my passion

Nothing in this world beats the experience of a good concert. Nothing.

Chest vibrating from the booming bass, sore ear drums, the smell of the smoke machine, feeling the sweltering heat from being smashed together with hundreds of strangers. Maybe it doesn't sound fun to you, but when you match all that with hearing and literally FEELING your favorite songs, it quickly becomes an experience of a lifetime. It's sensory overload…but in a good way.

I've been to 21 "real" concerts. My definition of a real concert is one in which there is standing room only and the crowd isn't afraid of a little movement. The approximately 30 non-real concerts I've been to were also quite wonderful, but were different musical styles, venues and audiences, making them really good shows, as opposed to really good experiences.

My first big concert was February 23, 1995. Amy Grant's House of Love tour. Penelope still makes fun of me for remembering the date, and I don't blame her. I still remember when my mom surprised me with the tickets, what I wore to the concert (a green dress and brown boots), how far away we were (and how much I didn't care because I was having the time of my life), and even what I ate the next day at the mall for lunch. Until I got a CD player the following year, Amy Grant was the only music I listened to (besides Acapella with the family and the occasional Mariah Carey, Ace of Base and All 4 One with friends). But I digress.

Now, I could no sooner choose a favorite band than choose a favorite star in the sky. I also can't choose a favorite concert experience. There are a few highlights though I suppose….seeing the Newsboys for the first time in their "airdome," getting on stage with Audio Adrenaline during my favorite song of theirs, almost getting trampled to death in my first mosh pit, and the list goes on and on.

Last night, I saw Mute Math in Tulsa. I only recently discovered them (thank you Kim and Whitney), but I had seen two of the members in a former band. So I knew they'd be pretty crazy. Which they were. Crazy and amazing. I love Cain's Ballroom because the wood floor is bouncy, so you really feel it move when people start jumping around. And you can feel the bass in your feet. Love it, love it, love it.

I went through a dry spell for a while where I hardly ever went to a concert. But this fall, I've gone to three. It really renewed/confirmed my desire to work in the music industry. I had forgotten one of my original reasons for majoring in public relations, which was wanting to work for a rock band. It was just a far-off dream a few years ago. And then I pushed my "unrealistic" dream aside as I got more and more excited about the profession of public relations in general. I realized how much I would enjoy working for a pr agency where I'd have multiple and diverse clients. I still think I'd like doing that, and maybe I will. But like I said, I've renewed my passion for the music industry, so maybe I'll end up there someday after all. I'm in no rush. It might be 5 or 10 years from now. But I think I can do it if I decide it's what I want.

I know concerts aren't everyone's "thing," but if you haven't done what you're passionate about in a while, I recommend doing it soon. It'll energize you and be well worth it.