🔗 Share this article

Envision having a open night. You are energized, eager for new things, and wanting to break from your regular habits of evening scrolling. Your options is your oyster! Could you choose a) going to a gig or b) engaging in intimacy? The response, as frequently true with these types of questions, is clearly: “It varies.” Thinking adults may reasonably ask: what kind of the gig? Who's the other person? Will it be likely to be satisfying?

Hardly anyone would pick a heavy metal lineup if the other option was a dream date with Jonathan Bailey. Yet change either end of the scenario, and it becomes less obvious. Regarding the thousands surveyed asked this question through a gig organization, no additional context was given – and the answer was revealed clearly and heavily supporting concerts.

Survey Results Reveal Interesting Preferences

An international report, interviewing 40,000 people ranging from 18 and 54 in 15 markets, found that concerts currently stand as the most popular pastime, beating out sports, movies and – absolutely – sexual intercourse. If restricted to only one option of activity for the rest of their lives, 39% of respondents chose concerts, compared to film attendance (17%) and athletic competitions (14%). The group was significantly more as likely to select watching their top musician on stage (70%) rather than sex (30%).

You arrive anticipating happily shocked – and quite often you could wind up with someone else’s hair in your mouth

Context and Considerations

Of course it's expected that a PR survey carried out for a gig organizer should come out so strongly in favour of concerts – and, with the speculative tone of a would-you-rather, if your top performer is, say an iconic star, you can see why seeing him could prevail rather than a ordinary situation. But this two-option scenario between concerts or sexual activity, obviously silly as it is, is fascinating to think about given the odd juncture we’re at with both.

The Transformation of Concert Culture

Over the past few years, gig-going has become not just a communal experience but a serious endeavor. Event companies appropriately highlight that large venue turnout has “tripled each year”, and festivals get booked up faster than ever. Just obtaining admissions now demands detailed strategy, rapid-fire response times and deep finances (or a substantial budget). Even if you manage, it isn't sufficient to merely attend and watch the performance. Currently there is an assumption, particularly with pop fans, that you might enhance your experience quality by seeing several shows (including overseas trips), swotting up on the performance lineup ahead of time and understanding the rituals to hit and fan traditions established by previous crowds.

Many concertgoers report feeling affected by their attendance at large concerts: appearing as a choreographed performance of huge audiences, where certain attendees came not knowing the protocol. The extended tour, producing huge revenue, demonstrated of the extents that fans will travel to experience a historic occasion and see their favourite artist sing, even if the actual music appears more and more secondary to the production.

The Situation of Modern Intimacy

Sex, by contrast – an affordable and accessible pleasure – experiences difficult times. According to recent surveys, nearly one in four of individuals had sex in an regular period, while about three in ten were not engaging. Elsewhere, modern figures revealed that a significant portion of people reported not having sex even once in the past year, up from lower numbers in previous decades. In these areas, the change has been linked to less sexual activity among younger people. Juxtapose this with the sector expanding rapidly for large concerts and the fierce battle for admissions. Naturally it's more complicated as a basic option between one or the other – “could you choose experience a popular event multiple times, or stay celibate?” – but it might be an indication of what is viewed as the more dependable satisfaction.

Interesting Comparisons

Intimacy and concerts are closer aligned than people often believe. Each symbolizes the commencement of a relationship, a actual experience of expectations or possibility that may have developed solely in your imagination. You show up with a basic expectation of the probable outcome, but expecting to be delightfully amazed – and if it turns out enjoyable or disappointing depends very much on whether your energy and hopes correspond with partners. Regularly you might find with a stranger's hair in your mouth, and afterwards be waiting around for a smoke and a moment alone by yourself. Likewise with either, substances and drinks can either enhance or lessen the experience (but absolutely assist the worst experiences easier to weather).

Finding the Balance

The wonder to concerts and intimacy depends on finding that hard-to-find balance between the known and the new, similarity and difference, work and relaxation. Certainly it happens only rarely – but it’s the memory of when they did, the awareness that it can happen, that inspires us to try again: to {