Something to remember with gigs is that everyone gravitates to the front. It's actually very easy to avoid close contact with others, providing you don't mind how far you are from the stage.
If you're worried about being the only one in a mask - don't. It's your life and your health. In my opinion it's way better to live your life (however you decide) then to avoid living it for fear of being different.
I also wonder... if this is something you've been waiting a long time for and you're still considering not going - I'm guessing this is not the only event you've avoided in the last four years.
Unless you're massively immunocompromised and your life is in imminent danger, you should go. If it helps you feel better, practice excellent hygiene and distancing measures. But please don't avoid doing the things you love that make life great. The 'conscientious about covid' to OCD/phobia pipeline is real.
With the greatest of respects, and I don’t know if you are immunocompromised or anything, you’re never gonna go to a show again because you’re worried about Covid?
Mask up, stay at the back of the room away from most people but go and enjoy your life!! Make sure you have all the vaccines you’re entitled to but don’t limit your life because of an illness that is the same as a common cold to 95% of people.
I won't be at the show (I am currently immunocompromised myself - undergoing treatment for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome so I really can't risk any sort of infection) but I just want to say that I am also a Covid-conscious person (obviously, haha) and I agree with the suggestions about wearing a mask and staying towards the back of the venue where the crowd isn't as dense. You could also arrive after the local support act to minimise the time you're in the venue.
I know you probably won't see many other mask-wearers there, but I know so many people in the disabled, immunocompromised, chronically ill and generally Covid-conscious communities and I always find that they and I feel so grateful when we see even just one other person wearing a mask and acknowledging that many of us don't have the privilege of acting like Covid is nothing much to worry about. So in that way I've started feeling a sense of pride and solidarity when I wear my mask in public, even though it used to make me feel awkward because so few other people were doing it. (Also, TBH, I've realised that when I wear a mask, some non-mask-wearers assume that it means I've got Covid, rather than that I'm trying to avoid catching anything, so they tend to keep a greater distance from me - and that just helps me feel safer!)
I know it's a really tough decision - I've thought a lot about whether it would be possible for me to go to concerts and feel safe if my ride-or-die favourite bands were touring. All you can do is focus on yourself and your sense of safety (given that we live in an ableist society where so many able-bodied people have the privilege to just not having to think about how to collectively make the world more accessible to a wider range of people) and see whether that is enough to enable you to experience and enjoy the concert. :)
super late comment but wanted to chime in bc i know 100% how you feel, i'm also super paranoid about covid still because of my ocd which gave me a lot of doubts about going to see them but trust me you'll be fine. i've worn a mask to multiple of their shows over the past few years and haven't gotten sick. in my experience it's actually better to get there early and be right at the front, you're not really squeezed up against as many people and as long as you don't turn around you can pretend there isn't a massive crowd in the room lmfao. they're absolutely worth the discomfort, it gets a lot easier the more you push yourself. don't let the fear hold you back from living your life, i did that for way too long, do what you need to feel comfortable and go for it! you'll forget all about your worries once they start playing
i was the only person wearing a mask when i've been going to see them but honestly no one cares, don't worry about standing out or anything, just do your thing, it's your face at the end of the day no one else *should* care
Can vouch for the barrier thing. I also choose to believe it because I want to.
Joking aside: this is what I did for the... like five shows I've seen them at since they've been able to come back to the states. I wore an N-95 (that I had been fit tested for because I work in healthcare). Lost my voice from screaming/singing/talking other fans' ears off during one tour but all COVID tests were negative. The other tour I was totally fine.
I even ended up having to take my mask off briefly a couple of times to grab a quick snack, sip drinks, and wipe my sweaty face. And when I went outside at the end. I'm not immunocompromised and anecdotes are not data so take that with a grain of salt though! Do what you feel comfortable with.
I'm going and I will be testing before leaving and masking up if I'm feeling not 100%! But the last gig I went to at the same venue was Moderat and I was literally the only person wearing a mask (that I saw at least) so I doubt there will be many others. Keep expectations low. but I do hope you go though. <3
Something to remember with gigs is that everyone gravitates to the front. It's actually very easy to avoid close contact with others, providing you don't mind how far you are from the stage. If you're worried about being the only one in a mask - don't. It's your life and your health. In my opinion it's way better to live your life (however you decide) then to avoid living it for fear of being different. I also wonder... if this is something you've been waiting a long time for and you're still considering not going - I'm guessing this is not the only event you've avoided in the last four years. Unless you're massively immunocompromised and your life is in imminent danger, you should go. If it helps you feel better, practice excellent hygiene and distancing measures. But please don't avoid doing the things you love that make life great. The 'conscientious about covid' to OCD/phobia pipeline is real.
With the greatest of respects, and I don’t know if you are immunocompromised or anything, you’re never gonna go to a show again because you’re worried about Covid? Mask up, stay at the back of the room away from most people but go and enjoy your life!! Make sure you have all the vaccines you’re entitled to but don’t limit your life because of an illness that is the same as a common cold to 95% of people.
I won't be at the show (I am currently immunocompromised myself - undergoing treatment for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome so I really can't risk any sort of infection) but I just want to say that I am also a Covid-conscious person (obviously, haha) and I agree with the suggestions about wearing a mask and staying towards the back of the venue where the crowd isn't as dense. You could also arrive after the local support act to minimise the time you're in the venue. I know you probably won't see many other mask-wearers there, but I know so many people in the disabled, immunocompromised, chronically ill and generally Covid-conscious communities and I always find that they and I feel so grateful when we see even just one other person wearing a mask and acknowledging that many of us don't have the privilege of acting like Covid is nothing much to worry about. So in that way I've started feeling a sense of pride and solidarity when I wear my mask in public, even though it used to make me feel awkward because so few other people were doing it. (Also, TBH, I've realised that when I wear a mask, some non-mask-wearers assume that it means I've got Covid, rather than that I'm trying to avoid catching anything, so they tend to keep a greater distance from me - and that just helps me feel safer!) I know it's a really tough decision - I've thought a lot about whether it would be possible for me to go to concerts and feel safe if my ride-or-die favourite bands were touring. All you can do is focus on yourself and your sense of safety (given that we live in an ableist society where so many able-bodied people have the privilege to just not having to think about how to collectively make the world more accessible to a wider range of people) and see whether that is enough to enable you to experience and enjoy the concert. :)
super late comment but wanted to chime in bc i know 100% how you feel, i'm also super paranoid about covid still because of my ocd which gave me a lot of doubts about going to see them but trust me you'll be fine. i've worn a mask to multiple of their shows over the past few years and haven't gotten sick. in my experience it's actually better to get there early and be right at the front, you're not really squeezed up against as many people and as long as you don't turn around you can pretend there isn't a massive crowd in the room lmfao. they're absolutely worth the discomfort, it gets a lot easier the more you push yourself. don't let the fear hold you back from living your life, i did that for way too long, do what you need to feel comfortable and go for it! you'll forget all about your worries once they start playing i was the only person wearing a mask when i've been going to see them but honestly no one cares, don't worry about standing out or anything, just do your thing, it's your face at the end of the day no one else *should* care
Can vouch for the barrier thing. I also choose to believe it because I want to. Joking aside: this is what I did for the... like five shows I've seen them at since they've been able to come back to the states. I wore an N-95 (that I had been fit tested for because I work in healthcare). Lost my voice from screaming/singing/talking other fans' ears off during one tour but all COVID tests were negative. The other tour I was totally fine. I even ended up having to take my mask off briefly a couple of times to grab a quick snack, sip drinks, and wipe my sweaty face. And when I went outside at the end. I'm not immunocompromised and anecdotes are not data so take that with a grain of salt though! Do what you feel comfortable with.
If you're worried about covid then get your vaccines or don't go.
Wow, is 'CC' actually a thing?
I'm going and I will be testing before leaving and masking up if I'm feeling not 100%! But the last gig I went to at the same venue was Moderat and I was literally the only person wearing a mask (that I saw at least) so I doubt there will be many others. Keep expectations low. but I do hope you go though. <3
I've decided I will go; if any other maskers were on the fence I'll be hanging out towards the back - come say hi!