeured transportation company and have a SUV limo or limo bus take you to the concert. This way you don’t have to worry about directions or driving and they will be there to take you home at the end of the night. You can even bring drinks and snacks with you for the ride. Make sure to book in advance, especially for popular concerts to secure your ride.

What to Bring

Downsize everything! Take out items you don’t need from your wallet or use a smaller purse.
Bring your ID, debit card, enough cash for parking and maybe concessions. Most venues take cards at all concession stands now, but it is smart to have some cash on you just in case.
Charged cell phone to stay in contact with your group.
Don’t bring valuables with you, since you could risk losing them.
Note ahead of time what is and is not allowed in the venue. Typically all outside drinks and food are not allowed inside the venue, so plan accordingly.
Most music festivals involve camping or long days of music. Come prepared with your camping gear, snacks and a backpack. These events usually let you carry items around with you during the day. If you are worried about leaving things in your tent during the day, then store your bags in your car. Hand sanitizer and baby wipes are your friends since some things might be dirty.
Comfortable footwear; no matter what concert you are at comfy shoes you can walk in make a difference. Especially since you may be standing in lines, climbing lots of steps and more.
Depending on the weather, gear up with sun block, bug spray, rain coats, umbrellas, etc.
Bring a sweatshirt or jacket for outdoor concerts. It works best sometimes to dress in layers in case you are unsure about the weather.
Have a water bottle or two in the car for before and after the concert.
If you are sitting out on the lawn bring some camping chairs and blankets to sit on. Blankets sometimes work best when watching a concert on a hill.
If you have any further questions about what is specifically allowed at that venue take a look at their website. There will typically be a page indicating the details.

Posted on July 1st, 2014 in Michigan Events & Destinations, Special Events, Useful Tips.