I touched on this in a previous post, but I LOVE going to concerts and gigs. I love big concerts for seeing some of my favourite artists who are very popular/famous, but I do think my favourites are small gigs, either local small bands, or just pub cover bands playing hits, because they always finish about 11/11.30 and I can rush home in about 5 minutes and have a bath and be all cosy, and I don’t have to plan too much or change my routine a lot for them! They’re also very small and its easy to step out if I want to, and there’s often not many people at them!

But, I do go to big concerts too, and I wanted to share some of the things I do to make big concerts an enjoyable experience:

• ARRIVE AND LEAVE WHEN YOU WANT TO. You do not have to stay the whole night or to the encore, that doesn’t make it any less worth it. You can literally stay for an hour. What’s important is YOU enjoy it.
• Consider ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones, etc. No one will even blink an eyelid and it can make it a lot more comfortable sensory wise.
• Consider wearing a sunflower lanyard or badge. This can make it easier when speaking to staff if you’re sorting out anything or if you get lost, etc – helps them to be aware!
• Bring snacks! Water! Even if they say no food I just say I’m autistic (used to email in advance but never had an issue so I often don’t now) and bring them. I’ve not had any problems with this and it means I can bring food I’m used to, don’t have to change my routine as much, and can avoid long queues.
• Bring a fidget/comfort. Just be careful not to lose it!!
• Plan getting home! Do you REALLY feel comfortable with a train or public transport? Make sure you can definitely cope with the journey and you know what you’re doing, and don’t feel the need to push yourself too much, no matter cost.
• Consider position/seats. Would seating make you more comfortable, as you can relax and you know exactly where you’ll be? If you’re standing, do you want to be right in the middle, or at the back? I like having space around me at the back, and I don’t let it stop me dancing and jumping around!
• Don’t be afraid to step out – and make sure you have easy access to the door if needed!
• Remember to use the toilet while you’re there, and keep warm, and all of those little things!
• If its not the first concert of the tour, Google the set list so you know which songs to expect at what time, so you can plan out toilet/food/rest breaks and/or leaving early!
• Wear comfortable clothes. Even pyjamas. You do not have to ‘dress up’. No one cares what you are wearing!
• TRY TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE MOMENTS AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT, ITS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE POTENTIAL FRIENDS!

I hope these tips help. I used to be so ashamed and afraid of doing these things. I would force myself to stay till the end, because my mum would say I needed to make it worth it, and wear a ‘nice outfit’ even though I’d be cold or feel unable to settle and enjoy anything because of how it felt. There felt like so much expectation, and it’s completely unnecessary. When you’re at the concert, NO ONE CARES. And what is the point in staying later IF YOU DONT ENJOY IT. IT IS POINTLESS. WHO ARE YOU PROVING BUYING A TICKET WASN’T A WASTE TO!?

Now I arrive usually just for the main act (unless I do have enough time and its not too difficult, because I do try to support smaller bands), often wear pyjamas, pack snacks and a fidget or two, and I leave usually before it ends! I also think carefully about where the concert is, and how I will get home, and try not to push myself, especially physically, when it comes to planning this, even if it means spending more on taxis and such. If it’s possible, being picked up by my mum is ideal, and she will bring me a blanket, extra snacks, etc.

Do you like concerts?