There’s nothing that makes you feel older than going along to a pop concert and realising that all the fans around you are half your age.
I’ve definitely been there (but wasn’t there at Harry Styles unfortunately). Thankfully once you hit 40, you couldn’t care less what other people think and just want to enjoy yourself. I’m sure there are plenty of parents that "treated" their offspring to a ticket just so they could see Harry up close.
So, while I’m still up for a bop at a pop concert, I do have a few preferences about the type of event that I’ll rock up to.
Indoor Venues Reign Supreme
I’ve been to plenty of festivals in my time; I’ve danced in the mud at Glastonbury, camped at Reading and got soaked at Oxygen, but when it comes to concerts in the great outdoors, I think I’ve had my fill. When you’re young and carefree you don’t mind when people openly urinate in front of you, blow up camping gas canisters as you’re walking by, or force you into a mud fight; actually, you do, but you brush it off because you’re so busy having the time of your life!
If I had a choice of standing in a field or relaxing in the Bord Gais or 3Arena, I’d choose the indoor venues every time.
Take A Seat
Having said that, if the concert is on outdoors but I get a seat, you might just twist my arm. We went to 'At The Manor' at Palmerstown House in Kildare last year and enjoyed wine, hot food and plenty of leg room so we couldn’t complain.
Standing tickets are available at the 3Arena, but again you won’t catch me heading to the mosh pit anytime soon. If I wanted to spend my evening being shoved and squashed, I’d stay at home and join in my kids nightly wrestling match. Give me a seat so there’s no chance I’ll end up soaked in wine instead of drinking it.
Keep Calm And Form An Orderly Queue
And if you’re seated with easy access to the bathrooms and the bar then even better. There’s nothing worse than paying a premium price for tickets and then missing half the show because you’re queuing for drinks or for the loo. Scrap that - there is something worse and that something is a portaloo. I really hope I never have to lock myself in one of those hellholes ever again.
So, you might think I’m such as fuss pot that I’ll never commit to going to a gig again, well you’d be wrong. I can’t wait for Gary Barlow’s show at the Gaiety Theatre and I’m confident that it’s going to be a great night (perfect for a middle-aged mum like me) with none of my grievances in sight.
