What to Bring to a Concert (and What to Leave at Home)

A concert is one of those evenings where a little preparation pays off. Bring too little and you spend the night hunting for a charger or squinting at a queue for water; bring too much and you are stuck at the security check or holding a coat for three hours. The right kit depends on the venue, the weather and how long you plan to stay, but the core list is short.

Check the venue rules first

Every venue and promoter sets its own policy, and the details differ widely. Before packing anything, look at the event page or the venue's website for:

• bag size limits, and whether only clear bags are allowed;
• items that are not allowed, such as umbrellas, professional cameras, power banks above a certain size or refillable bottles;
• whether there is a cloakroom, and whether it accepts bags;
• re-entry rules, in case you want to step out;
• age requirements and which forms of ID are accepted.

Rules can change between events at the same venue, so check close to the date rather than relying on a previous visit.

The essentials

1. Your ticket. If it is digital, add it to your phone's wallet or take a screenshot in case the signal drops near the entrance. If it is printed, keep it somewhere flat and dry.
2. ID. Needed for age-restricted areas and sometimes for the ticket itself if it was issued in your name.
3. A payment card or phone payment. Many venues no longer take cash; a little cash can still help for transport or small stalls.
4. A charged phone. Ideally with a small power bank, if the venue allows one.
5. Ear protection. Reusable earplugs designed for music lower the volume without muffling the sound. They are small, cheap and easy to forget, so keep a pair in the bag you always use.
6. Keys and travel details. Know your route home and the time of the last train or bus before you arrive.

Extras for outdoor shows

Open-air concerts add the weather to the equation. Depending on the season and the forecast, consider:

Clothes and shoes

Comfort beats style at almost every gig. You will probably stand for hours and walk farther than expected, between the station, the entrance and the bar. Choose shoes you have already broken in, and dress in layers you can manage without a cloakroom. Packed indoor venues get warm quickly, even in winter, so a heavy coat can become a burden.

What to leave at home

• Large bags and backpacks, unless the venue clearly allows them.
• Valuables you don't need, such as spare cards, jewellery you would hate to lose or a laptop.
• Items on the venue's prohibited list. Security staff will usually ask you to bin them or take them back outside.
• Anything bulky "just in case". If you have not used it at the last three gigs, you won't use it at this one.

A few habits for a smoother night

• Arrive a little early, as entry queues and security checks take time, especially for large shows.
• Agree on a meeting point with friends in case phones die or the signal fails.
• Drink water through the evening, not only when you feel thirsty.
• Keep your phone in a front pocket or a zipped bag in crowded areas.
• Step back from the speakers now and then, and use your earplugs.

Finding the next show

Once you have a kit that works, the hard part is choosing what to see next. Our guide to finding local events worth leaving the house for covers venue newsletters, listings and other ways to hear about concerts before they sell out. Keep a small concert pouch packed with earplugs, a spare charging cable and a few plasters, and the next evening out starts with one less thing to think about.