Traveling for a concert? Here’s all you need to know
It’s no secret that the Philippines has been consistently skipped for concerts. While the country used to be a mainstay for tour stops, it’s increasingly becoming rarer to see Manila (or Bulacan) on an artist’s list. Despite that, Filipino fans maintain their fervent support for their favorite musicians in more ways than one. Sometimes, it’s all about being louder online, but if one has the means and desire to do so, crossing countries for a concert is a worthwhile experience to take on.
As overwhelming as it may seem, traveling overseas for concerts has the potential to be a core memory, especially when you do it right. Here are some things to consider and keep in mind as you plan on taking your fanhood to the next level.
Book something non-refundable
Like with most cases of first-time or solo travel, people find themselves backing out due to a lack of commitment. If you really want your concert trip to happen, tie yourself down by securing something that will be very difficult to get rid of. Whether that’s a non-refundable flight or concert ticket, having a booking set in stone will urge you to take your trip planning more seriously.
Bonus: Book this non-refundable thing early, so you can plan ahead.
Consider pay-at-the-property deals
While this sounds contradictory to the first point, pay-at-the-property or secure-now-pay-later arrangements for your accommodations can also help ease your mind as you plan for your concert trip.
Booking a non-refundable deal helps you commit to the bit, but pre-paying every single part of your trip may also overwhelm and discourage you. Maintaining a balance of both pay-now and pay-later is instrumental to keeping your finances in check.
Of course, even if you avail of pay-at-the-property or pay-later deals, ensure that you have the means to pay for them even before the due date.
Keep ticket options open
Chances are, the concert you’ll be flying to is in high demand and may even prioritize locals when it comes to securing tickets. Thus, it’s important to manage your expectations and look towards a variety of options.
Whether you’re buying from official sites or (hopefully) trusted resellers, do your due diligence to ensure that you’re getting a good deal. Overseas ticketing platforms can also release extra tickets past the initial selling date due to cancelled or unclaimed orders, so be sure to keep an eye on them even after the first day tickets go on sale.
Turn strangers into friends
“Don’t talk to strangers” is understandably great advice for most things, and you can still follow this golden rule to keep yourself safe. However, with social media being a standard bearer of information, it’s never been easier to reach out to people with similar lived experiences as yours.
Perhaps you’re searching for what to expect from your concert venue, or how similar events in your chosen location go. Chances are, you’ll stumble upon a content creator giving you the rundown. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to them, as they’re likely to respond.
Alternatively, if you’re heading off solo, you can make concert friends with fellow fans you meet at the venue or in shared fan spaces—just be sure to do your due diligence!
Don’t discount comfort
Traveling for a concert is expensive enough, so it’s par for the course you plan on a budget. It may be tempting to fly in on concert day and fly out right after it ends, especially if the flights only take a couple of hours, but you’ll never know when a flight can possibly be delayed.
Book your flights at least one day before and after your scheduled concert date to reduce potential worries and unfavorable situations along the way.
Make some time for exploring
Traveling already requires so much from you, so if you find yourself out of the country, ensure that you’re able to make the most out of your trip, no matter how short it is. Build an itinerary that seamlessly ties into your concert schedule so you can eat and roam around like a local, whether you have 3 days or a week to explore.
If possible, select visa-free countries
As Filipinos, visa requirements are often the bane of our travel plans. While that concert in Korea or Japan may seem tempting (and doable, especially if you plan ahead), try to look at tour stops or concert dates in neighboring Southeast Asian countries to avoid the hassle and headaches you may incur from processing a visa application for a short-term trip.
Of course, visa applications don’t have to stop you from attending the concert of your dreams—simply plan ahead, or stay close for comfort depending on your situation.
Save sources of inspiration
World tours are bound to have extensive documentation of the concert setlist, ambience, and everything in between. Let social media be your best friend by bookmarking tips for taking good photos and videos before, during, and after your event.
Now, more than ever, getting the perfect video or photograph for concerts feels extra urgent, but you don’t want to miss the best moments because you’re still figuring out how to get a good shot. Planning ahead, even for documentation, can help you enjoy and relive the moments as much as possible.
Traveling for anything, more so something as grand as a concert, is bound to be daunting. But don’t deprive yourself of the opportunity to seek out unique experiences for your entertainment. After all, very few things can come to the sensation that live music can bring, which is reason enough for anyone to go to extensive lengths to see and hear it for themselves.
