Gigs alone

iamstop

I regularly go to gigs and festivals alone. Usually end up seeing someone I know there. Hang with them for a bit but not strapped to them for the whole gig. Can still go off and do my own thing.

hynesie08

Also, it's a **** tonne easier to get a ticket for a sold out gig if you're solo, and people are usually offloading for cheap.

RoryMurphyJnr

Go to most of my gigs alone, all metal and my son who loves most metal is only 16 so that's him out for a lot of them.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120681241#Comment_120681241

...they really should be running more all age gigs, i couldnt give a sh1t if no alcohol is sold or not, its great to accommodate younger fans....

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120682330#Comment_120682330

I agree. I'd love it if someone playing, for example, Whelan's did an afternoon show beforehand that I could take the kids to. I guess there's just not enough money in it, especially when you remove any bar take they get for evening shows

skimpydoo

I am the co-founder of the Meetup Group Are you ready to rock in Dublin. We go to all kinds of rock gigs from country rock and gothic through to blues and metal. So if you don't want to go to gigs alone this is the perfect group for you. More details are below.

https://www.meetup.com/are-you-ready-to-rock-in-dublin-meetup-group/

Mrs Shuttleworth

I go to most gigs on my own now - not because I don't have mates but because I really wanna focus on the act, get down the front if I want to etc. I'd never miss an act that's playing just because I didn't have to anyone to go with - the music is too important! And remember we've just come out of a period where for two years there were no gigs at all, so make the most of it.

One of the good things about "globalism" is now it's much easier to do things on your own - more people travelling the world and in cities on their own far from home. They still want to socialise and enjoy culture and have fun!

And as someone else said - you'll usually manage to get in on your own to an event that's long sold out....

furiousox

Solo trip to Berlin coming up this Sunday to see Sparks 😃

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120721233#Comment_120721233

You won't be disappointed, I saw them in Glasgow recently and they were amazing!

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120721233#Comment_120721233

This gig ain't big enough for the both of us 😁

Decided the day before to go to Beck last year. OH wasn't mad keen so I said feck it and just went on my own. It was great. Helps that Trinity is such an easy venue to get to and back from. Had time for an Iskander's and the last bus home 😉

furiousox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120722202#Comment_120722202

Yeah was at the Royal Albert Hall gig on the 30/5, they're a great band with a very loyal fanbase.

fallen01angel

Female here,being going to gigs on my own now for a couple of yrs,alot of my friends wouldn't have the same taste as me, and I missed a lot of gigs because of being too "scared" to do it solo. The 1st time I finally put on my big girl pants,I was a bit paranoid, thinking oooh everyone is looking at me,l must look like such a loser on my own.

But the truth of the matter is, I never looked back, I've never had an ounce of trouble, never had to worry about minding someone and being able to do my own thing.

My only advice is keep your head about you,don't get wasted,know where you're going and make sure you know how you're getting home. If you live outside Dublin I highly recommend a travel service called Travel Master,they have buses running to and from most of the big Dublin concerts. After you've experienced your 1st solo gig you'll never look back!!!!

billyhead

I love going to gigs on my own and staying on the dry. You enjoy and remember it more.

techman1

Probably most people commenting on this thread are over 40 and have finally shaken off the inhibitions of going alone to events. I think the whole "I can't be seen alone" is really a young person's worry as friends and peer groups are so important for younger people.

I think the point about all those events being closed for 2 years is another big factor, people no longer want to miss out and don't take it for granted anymore

delbertgrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120724090#Comment_120724090

For me, it was always better to see the gig, and going on my own didn't bother me. When I was in my twenties, I would have had to forsake a lot of shows if my main concern was going on my own: Page and Plant "Unledded," Smashing Pumpkins in the SFX, Radiohead, Elliott Smith, The Blue Nile, Blur, Wilco. Probably others. Much happier to have gone.

techman1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120724668#Comment_120724668

Was that page and plant in the point in 1998, I went to that ,to be honest I went just because of the name but they were a bit underwhelming. Way better bands at blues festivals I've been to than those guys

delbertgrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120726400#Comment_120726400

Well, the one I was referring to was 1995, with the Egyptian and Moroccan musicians, but I was at the 1998 gig as well.

Dreamweapon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120724090#Comment_120724090

I started going to gigs on my own in my late teens and would often have to hitch back home from Dublin afterwards. I couldn't understand why anyone would miss a gig for such trivial reasons, and i was pretty shy back then. Those were the days when you didn't even have a phone to stare into either. You just hung around or (gasp!) talked to a stranger.

dasdog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120724090#Comment_120724090

Now that I think of it - I won a ticket on the Tom Hayes rock show and went to Gang Green in McGonagles alone when I was 15. Kind of knew I'd know some of the thrash scene there, which I did, but I've been going to gigs alone for years.

techman1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120726653#Comment_120726653

If I remember Gerry Ryan was raving about it on the radio so I decided to go based on that, the crowd were all chanting stairway but they didn't play it. Overall not that great, big egos more than big music

rainagain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120724090#Comment_120724090

I'm closer to 50 than 40, never had inhibitions thankfully. First time I went out solo was to see the film "Singles" in the cinema. Next time was to see Soul Asylum in the SFX and after that it was a no brainer to enjoy gigs, films, travel and anything else I was interested in on my own. Other female friends asked me was I not scared etcetc, my reply was I do not want to look back at missed opportunities with regret. I've no bucket list, and great memories :)