Intimate Music Experiences

Story by Cece Baise »

Concerts tend to have a strange and wonderful effect on people, whether or not the experience went exactly as planned.

“By the end of a small concert you are exhausted, to be honest, but it is one of the best feelings ever,” Senior Spencer Manning said, “You are sweaty, tired, and thirsty, but you can’t believe what you just saw. It is a great experience.”

“One of the things I enjoy most about concerts is how it brings all kinds of people together.” Manning said, “No matter what is going wrong in people’s lives, at a concert everyone is enjoying one thing, and it is a lot of fun.”

Junior Taylor Graves agrees. She is similarly captivated by the singular focus that a seemingly diverse crowd with similar tastes in music can share.

“I like the gathering of people and the excitement that is shared with people that I’ve never even seen before.” Graves said.

Concerts are typically held to make a profit, and that they do. Bigger concerts tend to turn more profits than smaller ones, at least in terms of total ticket sales.

“Bigger concert tickets are significantly more expensive,” Manning said, “For example my tickets to the Drake and Future concert a couple years ago were $130 a piece. Tickets for Chance the Rapper, Tyler, the Creator, and other small concerts usually range from like $30-$55.”

While larger concerts and concert venues tend to make more profits from tickets, smaller venues tend to make profits in other categories, like merchandise.

Manning enjoys going to smaller concerts as well.

“To me, personally, I think smaller concert venues are more appealing because the waiting for hours in line in extreme temperatures, the shoving to get to the front of the crowd, or the waiting in line to get merch is all a part of the experience,” Manning said.

Smaller concerts venues may also help those fans who have a hard time with large crowds and might even make the concert experience feel more personal.

Graves also agrees with Manning about preference to smaller concerts.

“I like smaller concerts because I think they are more endearing and sentimental,” said Graves.

Whether or not you choose to see your favorite musician in an enormous arena or a small coffee house, it is a decision that depends on an individual’s comfort level.

“I think it is all up to you,” Manning said, “If your favorite rapper is coming to Kansas City, you are going to want to go no matter what venue it is at.”