Going to a concert can be an amazing experience. The energy of the crowd, seeing your favorite musician perform live, and hearing that ecstatic roar as the lights go down are just a few of the things that make seeing a show so exciting. However, if you want to really get the most out of the concert, you need a good view of the stage. This can sometimes be challenging depending on the venue and your seat location. Here are some tips to help make sure you get the best view possible at your next show.
Buy Early and Aim for Central Seating
One of the easiest ways to improve your chances of a good view is to buy tickets early, as soon as they go on sale. This increases your options for getting seats that are closest to the middle of the venue and directly facing the stage. The further away you sit from central seating, the more you risk obstruction from people’s heads or only being able to see the sides of the stage. Buying early allows you to be selective and grab those prime seats before anyone else.
Check the Venue Layout Before Buying
Before selecting seats, research the specific venue’s layout and seating chart. Some venues have seating on multiple tiers or mezzanine levels, some have general admission floors, and others have various obstructions like pillars or overhangs that can impede your view. Knowing the layout ahead of time allows you to evaluate sight lines and avoid seats behind pillars or underneath overhangs. You can usually find venue maps online or sometimes printed on the back of tickets themselves.
Arrive Early to Claim Your Spot
While having a seat assignment is important, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee an optimal viewing experience. Especially at general admission shows or venues with unassigned seating, you’ll want to arrive early to claim your spot. The closer you can get to the stage, the better your chance of an unobstructed view. You may have to stand around and wait as the crowd filters in, but it’s worth it to get that prime real estate up close.
Stand Up and Get Centered
Once the show starts, don’t be afraid to stand up and move around to get the best vantage point. Scope out any empty seats in the center sections and grab one if you can. The mix of sitting and standing audiences can sometimes obscure sight lines, so don’t be shy about rising up. You may block someone’s view for a moment, but most concertgoers expect this and won’t mind as long as you’re not excessively tall or holding up a phone the whole time.
Secure a Spot Near the Sound Booth
The sound mixing station is prime real estate, often located dead center in the venue. Try to find a position on the floor within clear view of the sound technician. Not only will this afford you a straight-on perspective of the stage, but you’ll get the best audio mix at that proximity as well. It does require arriving extremely early to claim such coveted space.
Mosh Pit Positioning
For high energy rock shows or EDM festivals with big open floor plans, you’ll inevitably have mosh pits breaking out. This can obstruct sight lines at times, but there are ways to use the dynamic movement to your advantage.
Ride the Edge of the Circle
The constantly rotating core of the mosh pit can temporarily block the stage. To avoid getting sucked into the chaotic swirl, stand just at the perimeter of the pit. Plant your feet firmly and use your arms to brace against those moshing. This vantage point allows you to pop in and out of the circle to keep an optimal view open.
Get Up High
Seek out any kind of platform to elevate yourself above the pit. Speakers, risers, bars, bleachers…anything sturdy that rises over the crowd. The bird’s eye perspective from up high provides clearer views between all the jumping, head banging, and chest bumping down below. Just be careful not to get knocked off your perch!
Catch the Ebbs and Flows
Pay attention to the mosh pit activity and be ready to capitalize on any lulls in motion. Sometimes the pit will organically gravitate to one side before circling back again. Other times the energy peaks and people pause to catch their breath. These are prime moments to get centered toward the middle of the floor. You can often hold that position until the next big mosh outbreak.
Outdoor Concert Considerations
Outdoor venues like amphitheaters and festivals have their own unique viewing challenges. Here are some tips for getting the best experience when shows are open to the elements.
Study the Stage Maps
Most outdoor venues will provide stage area maps ahead of time showing entrance gates, seating sections, and the overall layout. Study these closely and note which sections appear centrally aligned with the stage for clear sight lines. Also look for any obstructions caused by lighting/sound towers, overhangs, or set decorations.
Prepare for All Weather
Comfort is key for maintaining good views all day at an outdoor festival. Make sure to bring sunscreen, shades, rain ponchos, warm layers, and any other weather essentials. If you’re not prepared, harsh temperatures could force you to retreat from prime spots. Staying centered near the stage requires enduring the elements.
Secure a Rail Spot
At concerts without reserved seating, one of the best viewing spots is right up front at the stage barrier. Claim your place at the rail early in the day and defend your position. Not only does this offer an extremely close perspective, but the barrier gives you something sturdy to lean on so you don’t lose your spot.
Watch the Screens
Most major outdoor stages will have large screen projections to each side to simulate the onstage viewpoint. If your sight line gets blocked, quickly glance up at the nearest screen to keep consuming the visuals. Just be sure to look back at the band frequently and avoid watching the entire show through a screen.
Shorter Concert Goers
Unfortunately, concert viewing can be challenging for those on the shorter side. But fear not, vertically challenged music lovers! Here are some tricks to help boost your sight lines.
Score the Balcony
An elevated balcony seat is ideal for getting your eyes above a tall crowd. Even if it’s farther back from the stage, the bird’s eye angle helps you peer over and through obstructions. Balcony bars and rails also provide solid support for propping yourself up higher during key moments.
Invest in Concert Enhancers
Specialized footwear like platform shoes or Doc Martens can instantly add inches to your stature. You can also find small collapsible stools and seat cushions made specifically for providing perches above concert crowds. Get ones with bright colors or patterns so your friends can easily spot your whereabouts.
Align with Shorter Groups
Scan the audience for sections with a high concentration of shorter people, like kids or younger teens. Their presence likely indicates better sight lines catered to below average heights. Plant yourself within these pockets for improved visibility. Short crowds tend to stick together!
Request Assistance from Security
If you simply can’t see at all, kindly approach venue staff or security to explain your predicament. More often than not, they will happily accommodate you with a better vantage point through handicap access, VIP elevated platforms, or side stage seating. Most concert staff aim to enhance enjoyment for all.
Avoiding View Obstructions
Beyond getting centered close to the stage, you also want to minimize obstructions between your eyes and the show. Be aware of these common viewing impediments.
Excessive Phone Use
It can be tempting to film clips or snap pics during incredible concerts moments. But excessively holding up phones and tablets quickly obscures sight lines, especially with brightness settings turned high. Keep screen use brief and consider enjoying the show mostly through your own eyes.
Tall Hats
Large brimmed hats and top hats can be fun concert fashion, but think twice about topping big hats that could block views of those behind you. If opting for statement making headwear, consider only wearing briefly for display and removing when crowds pack in.
Totems
While colorful, decorated totems help groups find each other at festivals, they inevitable obstruct views when densely clustered. If carrying a totem, consider collapsing it down lower to the ground during peak moments. And avoid hoisting children atop shoulders with totems in tow.
A Sea of Phones
Nothing ruins an immersive show experience like gazing out at a sea of glowing phone screens rather than the stage. Politely ask serial phone users around you to be more considerate with their screens so everyone can enjoy clearer views.
Chatty Groups
Loudly talking and laughing during quiet songs is very distracting, as is aggressively pushing through crowds mid-song. Politely ask nearby fans to hold conversations for appropriate between-song moments. And say “excuse me” when needing to squeeze by.
Using Binoculars
For seated shows far from the stage, binoculars can really rescue your long-distance viewing. Get familiar with how to use them properly.
Research Quality Pairs
Invest in concert-specific binoculars designed for low light and high magnifications like 7×50 or 10×50 models. Test them at home on objects at comparable distances you’ll experience. Make sure images are crisp, not blurry.
Come Prepared
Bring a neck strap so you can quickly access and raise your binoculars without fumbling. Keep lens cloth handy for wiping off fog or smudges. Have spare batteries in case they die mid-show.
Practice Scanning Techniques
Smoothly scanning with binoculars takes some skill. Move your arms and wrists more than head and neck when covering the stage. Pretend you’re following a moving object to master panning techniques.
Only View Periodically
As powerful as binoculars are, don’t rely on them the entire show. Put them down periodically to engage directly and absorb the full stage. Occasional scanning for key moments adds flavor without distancing yourself.
Leveraging Smart Phones
Beyond snapping pics and videos, smart phones offer creative ways to enhance your concert views.
Monitor The Mix
Audience mics and soundboard apps allow listening to the live sound mix right through your phones. Use earbuds to isolate vocals and instruments from crowd noise. Adjust audio levels customized just for your ears.
Go Pro
Capture your own dynamic footage by mounting phone to selfie sticks, handgrips, or head straps. Unlike static tripod shots, you can sweep panoramic views both on stage and across crowds. Just be sure not to obstruct other’s sight lines.
Sync With Wearables
Wireless imaging from smart glasses and action cams can beam first-person views right to your phones. Enhance images with augmented reality graphics and share own visuals with remote friends. The future is here!
Type of Show | Best Viewing Spot |
---|---|
Small club | Front and center by stage |
Medium theater | Center orchestra or mezzanine |
Large arena | Lower bowl near soundboard |
Outdoor festival | Near main stage, raise up |
Stadium show | Centered on lower level or floor |
Broadway musical | Mid orchestra, slight left/right |
Conclusion
Seeing your musical heroes and brilliant performances requires more than just buying tickets. It takes strategy, preparation, and awareness to ensure ideal viewing with minimal obstructions. Scope out seat locations, arrive early, and bring helpful gear like binoculars. During the show, move around to find the best vantages points as crowds shift and settle. Most importantly, be courteous to fellow fans and fully soak in the live experience. With these tips, your next concert views will hit all the right notes!