I'm going to my first concert - any advice

A.� Pop concerts are a great night out, and with the increasingly sophisticated level of entertainment expected, and delivered, they can be a memorable experience, but make sure your first concert is memorable for the right reasons.

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Q.� How can I do that

A.� Preparation is the key. If the act you are going to see is very popular, tickets will sell out quickly, so make sure you buy them as quickly as you can. Checking the Sunday papers will give you advance warning of the big tours, and as the end of the summer approaches, the autumn touring season is gathering pace, so it's a good time to start looking around for your first show.

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Buy your tickets from the box office, or a reputable agent�- you may be charged a booking fee if you use your credit card, but it's worthwhile to ensure you get genuine tickets.

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If you are travelling any distance to your concert, make sure you know your route, and give yourself plenty of time. British transport systems are still not geared to moving large amounts of people around, so expect road and rail delays on the day, and allow time to get to your venue in plenty of time.

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Q.� Is there a preference for any particular venue for concerts

A.� Choices of venues are dictated by the size of the act being presented, but try and aim for a city near to you if possible. London venues involve London travel, again allow for normal commuter traffic as well as the additional strain on resources caused by the concert audiences. Remember venues�such as Wembley and Brixton are a fair trek outside the centre, and you need to ensure you can get there and back easily. If you are travelling a considerable distance, it's worth considering an overnight stop to take the strain out of the return journey, but again book in advance as several thousand other people may have the same idea!

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Q.� Are modern shows suitable for children

A.� Plenty of younger music fans like to see their idols such as Hear' Say and Steps, and concerts are geared to their needs. However, you need to remember that large crowds of adults make separation easy, so ensure your children know to stay with you, and it may be worth arranging a meeting point to rendezvous if you do get separated.�Common sense should ensure that everything goes off ok, but remember excited youngsters en masse can get distracted and lost easily�- so keep your attention on your youngsters all the time.

Q.� What about food and drinks

A.� Concert halls rely on a 'captive' audience.�Once you're inside the venue, it's unlikely you'll be allowed to go out and come back again (known as a 'pass-out') so eating and drinking will depend on what you can buy inside the arena. Food and drinks will be available, but expect to pay higher prices than you would outside. If there are a lot of you, try to eat before you go in.�Picnics are not advisable as body searches are common, and food and drink may well be confiscated.

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Q.� I did wonder about souvenirs�- are they worth the money

A.� Souvenirs, or 'merchandising' as they�are called, are massive business. A major tour can expect to create over 90% of its revenue from merchandising�so there will be plenty to choose from. Try not to get too carried away with the atmosphere, and choose carefully. Concert programmes are a good example. People spend up to �10 on a glossy programme, which has some forgettable text, and some pictures of the band, and you'll probably never look at it again.

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�A good tip is to find your seat early, and borrow a programme from another member of the audience�- there'll be plenty who have read theirs and are bored, so strike up a conversation, and get a free preview! If you think the programme is worthwhile, you can get one, or wait until the end, if you don't mind queuing. Sweatshirts and tee-shirts are expensive, given the quality of the material, so make sure you will wear your purchase, and ensure it is of reasonable durability, and not likely to give up the ghost when it catches sight of your washing machine.

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Official souvenirs are only sold inside the venue, if someone is offering posters and scarves outside, they are pirate copies, probably dodgy quality, you have no redress if they are faulty, so avoid them.

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Q.� Any other tips for my time inside the venue

A.� If your seat is numbered, no problem you can find where you are if you nip to the loo, but if the concert is unseated, crowds can move a considerable distance, so try and orientate the whereabouts of your party before you nip off to use the services.�Better still, go before you find your place. Take a torch�- when the house lights go down, you will be in pitch blackness unless you're in the first few rows that are lit by the stage lights. If you drop something, or you want to find your camera, a light source is well worth having.

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Q.� Speaking of cameras, are they allowed

A.� Strictly speaking, often no, cameras may be confiscated by security, you'll have to check it into a store-room and claim it back at the end of the night, which can delay your departure.

Q.� What about getting away at the end

A.� If you are at a venue�such as The NEC in Birmingham, you'll probably have driven there, and paid a fairly hefty car-park fee as well. Make sure you note the number of your car park; they really do all look alike at major venues, and if it's daylight when you go in, it may be dark when you come out, so take some time to check your bearings.

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If you don't want to join a three-hour (yes it can be that long!) queue to get�out of the car parks at the end, it may be worth considering missing the encore. If the band go off, and the house lights stay down, they will come on and do another song, but you can be making your way towards the exits, ready for a quick sprint to your car, and away.

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Other city centre venues may involve a bus, train, or tube journey, again it depends if you don't mind crushing with everyone else, if you don't fancy it, get away a bit earlier.

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Q.� Will it be loud

A.� Very! Live shows are there to generate excitement, and it's a pop show, not a chamber orchestra, so there will be massive sets of speakers pumping out some serious volume. If you are worried, buy some earplugs before you go. Most chemists sell them, they are small wax-type plugs, they don't show, and they will take the edge of the volume if your hearing is sensitive. Otherwise, move to the back or the sides of the hall where the volume will be less.

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Q.� Anything else

A.� Remember, a concert is a great experience, but it involves excited crowds and you need to be aware and stay safe. If you plan your evening carefully, and make sure you have enough time to get to and from your venue, and you sort out a meeting place if you lose your party, you should have a great time.

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Take the advice above, and this will be the first of many concerts you enjoy.

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Do have a musical question Find an answer here.

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By:� Andy Hughes.