diana pressey

I was searching for profound quotes about why concerts are the best to kick off this post. I found one about music in general that made me chuckle:

“Without music, life would be a mistake.”

– Friedrich Nietzsche, the ultimate nihilist.

What a massive bummer of a man. What an exaggerated, pessimistic way to express musical appreciation. I love him.

Hyperbole aside, music is fundamental, and there’s nothing better than seeing it live, in my opinion. Today, I’ll be using GIFs of Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, or Elaine Benes from Seinfeld, to bolster my points.

Speaking of music, here’s my song of the day, from a band I’m seeing in May:

The evidence: Why concerts improve happiness and life longevity

A recent study demonstrated that active musical engagement is correlated with higher subjective wellbeing, or self-reported life satisfaction. In other words, those who dance or attend concerts tend to report that they’re happier. This most likely has to do with the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter the brain transmits in response to pleasurable stimuli.

Another study demonstrates that going to concert once every two weeks could increase life expectancy by nine years. According to its findings, concerts improve people’s feelings of self worth, closeness to others, or mental stimulation, all of which can lengthen their lives.

Social connection + exercise + music = euphoria

Another reason why concerts are amazing is their social aspect. Musical engagement with others is very different from walking around with headphones in. The feeling of connection and mutual enthusiasm combined with quality music is a recipe for euphoria.

The exercise is great, too! Whether you prefer standing and bobbing your head or thumb-dancing like Elaine below (there’s no in-between!), you’re still exerting energy and getting endorphins. However, one study did find that the more respondents danced and sang along while connecting to music, the happier they tended to be.

You don’t have to go with friends, but safety first!

This is not to say that you can’t go alone, either. You can still take advantage of the benefits of concerts if you attend by yourself. Some say that everyone should experience it. They tout benefits such as freedom, lack of pressure and judgment, easy logistics, and the ability to bond with new people who share similar interests.

I have yet to try it, but I intend to soon at a local venue. My main priority when I do is safety. It’s unfortunate but necessary to have to worry about it. The sad truth is that without the buddy system, women are much more vulnerable and likely to be victimized, so it’s crucial to stay alert and wary.

I’ll be sure to stay on guard and plan to bring something I could use as a weapon, should the situation call for it. (Plus, there are always my feet for kicking!)

In terms of general safety, always be aware of your own needs. It’s a good idea to wear earplugs at concerts to prevent serious hearing loss. You should also probably bring cash for water, just in case the venue doesn’t provide it for free. (If it were up to me, they’d be required to by law.)

It’s not about how much you spend; it’s what you make of the experience

Obviously, my entire perspective is privileged. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend numerous shows. There are definitely many who don’t get this opportunity.

However, a concert doesn’t have to be expensive to be enjoyable! I’ve found that location can be a much larger factor in accessibility than price. Money usually makes things easier, but ticket prices rarely dictate how much fun you have. I’ve been to concerts for as little as $3 and had the time of my life (and to a $50 show that was awful). Lower prices usually mean supporting local artists at smaller venues. These are often more intimate, anyway, and it can enhance the experience.

If you’ve actually kept reading this far, I commend you. Here’s a reward:

In short…

A concert doesn’t just make for a fun night; it’s overall beneficial. If you’re able to see live music, you absolutely should. I’m definitely not saying that without concerts, your “life would be a mistake”. But if possible, it certainly would be a mistake to neglect the opportunity to improve your mood, potentially extend your life, and experience the beauty of live music.

Diana Pressey is a senior advertising/public relations major at UNC-Chapel Hill. In addition, she’s an editorial and content marketing intern at InHerSight and campaigns team lead at the 1893 Brand Studio. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing, dancing badly at concerts, belly laughing, and hanging out with other people’s pets. Click here to learn more about her, here to read previous blog posts, and here to get in touch.