How to See Live Music on a Budget
Live music is a thing of beauty, but disregarding your budget all of the time is quite a stressor and you’ve got to choose what you want; financial stability or a night at a crowded stadium.
It’s funny to me how what we adore in life - the things that strike a chord within us, show us our best version of ourselves, provide us with some sort of liberation and levity - also have a sneaky way of shaking up our budget, draining our bank account and leaving it bone dry. I guess it’s not funny “Haha;” more like funny “Well, shit.”
Live music has been that source of liberation for me for as long as I can remember. It’s been the driving force behind my social calendar, my free time habits, my friendships, and more.
I love seeing live music, and feeling that energy when a band is in that pocket, hitting a stride in their performance.
Magic exists, and it exists in those spaces. Those spaces where an artist is going out on a limb to leave it all on the stage, and what you receive as a member of the audience is something transcendent and breathtaking.
Getting back to the economic issue at hand, my habit is to go to at least two live music shows per month, but there have been times when I’ve had to cut back radically because paying rent is a must. Getting evicted is not on the list of to-dos.
We can mournfully go down the list of reasons why life is difficult and that we can’t consistently score concert tickets - paying rent, cost of food, insurance prices, capitalism, blah blah blah - or we can get creative.
All of these reasons are ultimately valid and worth thinking about, but there comes a point where it’s imperative to take responsibility for the state we find ourselves in and make some strategic choices concerning our budget.
Let’s Start with Some Mindset Work
For the sake of your wallet, how about taking a deep dive into what you want?
It’s a helpful practice to take a pause when you’re considering making any kind of notable purchase; your budget is something not to take lightly.
Digging yourself into a hole with radical debt is no joke, so let’s consider if this is something that you really want, or if you are letting compulsive habits of shopping/spending money take hold.
I find that with any sort of hobby or vice, it’s important for me to slow down and consider. As much as I want to fully submit to this desire to buy everything in sight, I benefit when I practice some honesty with myself.
I ask myself questions like…
“Why do I want to buy this?”
“Is this the thing that I’m craving right now?”
“Am I just falling into a habit of excess?”
“Is this what truly interests me, or am I just obsessed with spending money and collecting?”
My answer at any given moment could be different. When I have the extra money on me, and my budget is not so tight, it can be nice to treat yourself and buy all the things.
I’ll get tickets for a few upcoming shows, I’ll go buy several records at the vinyl shop, and I’ll go enjoy some cocktails as well. But on other occasions, using some calculated decision-making proves useful.
In those moments of careful consideration, I find that the thing I end up buying is something I enjoy and am drawn to engage with.
I also don’t regret saying no to the other things I wanted. In the end, I’m proud of myself for being considerate of myself and my budget.
Get Used to Seeing Local Live Music and Visiting Smaller Venues
Depending on what type of live music you gravitate toward, it can be a bit pricey if you’re looking to hit up numerous shows within a month.
Especially if the artists are hyper-mainstream types of acts, those stadium shows can put a radical dent in your wallet.
Live music is a thing of beauty, but disregarding your budget all of the time is quite a stressor and you’ve got to choose what you want; financial stability or a night at a crowded stadium.
One alternative is getting acquainted with your local music scene. Now, if you’re thinking “My town doesn’t really have a live music scene”
I would encourage you to dig a little deeper. Do a few quick searches for local bands in your city, seek out the small clubs and bar venues in your town, or ask people in your circles if they know of any local bands or venues to check out.
Pull up their website, check out their calendar of upcoming shows, and take a risk.
The price point is generally far more approachable than larger productions, and you’ll be amazed at how engaging and electric it is to be standing feet from a musician who is pouring their heart and soul into this performance.
The energy in these kinds of spaces is a whole different beautiful live music experience.
And who knows, you may end up seeing that band blow up in years to come and you can say that you saw them way back when in a tiny bar in Dallas or wherever.
[That happened to me. I saw Grouplove in the early days at The Prophet Bar in Dallas, TX, playing to a handful of people.]
Getting invested in the local live music scene also has a way of making you feel more connected to your city. You’re directly contributing to an up-and-comer being able to live out their dream of sharing their music with the world. You feel refreshed and invested, and your budget isn’t wrecked.
Hit Up Local Open Mic Night Events in Your City
You’ll be surprised at the caliber of talent in your local area when you check out an open mic night. Plenty of establishments regularly hold these types of live music events.
Oftentimes, it’ll be a cozy coffee shop, a laid-back cafe, or an intimate bookstore giving a platform to local under-the-radar musicians looking to perform.
The level of intimacy in live music settings like this can be unsettling and even nerve-wracking if you’re not used to it.
The close confines of the building mixed with the vulnerability of someone on a tiny stage singing songs that inspire them. It can feel awkward initially, but once you cross that threshold it’s beautiful and immersive, being a part of something so tight-knit.
You’ll find yourself so lucky to be one of the few who get to experience something quite personal and vibrant.
Another benefit of this type of experience is that you get to play a supporting role in this artist’s life.
At larger shows, of course, the artist is grateful to have so many fans adoring them, but in this type of situation, you get to be one of a handful of people who are showing great appreciation to this musician looking to share their art with others.
That type of dynamic is powerful and life-giving for a coffee shop musician. It also doesn’t hurt your budget at all because you’re generally merely paying for your coffee and tossing a few bucks in the artist’s tip jar.
Prioritize a Specific Amount for Live Music into Your Budget
This may seem like an obvious final step, but it’s important to practice intentionality. As with any hobby, passion, or pastime, it’s imperative and practically compulsive that you shift your priorities to make space for this thing you’ve grown to enjoy.
This relates to your budget as well. If you adore seeing live music and being a part of that electric gathering, feeling that anticipation for the music that will blast from the speakers, then you need to reorient your budget to make space for this type of practice.
Tweaking your priorities will always involve a level of sacrifice. You sacrifice something else that you’ve been known to value, and you shift your gaze to this love of live music.
Maybe it looks like cutting back on eating out at restaurants, scaling back on going out drinking at the bars or taking a break from buying new video games. By clearing out space in your budget you are giving yourself permission to jump into this love of live music and engage with the experience without worrying that you’re digging yourself a financial hole.
By considering your budget while also allowing yourself to invest in the experience of live music, you’re taking conscious action of your finances, your time, and your energy. You are embracing what you’re passionate about and prioritizing it within your complex life.
Resources:
Google Search “Concert Venues in My City”
Google Search “Open Mic Nights in My City”
Follow Your Favorite Artists on Social Media for Touring Info