A Fangirl’s Guide to Surviving Tour Season (Mentally, Emotionally, Financially)
Spring has sprung, the weather’s getting warmer and our favourite artists are starting to hit the road.
As a fangirl, this means our calendars are full of concert dates and those long hours spent fighting for our life in the ticket queues are starting to feel worth it. With the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Sam Fender all on track for a run of huge shows this summer, it’s set to be a great tour season.
This is such an exciting time of the year for us fangirls, but it can often be overwhelming with all the travel, expense and emotions that come with it. Maybe you already have some outfits planned or (like most of us), are panicking over what to wear. Whether you’re organised or are starting to feel the looming pressure of a jam-packed schedule (there’s no denying tour season can be chaotic), we want to help you feel prepared. We’ve pulled together some tips on how to survive tour season – mentally, emotionally and financially.
Part One: Preparing Yourself Financially
As a fangirl, your year is most likely crammed full of as many live events as possible. While this is fun, it can be tough financially to fund all your bucket list shows.
Getting Organised
So, the alarms have been set, the queues have been battled and you now have a long list of shows planned for this tour season. Some of us might not have been so lucky in securing tickets, but there’s no need to panic. Have your eye on a sold out show? It’s not always the end. Keep an eye out for resale tickets from reliable ticket providers. Many ticketing companies (e.g. Ticketmaster) have their own verified fan resales. Twickets is also another great site, which caps resale prices at face value so you won’t get ripped off. Watch out for scammers and avoid buying tickets off social media. It’s always safer to get tickets directly from trustworthy resale sites.
Be Spontaneous
Sometimes the best gigs can be those we don’t plan for. Why not discover a new up and coming artist or head to one of your local venues? Stadium and arena tours are incredible, but don’t forget the smaller, grassroots venues. They’re usually much more affordable which means more gigs for less (a bonus)! Take this tour season as an opportunity to see new people and support your local music scene. Grassroots venues are where many major artists had their starts. You never know, you might find your new favourite artist or stumble onto the next big thing.
Manage Your Money
If you’re going to multiple dates or cities during tour season, it’s likely you’ll be doing a lot of travelling. Make sure you’re prepared by booking things early. Whether it’s a train, plane or hotel, you can save lots of money by booking in advance. This will also save you from a lot of last-minute stress!
Setting a realistic budget for each show will help you a lot financially. Thinking beyond just the price of the ticket and setting expectations for how much everything will cost is important. A budget for travel, accommodation, food and merch will help you a lot in the long run. An extra emergency fund for any last-minute, unexpected purchases is also a plus (your future self will be grateful).
Securing the Merch
It’s very easy to get carried away at the merch stand, but if you want to survive this tour season financially, it’s a good idea to save your money and choose wisely. Tour merch can be very expensive, so setting a budget before you hit the stand will stop you from overspending (your bank account will thank you).
Fan accounts are always posting pictures of the merch stand on socials, so have a look before your show and scope out the prices. This will help you to budget and decide what you want to buy. If you have lots of shows lined up, you might not want to buy a t-shirt/hoodie every time, as this can get expensive. (We’re all guilty of the merch top becoming a pyjama top after a few wears). Remember, artists usually update their online store with merch at the end of tour, so consider holding out until then and spend some time thinking about what you’d actually like to buy.
Part Two: Preparing Yourself Mentally
Making sure you feel mentally prepared for tour season is a must. From outfit planning to knowing what to bring on the day, there are ways to make sure your shows go as smoothly as possible for a stress-free experience.
What to Wear
One of the most exciting parts of tour season is the outfit planning, but this can also cause a lot of stress. There’s nothing worse than opening your wardrobe the day before a show to find out you have nothing to wear.
Head to Pinterest for some inspiration. Scroll through your feed and create boards for your upcoming gigs. TikTok is also a great place to see what fans have been wearing to previous dates. But remember – you don’t have to spend a lot to look great. Consider re-wearing outfits and don’t shy away from a bit of DIY.
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident – it’s okay to wear something more low-key if that’s what works for you. You could be standing for long hours and if it’s an outdoor show, you could be in the heat. It’s good to wear something that you won’t feel too hot in and will withstand a long day in the crowd.
Another important thing to remember is practical footwear. Consider wearing trainers or boots that you know won’t hurt, and if you’re heading to a festival, you may want to pack some wellies. It’s okay to sacrifice the heels for something a little more comfortable!
What to Pack
Making sure you’re ready for the day of your gig is important. Check with the venue’s guidelines on what kind of bag you can bring. Usually, no bigger than A4 is the standard, but it’s important to double-check.
Writing a list of everything you’ll need to bring on the day will help you feel a lot more prepared. Whether it’s friendship bracelets, a disposable camera or an extra layer if you’re going to be outside – you don’t want to forget anything.
A portable charger is an essential. You may decide to queue early, so making sure your phone battery lasts the entire day is a must. They can be pricey but investing in a good-quality one that can charge a device multiple times will be worth it. The last thing you want is to be ending the day with a dead phone!
Protecting your ears is key at live music shows. If you’re heading to multiple shows this year, ear plugs should be at the top of your packing list. There are lots of different types on offer, from cheap foam ones to pricier high-end options – the choice is yours.
Beat the Heat
The arrival of summer means lots of outdoor shows and festivals. It’s important you look after yourself at these shows, especially if you’re queuing for long hours. If you’re lucky, the sun will be shining, so it’s important to bring SPF along with you to protect your skin. You definitely don’t want to be ending the day with heatstroke! Consider bringing a handheld fan along with you too. Being in the pit can be very hot, so having something to cool you down while you wait for the artist to take to the stage is a plus.
Some venues might let you bring in a bottle of unopened water or an empty reusable bottle, but in cases where this isn’t possible, the venue staff will have water available to pass to the crowd. Festivals and most outdoor shows will have refill stations dotted around the venue, so make sure you take advantage of these to stay hydrated. It’s also a great way to save money instead of paying for bottled water at the bar!
Step Three: Preparing Yourself Emotionally
Whether you’re seeing your favourite artist live for the first time, feeling the FOMO from missing out at a ticket sale or hit with post-concert blues, tour season can be an emotional time.
Enjoy the Moment
Planning and preparation aside, the most important thing is that you enjoy the moment! It can be tempting to take as many videos as possible and film every second but try to limit the time spent on your phone. It’s great to capture a few videos (memories are super important), but putting your phone down and being present during the show can make it so much more enjoyable.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to be front and centre at every show. Of course, being at the barrier is an incredible experience, but you can have fun from wherever you’re standing. Sometimes the best memories can be made from dancing at the back of the pit. You don’t have to queue for hours on end to have a good time!
Dodge the FOMO!
Let’s be honest, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) can be hard as a fangirl. Seeing everyone posting their outfit pictures and videos from the pit can trigger the FOMO for those who couldn’t get tickets. However, it’s important to remember you don’t have to go to every single show. Sometimes saving your money and having a chill night in can be the better option.
Social media can amplify these feelings, so don’t hesitate to log off if you catch yourself doomscrolling, wishing you were there. Whether you’re going to one, five or 20 shows this tour season, the most important thing is we all have a good time.
Tackle Those Post-Concert Blues
So, you’ve had the most amazing time at your show(s), and you’re starting to feel those post-concert blues creep in. You’ve crafted the perfect Instagram photo dump and now you’re feeling a bit deflated. It happens to the best of us, but there are ways to combat these emotions. Gathering together all your wristbands, confetti, setlists and pictures from your shows into a scrapbook or journal can be a great way to document your experience. This gives you something to look back on and relive the memories from your favourite shows.
To Sum Up…
Tour season is the best time of year for live music lovers. If you’re a regular event-goer, this season can be exhausting, emotional and financially challenging. However, it’s also a time to create lifelong memories and meet like-minded people. It’s important to take care of yourself so you can have the best experience possible! Before you know it, you’ll be back in those dreaded ticket queues ready to do it all over again.
