Now that things are opening up again, people are getting excited to get back to their normal lives. That especially includes going out to concerts.

Because bands are able to get on the stage again, many people are buying tickets to the concerts that had been previously canceled by COVID. With the influx of artists who are deciding to go on tour, there comes an influx of concert newbies who have been dying to see them live. Many people who have never been to a concert before have no idea what to expect when they go, so here are some do’s and don’ts for your first concert.

The first “do” is to make sure you drink lots of water before you go into the venue. With everyone being so energetic and jumping around, it gets really hot really fast. I went to a YUNGBLUD concert with my friend Madison Ryan that lasted about four hours, and in those four hours, quite a few people passed out from dehydration. (They were fine in the end)

The most important thing you can do is drink a lot of water before you go in. Some places might allow water bottles, and other places won’t. Either way, it’s important to fill up on water before you go in. 

The first “don’t” is make sure you don’t wear anything unnecessary. Don’t wear things like enormous wigs, fake wings, or huge hats. These accessories can make it very hard for the other people around to see the stage if you are on the ground. 

At the YUNGBLUD concert, I stood right behind a woman with these huge foam rainbow wings that blocked a good amount of the stage. If it’s your first time going to a concert, make sure you don’t make it harder for everyone else to enjoy it.

The second “do” is make sure you have a secure place to keep your personal items. No matter who you’re seeing, there will always be somebody who wants to try and steal something. Make sure you have a bag with a zipper or your wallet in your front pocket.

Every now and then, check your surroundings and make sure no one is trying to steal your things. If you see someone drop something on the ground, make sure you return it to them so nobody else takes it.

The second “don’t” is make sure you don’t take anything from anybody. Don’t take things offered to you by someone else. There can be some sketchy people trying to offer you alcohol or a vape pen, and if that happens, just politely decline.

While I was at my concert, a woman in front of me was vaping and she offered it to me. I declined it and she didn’t bother me again. 

The third “do” is bring earplugs. It will be very loud at the venue. Everyone will be screaming their heads off, and the people on stage will be very loud.

At the end of the YUNGBLUD concert, It felt like a bomb had dropped. As we were walking out, I realized that the sounds around me were muffled and I couldn’t hear people that well. That was because I didn’t bring earplugs to protect my ears from the sound. 

The third “don’t” is don’t forget to make friends. Chances are you’re going to make friends with at least one person by the end of the night. Not everyone there is your enemy. 

Make small talk before the show starts, play games in between the opening acts, bond over your favorite songs. Concerts aren’t just for listening to the bands, it’s for bonding with other people as well.