You are referring to leaving my home for a social engagement?
In this economy?
At this time of year?
100% depends on who’s performing. I’ve driven 500 miles for a festival, but probably wouldn’t for a single artist/one night show.
The concert? I dunno it’s pretty close. But the company to go to the show with, that I’ll fly across the country for.
When I was living in California, I had a friend text me he had an extra ticket to a Bad Religion concert in Chicago. So I booked a flight and went to see the show with him. Flight was a few hundred bucks, the “free” ticket was worth like $35.
Honestly, it was totally worth it. One of the best concerts I’ve been to, probably because of who I got to see it with.
20 miles
If I have to rent a car, it’s too far.
If I have to take an intercity bus, it’s too far.
An intercity train ride over three hours is also too far.
If I can’t walk there, I don’t go.
I’m two hours from three major cities. For any major concert I must drive 2 hours. No more, no less
Given how expensive they’re getting, the fees, the ever painfully louder volume, any travel is too much.
However, when concerts weren’t as anti-fan ….
- longest trip: from Boston to Florida for a weekend
- second longest: from Boston to Buffalo
- most: 1-3 hr
Depends heavily on the band
I’ll do 3 hours to Chicago if it’s someone really good, but going to shows isn’t really my bag anymore and crowds really get my hackles up so generally I just stay home
At a certain distance, the concert is less the event and more a reason to plan a vacation around going to the concert.
It depends entirely on the band, my budget, and time. One that tours regularly, that I’ve seen before and can see again, probably only an hour, hour-and-half. One that’s not from this country, or I’ve never seen and they’re likely not going to tour anymore, or it’s a really unique show? I’m more willing to travel far, potentially even another country or continent if I can afford it. The farther I go the more I want to make a big trip of it: at least a weekend if not even a week or more if I were going to Europe or something. The closest I’ve come to that, though, was making a long weekend to Washington, D.C. during the cherry blossom festival to see Muse. That was about a 4 hour drive away.
Two hours is my maximum unless I’m going to stay the weekend. I went to a New Pornographers show where people had flown in from Chicago to. Toronto and driven four hours from Michigan to see them. This was right between Delta and Omicron so I think people were super eager to go to anything at all, but I was surprised.
Farthest i’ve gone is London to Berlin - but I had a few days in a few other cities on the way . . . so maybe that doesn’t count.
More normally 2-3 hours so I can go after work and be back in bed by say 1-2 a.m. Sometimes i’d stay over in a hostel and get the first train back - but same distance really.
For me it rather depends on how much the whole trip is going to cost me.
