If you’re a frequent concert goer like myself, then I’m sure you’ve been to tons of different venues. Maybe you’ve traveled over state lines for a show, or even had to book a hotel room. Throughout all of this I’m sure you’ve established your own personal favorite venue. Or at the very least a favorite kind of venue. Let’s dive into the different settings for concerts and how the space can affect the performance entirely.
INDOOR VENUES
Two of the most common indoor venues are concert halls and bars. At concert halls you are more likely to find more mainstream artists like Olivia O’Brien, Jack Harlow, and Conan Gray. Bars you can find anyone from a local band playing their first gig to a well known cover band.
I personally love a concert hall! They are more intimate than a stadium and you actually have a chance to have some sort of interaction or connection with the artist. I have seen the band 5 Seconds of Summer 6 or 7 times over the last 8 years. Hands down the best show I’ve ever seen if there’s was at Theatre of The Living Arts in Philadelphia. Prior to this, I had seen them at Lincoln Financial Field and Hershey Park Stadium. Seeing them in a concert hall was so much better. I was able to get to the barrier and actually have moments with the band that I’ll remember forever.
Bars that offer live music are some of the best places to go. Whether you actually know the musician or not live music is such a fun way to bring people together. I’ve had countless cool experiences at bars with live music. Half the time I didn’t even know there was going to be a performance when I went. One of my favorite bar concert stories is 30 some years ago when my parents went to a bar and saw the band Kansas live. My dad loves to brag that he was only a few feet away from the creators of “Carry On My Wayward Son”.
Stadiums & ARENAs
Stadiums are for the big dogs. The Taylor Swift’s, Beyonce’s, and Elton John’s of the world. These are for the people that no matter what are going to have tens of thousands of people who want to see them perform live. Stadiums are great if you like a big production. Picture fireworks, animatronics, dance numbers, and more. If you like a big show, then stadiums are definitely a must.
Arenas & Concert Halls are pretty similar in my opinion. Depending on the kind of concert hall it is, there’s usually no seating besides the bar or very very limited seating. At arenas, they have a whole section or seating and then a General Admission or pit area that is standing only. It’s basically like a much smaller & indoor version of a stadium. I like arenas, especially if I’m in the pit but they are bigger so it definitely is harder to get closer to the stage.
OUTDOOR VENUES & AmHpitheaters
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I am not the biggest fan of outdoor venues. The weather has to be just right to actually be able to enjoy them. In 2018, I saw 5 Seconds of Summer at the Allentown Fair and it was the perfect weather. I was able to enjoy my time without sweating or freezing to death. On the other hand, I saw 5 Seconds of Summer at The Mann Center in Philadelphia this summer and it was SO hot out. People were passing out in the crowd, everyone was sweating and dehydrated. At times it was hard to enjoy the music because of the heat and the crowd.
The definition of an amphitheater is “an open circular or oval building with a central space surrounded by tiers of seats for spectators, for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events.” I have never been to amphitheater myself but it is a bucket list venue for me. One of the more famous amphitheaters in the United States is the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater in Jefferson County, Colorado. That place is FOR SURE on my bucket list.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite type of concert venue? What big time artist would you like to see in a smaller venue?
