Going solo

LegacyUser

Hi all.. Would like your views/opinions on this...

I bought 2 tickets for an upcoming music concert & I really want to go along however I have nobody to go with me. I've asked people but they have declined. I don't have a large social circle.

Am nervous/anxious about going alone... I would feel awkward going alone... A billy no mate!

Would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks so much.

Bootlegger

A bit sad if you won't go because of the perceived opinions of random strangers.

Seth Brundle

Meetup.com?

Chancer3001

Bought two tickets for me and my gf before.

Then on the day she couldn't go. So I asked dad.

When dad was going , mam wanted to go. So I bought a single ticket.

Assigned seating so of course I got stuck sitting on my own.

As soon as I say down I said hello to the group's either side of me to show them I wasn't a weirdo in my own head!! Made me feel more relaxed and I had a great time.

So just go and enjoy yourself is my advice.

And if you feel weird on your own just say hello to Who s sitting beside you straight away and break the ice. Be grand then

Arrival

Bootlegger wrote: »

A bit sad if you won't go because of the perceived opinions of random strangers.

This, pretty strange to care so much about random people's opinions you don't even need to interact with. Never understood it, especially small things like going to the cinema on your own. I went to a gig on my own recently and met loads of people, if I was some little shy snowflake that depends on friends to go everywhere I wouldn't have gone to this and had the experiences I did and memories I created. Always great to get out of your comfort zone

IamtheWalrus

Lots of people (including me) go to events alone, you probably just don't notice them.

Jay Pentatonic

Go! Have a great time! What's the worst that could happen? Seriously, pause and just ask yourself that. What's the worst that could actually happen?
If it turns out to be as brutal as you imagine, just remember you can always leave.
But at the very least, there ain't no harm in trying.
Go for it.

Senature

It's all in your head. I went to the cinema alone for the first time about 5 years ago. Felt like an eejit for about 2 minutes, then realised I had previously travelled half way round the world by myself so the local cinema was nothing in comparison. I've since been many times alone and enjoyed it, including one time during the daytime where I was actually the only person there to watch the movie! I've also gone to Slane by myself, although I had company travelling there and back. Just go, you'll probably have a great time, and if you aren't enjoying it you can leave anyway.

Ursus Horribilis

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Lots of people (including me) go to events alone, you probably just don't notice them.

^^This ^^

Even in the unlikely event that people notice you're on your own, what do you think is going to happen? Seriously, don't miss out on the chance of going to this event just because you're flying solo.

buried

I always go to music gigs on my own. First time I ever did it years ago I was a bit anxious about it too, but to hell with it, I wanted to see the act, none of my mates would go so I wasn't going to let that stop me. Always go to gigs alone now, I prefer it, mostly because you don't have to worry someone you brought along with you to the gig might not be enjoying the event to the same level you are. You are totally free to listen watch and enjoy. Go for it, go to your gig, I bet you if you go alone, at the end of the night going home you'll get a great buzz by doing it and you'll want to go to these things free and solo again and again. Enjoy the concert!

kylith

buried wrote: »

I always go to music gigs on my own. First time I ever did it years ago I was a bit anxious about it too, but to hell with it, I wanted to see the act, none of my mates would go so I wasn't going to let that stop me. Always go to gigs alone now, I prefer it, mostly because you don't have to worry someone you brought along with you to the gig might not be enjoying the event to the same level you are. You are totally free to listen watch and enjoy. Go for it, go to your gig, I bet you if you go alone, at the end of the night going home you'll get a great buzz by doing it and you'll want to go to these things free and solo again and again. Enjoy the concert!

I agree. I don't always go to gigs alone, but I started to when I was single and hadn't built up a friend base yet. It was great! You don't have to worry about losing people in the crowd, or that they weren't having fun. Think about it: how much do you even talk to the people you're with when you're at a gig? You don't! You're too busy dancing and the music's too loud anyway.

Go! Have fun and enjoy your gig. You'll probably be able to sell your spare ticket too.

fallen01angel

I've gone to loads of gigs on my own,like you sweated over the "embarrassment" of going solo ,a lot of my friends aren't into live gigs. Trust me,you're making a mountain out of a molehill......I nearly prefer going on my own to gigs,no one to have to worry about except myself Go and have fun!!!

SirChenjin

I mean this in a very nice way, honestly, people are so caught up in whatever they have going on in their own lives, they won't even notice, and rightly so.
So forget about the Billy no mates part, for starters.

Go for it, and enjoy it.

Rubberchikken

Go and enjoy it.
There will be others there on their own but im eilling to bet you wont notice them.
Dont miss out on something you'd enjoy just because of what others might ir might not think.

Wrongway1985

As others said just go and indulge yourself, I go to a number of gigs throughout the year on my own firstly some of my favourite artists my friends would have no interest, secondly as you get older your friends spare time may not line up with impending gig date even if they do have interest. Why on earth would I miss out just because someone is unable to accompany me?, that seems really foolish to me.

zcorpian88

I used to think the same thing OP, and it stopped me going to a lot of gigs.

I'm very into rock and heavy metal bands, and a few in my circle would go but they are selective about what bands are good/crap and we have different tastes, I've missed out on a lot of concerts because of it, I'd go to their gigs if I liked or even semi liked them, but whenever a band I liked were coming, they would not want to go or wouldn't be enthusiastic about going, so I didn't bother.

Last year then Black Sabbath were playing their farewell tour which included a stop in Dublin, I was like "Awesome, they'd be savage, and it's my last chance to see them" asked my cousin did he want to go, and he said "Yeah I'll go"

Paid 93 euro each for tickets, the gig rolls around then and the cousin didn't want to go, sold the ticket at a loss of 30 euro, and said "F**k it, I'm still going to go, this kind of bulls**t stopped me going to many a gig, I'm going to go, have a meal out and a few pints and enjoy the concert and buy a t-shirt"

And I did just that, had a great time. Crowd was a bit rough with moshing, ended up looking after this Northern Irish guy's wife while he was getting shoved around in a pit unwillingly, was a great gig.

Was also going to go to Slayer in the 3 Arena alone this November until I found out 2 mates of mine are going as well so I'll tag along with them, but I would have went alone, it's not going to stop me in future, a lot of the bands I like are coming of age now, so whenever they are in the country, I'm going to head up and make a day of it.

I suggest you do as well OP.

orthsquel

You should definitely go OP! If it's a gig that you really want to go to, and you don't, would you be kicking yourself forever after if you didn't?? Imagine if it was the last chance you'd see that artist on stage, or the band on the original (or current) lineup.... you'd be missing something!

Don't worry about being the only one alone.... you're most likely not going to be. I've been to plenty of gigs (and plays, festivals, events) on my own and it's great craic because you can enjoy it fully, get into it completely and get chatting with loads of other people. I remember a big festival I went to years ago, it was the first time I went to anything big alone, for an artist I still appreciate today, and it was a memorable time, and it wasn't the last time either. Less than a year ago, I went back to a city I lived in to see an artist I've come to love their music of, it was a venue I was very familiar with, but as it was a cosy venue, it wasn't long before I got to know others easily. I've no regrets about going alone, it would have been awful had I arranged it with someone else and plans fell through and I didn't go in the end, as I know myself, it has happened to me missing plays or gigs because I'd noone to go with, I was kicking myself for ages after.

LolaJJ

Oh wow!

No need to worry at all.

last year I bought tickets to a singer I LOVE. Unfortunately everyone I know really dislikes her and that kind of music but I really wanted to go so I just thought feck it.

I went on my own and was a little apprehensive but actually wound up having a really fun night, met 2 other girls who i became fb friends with, haven't met either of them since but I know when this show rolls back in to town I'll 100% be meeting up with them1

You might have a fab time, life's too short to miss out on fab experiences because of fear or what other people will think!!

Hope you have a great time!

LegacyUser

OP here...

I just want to thank you all for your replies and advice. I took it on board & went to the concert alone. I was nervous to admit but am so glad I went. I had a wonderful time, dancing and singing the night away. I sold the other ticket I had.

I now feel empowered to get out there & go to events/places alone if nobody is willing to come along.

Thanks again to you all.

zcorpian88

Guesttoday wrote: »

OP here...

I just want to thank you all for your replies and advice. I took it on board & went to the concert alone. I was nervous to admit but am so glad I went. I had a wonderful time, dancing and singing the night away. I sold the other ticket I had.

I now feel empowered to get out there & go to events/places alone if nobody is willing to come along.

Thanks again to you all.

No prob OP,

Delighted you had a great time, I was the same after my first gig on my own, bet you were like "why didn't I do the same the last time nobody would come along??"

Don't let it stop you at all.

Only saw this thread now but thought give my 2c.

Op, glad you enjoyed. I've been going to gigs solo for years - my wife just isn't into the same music I am, same with my circle of friends - and you know something, I absolutely love it.
There's always people chat to, be they people I'd know anyway or just strangers that I pitch my tent next to or get talking to at gigs, so on my own but never alone if you get me.
Also, I love having the freedom to move about during a gig, finding the sweet spot for sound, different vantage points etc - you tend to not have that freedom with a group.
Embrace it and enjoy it!

LegacyUser

I'm off to a gig this Thursday on my own. I was going to buy two tickets and see if someone wanted to go but thought why spend the money like that especially with the risk no one would take second ticket. Or worse someone who isn't into the band in question and ruins me enjoying the gig. Rather go by myself. If it's a band you really like you can always look up a fan club that might be meeting up as a group but it's fine to just go by yourself.