Written by Michael Lopez, March 25, 2016
When you’re attending a concert, you want to be able to have the best experience you could possibly have. Whether you pay for the full V.I.P. experience or just bring a big group of friends to tag along, you want to be able to completely be immersed in the experience…
So that begs the question, “What’s better, big venues or small venues?” Should that really effect how people should enjoy a concert? Does it really matter, especially if it’s a band that you wanted to see for a long time? To be honest, most venues do an excellent job at presenting the event, so why would that even be an issue? The reason why I usually stick to smaller venues isn’t from my dislike of these venues, per say, rather it is due to my personal opinion and experience with these type of shows.
Most of the time (depending on the band) you won’t necessarily have to pay as much as you would when seeing a show at a stadium. When you pay for your ticket, you pay the same amount as everyone else. So unless you pay extra to get a V.I.P. pass (which is rarely the case because most bands will meet the attendants after the show), you’ll get treated fairly equal with everyone else.
There is also the fact that when you attend a show at a small venue you would be able to get really close to the stage and most of the time you can meet and hang out with the band after the show. It’s also cool to note that you would be able to interact a lot more, making the venue feel so alive. When I go to see a concert at a big venue, I feel like a robot when I go, like I’m forced to like the concert and I’m supposed to just sit there like a little kid.
On top of that, big venues attract some really shitty people (mean, pretentious, and rude as hell – basically “walking talking diarrhea” people). There have been many times were I have gotten into fights at concerts because the person couldn’t take the concert atmosphere. There is also the fact that ticket scalpers buy all the tickets and resell them at outrageous prices, and when you get those tickets they’re for really, really shitty seats (especially when the concert ain’t as good as you expected it to be). The list goes on and on.
I just feel that if I’m going to have to pay hundreds of dollars to see a show, I want it to be awesome. It matters to me because some venues made me hate the concert to the point that I would dislike the actual band entirely.
Now I’m not saying that giant venues can’t hold good concerts, I’ve seen some really great shows at stadiums and pavilion centers (like Blue October at the 2015 Bud Light Wienie Roast) that were one hell of a show. Also when it’s a show where the tickets are expensive, it draws the more hardcore fans to it (the ones that will literally pay any amount to go see their favorite band).
Plus when it’s a bigger venue, bands are able to put on more unique and extravagant shows, something that a small venue like Fitzgerald’s, in Houston, Texas, can’t do. Lastly, there are bands you can’t see at a small venue. Whether it be from how famous they have become or from the size of their shows, there are just some bands you can’t see a small venue.
So whether it be a concert in some super dome somewhere, to a concert in some rinky-dink venue in the boonies, if you’re looking to go see a show, just make sure that you choose wisely. Even though it’s kind of a side thought, it is your money that you’re spending!
What do YOU prefer? Big or small venues? Let me know in the comments below.