A Night to Cherish: Are Concerts Truly Chosen Over Sex?

Imagine finding yourself with a night off. You are rejuvenated, open to experience, and wanting to break from your regular habits of post-work slumping. The world awaits your choice! Could you opt for a) attending a concert or b) having sex? The outcome, as frequently the case with such kinds of questions, is plainly: “It depends.” Reasonable people may reasonably wonder: what's the show? With whom is the partner? Could it be going to be enjoyable?

Hardly anyone would pick a Limp Bizkit/Slipknot/Korn triple bill if the other option was a dream date with a favorite star. But adjust one side of the equation, and it turns less obvious. For the 40,000 people asked this question from a live event company, no such context was provided – and the response came out clearly and heavily in favour of live music events.

Survey Results Show Interesting Trends

A worldwide report, interviewing thousands of participants from 18 and 54 in multiple countries, revealed that gigs currently stand as the number one leisure activity, beating out sports, movies and – absolutely – sexual intercourse. Given the choice to only one option of activity permanently, a significant portion chose live music, versus film attendance (17%) and athletic competitions (14%). Participants were more than twice as likely to choose attending their preferred performer in concert (70%) rather than sexual activity (30%).

You arrive anticipating delightfully amazed – and regularly you might find with someone else’s hair in your mouth

Factors and Reflections

Certainly it’s not surprising that a marketing research conducted for a live event company would result so overwhelmingly supporting concerts – and, amid the playful spirit of a either-or question, if your preferred musician is, say Paul McCartney, it's understandable why seeing him might win out instead of a routine experience. However this either-or decision between live music or sex, clearly absurd though it may be, is interesting to think about considering the strange point we face with each.

The Transformation of Live Music Experience

In recent years, gig-going has evolved into more than a communal experience but a intense competition. Event companies rightly note that stadium attendance has “grown significantly annually”, and live events sell out faster than ever. Merely acquiring tickets now needs detailed strategy, instant reactions and significant funds (or a high spending capacity). Although you manage, it’s not enough to merely attend and watch the performance. Nowadays exists an expectation, especially for pop fans, that you can boost your return on investment by seeing several shows (even travelling internationally), studying the set list beforehand and understanding the rituals to perform and calls-and-responses created by previous crowds.

Numerous concertgoers admit to affected by their experience at popular events: what seemed like a orchestrated show of huge audiences, to which some individuals turned up unfamiliar with the routine. That 18-month tour, producing huge revenue, was proof of the extents that fans will travel to feel part of a significant event and experience their top musician perform, even if the real performance grows somewhat secondary to the show.

The Condition of Contemporary Sexuality

Sex, conversely – a relatively cheap and common experience – experiences dire straits. Based on contemporary studies, approximately 25% of individuals had sex in an average week, while just under a third were sexually inactive. Elsewhere, modern figures indicated that more than 25% of adults admitted to avoiding sex a single time in the previous year, up from fewer people in the past. In both territories, the change has been attributed to less sexual activity in youth demographics. Contrast this with the industry expanding rapidly for major events and the intense rivalry for admissions. Naturally it's more complicated as a straightforward choice between both alternatives – “would you rather see a major tour repeatedly, or remain abstinent?” – but it might be an indication of which is perceived as the more dependable enjoyment.

Unexpected Similarities

Sex and live music are more similar than you might think. Both represent the commencement of a connection, a practical trial of expectations or promise that could have built solely in your imagination. You arrive with a basic expectation of the probable outcome, but expecting to be delightfully amazed – and if it turns out satisfying or frustrating relies heavily on how your vibe and expectations correspond with partners. Frequently you could wind up with a stranger's hair in your mouth, and later be hanging out for a cigarette and a moment alone alone. And, in both cases, drugs and alcohol can either enhance or reduce the experience (but definitely make the most unpleasant occasions easier to weather).

Achieving Equilibrium

The magic to both gigs and sex depends on locating that perfect combination between familiarity and novelty, consistency and change, work and relaxation. Of course it happens only rarely – but it’s the memory of when it worked, the awareness that it’s possible, that motivates us to try again: to {