By Gigi L.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is moving through the country with sold out stadiums across the board. The tour continues until Aug. 9, meaning that millions of people still have yet to see it. Let me say, the show is incredible, but it can be a nightmare if you are not prepared. As a recent attendee and self-appointed expert, these are some helpful tips that can make your night go as smoothly as possible.
- Buy your tickets close to the show date.
This may be controversial, but I think that it is best to buy your tickets as close to the show date as possible. I know that a lot of people don’t like waiting until the last minute, but it’s the best option if you want to get a good deal. Most of the time, ticket prices will drop as the show gets closer because sellers are desperate to get rid of them. When tickets were first being sold, they could range anywhere from $1,000 to even $30,000. This price drop can be seen across platforms, specifically StubHub, one of the most popular websites to buy concert tickets. For example, a few months ago, floor seats for the show in Houston, TX on April 22 were about $6,000. Now, as the show date approaches, the same seats are $1,000-$2,000. People buying those seats will save $5,000 just by waiting. Yes, you do run the risk of the stadium being completely sold out, but there is usually a number of people trying to resell their tickets.
- Get there early.
Stadiums usually open 1-2 hours before the show actually starts, so get there as early as possible. Yes, you’ll have to wait in your seats for a while, but you’ll save yourself from getting stuck in the flow of thousands of people trying to get to their seats. In a sold out stadium, parking and walking to your seats is an absolute nightmare. By getting there early, you can park your car and get through the doors in a quick and orderly fashion. You can also get food, go to the bathroom, and watch the opening performers if you want to keep yourself busy. Trust me on this one.
- GO TO THE BATHROOM!
I cannot stress this enough. GO. TO. THE. BATHROOM. I’ve seen people get to the show and say, “Oh, it’s fine, I’ll just go to the bathroom during ‘All Too Well 10 Minute Version.’” Don’t do that. Remember, these stadiums are full of tens of thousands of people, and I can promise you that the bathroom line does not take 10 minutes. Just go to the bathroom right before the show starts. If you wait, you could end up missing a lot of the show because you’re standing in line for the bathrooms.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
I know you want to wear your cute pink heels or cowboy boots, but honestly, that’s not the best option. It’s a concert, so you’ll be jumping around and dancing the whole time, and your feet will be dead by the end of the night. Even though it’s not as cute, you’re better off just wearing tennis shoes. In this case, comfort comes before style.
- How to take good videos
I made this mistake. I took so many videos and pictures of the concert, but when I got home, they looked so bad. They were blurry, the lights were obstructive, and it just wasn’t pretty. The best way to take photos and videos is to lower the exposure on your camera. You do this by tapping on the thing you want your camera to focus on (Taylor), and that little yellow box will pop up. On the side of the box, there is a little sun icon. Hold and drag it down to lower the exposure. This way, you’ll be able to see the graphics on the stage and the screen without it just being a white blob.
- Participate!
It’s a big deal, so make it one. Dance, scream, sing along, have fun. Don’t just sit in your seat the whole time. You’ll have a much better time if you get involved. This is a special moment, maybe even a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so make the most out of it.
These tips are of course just suggestions, but you should really take them seriously. This concert can either be the best experience of your life or an absolute disaster, and I think that most people don’t want a disaster. If you are going to the concert, have fun, be safe, and GO TO THE BATHROOM!