I am someone who is always down for a concert. My ideal concert would be at a small venue or even a dive bar rather than a stadium concert.
One of my favorite venues is Wooly’s in downtown Des Moines, which has a capacity of just under 700 people. From almost anywhere in the venue, you can see the stage and get a good view of the performer.
Not to mention, smaller performers often work harder to make a stronger connection with their fans.
I have met artists like Braxton Keith and Wyatt Flores while simply waiting in line to watch them perform. There is something special about getting to wish your favorite artist good luck before they step on stage. It creates a more personal experience that you will not find at a stadium show.
One of the best parts of seeing smaller artists is watching them grow.
I saw Megan Moroney perform on the free stage at the Iowa State Fair in 2023. About nine months later, I saw her at Vibrant Music Hall for around $40. And a little over a year after that, I was paying $100 to see her perform at an arena show in Independence, Missouri.
It almost feels like a “proud mom” moment watching an artist grow to bigger stages, knowing you were there supporting them early on in their career. Sometimes they may even recognize you as a familiar face in the crowd.
Those little interactions can make the performance feel more intimate and create a stronger connection between fans and the artist.
At smaller venues, you will find the obvious perks: cheaper tickets, easier parking and a closer view of the performer. These smaller venues, however, will be less of a production.
If crazy light shows, fireworks and costume changes are what you are looking for, then stadium tours are 100% for you.
Stadium tours are a beast, to say the least. The atmosphere, the number of people it takes to produce- there is nothing like it, but the cost adds up quickly. A $12 water, a $20 parking spot and we haven’t even talked about the price of the ticket yet.
Don’t get me wrong, stadium concerts do have their place. Watching Taylor Swift and singing with 70,000 other people at Arrowhead Stadium was an experience of a lifetime. There is something so unreal about being surrounded by so many people who all know every word to the songs being sung. However, that does not mean every concert needs to be a big production to be memorable.
Obviously, artists cannot control how popular they become or the size of venues they perform at to fit their fan bases. Depending on your taste in music, maybe your favorite artists only do big stadium tours. But it is worth taking a chance and trying out a smaller venue with either an artist you know or one you have yet to discover.
It’s safe to say I would rather be 10 feet from the stage at a venue holding 500 people than 100 rows back in an arena holding 20,000.
A bigger venue does not automatically mean a better concert. I find myself more willing to spend money on a smaller show where I can see the artist with my eyes rather than spending hundreds to see them on a big screen.