Going to Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour'? Here are tips to make the most out of your concert experience
Nothing beats the thrill of watching your favorite star perform live while singing your heart out with other fans. For Swifties (and closet Swifties), one of the highlights is attending Taylor Swift’s record-breaking "Eras Tour."
The "Eras Tour," her first live concert after five years, will bring fans from nostalgic eras of Fearless, Speak Now, and Red until her latest releases such as Evermore, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department, which is to be released in April.
The Eras Tour is hitting Singapore, and fans from across Southeast Asia will be there (so expect crowds!). To make the most of this event, plan your strategy now—figure out your merch must-haves, pack the essentials, and even scope out the best times for bathroom breaks. Here is everything you need to know.
Upon arrival
According to Yna Ocenar, who attended the concert in Sydney, Australia, try to arrive at the venue at least two hours before the show. The allotted time between will help you familiarize yourself with the venue, get food, buy merch, plot your toilet breaks, and trade friendship bracelets!
To avoid getting lost, check your gate number indicated on your tickets in advance to immediately go to your designated security checkpoints. If you're watching the Singapore shows, the organizers have released a guide on how to get to the National Stadium.
Buying merch
Lelai Javate and Elaine Carag, two Swifties who went to the Tokyo concert, advised concertgoers to make sure to line up for merch at least a day before or the day after their scheduled show to lessen their worries on the concert day.
Also, check the mode of payment allowed in the merch booth. For instance, in Japan, they allowed cash, but in Singapore, only credit cards will be accepted.
Toilet breaks
You wouldn’t want to miss anything at the concert for sure! But if you really need to go to the loo, fitness instructor @diannesibs said it would be better to plan your toilet breaks to avoid long queues which will take up much of your time.
She said: "If you really can’t hold it in, I’d suggest that you plan your toilet breaks strategically. Choose a part [of] the concert that you can squeeze in a quick break and DO IT QUICKLY. We’re here to not miss a single thing!"
Makeup artist Ara Fernando, who saw the Japan show, said to hydrate in the morning with electrolytes. She also advised that toilet breaks should be taken before entering the stadium or a little before Sabrina Carpenter’s front-act performance ends.
If you need to take one mid-show, Ara said to do it during the transition of the Speak Now era since Swift’s change of outfit that time takes longer than the other transitions.
Things to bring... and not to bring
For sure, you will spend most of the day in the venue, so better prepare with all your essentials to avoid any hassle. As per Yna, grab your snacks and drinks before going to your seat to avoid wandering around and getting hangry. Patti Sandico Espinosa also suggests you eat a heavy breakfast or lunch before going to the stadium as meals tend to be more expensive at the venue.
Taylor's concert is the perfect time to wear your best Eras outfits, but if you opt to wear high heels or boots, also bring flats or slippers, especially if you’ll be standing the whole day. We don’t want any inconveniences to affect the thrilling vibe!
It’s also wise to bring earplugs since speakers will be so loud, and might affect your hearing (days) after.
On the other hand, make sure you read the rules and check the list of prohibited items. In Singapore, for instance, bags should not be bigger than a clutch with a maximum size of 35cm tall, 30cm wide, and 20cm deep. Polaroid cameras, film cameras, compact digital cameras, and GoPros are not allowed, as with selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, and gimbals.
Just enjoy!
If you're going solo, Yna encourages you to make friends with your seatmates as “they will help make your experience 100x better.”
She added that if you can, only take 30 to 60-second clips of your favorite stage and just enjoy the whole show when you’re not filming.
For Patti, it's important to bring a power bank and a fully charged phone. She even deleted photos on her phone to make space for the 3.5-hour concert in Sydney!
Finally, since crowds will be big, immediately go to the nearest exit as soon as the final song concludes to avoid long lines getting out of the stadium.
Excited yet? Check out this ultimate guide to know more about how to get into the venue, where to buy merch, what not to bring, and more to better prepare ahead of your scheduled show.