Concerts are the lifeblood of music lovers, the epitome of shared joy, rhythm, and raw energy. Every time a band or artist performs, a certain magic fills the air — the crowd sings, dances, and experiences the music in a way that transcends everyday life. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you long after the last note fades.
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Yet, despite the growing number of concerts across India – Bryan Adams, Dua Lipa, Maroon 5, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Diljit Dosanjh - the experience itself often remains a challenging, sometimes frustrating affair.
For many, securing concert tickets feels like a battle against time, inflated prices, and algorithms designed to ensure you never quite get the tickets you want. And even when you finally do score those golden tickets, there’s always the looming question -Will the concert be worth it?
Attending a concert today, especially in India, often feels like rolling the dice. Sure, you’ll have a fantastic time if everything goes smoothly, but recent experiences shared by concert-goers tell a different story.
Crowded venues, mismanaged entry and exit points, poor sound quality, lack of sanitation, security lapses — these are just a few of the complaints that have surfaced with alarming consistency. The issue isn’t just the artistes, the music, or the crowd, but a glaring gap in organisation. It’s the infrastructure and civic sense that fail to make the experience seamless and enjoyable.
Imagine this: You're at a Bryan Adams concert, excited for the show, when disaster strikes — not the music, but the complete lack of proper facilities.
Sheldon Aranjo, a diabetes patient with incontinence issues, found himself in a sticky situation when he soiled his pants, all because there were only three toilets for over 1,000 concert-goers. Aranjo didn’t take this lying down. In an open letter to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal and EVA Global Events, he called out the organisers for their failure to plan for something as basic as decent sanitation. It’s one thing to be caught up in the excitement of a concert; it’s another to be left scrambling for a bathroom, only to find a line longer than the one to buy concert tickets.
The problem isn’t just infrastructure, though that’s certainly a part of it. India does face a shortage of proper venues and event spaces that can handle large crowds safely and efficiently. The lack of clean restrooms, enough food and water stations, and designated parking areas only adds to the chaos. But improving infrastructure alone won’t solve the problem.
Even if we had the world’s most advanced concert venues —the experience would still be incomplete if both organisers and audiences don’t change their behaviour. Responsibility is a two-way street.
Take Guwahati, for example. The moment Diljit's Diluminati tour tickets went live, they were snapped up in a split second, leaving fans scrambling. And for those who couldn’t get a ticket? The remaining ones were sold at sky-high prices. What’s worse? The venue wasn’t even confirmed with less than a month to go. Opportunistic sellers quickly swooped in, jacking up prices and exploiting the demand, knowing eager fans would pay. The whole situation screams a lack of regulation.
Organisers are responsible for much more than just booking the talent and selling tickets. They need to plan every detail - crowd management, preventing ticket scalping, and ensuring the comfort and safety of attendees. And that’s where we often fall short.
A concert is a massive logistical challenge, requiring a team of professionals to coordinate crowd flow, ensure timely entry, monitor security, and maintain high standards of cleanliness. Unfortunately, many concerts in India are marred by poor planning. Whether it’s the late start of performances, mismanagement of food and water stalls, or the lack of trained staff to handle emergencies, organisers often fail to meet expectations.
Even artistes are speaking out. During his concert in Chandigarh on December 14, Diljit Dosanjh called out the lack of proper infrastructure for concerts in India. He expressed his frustration, saying he wants to perform with the audience surrounding him, but until the necessary facilities are in place, he won’t be performing in India.
But later, Dosanjh clarified: “Nope… I said CHD ch venue di prob. C (I said the problem was with the venue in Chandigarh). So, jab taksahi venue nhi mil jata Mai tab tak CHD mai next show plan nhikarunga.” (So, I said that until I get the right venue in Chandigarh, I will not plan another performance in the city). That’s it.
Some forget that a concert is a collective experience, not a personal battle for space or attention. Civility and patience should go hand-in-hand with the excitement of attending live performances. In fact, basic etiquette — providing basic amenities and security, respecting queues, refraining from climbing barriers, and keeping noise levels in check — could dramatically improve the environment for everyone.
Yes, the infrastructure needs an upgrade, but the bigger question is — Can we make concerts better so we can truly enjoy them without the stress?
(All views and opinions expressed are authors own.)