Music concerts can be great fun, especially for children excited about seeing their favorite pop star. But with such a high profile event, drawing so many people to one place, you need to ensure that you look after yourself and stay safe so that the experience remains positive.
As with any event involving large crowds of people things can and do go wrong. Noise and dim lighting can make it easy for pickpockets and with no particular pre-vetting of concert-goers, you cannot know the malicious intentions of strangers: theft, violence and even terror, as seen most recently at the Manchester Ariana Grande concert.
With this in mind, there can be no harm in following our simple tips for ensuring your safety at a pop concert.
Don’t Go Alone
It is best if you attend the concert with a group; children should be accompanied by an adult. In an emergency situation, you will have friends to help and there will be more people to spot anything untoward.
Set up a shared WhatsApp group so you can contact everyone easily in case you become separated and need to arrange a time and place to meet. It also means you should not need to travel home alone often late in the evening, which can also make you vulnerable.
Look After Your Cash and Valuables
The majority of people will be at the concert to enjoy themselves, but there will also be some who are there to take the chance to thieve. Keep your phone, any cash and valuables you have well-hidden and do not leave them loose in your back pockets. The last thing you want is to have them stolen and then find yourself with a problem getting home late at night with no phone or money.
Know Where the Exits Are
In a large venue, it isn’t always clear where the emergency exits are. When you first arrive at the venue, it may not be the first thing on your mind, but it is in your best interest to get into the habit of familiarising yourself with the exits, so you can find your way out if there is an emergency.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Try to limit the amount of alcohol you drink as you don’t want to find yourself in a situation of being drunk and not knowing what you are doing, especially if there is an emergency. Consuming too much alcohol also means you will be less aware of dangers and thieves will see you as a softer target than someone who is sober and aware.
No matter what you are drinking, there should be plenty of water included in the mix. If you do not stay hydrated, you may start to feel ill especially when you are in a huge, raucous crowd – sometimes standing squashed between hundreds of other bodies for a long period of time.
It is smart to always being aware of what is happening around you; it goes a long way to staying safe at a pop concert. By following these pieces of advice, you can simply enjoy yourself without worry.
