Going To A Gig On Your Own

[237SJ]

Have you ever done this? A few times a year I go to the ROH or the ENO on my own because I like the ballet and I don't know anyone who is prepared to pay money to see ballet if it is not their thing which is understandable. It is common to see people on their own at the ballet. I haven't really seen that at music gigs though and I have been to a lot of gigs. The other night, several of us went to see Diana Ross and we were split up as far as seats were concerned so I was sitting on my own and that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the concert. So, has anyone here gone to a gig in the UK on their own and really enjoyed it?

[goodgoalie]

Been to lots of operas on my own when I lived in London. Used to get day seats at Covent Garden ( a few times) and LOTS of visits to ENO - saw some great productions, and one or two clunkers, in spite of having done my research.

First ever gig I went to on my own was Black Sabbath in Worthing when I was 15. My parents didn't know where I was going and went mental when I got home!

[-Talbot-]

Yes.

Despite having two tickets to see Kings of Leon (their very early days) nobody wanted the other, so I bit the bullet and went on my own. I fought my way to the front and really enjoyed it.

The next time I went to see KOL everyone wanted to go.

[mikey4444]

I don't go to pop music "gigs" but I do go to the Opera and theatre, although not as much as I used to. Apart from a few isolated occasions, I have always gone on my own, and have enjoyed the event hugely.

Its much better to sit on your own, but in a house where everybody is enjoying themselves, rather than go with someone and have them restless and not really interested at the side of you all night. That happened once, in "La Boheme" of all operas (!) and I vowed never to do that again, ever !

[goodgoalie]

Can't understand how anyone could be restless during, or not enjoy La Boheme, Mikey. I must have seen six or seven different productions (including the famous John Copley one at Covent Garden) and it hits the spot EVERY time, even if the production's not that good

[naomi24]

Never .... but once or twice I've wished I had.

[Cloverjo]

I go to the theatre on my own. I've never been to a music gig on my own, but will soon.
I'm not bothered about going alone. It's just the travelling and finding my way there that bothers me.

[237SJ]

I suppose it gets easier when you are older. I got really fed up with being hit on by men when I was was younger when doing something on my own. Now, I can do things and be left alone. Happy days. The world is my oyster now.

[mikey4444]

Goalie....yes, you are right of course. But on the occasion in question, a colleague begged me to take his wife, as she had been banging on about going to see an opera for years and he couldn't oblige !

So I did, and it was a wonderful production, with Dennis O'Neil and Suzanne Murphy in the lead roles. But she kept fidgeting and asking questions ( far too loudly ) and the evening wasn't a great success...never again !

God only knows what it would have been like if I had taken her to see the Ring Cycle !

[goodgoalie]

Sounds like a ghastly evening, Mikey, bet you didn't enjoy a second of it. I've taken people to their first opera a few times - I reckon Traviata and Carmen are the best bets for that. And Dennis O'Neil - really underrated IMO

[-Talbot-]

I suppose it gets easier when you are older.
The world is my oyster now


But your futures a clam

[-Talbot-]

[Old_Geezer]

I have done in the past. But rarely. More often when I was a student. Mostly classical concerts, but other things too. And coincidentally to the two ballets I have been to see.

[andy-hughes]

As regulars will know, I am a music writer, and I go to hundreds of gigs, and I almost always go alone. I also attend festivals on my own too.

I have no problem going alone, often I am working so it's easier to be on my own because I have to concentrate on doing my job, which is interviewing and / or reviewing, and having someone else there is a distraction - but I often go to gigs for fun and go on my own then as well.

The present Mrs Hughes doesn't like the music I like, so she doesn't often come along, but she may be coming to Montreal with me this summer for the Jazz Festival. She won't do jazz, just see Montreal, while I work myself silly day and night as usual!