Whether it is your first time going to a concert or your 100th time going to a concert, these are the things you NEED to bring with you.
Quick disclaimer: Obviously, every person is different and has different needs but these are the things I always bring that ensure I always have the best time at concerts, get the best pics and that I can still function the next day.
This article will include affiliate links where I will make a small commission. However, I also include the name of the products I use so you can search for them yourself if you do not wish to use the commission link. I use all of these products and love them!
Ear Plugs
When people first told me to wear ear plugs for a concert I was absolutely baffled because why wouldn’t I want to be able to listen to the music at a concert? The only ear plugs I had used in the past were those cheap foam ones you used to get for free on planes so I always associated ear plugs with being uncomfortable. Those airplane ones always fell out, made your ears hurt and I just find they didn’t work whatsoever.
Prolonged exposure to 85 dB can cause Noise Induced Hearing Loss… Concerts are usually around 120-130+ dB. Find out more from an audiologist from this article in The Independent.
Even with this knowledge, lots of people still don’t wear ear plugs because they think the only option available are those flimsy foam ones. My mind completely changed on ear plugs when I tried the Loop Experiences for the first time! They’re earplugs specifically designed for concerts. I bought these with my own money after doing research on the best concert earplugs out there and I went in with a lot of negativity as I did not think I would like them at all.
The first time I tried them was for the Eras Tour in Paris, I was going to a few concerts that summer and I had been reading about noise induced hearing loss so I wanted to get something to protect my ears. When I went to the Eras Tour for the first time at Metlife in the US the year before, it was LOUD and probably the loudest concert I had ever experienced so I knew I needed to prepare for seeing the Eras Tour again. I bought the Loop Experience 1s (the cheaper option because I really had my doubts) and I can honestly say, I loved them. They fit in your ears pretty well and felt nothing like those cheap foam ones.
Look, everyone’s experiences are different and some people really don’t like any kind of earplugs, they say they’re uncomfortable, fall out and that you can only hear yourself singing instead of the artist. In MY experience, this isn’t the case. I will be 100% honest and say I do sometimes need to adjust them during the concert as all my dancing has made them move slightly but I wouldn’t say they are uncomfortable, especially when you get used to having things in your ears. In terms of hearing yourself sing, maybe a little? But I wouldn’t say it distracted me from the concert or ruined my experience in any way. Another reason people are hesitant to wear ear plugs for concerts is the judgement from others and I absolutely get it. When I’ve talked about wearing ear plugs online people have said there’s no point in me going to concerts and that it ruins the experience but that is just not true whatsoever. I know when you’re young you don’t want to stick out or be seen doing things deemed uncool, I wouldn’t even wear a coat as a teenager! But I have found the Loop Experiences to look pretty subtle and you could honestly mistake them for ear piercings if you aren’t looking too closely.
Whenever I have worn loops it has just muted the noise a little to make it more bearable and enjoyable for me. I loved them so much that I actually take them with me pretty much everywhere now. I use them at the cinema and the theatre and it just makes my experience so much more enjoyable as I did not realise how much of an impact overly loud noises had on my experience.
Again, all of this is just my personal experience but I went in with so many doubts and came out very pleased and I just always recommend them now.
The ones I use for concerts and the theatre are the Loop Experience 2. in Rose Gold.
You can check out all of Loops Earplugs here.
Eat before a concert
This is a non-negotiable for me. Eating before a concert is absolutely vital so you have the energy to dance and enjoy yourself. Concerts are intense with lots of standing, dancing and singing and you need to make sure you’re fuelling your body enough to do all of these things. You have a far better time if you actually eat before a concert!
You also need to make sure you drink water during a concert too! Concerts can be so dehydrating, especially during the Summer, so keeping yourself hydrated is a must if you want to enjoy the show and not feel awful the next day!
Some concert venues allow you to bring food inside and if they do, definitely take advantage of that and bring in a snack to enjoy. The food options at many concert venues are not great and they’re often really expensive so if you can bring something in for free, do it!
People always ask me how I managed to attend the Eras Tour multiple nights in a row on the floor and a big part of that was making sure I had food and I was drinking enough water. It meant my body was not too exhausted after the concert and I was ready for another fun night of the Eras Tour after enjoying it the night before.
Controversial but I also did not drink alcohol at ANY of my Eras Tour dates. If I’m going to one night of a concert and its a smaller venue, I don’t mind having a drink but when its a long evening, such as a stadium show, or I am doing multiple nights, I do not drink any alcohol. This also means I save a LOT of money as alcohol at concerts is EXPENSIVE. Obviously, if you want to have a drink, go for it (RESPONSIBLY!!!) But I definitely feel better the next day when I don’t.
Lip Balm
You’re probably going to roll your eyes at this one but TRUST ME. Concerts can get you dehydrated so fast, especially in the summer. You’re dancing, singing, sweating and all of this can just make your lips feel dry and gross. I always bring a lip balm (or two) with me wherever I go but especially to concerts. My personal favourite is the mint scented Burts Bees as its a matte lip balm and because it is mint it just feels very refreshing. Some people don’t like Burts Bees so definitely check if you like it before bringing it with you to a concert! It does contain Bees Wax so just double check that doesn’t irritate you before using it.
I also like Dr, Paw Paw lip balms (especially the glittery Wicked ones) and any of the Summer Friday scents. The Summer Friday ones are on the pricier end but they have a bit of colour to them which can be great if you like to take photos of yourself at concerts and they just have this gorgeous glossy finish without it getting stuck to your hair every five seconds. My personal favourite of the Summer Friday lip butter balm is the Iced Coffee one as its got a nude/brown finish and it smells divine.
If you’re going to a concert in summer, especially if its an open roof or outdoors, its also good to look for some kind of lip balm with SPF in too!
Sun Cream
Speaking of SPF, sun cream. If you’re going to a concert in an arena in the middle of winter, you probably don’t need to wear sun cream but if you’re going to a festival, an outdoor concert or an open roof stadium, sun cream is a MUST! I know lots of people queue outside concerts or even just dance in the standing area while the sun is still beaming and end up getting sun burn after the show! I think a lot of the time you just associate concerts with nighttime and it being dark but with stadium shows you’re often out in the sun for quite a while! I always like to just bring a little tube of SPF 50 with me, especially if I know I’m going to be queueing outside. Be sure to re-apply every few hours and try avoid spending too much time in the direct sunlight, if you can.
Portable Charger
You probably think this is obvious but it is a life saver at concerts. You use your phone for pretty much everything at a concert from paying for your transport on the way there, scanning your concert ticket and taking lots of photos and videos and all of these things drain the battery. It’s always good to have a portable charger as sometimes your phone decides the battery wants to drain faster than usual and I always find this at concerts, especially in the summer as your phone gets really hot and you’re also recording a lot. I like having my portable charger so I know my phone has enough power to last through the concert for all the photos and videos but also so I can use it to pay for public transport on the way back and navigate to wherever I am staying.
I use the rose gold belkin portable charger available on Amazon!
Top-Up Makeup
I like to get photos before the concert, during the concert and after the concert and sometimes you just need to do a little makeup top-up.
I don’t bring my entire makeup bag as I don’t need all that and it is also really heavy but I do bring a couple small bits which just refresh my makeup for photos.
First up, concealer. I like a quick concealer refresh, especially if I have been crying and sweating lots!
Powder! Concerts are sweaty and sometimes you need to mute that shine a little bit on photos so I bring a small pressed powder compact and a little powder puff.
Blush. This is a bit of a wild one but I always bring a liquid blush with me because it just amplifies my makeup and makes me look a bit better after a long concert. You have to make sure its not a full coverage blush so I like to use the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm as it also has a bit of glow in it and just refreshes my look for those post-show pics.
Obviously, these aren’t THAT essential for most people but I sometimes just like a little makeup top up if I know I am going to be getting pics after the concert!
View my entire makeup routine here.
Hair Tie/Hair Claw
If you have long hair, this is an essential item which so many people forget. Concerts are hot and they’re sweaty and the last thing you need when you’re hot and sweaty is your hair sticking to your neck. I always love to have a spare hair tie or claw clip just so I can get my hair up and out of my face. It makes me feel more refreshed and less sticky and gross. It’s also such a relief when you’re at a concert in summer.
I usually also bring a couple spare hair ties for my friends as its an item most people forget but an item people really enjoy.
I get my hair ties from Primark and I get my claw clips from TK Maxx or ASOS usually!
These are my concert essentials, but what are yours?
Everyone does concerts a little differently and everyone needs different things to enjoy themselves but these are the things I have found over the years really improve my concert experience.
Let me know your concert essentials below.
Rachel Lord 