from a x7 standing pit survivor

Hi zesties, Singapore’s concert scene is FINALLY booming and with so many great acts coming to town, I thought I’d share the things I do to endure the difficulties of being in the standing pit. I stood for Bastille x3, Paramore, the 1975, Bruno Mars and Olivia Rodrigo.

1️⃣Prep your battle plan

- Decide on a few things: are you trying out for barricade/ the first few rows, or are you okay with being at the back? are you buying merch on the day itself (if there’s multiple days) or after the concert? do you want to bring a bag?

- Join fan groups: the official fan club (if any) might be planning how to organise the queue or there may be people discussing what the onsite situation is like. Knowing this can help you decide what time you want to reach or where to go.

Note: I find it increasingly hard to get barricade even if you pay for VIP because unofficial queues do start very early and often end up being unrecognised/ the organisers may start official queues elsewhere/ people may rush in ahead despite coming later. Just take note of these things when making your decision!

2️⃣ What to bring?

- Bag or no: bags bigger than A4 have to be placed in lockers, and honestly carrying things while in the pit is tiring and blocks your way. I prefer not to bring a bag at all if I can help it and rely on my pockets + buy merch after the concert or days I’m not attending.

- Portable fan + charger: Depending on the location (eg MBS expo - super hot vs national/ indoor stadium - has better aircon) the pit may get really really hot. A portable fan + power bank is your best friend here to prevent heat stroke/ feeling faint.

- Water (disposable bottle) and snacks: get there a few hours early and bring enough snacks and water (everything disposable, so that you don’t have to carry it later). Water can be bought inside, but…

- Water bottle or no: This rly depends on whether you have friends with you - if yes, you can take the time to queue to refill your bottle. If not, running to get water and then running to the pit is your best bet of a good spot.

- Ear plugs: you might end up standing way too close to the speakers for comfort, so ear plugs may be helpful. Guardian/ Watsons should stock these for pretty cheap.

3️⃣Get your food and drink in

- Chances are that you’re gonna be standing for a couple of hours before the concert starts. Drink plenty of water and have a proper meal to reduce chances of fainting.

- I try to either eat a large meal before I reach and buy snacks on the way while queuing (if I’m alone) or take turns to eat (if I’m with friends).

4️⃣Be aware of your surroundings

- A common problem is how organisers sometimes change the queue venues midway or an unofficial queue may find themselves queuing at the wrong spot despite being there very early. Try to be aware of your surroundings to see where the official bag check/ security queues are - it’s likely that you’ll need to be in that spot when the event starts (even if an unofficial queue forms elsewhere)

5️⃣Make friends

- I feel that the crowd/ people around you can really make or break the experience. I’ve had people shove me around and rest their phones on my head just to get a better shot 😑 in contrast I’ve also had people kind enough to check in on me, offer snacks or lend me their portable fan.

- Making friends with the people around you can make it a better experience cause yall can look out for each other, esp when it comes to reserving spots or taking nice photos.

I hope these tips helped and that you guys have a good time at your concerts! :) let me know how your standing experiences have been and if you’d do it again!!

#RealTalk #concerts #concertguide #Lemon8Tips #music