Is a live concert bearable for us?

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I went to a U.2. concert in Las Vegas once. I enjoyed it. I was a lil hesitant to do it at first. It seems like one of the least likely things for an aspie to do. I wasn't super close to the stage though; and it wasn't that crowded.

Also, The crowd was pretty darn tame. The people rarely ever stood up or made any sounds. Bono was making fun of them...trying to get them to sing etc.

I was once a band photographer for six years. The noise was pretty loud and the environment chaotic. But I could survive through it, even enjoy it at times. Alcohol does that to you.

These days I barely tolerate the environment any more. I have to take medication and I can't rely on alcohol to get me through it anymore.

I used to got to hardcore gigs and would barely have a problem, apart from getting pummelled in a mosh pit. Now I can hardly take the how loud the music is. Well I got epilepsy too so I'm weary of stage lights, especially strobe lights and those new laser lights they use.

I used to be front and centre because I needed a good spot to take photos from, and I'd stand there all night. But now I stand way back and don't enjoy the experience as much. I have to get right down close to really feel a part of the show. Eh, that makes sense to me.

I'll still go and see rock and punk bands. medium sized venues are ok. Big arenas are kind of overwhelming. Smaller venues can be good but they're even more crowded.

I suppose I don't like contact with other people too when I have to leave and a bunch of drunks won't move and I have to rub past them, or someone pushes past me, I feel like punching them out. That's usually when I know I'm going to have a seizure or meltdown and I need to get out of there.
I've got a lot of issues going to gigs. One, I don't relate to anyone there. They're all in their groups and my 'friends' are all comfortably talking to each other. When they can't tell I'm under distress and get annoyed with them and leave. Lately I've been leaving gigs and feeling suicidal.
So these days I don't go out to many gigs. It all has to do with the stress of being a struggling band photographer. If only people understood that and wouldn't keep asking me to take photos.

I've been to two concerts in my life. One (AC/DC) as a teenager that I can just barely remember because of chemical and sensory overload. And another as an adult that I was talked into going to(Charlie Daniels Band) that I hated. It was full of rednecks and I felt like a complete alien. I probably wouldn't go to another unless maybe a classical music concert. Possibly Radiohead, but the crowd would be a deterrent.

I love concerts. I have a very high tolerance to music I like but can have pretty low tolerance towards music that I do not like (?). I have been to small concerts and huge festivals, and I love them all. Mostly I go to rock/punck/metal concerts - the loudest ones

I prefer to have at least one beer to relax a bit. I think the beer is to dampen my anxity and feel more like I am a person like the other ones (have not really thought about this before, difficult to explain). I find a few beers to be good (not to many, then it is not possible to remember the concert).

The funny thing is that I have no ability to play myself, I can not hear if the singers do not hit the right tones etc. I am a hopless a-musical person. I do not remember the names of the people in the band and am not interested in the "famous" thing.

What concert are you going to see. I have AS and I went to 3. I don't like loud noises. The first one was at Indian Ranch to see CCR, the second one was Aerosmith/Cheap Trick at The Times Union Center in Albany, and the last one was Chicago/Doobie Bros at the Comcast Center. I enjoyed them I actually danced and sang to a bunch of their songs. You'll have a wonderful time. Trust me.

if the music holds sway for you... then you will enjoy it... I have seen Cibo Matto, Luscious Jackson, the blue man group, Ben Folds Five, Nice Peter, Sting... All live... amazing experiences

Bought the ticket today Because I remembered that I've been to musicals before, which can be pretty loud as well, and I was just fine there. Okay, a concert is still another thing, but I'll just try to concentrate on the music.

For the people who asked: I'm going to see IAMX.. their most popular song is probably this one:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPNmc71b7iE[/youtube]

I can tolerate concerts because I am not trying to "block out" the sound and I WANT to hear it or I would not be there. Its when trying to work around sound or not be distracted that I have trouble.

I like going to gigs in small venues and usually stand right at the front of the stage nearby to the security personnel so if there is any trouble then I know I'll be safe.

I tend to avoid large concert venues after a lot of trouble at an Amy Macdonald concert a few years back when some elements of the crowd were behaving like hooligans - pushing and shoving to get a better view and throwing beer all over the place.

I've gone but only to bands I was obsessed with. If I wasn't obsessed I probably wouldn't have been able to tolerate it. I barely got through the bad opening acts, thinking about seeing the main event was what got me through that.

Concerts are pretty horrible. Not worth it unless you REALLY want to see the band. Imo.

I usually can't stand the seats, the loud noise, everybody else seems to enjoy themselves. I will end up focusing on the people around me instead of immersing myself with the music. Then there is the public toilets issue, or buying something from a shop to drink or eat.

I would think my experience would be similar to what I experience at live matches.

I'll bring in my own food, my own drinks and not too much so that I don't have to go to the toilets or shops.

Yes, for the sensation seeking of us, it's some of what we desire. There are different types, in that sense, of Asperger's/Autistics.

I've been to some live concerts and I am planning to go again. I have no problem with loud music when it's the music that I like. Being surrounded by people is distracting and uncomfortable at first, but then I somehow manage to focus on music and all the positive experience. I liked every concert I've been to so far.

Depends on you.

I've been to two I hated: Poison at a small indoor venue and Queesryche at a large outdoor venue. Poison wouldn't have been as bad if I'd dressed more lightly and worn earplugs. Queensryche would have been awesome if we'd had lawn seats instead of gold circle.

I've been to a few I enjoyed. They were all either outdoors in cool weather with lawn seats, or unplugged shows at very small venues.

But, it depends on what bugs you and what doesn't. Wear layers and bring earplugs.

I hate crowds in general but I love music. I often find that things I dislike can be overcome by things I do like, eg my fear of speaking to a group of people is less than my love of physics so I was able to give a presentation on the different types of Superstring Theories. Similarly, I thoroughly enjoy going to concerts and do so frequently because I like the music more than I hate the crowds, so ultimately only you can know what you will be able to deal with in that situation.

You might want to get seated tickets or stand near the back. I went to Download festival this year, and I was very near to the front for a lot of the acts (Slash, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Megadeth, Machine Head, Billy Talent, Skindred, Fear Factory etc so not a calm crowd by any means, there was a lot of pushing and jumping) and I enjoyed the experiences, but my boyfriend (NT but generally doesn't like crowds) preferred being closer to the back which we were for quite a few of the acts, the density of people is at least twice in the first 10 or so rows what it is in about the middle.

One thing that bothered me when I went to my first gig (Motley Crue, so very loud) was having one side of me much louder than the other because I was at the far left of the stage. When I went to see Alice in Chains with my (mild Asperger's) ex, he automatically went to the middle of the stage because he had the same problem and it does actually help if you have an issue with uneven surround sound.

So I guess my advice would be that no one can tell for you whether the disliking crowds/wanting to be there balance is worth it for you, but if you do go you might want to have a centre back seat/standing position, which would also allow you to get in and out last and first respectively so you won't get crushed by the stampede of a moving crowd. Also, if you can go with a really big person!

Another question... what does one actually do at a concert?

I mean, in live videos I always see people waving their arms in the air, or singing along (terribly), or they scream around like crazy. I think I would prefer to just stand around normally and concentrate on the music but I'll probably get quite a few weird looks for that. Singing along would be ok, since I actually love to sing and have a good voice, but that means I'll have to learn the lyrics by heart, and I only know maybe 50 percent.