By: Courtney Gould//
Fan-girl confession: although concerts tend to always wind up being the highlight of my year, they also ruin me a little inside. I’m sure many of you can relate. The anticipation leading up to the show nearly kills me. Generally, I buy tickets up to 6 months in advance. From that point on, I find myself admiring all of the posters on my wall and impatiently counting down the days. Fast forward to the day of the show and I’m an emotional rollercoaster. I don’t even think I could try to articulate the feeling of watching your favorite band/artist take the stage. On rare occasions, I might even get some one-on-one eye contact with the artists (shout out to Matty Healy for severely damaging my sanity). It seems that right as I begin having the time of my life, the show reaches its end. As the artists give their final goodbyes, I snap back to reality and realize what just happened. My magical night has came to a close and I’m suddenly way too emo to even think about sleeping. This is the bittersweet feeling known as “Post-Concert Depression.”
Post-concert depression (PCD) in its simplest form is the depressed feeling you get after seeing an incredible show. The high makes you want to relive the moment because it made you feel a way you’ve never felt before. Unfortunately, you have to come to terms with the fact that time travel doesn’t exist (yet). Since I’ve felt PCD about one too many times, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned from the overall process and how to go about dealing with it.
- Purchase a disposable camera to bring to the show! These particular cameras are lightweight, compact, and won’t die on you (like your unreliable phone battery). The fun with film is that the turnout of the photos is a complete surprise! In our current fast-paced, digital society we are so used to getting everything instantly. However, capturing moments with a disposable is truly special because you can’t see the photos right away. There is no “Instagram editing” that goes into the photo. It’s a raw and unique depiction of that euphoric moment you had during the show. The best part about these cameras is the anticipation when you finally turn it in and get it developed (which can take up to a week). Looking forward to never before seen footage shot by “yours truly” really pulls you out of that PCD “just let me re-watch my all of my concert videos 20 more times” stage. Another plus side: once you pick up the prints, you can decorate your space with memories from the show!
- BUY MERCH! What better way to support your favorite band/artist than getting merchandise at the show? Since you’ve already splurged on tickets, you might as well go all in and blow another $30 on a t-shirt. You have to justify these things to yourself. Think about the PCD you’re about to experience after the final encore when the lights come back on. You’ve probably been eyeing the online store for the past few months anyway, so by all means, treat yourself and buy that item most sentimental to you. Once your PCD hits you, you’ll be thankful you brought home a little part of the show. Personally, I find merch really valuable because it reminds me of the band/artist and gives me the dose of nostalgia I often need.
- Befriend other fans at the show. A lot of people don’t realize how important this step can be when it comes to dealing with PCD. Think about how much time you spend waiting for the doors to open, then waiting in line for merch, then waiting through all the opening acts. Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with someone nearby because the chances of you becoming best friends are pretty high. After all, you’re both here because you share the same love for music, so you probably have a lot more in common than expected. Make sure to cherish those friendships and keep them for as long as you can! One way to stay in contact with any long distance concert friends is to exchange all of your videos and pictures from that night. Since you both feel unconditional love for that band/artist, you won’t need to worry about annoying each other when you go overboard with the details from your night. They will appreciate all of your excitement and look forward to seeing you on next year’s tour!
4. Make a playlist of the set list. Why? Because it’s a guarantee that in a few weeks, months, and even years from now, you won’t remember it. Take advantage of how fresh the night is in your mind and jot down each song in chronological order. Then when your PCD starts to kick in, use the playlist as closure. Don’t be sad that it’s over. SMILE because IT HAPPENED! Come to the realization that not everyone in the fan-base has been blessed with seeing the live presence of that band/artist. So instead of moping around thinking you’ll never get to see them again, focus on all of the happy memories you’ve made for the time being.
