Live music in India is thriving and fans are loving every minute of it.With big names like Bryan Adams, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, and Ed Sheeran having graced the stage recently, more concerts are rolling in, and so is the madness. While the Guns N’ Roses’ India 2025 Tour already has every rock fan buzzing, the news of Steven Wilson’s The Overview Tour has many of us screaming “Lesssssgooo!”– and for all the right reasons. It has always been fascinating how from the moment a concert is announced to the day of the final showdown, there are few things we can’t brush off our shoulders. Good, bad, funny, sad, adventurous- it’s a cocktail of memories, and that’s what makes a concert experience truly magical, apart from the “I was there” badge that every concert-goer can so proudly wear! So, here are 10 things that have repeated themselves so often, they’ve quietly turned into the unwritten rules of every show, followed by almost all of us, often without even realising it.
1. Embrace Instant Camaraderie:
It’s an unwritten rule that you’ll bond with complete strangers during a concert- singing together, dancing in sync, and sharing moments as if you’ve known each other forever, all without needing a single introduction.
2. Sacrifice a Limb to Capture the Moment:
It’s an unspoken rule that the second your favorite song hits, you’ll thrust your phone into the air, battling burning shoulders and shaky hands, determined to capture the memory even if it means filming half the show through your own screen(and starring in someone else’s video too).
3. Expect a Mid-Show YOLO Realisation
In a moment between the second verse and the guitar solo, it will happen, it’s an unwritten rule- that rush of “Man, this is what it feels like to be alive and we get to do it only once(with a silent Hell Yeah!)” The lights, the sound, the crowd moving like one giant heartbeat, it will all click. You’ll forget about tomorrow’s 9AM meeting, your crush’s ignorance, or your sore feet. At that moment, you’ll just find yourself being in the present. Alive. Loud. And completely in it.
4. Sign a Silent Agreement with Your Bladder
There’s an unspoken rule that somewhere between holding your horses when you first come across a show announcement to holding your pee during the entire set, a concert happens. That one beer? Yeah, it catches up, suddenly. You’ll weigh your options- a trip to the restroom or not wagering the concert experience even for a second. So, be prepared to just ride it out.
5. Accept Losses as Part of the Ritual
Whether it’s an earring that you recently bought from a flea market, your hat that was a part of your GRWM reel, or your loud and clear voice, accept that you’ll definitely leave with a little less than you came with- it’s a part of the deal.
6. Treat the Wristband Like It’s Your New Accessory
Once that wristband is on, it’s an unspoken rule that it gets the full treatment with a dozen photos because it’s not just an entry pass, it’s your mark of being part of something epic. And trust me, it really demands some preparation when it comes to cutting it off because it’s sure to make you feel like you’re letting go of the experience(which you certainly don’t want to happen).
7. Add Soundcheck to Your Pre-Show Playlist
Arriving early means embracing the soundcheck as part of the pre-show experience. The soft taps on the cymbals, the bass warming up, or even the random mic test- it’s an unwritten rule that all of it will become music to your ears as the anticipation builds and you’ll end up vibing hard.
8. Resign Yourself to the Inevitable Obstruction
It’s an unspoken rule that at every concert you’ll always end up behind “the tall guy.” No matter how carefully you choose your spot for the best view and a bit of breathing room, there’s always that one person towering over you, completely oblivious to the chaos they’re causing.
9. Surrender to the Blurry, Shaky Glory
Trying to film a perfect concert moment will almost always end with blurry lights, shaky frames, and your own off-key screaming louder than the artist. It is an unwritten rule of every concert experience(which somehow makes the memory even better).
10. Succumb to the Rhythm
Try as you might to stay cool and reserved, but be prepared to break that rule because there’s an unwritten one of every concert that a few minutes after the music starts, your body starts moving, your arms start waving, and before you know it, you end up becoming the backup dancer you never knew you were.
11. Choose Comfort Over Style
While looking good is part of the concert experience(c’mon, don’t shy away from accepting it), comfort takes precedence when you’re standing and moving for hours. Opt for shoes that will support your energy and let you fully enjoy the experience, regardless of whether they perfectly match your outfit.
12. Prepare for Technical Glitches
Live shows are like your favorite DIY project- they might need a couple of adjustments along the way. Don’t panic here! A little tech hiccup? Totally normal. Roll with it and wait for things to be fixed until you can get back to dancing like nothing ever happened.
13. Pack Light (Unless It’s Absolutely Necessary)
There’s an unspoken rule to keep your belongings small and easy to carry. With so many people around, it’s better to navigate the crowd with ease and ensure your bags don’t get in anyone’s way.
14. Join in the Encore Applause
It’s a concert tradition to cheer for the encore, no matter how predictable it is. The collective energy of the crowd waiting for more is what makes it special, and participating in the chant adds to the excitement.
To say that concerts are just events would be wrong because they are more than that- they’re full-blown sensory explosions that compose a beautiful melody stitched together by sound, sweat, and the kind of chaos that somehow feels like home. So tell us, which of these rules have you lived through at your favourite concert? Or did we miss one that deserves a spot on the list?
