The beckoning call of live events and live music is all but impossible to overlook these days, even if you’ve mostly kept from going out because of COVID. At this point most of us are vaccinated, which means we know getting COVID again wouldn’t be life threatening. What’s worth the risk is the deep joy and spiritual release that comes with live entertainment, and this applies to both the audience and the performer. But life isn’t always predictable, and things can take a turn for the worse on a dime, such as in cases where illness, rehab announcements, VISA issues etc are involved. Times are precarious, but also exciting, and in the LA scene, the move from summer to fall makes for heightened anticipation for venues and events of all kinds. Here, we’ve compiled a survival guide for fall concerts, which will be helpful if you want to navigate this busy season.
Riding the Metro
The metro rail connects almost every place these days, and poses a fuss-free way to get to shows, especially at venues such as The Shrine, The Coliseum, and others. And if you do have to walk some distance or get an Uber to the venue from somewhere nearby, it’s possible to steer clear of traffic jams. The B Lie starts at Union Station, with stops in Downtown near The Music Center. It goes on to Hollywood, where there are venues like The Bourbon Room and The Hollywood Bowl. There’s a trip planner you can use if you need help.
Shuttling
As for the Bowl, it’s going to be a fave locale to enjoy live music for the sights and the sounds, as well as the ease to get there. Driving the short distance to Hollywood & Highland Shopping Center lets you get dinner there, followed by a walk right up the hill. If your departure point is the Valley, Universal Studios has a shuttle you can make use of. For that matter, there are multiple shuttle spots strewn across town. You can get a rundown at their website.
Ubering/Lyfting
Despite a huge share of the population having dropped using these services thanks to the increased cost and wait, they do present a good resource if you’re looking to get to a live event. The best approach is to build up a pre-show buzz with friends and then split the ride cost.
Favoring
It’s high time we normalized asking family and friends for rides so that there’s a favor owed afterwards. Nobody wants to do the deed while they’re doing it, but getting favorable payback for helping out is something everyone can get behind.
Carpooling
Parking and gas costs are exorbitant these days, which makes it a sensible choice to share a ride with friends or even friends of friends, that is if you’re getting to the venue by car. If you want to connect to people who share this preference, social media is a good bet. The most direct approach is to go to the show’s invite page on FB and find out if anyone you know is looking to go too. It’s also a good rule of thumb to first check if you have a mutual friend.
Pre-gaming
Get off from work a bit early if it happens to be a weeknight, or if it’s a weekend, spend the day. Schedule an early dinner with drinks at a bar or restaurant nearby. Lots of people do this, so there’s a chance you’ll make new friends.
Bagging
LA venues these days have purse policies that are borderline ridiculous. Places with size restrictions sometimes also have metal detectors, which is bad news for people who need to carry meds with them. Diaper bag essentials are an impossibility to get inside. It’s also hard on people who want to bring sweaters but can’t fit them in a bag, which means they have to wear them the whole time. There’s still the option of tying your hoodie around your waist though. Be sure to check the venue’s website as well as social media page before getting ready to head out.
Smoking
We’re not exactly for the practice of sneaking something into a music venue; that said, cannabis has forever been an integral part of enjoying a concert. If you’re stressed about the rules, one way to compromise is to take a gummy a short while before the event starts. If you do end up bringing something, bring a vape pen to avoid intruding on other people’s enjoyment.
Self professed pot critic Jimi Devine’s take is that you should “preroll everything.” He says also that the more exhilarating the show happens to be, the more sensible it is to wait awhile so you can buy something and smoke it outside. “The Grateful Dead parking lot has facilitated international weed commerce for 40 years,” he shares. “Weed is so cheap right now that these homegrowers that would sell their weed on tour on the lot are basically giving it away. $200 top shelf ounces easy. Maybe even better deals, depending on the show.”
Vibing
Early 2020 saw a time when music lovers were worried they wouldn’t be able to enjoy a concert the normal way again. Those fears have been dispelled at this point, with multiple postponed gigs and festivals having returned in full force. Special shoutouts go to bands like The Stones and Foo Fighters, whose shows required that attendees be vaccinated. We might be close to getting the COVID situation classified as endemic, but it’s good to be considerate at events you do happen to go to. Like if you’re a tall person standing near the stage, look behind and let some short people stand ahead of you. Or if you’re old and prefer sitting, maybe don’t judge those in front of you that want to dance and enjoy the vibe that way.
