It was a simple plan.
Get up. Go to Texas. Hear a rocking concert. Get up the next day and go home.
I should have known the plan was too simple not to fall apart, or even crash and burn. It was June 2019, and my friend and I decided to go to a LANY concert at Stubbs Bar-B-Q in Austin, Texas. Even though the concert was in Austin, I didn’t care.
I knew the eight hour drive would be worth it because I was going to be able to see an amazing band.
The morning started off bright and early at 6 a.m. We were determined to be right against the barricade. After arriving in Austin, we dropped off our bags at a little Airbnb, and then we were off to the concert venue.
Then, we felt the heat.
It felt hot, but we were not worried. We were just excited to be at the concert. Little did we know what we were about to witness. We arrived about six hours early and the line was already wrapping around the venue.
We hurried into line, and suddenly realized how truly hot it was. My first thought was, “This will be fine. Soon we will be inside with A/C and everything will be ok.” As fate would have it, it was an outdoor venue.
As the hours passed, everyone began to perspire. The venue set out a jug of water, but almost everyone was more scared of losing their place in line than heatstroke. After what seemed like an eternity, the doors opened and people poured in. As I looked around, the space was confusing.
It was open, but it felt tight. As we ran to the front, the venue felt like a sardine can and we were the sardines. We were all too close, the air radiated heat and the stench of salt was overwhelming.
The heat was unbearable and the fun weekend my friend and I planned seemed to be melting.
People began to pass out left and right. The only way to get them out was to lift them over the barrier to the security team that was taking them outside.
As soon as someone passed out, 10 people rushed to take their spot.
“You are all animals,” yelled one girl whose friend was being pulled over the barrier. I began to feel my worst nightmare. Trapped.
Soon the concert started, and somehow everyone packed in more. I finally had enough. I began to squeeze past rows of people until I made it to a tiny open space by the fence.
I finally felt a breeze, and more importantly I could enjoy the music. As I watched the band in awe, I realized how much better it was to focus on enjoying the music than being at the center of the pit.
I realized that life should be enjoyable and my enjoyment did not look like my friends’ enjoyment. She had an amazing time in the center, and I had an amazing time by the fence.
The most important fact is that we had a great time. I learned so much from that trip, but I will forever remember to never go to a concert in Austin without sunscreen and a water bottle.