Summertime can mean beaches, poolside parties, and lots of suntan lotion, but it is also the breeding ground for outdoor, free concerts! Free! Just the word alone can draw in hoards of people anxious to see their favorite artists at absolutely no cost at all. In a time where concert tickets are a little more out of some people’s price ranges, a free, outdoor concert is like a gift from above. To those of you who have never experienced such a thing, glamorized images of what to expect may cloud your mind. I’m here today to lay out just what to expect at the majority of the free summer concerts you attend in the coming months!
- Get there early or be prepared to be as far away from the stage as possible. This is a pretty general rule for any sort of free giveaway, but especially helps with free concerts. No matter the setting, indoors or out, people will most likely be camping out there several hours in advance. Let’s say the show doesn’t start till 7:00AM, people will probably be there at 4:00AM or earlier if it’s a big act. So to get the best sport, be prepared to be awake at all hours of the day and night.
- Ready your feet to be standing for hours on end. While this seems like a pretty straight forward tip, it can really help you prepare yourself. I personally had no idea there wouldn’t be any seats at an outdoor concert I went to a few years ago, so silly me went in platform flip-flops. Bad idea. Within a couple hours, my feet were killing me. If you can help it, wear some sort of comfortable footwear, and know that you’ll be standing for quite some time before the show even begins.
- Stay hydrated and eat ahead of time. Again, a seemingly “duh” tip but one that could potentially be a real life saver. Once you’ve secured your spot in line before the concert even begins, you’ll most likely want to stay there. With the uncertainty of when those in charge will allow you into the main concert area, even outdoors, it’d be risky to leave, even if it’s just one of you. Then, once inside, it’s such a mad dash to get the best possible position, who would want to fight their way through the people just to get an overpriced bottle of water? Also, there tend to be less vendors out at the early morning free concerts. To stay safe and healthy, best to bring your own or nourish yourself ahead of time.
With these three tips in mind, now you will know both what to expect and how to prepare for all the exciting, free summer concerts headed your way!
