As excitement grows for upcoming concerts, teenagers face the thrill of live music alongside cost and safety challenges.
With shows like Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet Tour” and Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour” coming to the Bay Area within the next few months, many Carlmont students are gearing up to attend their favorite artists’ concerts. However, as past experiences have shown, attending concerts has pros and cons.
Concerts have often been events to socialize, sing, and dance to your favorite artist. Students at Carlmont who have attended concerts like “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS World Tour” have mostly had relatively positive experiences. Among these students was Arina Bosklova, a Carlmont sophomore who attended the “GUTS World Tour.”
“‘GUTS’ was my first concert ever. It was an exciting experience that I’ll remember for a lifetime,” Bosklova said.
In a school as academically strong as Carlmont, students often feel pressure to perform well, leading to late nights and a diminished social life. However, concerts provide a unique environment for teenagers, allowing them to escape the stress and anxiety of their school lives.
“My favorite part is finally seeing an artist I’ve been looking forward to, and having fun with friends,” said Vania Pala, a Carlmont junior.
Despite this, there are still negative aspects of concerts. One recurring aspect is the cost of tickets. Since many concert-goers are teenagers, they often rely on their parents to cover the cost. But, when the expenses range to as high as $11,000, it can create significant barriers for those who want to attend.
“My parents paid around $300 for the Eras Tour,” Pala said.
Another concern that teenagers have is the violence that often occurs at concerts.
“I have fallen and been pushed in concerts before by other people, and a lot of the times, since people just want to have a good time, they’re insensitive to what other people think,” said Savannah Russon, a Carlmont sophomore who attended a Zedd concert and a Tate McRae concert.
Concerts often have thousands of attendees, making injuries extremely likely.
Additionally, parents are concerned for their children who are attending these concerts. Many parents do not feel safe allowing their kids to go to concerts because of potentially dangerous situations.
“I wouldn’t want my kids to go by themselves. I would want to make sure there’s an adult,” said Jagu Patel, the parent of a Carlmont student.
Concerts are an excellent way to let loose and sing, but certain parts might turn people away from seeing their favorite artist.
