Big_Al

What are your favourite genres of music? Who are your favourite bands/artists?
As long as it's something I can get into, I'll listen to it. My personal music collection spans the gamut from Vivaldi to Black Flag to Bonnie Raitt to Miles Davis, etc. etc.

How many concerts do you attend per year?
As many as I can, but I prefer to hit up smaller, more intimate venues.

Where/How do you find out about concerts?
If there's a band I like, I'll usually sign up for some kind of internet mailing list, or I watch their site.

For what reasons do you decide to attend a concert? What are the most important things that you consider in deciding to attend a concert?
I have to base the concerts I attend on budget and time constraints, so generally speaking I'll play triage -- if there are three bands playing that I really want to see, I have to base my decision on the likelihood that I'll see them again (i.e. are they going to break up), the number of times I have seen them / will see them again (do they tour my area regularly) etc. The most important element of the concert is quite simply the music. If you're a good band you'll be even better live than you are in the studio.

Where/How do you purchase tickets?
Usually Ticketmaster, though at times I've purchased from friends.

Have you ever entered contests to win tickets to a concert? If so, what did you do to win the tickets? What would you do to win tickets?
No, I can't be bothered to sign up for that sort of thing, because I never know if it's legit or not when they call me up to say I won. If I never sign up I know they're trying to take me for a ride.

What other activities do you do on the day of the concert (ie go out to dinner before the concert etc)?
Usually nothing, because all my money has been eaten up getting to said show.

Do you purchase tour merchandise? If so, what do you buy and where do you buy it?
Periodically I'll buy merch, but I don't really go in for teeshirts or posters; I'll buy music if they have it and I don't, and especially if it's cheaper than at my local retailer.

Would you be interested in personalized tour memorabilia? For example, would you be interested in having your photograph taken at the concert and sent to you, or put on a t-shirt or on other merchandise? If so, what type of merchandise would interest you most?
That sort of thing is really schlocky to me. I wouldn't really be interested in my face on anything -- I'm going to see someone else's band, right?

Do you purchase food or beverages in the venue? What kind?
Depends on the venue, and the likelihood I'll meet the performers afterwards. Usually I hit small venues like pubs, so I'll have a couple beers, but nothing too intense because I don't want to be a drunken fool if I meet the band afterwards.

Do you belong to any official artist fan clubs (ie fan clubs that you pay a yearly fee to join and which give you exclusive access to content like pictures or videos)? Do you belong to any unofficial fan clubs? If so, which ones and what aspects of a fan club are most important to you?
I don't belong to any membership-based fan clubs because I can't be bothered. Like I said, I'll sign up for mailing lists if I want to be kept up-to-date on tour schedules and the like.


Would the chance to win door prizes or enter raffles encourage you to attend a concert?
Once again, that is all icing. If you have to be bribed into attending a concert, what does that say about the band in question?

If there is an opening act, do you find out who the opening act is before you purchase tickets or attend the concert? Does the choice of opening act influence your decision to attend a concert or not and, if so, why?
Opening acts are like the previews at the movies...even if the movie sucks I usually enjoy the previews, and if the previews are balls I will probably like the movie. Either way I get something out of it.

Are you interested in signing up for alerts about ticket availability, artist news or concert cancellations when purchasing your tickets? By text message, by email, or by some other method?
I just want to know when the band is going to be in my neck of the woods. I don't want to be pestered with junk mail.

Are you interested in package deals (ie where you purchase transportation, parking, or food/beverage coupons along with your tickets)? If so, what would be included in your ideal package?
Why does everything have to be packaged this way? It's a frigging show, just go see it.

Would you purchase or enter contests to see the band’s sound check or to meet the band? Have you ever attended such an event and what would make you interested in attending one in the future?
I'd be more inclined to go see bands I'm likely to meet after the show because they're cool people and want to meet their fans. If I have to win tickets to get into some backstage pass nonsense I'm not really inclined.

Would you be interested in attending after parties at a local club after the show? Have you ever attended such an event and what would make you interested in attending one in the future?
It really depends on the vibe of the show, who I'm with and what's going on afterwards. Also, what I'm doing the next day -- if I have to go to work or something I'm not really going to be heading out too many places.

Do you need to purchase the band’s album before you attend the concert or do you go to concerts to discover new music?
I don't need to purchase it, but I do need to listen to it if it's a band I'm not all that familiar with, but usually I don't buy tickets to concerts put on by bands I don't know.

Do you read or listen to reviews of the band’s albums or their concerts before attending their show? If so, what sources do you use (ie newspaper, online blogs, radio etc) and do they influence your decision to attend the concert? I don't put much stock in professional critics; I usually defer to friends, colleagues or family members whose tastes I share or am inclined to believe.

Do you ever visit the official websites of bands that you like? Do you visit other websites about bands that you like (ie fan-created websites) or general music websites? Which websites and what kind of content do you look for?
Honestly I don't ask much out of official band sites. A bio section is great because if I'm into a band I want to know everything I can about them, and a few links to music or interviews are cool too, but otherwise just give me the basics -- tour dates etc. Take it easy on the HTML.

Describe a good concert experience that you have had?
Shawn Mullins at the Horseshoe. Two man acoustic set, and I met him afterwards. Nicest guy you'd want to meet.

Describe a bad concert experience?
Oh, just about any open-air festival you want to name. None of the bands I want to see are ever there.