Sarah’s Pop! Survival Tips

Posted on October 2, 2008

I’ve been consistently going to rock shows for several years now, and I’ve been to an insane amount of venues, seen shows in every possible context and situation. Going to shows in Montreal is a totally different ball game than what I was used to back east. It’s almost a sport to tell you the truth. I think to truly enjoy a show and not have anything else on your mind is one of the most freeing activity you can indulge in. Tonight being the opening night of the best festival in town, I’m passing on the wisdom to you lucky readers. Keep reading for my 5 golden rules of show-going that will allow you to really make the most out of Pop!

1. If you’re a student who doesn’t have loads of money (like yours truly), you probably don’t want to splurge your whole budget away at the first concert. After all, there’s still 4 more days to go. First rule is leave your wallet home. Take only the amount you can afford to spend, along with your ID (I take medicare, you never know where adventures may take you, and if they take you to the ER, at least you’ll have that), put that in the back pocket of your skinny jeans and you’re all set. Also, that way if you’re unfortunate enough to end up being a victim of theft, you’re not f&%#$d for the rest of the festival. Which brings me to my second rule…

2. Girls, leave your purses home. Last year, I got my purse stolen at the very first show I went to see with Pop. I ended the evening with a friend’s chest printed on my face I was so upset. Shit happens to the best of us. Buy some waterproof eyeliner and you won’t need to reapply over the course of the night and you can forget that purse ever existed. My friend used to say “whoever invented pockets should get 5 cookies“. Amen! Who needs to lug around all that baggage anyway? If you MUST have a bag with you, make sure it’s small and light enough so that you can stand it’s weight on your shoulder the whole night. Better yet, get one of those tiny ones easily rest on your wrist. Don’t leave belongings unattended for a second. Having to replace all those cards, cell phone and iPod can be pricey, and your money is better spent on concert tickets and booze than on stuff like that. Other useful alternative: the 80′s are back so go totally retro and wear a fanny pack. That way you’re free to shake it all night long, and you can put a drink in both hands and bring one to that cute person eying you at the end of the bar.

3. Have a wild time, but make sure to re-hydrate often. Nothing’s sexier than someone who can hold their liquor and is still coherent enough at 2 AM to get it on with the fox for whom you bought a drink earlier. We’re not 16 anymore (if you’re going out to Pop shows in bars, you shouldn’t be anyway) and we don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Tipsy feels pretty hot, but being carried out of the bar is definitely not. No one wants to go home with that person.

4. Earplugs fit nicely into those handy pockets I was talking about earlier. They sell them at the pharmacy for under 5 dollars. Some even come with their own little carrying case so they don’t get gross. I swear you’ll still hear every note being played on stage, and you’ll even be able to hear your friend yelling at you over the music. That way you’ll still be able to hear in 10 years from now. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy the sound of music and still plan on enjoying it when I’m too old to get out of bed. Another nice perk, you can get closer to the stage without being in pain. Who’s the wuss now sucka?!

5. If you’re going to show-hop, biking is the best way to get from one venue to another. You don’t get stuck in traffic if you use the smaller arteries (because if you’re tipsy, biking on St-Laurent is a BAD idea) and it’s a lot cheaper than taking the metro. Also, you can stay out for as long as you want because you don’t have to worry about catching the last bus or metro. It’s absolute freedom if there ever was any. If you don’t have one, the festival offers to rentals. Just make sure you stay sober enough to still be able to mount the thing and ride it straight. Be safe.

Most important rules of all though: have a blast, see as much as you can, be safe and remember enough to tell me all about it the next day.