Wendy Vickers

So How Was The Concert?

For the past few years now I’ve been writing reports on some of the concerts I’ve attended for my website and my blogs. I’m flattered to have gained a few fans of my reports along the way. One of them even paid my way to attend an event I wasn’t able to otherwise afford because she wanted me to cover it in my blog. That’s one of the best compliments my writing has ever received.

When I can’t get to a show, I rely regularly on fan reports to learn how things went. Sometimes it’s a bit disappointing when the concert report I’ve been looking for consisted of only three words:

"It was great."

Concert report writing doesn’t need to be a Pulitzer Prize work or a Rolling Stone level critique. But it should try to make the reader feel like he or she was there. Here are a few tips I use:

1. I’m glad when a fan enjoys the show and has a good time. But, tell us WHY "it was great". Was it the performances or songs that touched you? Which ones? What kind of emotion did it bring to you?

2. Note anything unique about the performance. If you are posting your report to a fan message board, you might be reporting on a tour show happening in many cities. Thus, you might want to go beyond the song list rundown if others have already done this. Did you see anything happen on stage that might not have taken place at other shows?

3. Bring in some personal or local flavor. Often when I've reported from different cities I've been to, I've tried to note something about the place or surroundings. Other times, I'll mention some events or preparation leading up to concert time. I may also note meeting people at a show, particularly if it's the setting of a first time meeting of someone I've communicated with online for a long time.

4. Break your report into sections. I do this with the longer reports I write. I’ll keep the concert itself, the personal/local flavor in point #3 or any encounters I have with the artists in separate sections. Some people just want to cut to the chase and hear about the show rather than the “fan fare”.

If you’re making a message board post but have your report posted on your website, I suggest posting a website link to the report rather than posting the entire report itself. That way, you give people a choice whether or not to read it and they aren't plowing through a long post. Setting a report up via a web page also makes it easier to set it up into sections using bookmarks.

5. Exercise sensitivity when necessary. Occasions where it's helpful to do this:

- If you shoot from the hip and call them as you hear them, be aware that if you mention you felt someone's had an off night or was less than stellar, it's possible some die-hard fans will jump on you.

- If you've had a backstage pass, got to hang out with an artist or had some experience that is not readily available to the average concert-going fan aside from the autograph signing or picture, consider your audience before you post the details to a mass fan group. It's natural to want to shout about something like this happening to you, but will it bring about jealousy or hurt feelings, or lead people to ask artists for similar favors? If you do share your experience, do it with a grateful, humble heart rather than an "I'm special" attitude.

So, the next time you head out for a concert, take some paper and a pen...and take us with you!

Wendy Vickers 
http://www.wendyv.com  
http://www.embraceencouragement.com