The Magic of Working in Live Events as a Fangirl

How many of us when we begin to like something begin to daydream about all the ways that we would want to incorporate that into our lives? We all have at some point, I like to imagine. That’s what fans do. Once we get into something there is a spectrum of how we imagine it being a part of our day-to-day. It can be from finally going to a match of our favourite sports team. Going to multiple concerts of our favourite singer or band. Flying to New York City to see one of our favourite actors on Broadway; I’m 100% speaking from personal experience of going to New York to watch Oscar Isaac in The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window.

It can also be in the form of daydreaming of working in the same industry with our faves or even with them. That form of daydreaming can manifest itself into a tangible reality. Let me be the first to tell you that it has happened to me and it can happen to you as well. I used to say all of the time when I was younger that one day I will work with my faves or for my faves in some capacity. Never did I realize what would happen once I gained more life experience, more career skills, and landed industry-related opportunities such as writing with That Fangirl Life how it would open more doors for me. 

Since starting my path to re-entering the Entertainment Industry via the Music Industry route last year I have worked hard on building up a great entry-level resume to aid in finding an official job within the industry. Thank god for that resilience and passion as it has paid off. I currently work with Live Nation as Event Staff at a small local venue. Working as an Event Staff is one of the coolest job opportunities that I’ve ever had. Being a fan and working at concerts ensuring that fans get to have an amazing experience seeing who they love is incredible. There are no words for being a part of the reason the show goes smoothly for the fans and the performer. 

I’ve worked a total of 8 shows and counting at this point. It’s a powerful experience at each show. Remember what I said earlier about how I used to say, “One day I will work with my faves or for my faves?” I have exciting news, one of the shows that I worked on was for Louis Tomlinson. Yes, you heard that right! Louis Tomlinson. Cue the flashbacks to when I was a teenager saying “One Direction will pay me one day for something.” I found that something years later. I like to think that I have manifested that into happening. I’m beyond excited to tell you about the experience of working at that concert to give you an insider’s look into working live music. 

Working At A Concert Venue 

All shows regardless of where you are attending would not be able to run smoothly or as safely as they do if it wasn’t for the Event Staff at the venue. Event Staff are your concert security. We ensure that from the beginning to the end of the show day that everything is secure for an amazing show. We are the people that you see in scanning your tickets. Helping you find your seats. Securing VIP access and watching over the pit. We are all over the venue you go to in places you do and don’t see to keep operations running efficiently. 

When I work a show, I show up at my designated call time. Call times differentiate from show to show meaning different assigned placements are given upon arrival. Most of the time I’ve been working the gates of my venue! Meaning that 90% of the time, I am one of the people that guide you through the metal detectors or scan your tickets. A.K.A. the first faces of the venue that anyone ever gets to see after arriving. This is a placement I enjoy being at as I get to see the excitement of fans wanting to see their favourite artist so badly and it’s within reach. It might not be the most exciting part of anyone’s show when it comes to going through security, however, to me it’s the best part. I think of us at the gates to be the ones who do get to make the first impression on how a fan’s experience at a show will go. 

A poor experience going through security and ticket scanning can sour someone’s day. My mindset is always “I know what it is like to be an excited fan and to see one of my faves. So I can put myself in their shoes and become excited for them even if I don’t know this artist or listen to this type of music. I am a fan supporting other fans.” With that mindset, no matter what show I am working I can ensure that it’s a fun and good time for everyone there. 

The great part about working the gates versus working the pavilion at the venue I work is break time. No, I’m not talking about my break time when I get to eat, but covering other Event Staff workers when they need to break. That means I am in the pavilion getting to experience the concert right in front of me. In those moments I’m getting to watch and listen to the show while also scanning the crowd. It’s a rare moment for someone who has attended concerts and only sees the artist to have the flipped perspective of seeing what the artist sees: the crowd, the fans. 

Seeing the fans respond to certain songs or the performer’s audience engagement is fun as you can see the unique culture of each fanbase from their responses. You can visually see the culture of each fanbase when they first go through the security gates. You can tell so much about a fanbase by what they wear. Just think about what we’ve seen for Harry with the bright colours and boas; then with Taylor Swift the outfits matching her beloved albums. Or even with those who attend country concerts, their outfits with cowboy boots, shades of colours, and makeup vary from artist to artist. Regardless of how the fanbase presents themselves their culture becomes more defined as the show proceeds. At least that is what I think at this point after working on 8 shows. 

The night of Louis Tomlinson’s concert I was out in the pavilion the entire time. I was assigned to work in Louis’ pit. I was at the front (or back of the pit as you’d say as a fan) of the pit scanning GA tickets and putting wristbands on those fans to show that they were allowed to come and go from the pit. This is where the time working Louis’ show becomes the most powerful and influential for me. As someone who has always gone for the pit at my shows when possible, I knew I couldn’t miss out on working it. 

Supporting Fans At A Show 

As a Louie working the Louis Tomlinson show, I was more hyper-vigilant about ensuring that the fans who were attending had a blast. I arrived at my call time at 5 PM. As I walked to go through employee security screening I walked past the long line of Louies. I couldn’t help but smile as I saw shades of red, striped shirts, One Direction t-shirts, and a few brighter outfits as I made my way to my entry gate. Part of me was a bit upset that I chose to work instead of attending the concert, but that perception would change throughout the night. 

I was ecstatic as I would be able to work and enjoy the show whilst making sure my fellow Louies had a great time during the show. When my supervisor asked who would want to work the pit, immediately I shot my hand up. There was going to be no way that I would miss out on making the pit memorable for others. 

We all know from social media posts and stories from our friends how the pit experience shapes the reputation of the show. It’s not to say that other seating arrangements don’t. However, pit experiences get shared at a rapid rate and those stories morph into the experience. You know when there is a good show when the people in the pit report having a good time as it’s the most condensed and high in intensity; only that high in intensity because the artist is, you know, right there. 

That wasn’t the only reason why I wanted to work pit. If you need to know anything about me I love fans. My focus in my career is Fan Engagement and Audience Development in the Entertainment Industry. Getting fans to have awesome experiences interacting, seeing, and listening to their faves is the most important thing to me. This also means allowing them to have experiences that are as free from judgment based on the fandom that they belong to. I heard early on in the night before fans arrived how they were just going to be “extremely loud screaming girls” who “won’t take care of themselves.”

Not a lot about the Louies was being said with high regard, which shocked me. When I spoke up about how I was a fan of Louis Tomlinson, their tone changed. They said they “couldn’t see” me in that way and I asked why with no response. It was the standard annoyance of the age-old comment that fangirls are too much. 

That was interesting. I realized the power I had in telling the rest of my team about the Louie fandom and Louis himself. I got asked multiple times if I knew who Louis was throughout the night by colleagues. Just like a broken record, I repeated throughout the night that he was a former member of One Direction who finally is getting to where he wants to be. The number of times that night that I had to correct people calling him “Lewis” and that he was indeed British blew my mind. However, I guess that is what happens when One Direction ruled my life for so many years; and I can’t lie they still do. One colleague couldn’t believe that I was a fan of boy bands. I don’t know what gave that off as I feel that I exude peak boyband lover energy. 

With everything that I was witnessing before the show even began, I made it my mission to work the pit to make sure that all Louie fans knew that they were welcomed as the “extremely loud screaming girls” that they were. I want to preface that that is my mentality with all fans attending any concert I work. No matter who they are, they deserve to have a good time that will create lasting memories. Who am I to judge that? 

I was excited once I got to my station in the pavilion with my blue wristbands in hand to place on eager Louies that would make their way down to the pit. Once it hit 5:30 PM an exciting buzz filled the air as the VIP Louies started to line up in the venue. They were slowly led toward me and my colleague to enter the pit zone. I laughed at people’s reactions. Not in a bad way but because of how giddy they were acting. It was so hard to not get swept up in their joy and excitement. Louie after Louie I placed a wristband on them after they got their tickets scanned. 

I laughed with a few as they shared their excitement about seeing Louis. I would tell them that I was excited too. Who wouldn’t want to get paid and get to hear and see glimpses of one of their favourite artists? When I shared that piece of information with other fans that I interacted with they couldn’t believe that this is what I got to do for work. A few even said I was cool (I love a good compliment). 

My favourite moments were having laughs with fans over little inside jokes. The type that you only know when you’re inside of a fandom. A few fans had t-shirts, and one person had a crocheted shirt, of the oh-so-famous photo of Louis in the movie theatre. One girl and I had a huge “if you get it you get it” moment when she walked into the pit with her mum wearing a striped t-shirt and red pants. I couldn’t stop laughing and finding amusement with the two fans, one who was in the pit and the other in a VIP box that brought the Louis Tomlinson One Direction Hasbro doll. Others came in with arms covered in friendship bracelets that either they made to give to other fans or ones that they’d received from others. 

Shout out to the fans who gave me bracelets when I told them I was an actual fan of Louis! I have kept my Louis Tomlinson friendship bracelets that say ‘Saturdays’ and “LT” in a safe place. There was a cool moment when a fan noticed that the clear bag I had to wear for work had a BT21 character charm on it. I was able to chat with an attending fan about Louis and BTS. All of these interactions make the fans and Event Staff more human. The more positive interactions Event Staff can have intentionally with fans the more fans can trust to rely on them for a good show. As we all know, without fans, there would be such things as concerts. 

Event Staff and artists are equally dependent on fans to make a show run. And these Louies did not disappoint. 

Working As A Fan In Live Music 

I never understood how magical the experience of a concert is until I was watching the crowd for Louis Tomlinson. This was the first show I worked on when I was inside the pavilion feeling the thrilling energy that was emitted from the fans. Mr Tomlinson got on the stage a little late. I joked with a colleague that he might’ve been having a quick cigarette break before hopping on the stage. I probably was right about that, but I’ll never know the truth about Louis’ 10-minute delay. It didn’t matter as that made the anticipation for the show to begin to grow amongst everyone; both fans and workers. 

Finally, the moment came. Louis’ countdown video started up to take the stage. We all have seen what it’s like to watch someone else get excited about something. We all know how it feels when we are excited about something. Yet, there is no way to explain the positive overwhelming feeling of watching thousands of people radiate excitement. It’s in their faces. Their body movements. Their phones shaking in their hands. It’s powerful and Louis hadn’t even taken the stage yet. It’s an energy that can’t be missed as it washes over the crowd. It’s intoxicating, in all the good ways. 

Moments later, the man we all love from Doncaster is on the stage! I couldn’t resist taking moments from my position to turn around and look at him. I, like many other fans, couldn’t believe that Louis was right there. Behind me. I was his security. I had a very interesting sense of pride and awe for what I was doing. I finally was responsible for doing something directly for a former member of One Direction. Sure, Louis didn’t hire me directly but his tour manager booked the venue which hired me. So, he did hire me in those ways if we think about it that way. 

I was in love with listening to Louis’ set and watching the crowd light up from his presence. I enjoyed singing song after song on the setlist. There were moments where I was interacting with fans during showing excitement towards certain songs or laughing at things Louis said. There are a few moments that stand out to me now when I think back to it. 

One fan near me was crying and I gave her a thumbs up to see if she was ok. And fortunately, she was. She was simply overwhelmed by Louis’ grace. I don’t blame her for that reaction. Another girl and her mum matched my energy and excitement when Louis began his version of ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go.’ The true Direction spirit came out as I sang the lyrics while watching the crowd. I had someone who was in the front row of the pit entrance barricade ask me if I was a fan since I was singing all of the songs. 

I explained to them that I was a fan and I wanted to have a different experience at a show. I wanted to work on it to understand more about how to serve fans, and how to make sure I give a fave a good show and earn extra cash. When I have a hobby of going to concerts it’s been amazing to go to work at concerts where I get paid to provide a fun and safe time while listening to amazing artists. Louis isn’t the only artist I like that I’ve worked but he was the first.

Anyway, as the show progressed I felt very emotional. Not emotional because I wasn’t able to watch Louis non-stop ahead of me. No, I was emotional because I felt that I could finally understand why artists love what they do and how much they love their fans. Have you ever felt love and support radiate off of someone towards you? Now imagine thousands of people. 

All I could feel is that. This intense and massive amount of love, joy, respect, and admiration for Louis. It’s the same at every show and it gives me a rush. It’s exhilarating and I’m only working! It’s that buzzing feeling you have when you attend a concert. You know it’s not just you but you feel it a lot more within yourself. When you are like me and working as Event Staff, it’s all you can feel. That buzz from hundreds upon hundreds of others. 

I felt tears form in my eyes from how moving it was. Feeling that energy. Watching the faces light up and react to Louis. Hearing the crowd sing and shout with Louis. It all made sense. I had a sense of clarity. When you see that many people happy and hyped up show after show after show with unique experiences at all of them you want to give it back again. They, the artist, can see how much they mean to you. And they will continue to oblige. The shows are for them as they love performing. However, after watching Louies react to him, I knew that the shows are all for the fans. 

I felt overwhelmed and it made me more grateful to be working that show and there in general. Live music is an incredible experience and being a part of that experience is rewarding. I had a part to play in Louis’ show. I had a part to play in Charlie Puth’s show. And so on. It is an electrifying opportunity to be a part of. You get to recognize how important your role is within the larger music industry. It might seem small but Event Staff to the artist are the most important players at their shows. Of course, after the fans! I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

Working at the Louis show opened my eyes to how much I am currently impacting the music industry. As well as, how much I will continue to impact the music industry when I am done working this position with Live Nation. “Minor” roles in the field are really major. There are no small roles when you get into the music industry. 

It took me working at Louis’ show to see that I have a hand to play here. And it’s just beginning to take off. Now I wait for my Louis Tomlinson concert tee to arrive because hey, I enjoyed work and the show. I’m allowed to show off the concert shirt with a very cool backstory now. 

Oh by the way. I have a fun fact to share with you that I learned very quickly that night. We all know that for us as fans the arena feels dark as the lights are mainly on the artist. It feels like they can’t see us as it seems like it’s a sea of darkness. It’s quite far from the truth. 

As I stood there watching the crowd I could see 80% of the people in the pavilion which is close to the stage. I could also see at least 20% of the people in the lawn seating behind the last pavilion section. Granted I work at a small venue but, I could see the majority of the crowd all because of how bright the stage lights are. The stage lights illuminate the crowd making everyone in attendance hard to miss. 

I’m telling you this because I can see you, guess what? The artist can see you too. For those of you who’ve thought an artist has looked right at you during soundcheck, in the pit, or in the seats close to the stage, there’s a 100% chance that they did. They might not have interacted with you directly, but if they looked at you or you question if they did… I’m telling you it’s because they did. 

Do with that information as you wish.

How To Get Into Live Music 

Getting the chance to work in live music can happen in so many ways. And you don’t have to be an expert in the industry to get those opportunities. Many of the employment opportunities are entry-level jobs and great chances for those who want to pivot their career into entertainment like me or are pursuing this right out the gate. 

1. Look for opportunities at local pubs/bars that showcase live music. Starting small locally is a great chance to get exposure to up-and-coming local artists. You’re likely to get more hands-on experience with stage setup, marketing, scheduling, and engaging with the artists. 
2. Apply for opportunities with Live Nation, if possible where you live! There are multiple positions that you can apply for that are part of the live music experience. You can work in merchandising, security, food, sales, or marketing. All are great entry-level positions! If Live Nation is not local to your region, try looking at Dice or AXS for options! 
3. Find opportunities to work at music entertainment companies or talent agencies to possibly find jobs that are with management, production, marketing, creative direction, or photography. These would be more behind-the-scenes preparation for a tour or roles that would be actively on the road with the artist. You might want to build up some experience and a portfolio first to show off your awesome skills to land the job of your dreams. 
4. You can work adjacent to live music. If you do freelance journalism, photography, or social media management or are in school for the music business or entertainment business, doing anything that gets your foot in the door is what you want. This can be seminars. Going to a show and covering it on your blog. Listening to a podcast that is entertainment-related and discussing key takeaways on social media. Taking photos at concerts to build your portfolio. Working in theatre or TV/Film in any capacity. Or even showing off your university projects on LinkedIn.  

All of these opportunities can present you the chance to gain exposure to big and little venues and companies; and of course, their artists and management teams. There are many avenues that you can take to work not just in the music or entertainment industry, but specifically to work in live music. You too can be the fan working to support fans and the artists at a show. Or you can be the fan who works the concert of their fave and get to brag that they did that.  

Who wouldn’t want such a cool job where you essentially get paid to be at concerts?