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Picture finding yourself with a night off. You feel rejuvenated, open to experience, and hoping to break from your regular habits of post-work slumping. Life itself offers possibilities! Would you opt for a) seeing live music or b) engaging in intimacy? The outcome, as frequently true with these types of hypotheticals, is clearly: “That depends.” Mature individuals might logically inquire: what's the gig? With whom is the companion? Is it going to be enjoyable?

Not many would choose a heavy metal lineup if the alternative was a magical night with Jonathan Bailey. But adjust either end of the scenario, and it turns less obvious. For the thousands surveyed posed this query through a live event company, no such details was provided – and the answer was revealed unambiguously and heavily in favour of live music events.

Study Data Indicate Surprising Preferences

A global survey, questioning a large sample ranging from 18 and 54 in 15 markets, found that concerts have become the most popular pastime, surpassing sports, films and – indeed – sex. When limited to one type of entertainment for the rest of their lives, nearly four in ten selected concerts, versus watching movies (17%) and sports events (14%). They were also significantly more as inclined to prefer attending their preferred performer live (70%) over sex (30%).

You appear anticipating happily shocked – and frequently you might find with a stranger's hair in your mouth

Context and Considerations

Of course it’s not surprising that a promotional study carried out for a live event company would result so heavily preferring gigs – and, with the speculative tone of a would-you-rather, if your favourite artist is, say a legendary singer, it's understandable why attending his concert may be chosen over a ordinary encounter. However this either-or decision between gigs or intimacy, obviously silly even if it seems, is noteworthy to reflect on amid the peculiar moment we experience with each.

The Evolution of Live Music Experience

Over the past few years, concert attendance has become not just a communal experience but a intense competition. Major promoters appropriately highlight that stadium attendance has “grown significantly each year”, and festivals get booked up faster than ever. Just obtaining passes now requires detailed strategy, quick decision-making and significant funds (or a high spending capacity). Even if you manage, it isn't sufficient to just show up and enjoy the show. There’s now an expectation, especially for music enthusiasts, that you might enhance your enjoyment value by attending more than once (including overseas trips), studying the song selection ahead of time and understanding the rituals to follow and fan traditions created by past attendees.

Numerous concertgoers report feeling shaken by their participation at large concerts: appearing as a choreographed performance of huge audiences, to which certain attendees came unaware of the steps. The extended concert series, producing huge revenue, was proof of the lengths to which fans will travel to feel part of a historic occasion and see their favourite artist sing, though the live sound appears more and more overshadowed by the spectacle.

The Situation of Modern Intimacy

Intimacy, on the other hand – an affordable and common experience – is in difficult times. Per contemporary studies, about a quarter of adults had sex in an typical week, while just under a third were abstaining. In another major country, modern figures showed that over a quarter of people admitted to avoiding sexual activity even once in the past year, rising from lower numbers in previous decades. In these areas, the trend has been linked to reduced intimacy among younger people. Juxtapose this with the market expanding rapidly for stadium extravaganzas and the fierce battle for passes. Of course it isn't straightforward as a straightforward choice between either option – “would you rather see a major tour multiple times, or avoid intimacy?” – but it’s perhaps an indication of how people see the more dependable enjoyment.

Unexpected Similarities

Relationships and gigs are more similar than people often believe. Each symbolizes the activation of a relationship, a practical trial of expectations or promise that could have built only in your head. You show up with a basic expectation of what might happen, but hopeful of being happily shocked – and whether it proves enjoyable or disappointing relies heavily on how your vibe and expectations correspond with partners. Quite often you might find with a stranger's hair in your mouth, and afterwards be hanging out for a smoke and a moment alone on your own. And, in both cases, stimulants and beverages can potentially heighten or lessen the event (but absolutely assist the worst occasions simpler to handle).

Finding the Balance

The wonder to both gigs and sex depends on discovering that hard-to-find balance between the known and the new, sameness and variation, work and relaxation. Naturally it happens only rarely – but it's the recollection of successful moments, the awareness that it can happen, that inspires us to try again: to {