For many music-lovers, the experience of going to a state-of-the-art arena to see their favorite band or artist perform is all part of the fun, whereas for others, an intimate gig held in a small venue is the ideal way to enjoy live music.

Whilst the type of venue you choose to see your favorite acts is entirely based on personal taste, it is worth debating over the pros and cons of each before purchasing tickets.

Band-specific venues

It goes without saying that the type of band or artist that you are going to see will determine the type of venue. For globally-recognised bands, the venue will more than likely be a large scale stadium to accommodate for the large volume of fans. Up-and-coming artists on the other hand, will have a smaller fan base and be performing in lesser-known venues with smaller capacities.

It’s true that some bands work better in larger venues than others. While some bands will thrive off dancing crowds and special staging effects, the sound quality and visual aesthetics of acoustic artists with stripped back performances may fail to work in larger venues.

Switch it up

If you want to see a band that is currently on a sell-out tour, it may be worth waiting to see whether they release some smaller venue gig dates – only if you have the patience, of course. Coldplay for example, often play intimate gigs in city halls and theatres as well as huge arenas.

Whilst there’s no denying that you are guaranteed a good show at a sell-out tour, an intimate gig can provide you with the chance to witness new talent before they hit the big time. If you love your music, why not take a break from mainstream gigs to explore up-and-coming bands and unique artists for the chance to claim: ‘I heard it first!’.

Crowds

With intimate gigs, you won’t be at risk of having your view blocked by thousands of flailing arms or having screaming fans impeding your ability to hear the music. You also won’t have to worry about missing your favourite song after getting stuck in a long toilet queue and most importantly, the less crowded it is, the more space there is to dance!

Small gigs tend to be more of a relaxed, casual affair and offer gig-goers the chance to mingle with like-minded music fans who enjoy the same music. If the artist has a small fan base, the people inside the venue will be dedicated fans who are there purely to enjoy the music.

However, there’s no denying that there’s a certain buzz and excitement that comes with being amongst a crowd in a huge venue and for many, the ecstatic atmosphere found in arenas and stadiums is unbeatable.

Cost

If you’re on a budget but still want to enjoy live music, going to see a lesser-known artist is the ideal solution. Start up tours are about giving a new artist a platform to share their talents with an audience, meaning that the ticket prices will be relatively low. Sell out tours however, are more commercialised, meaning that the price of food, drinks and merchandise tend to be expensive.

Tickets

Ultimately the choice is yours, and whatever your preferences, you can take your pick from a range of stadiums, arenas and intimate venues across the country with reputable ticket retailers, such as Gigantic.