Home > Music

The good gig guide

by Tamz

From dealing with contraband alcohol/drugs and testy security to negotiating the queues and bringing the right clothes, here's a nice wee guide to the gigging basics. Hurrah!

1. Under no circumstances should you wear flip-flops to a gig.

Heels or flip-flops are never a good idea to wear to a gig, your feet will get annihilated. People will stand on your feet in the mosh-pit, or while dancing, so wear sensible shoes. Flat shoes are always good, or else go for heavy boots. New Rock boots are great if you're moshing - nobody wants to get kicked in retaliation by someone wearing those. But if you're just standing in the queue or if you're jumping around New Rocks and similar booties are heavy, so think carefully! Even a pair of Converse or Vans are good; they're comfy and you won't have broken toes at the end of the night.

2. Don't go to gigs alone.

If you're heading to a gig alone, make sure you have a way of getting home, especially if your gig's venue is in an area you don't know.

If you're a certain age you're obviously fin to go alone, but it's always more fun, and probably a lot safer than standing with a group of strangers or struggling to get home when you're wrecked if you're with your friends.

3. Don't try to enter a venue carrying alcohol or drugs

Love your alcohol? Take drugs? Don't bother bringing it to a gig or festival unless you're clever about it. The alcohol will be confiscated, and the drugs will in pretty much all instances get you into legal trouble. You can always get drugs in the festival. Obviously, anyone who does take drugs to festivals knows how to do it, and knows why we're not going to suggest ways of doing it here. Some things should remain all about the word of mouth, it's only right and proper!

Venues will take a very dim view of your trying to bring in alcohol. Let's face it, you may give it a go because it's cheaper. But they always search bags and bulges nowadays, and getting your alcohol confiscated won't prove cheap in the long run. Far better to just buy the expensive vodka and red bull inside, or the watered down lager, and accept it as part of the gig experience. A venue would be unlikely to kick you out for trying to smuggle in alcohol but they have the right to call the shots, and it would be a shame to miss a gig and lose your friends for the night because you were trying to save £3.46.

Also, don't get pissed before going into a gig. Or, if you've been going to gigs and pummelling your liver for some years, don't go in obviously pissed. You really want to give the security no trouble at all. They don't enjoy their job and they've seen it all before, from the clever mouthy ones, to the little angels they know are carrying contraband, really, to the ones who've had a drink or two and can't handle it and simply won't be let into the gig, full-stop. It's a rule of thumb worth sticking to, on the whole: if security have a bad time, so will you. so, unless they've done something you think is ethically out of order, and you genuinely need to stand up to, don't give venue security a hard time. And if you turn up drunk and weaving, that's exactly what you'll be doing.

4. Drink some water at a gig

Whether you're too warm, or trying to balance your alcohol intake, do have some water. Just fill your empty plastic drinks cup from the bathroom and have a quick swig whenever you go for a pee. Make it a beautiful natural cycle!

6. If you're one of the lucky ones who have made it to the very front of the crowd, be very careful!

The good thing is the only people in front of you will be the security guards. The bad thing is there's A LOT of people behind you, who will push and shove to try to take your place. Hold on tight to the barrier when you feel the crowd pushing!

Normally the middle of the crowd is the most rough section, with the mosh-pit and what not, and the most pushing happens here. If you want a good view of the stage, but don't want to get caught up in the roughness, the front of the crowd at the side is your best bet. You'll have a good view, you won't get pushed as much, and you can easily get out to go to the toilets or bar.

And if you do decide to stay at the very front, duck down when crowd-surfers are being pulled over your head to avoid getting kicked in the head, as I experienced at a rough gig. It hurt. A lot.

8. Don't lose your friends!

Losing your friends at a gig isn't the end of the world - after all, you're at a gig. You've got a live band there to entertain you. If the worst comes to the worst, just try not to worry about your friends and get on with it But when you're queuing to get in, arrange to all meet at a certain spot outside after the gig if you get split up. That way, you'll only be on your own during the gig, and can all find each other easily afterwards. Also, when you get inside, you and the people you're with should scout out the territory of the venue if you haven't been there before, and arrange to meet at a certain spot inside the venue if you split up and can't find each other. There, now you've got a meeting point for during the gig. Don't rely on mobile phones. People can't hear them and networks can be slow so your texts are delayed. Even if they're set to vibrate, don't rely on your "I'm here, where are you?" message to get through.

Of course, if you really and truly do lose your friends, don't panic. Just appreciate the music and the experience like you'd planned to. The people around you will have better things to do than stare at you, so just wait it out and stare at the band.

9. Don't lose your worldly goods!

Bring a small bag with you to carry all your stuff, not one without a strap, you don't want to be carrying a clutch type of bag all night. One that goes over your shoulder is always good, it's not too big, and your hands are free to dance and do as you please.

10. The toilets

The toilets in a small venue are not always good, and the queue to use them is almost always long. Stick it out, because normally in a small venue there is only one bathroom. However in a bigger venue there is more than one bathroom, which will result in smaller queues and better toilets! If you really can't wait in these queues, there's always the men's toilets...

11. The queue

Make sure you have a light jacket with you for standing in the queue, not a big one as you don't want to be carrying it all through the gig. You don't want to be at the very end of the queue, because by the time you get in there might not be any good places left to stand. It's a good idea to show up at the venue about an hour before, if you want to get a good view. And if you're going to go for the extreme, there's always the option of queuing hours and hours before the doors open so you're guaranteed to get a good view! Although it does get a little boring if you're queuing alone... so why not get talking to the people who are doing the extreme along with you? You'll have something to keep you occupied and you'll be making new friends!