How Long Is A Concert? (Explained)
Concerts are great experiences that allow you to listen to your favorite band or symphony live.
There’s nothing quite like the energy that permeates a concert venue.
It creates a close bond between the performers and the audience members.
However, if you’re planning to attend a concert, then you may wonder how long you’re going to have to sit or stand in the audience.
Here’s what you need to know about concerts and their standard duration.
How Long Is a Concert?
The standard length of a concert is between 90 minutes and two hours.
That said, since musical artists design their concerts, some events may be even longer.
For example, it’s not uncommon for some performers to have concerts that last up to three hours.
Concerts for special events, like fundraisers, may even last an entire day.
Then there are also concerts that are part of a music festival.
These concerts tend to be a little shorter at around 90 minutes to ensure all the musical performers get a chance to play on stage at their allotted times.
However, due to the nature of a music festival, the concerts are typically back-to-back.
This can make the concert experience feel like it lasts far longer than 90 minutes.
In most cases, a concert will last for an hour and a half or two hours, but some circumstances can make it last longer.
Why Do Concerts Last So Long?
If you’re at a concert and the two-hour mark rolls by and it isn’t over, you may wonder why it’s taking so long.
Here are a few reasons why concerts can sometimes last for a long time.
1. Multiple Performers
One of the main reasons why concerts can sometimes last three or even four hours is when there are multiple performers.
It’s not unusual for a band to have a few other lesser-known bands with them.
Some even bring other famous bands along with them.
These bands are openers.
Sometimes, they’re a local band looking to get its big break.
Other times, it’s a band with a few albums who haven’t quite reached the same level of fame as the main listing band.
In a few cases, the main lister might invite another famous band to open for them.
As an example, Journey might have The Doobie Brothers open for them.
Both are big names.
Smaller bands usually perform for about a half-hour to an hour.
The more famous the band is, the more time they get on stage.
As such, if the main lister has another famous band with them, then both will likely get a good amount of time on stage.
This means that while the audience members are essentially treated to two great bands for the price of one, they also have to remain at the concert longer.
Concerts last a long time when there are multiple performers.
2. Fundraiser
Sometimes, concerts benefit a particular charity or organization.
When a band is trying to support a cause, they often play more than they typically would.
This is because they want to show their support for the cause.
It’s also a reward for those who donated money to the charity.
The band wants to give fans a great experience since they donated to the charity that the band supports.
When fundraisers occur, it’s also not uncommon to have several performers.
They’ll often all come together in an endless line of performances to extend the concert for as long as possible.
Some of these concerts end up becoming a type of music-a-thon or something similar.
This type of concert usually lasts 24 hours and sometimes even longer than that.
During a musical marathon like this, there are several different performers that take the stage throughout the day and night.
The goal is to get people to donate throughout the whole event.
It’s not uncommon for comedians and celebrities to make appearances at these sorts of events, too.
Music marathons for charity can be quite long.
3. Encore
At a concert, one of the most famous traditions is an encore.
It doesn’t happen at every concert.
However, if the band or performers are feeling as though the audience is on fire and they’re feeling great and energetic, then they might play one or two more songs.
While an encore doesn’t make a concert last too much longer, it does extend it.
An encore occurs when a band plays another song even though they have completed their set.
Audiences can sometimes motivate the performers by cheering and calling for an encore.
However, it really comes down to the performers and if they feel up to an encore.
They might not if they feel like the audience was rude or lackluster during their performance.
They may also choose not to do an encore if they’re tired.
Performing at concerts takes a lot of energy since performers give all they have for a couple of hours.
They may not have enough energy to do another song or two at the end of a show.
Those who do perform an encore extend the length of the concert.
If the band is feeling the energy, then they might even perform a few extra songs.
In some cases, the band will use this time to try out a new song they’ve been working on.
Others will stick to one of their classics.
Whatever they decide to play, concerts last longer when bands perform an encore.
4. Intermission
Not all concerts have an intermission, but many of them do.
Concerts that last two hours, for example, usually have some sort of intermission.
It also depends on the type of concert that you’re attending.
For example, if fans are standing during the show and there is no seating, then there will likely be no intermission during the band’s performance.
That’s because stand-up concerts tend to be a bit looser and more chaotic.
If you’re in a concert hall with chairs, however, then there’s a good chance there’s going to be an intermission.
It’s easier to herd people inside of a building than on a field.
Concert halls also have rooms where the band can relax during their intermission.
Symphony concerts are where intermissions are the most common.
They’re a bit more structured than a band.
The intermission allows performers to rest and hydrate while the audience also relaxes.
Intermissions at concerts can last anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.
In most cases, it’s 15 minutes.
When the intermission ends, everyone returns to their seats and the performance resumes.
Intermission is also common during plays, musicals, and operas.
Since intermission adds time to the overall concert, it makes the concert last longer.
5. Security Concerns
Sometimes, concerts have a brief delay.
This is more common in concerts where everyone is standing, and seating is unavailable.
Since everyone wants to be close to the stage and band, there’s usually a big group congregating around it.
The problem with so many people in an enclosed area is that it leads to security and safety problems.
For example, it’s not uncommon for the mass of dancing bodies to accidentally push someone over.
In the chaos of the music, it’s possible that no one hears or sees the person on the ground.
It’s possible that the person might get trampled.
Another safety concern is when someone gets pressed between all the bodies and can no longer breathe.
These are real concerns that can occur at a concert.
While it’s up to the security guards to keep an eye on the audience, they don’t always see the problem.
In many cases, the band actually does.
A great performer will stop the performance and bring attention to the person in trouble.
They won’t continue the performance until that person has gotten to safety.
Depending on how long it takes to get to the person and bring them to safety, the concert could stall for five or even ten minutes.
If this occurs frequently throughout the show, then there may be quite a few delays that occur.
As a result, the concert lasts longer than it should have.
Concerts sometimes last longer when there are security and safety concerns.
6. Weather Delays
Outdoor concerts are prone to weather delays.
Since most outdoor concerts don’t offer much in the way of protection, if it starts to rain, then the concert faces a delay.
That’s because the band uses a myriad of electrical equipment.
If anything gets exposed to rain, then it could be dangerous.
Since the weather isn’t always predictable, the concert might start on time.
If rain starts to fall, the band may need to pause their performance.
Those who are attending the concert have to wait in the rain or in their cars until the concert resumes.
If the rain continues, then the concert might even get canceled.
In most cases, it passes, and the venue is quick to dry the area to allow the performers to resume.
Depending on how long it takes for the rain to pass, the concert could last another 15 minutes or even a half-hour.
Concerts sometimes last a long time because of weather delays.
How To Survive A Long Concert
Concerts are a wonderful experience, but they can also be very draining and dangerous.
If you want to ensure that you’re able to stay healthy and safe during a long concert, here are some tips you should follow.
1. Bring Water
One of the most important things you should do to survive a long concert is to bring water.
While the performers are going to be doing most of the work, you’re going to get exhausted and dehydrated, too.
This is especially true if you plan on dancing.
The sheer number of bodies around you will also make the area warmer than it actually is.
Since not every venue allows you to bring in your own water, you should see if they allow you to bring in empty water bottles.
If that’s the case, then you can usually find a water fountain somewhere in the venue area.
This lets you fill up your water for free.
In most cases, you can also buy water at the venue.
However you intend on bringing your water, you’ll need a few bottles, at least.
You can store them in a backpack or in your pockets.
You can even get water bottle holders for your belt to make things even easier.
Besides having the water, you need to remember to drink it, too.
It’s not going to do you any good just hanging off your belt.
Drink throughout the concert to keep your body hydrated.
You’ll come out of it feeling a lot better than those who didn’t drink water.
2. Wear A Hat
If you’re at an outdoor concert, then you’ll want to bring a hat.
Even if it’s supposed to be a cool day, having the sun beat down on your head is going to make you feel hot.
Wearing a hat can help keep the sun from directly beaming its rays on your scalp.
While the hat might insulate your head a bit and give you hat hair, you don’t have to worry about the sun destroying the skin on your head.
A wide-brim hat, especially, can help you stay shaded.
That will ensure you’re able to stay a bit cooler than those around you.
Perhaps most importantly, it keeps your head protected.
While you may have put sunscreen on the rest of your exposed skin, it’s harder to put sunscreen on your head.
This area is just as susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer as the rest of your body.
To keep it protected, you need to wear a hat.
Wearing a hat for a long concert is essential in keeping your skin safe and helping you stay cooler.
3. Keep Your Distance
If you’re attending a concert where you’ll be standing, then things might get rowdy.
To ensure your safety, you’ll need to keep a good distance from the other concertgoers.
Otherwise, you might find yourself jostled by the crowd.
Although this means you won’t get as close to the band as you might like, it also means you won’t have to worry about any broken bones.
Being in a large group of people during a concert is dangerous.
Everyone is moving and not in sync.
That means there’s a lot of jostling, elbowing, and running into one another.
If you trip on someone or someone trips on you, then there’s a chance both of you can fall.
You don’t want your concert experience to end early because people trampled you.
Keeping a good distance between you and the other members of the audience can ensure you’re safe and able to enjoy the entire concert.
4. Wear A Bright-Colored Shirt
If you’re attending a concert with someone, then it’s a good idea to wear matching bright-colored shirts.
If you become separated at the concert, then those shirts can make it a lot easier to find one another.
The fact that they’re matching also makes it easier to remember what it looks like.
You can also ask other people if they’ve seen your partner and be able to give them a visual reference of what they were wearing.
A bright-colored shirt is also helpful at outdoor concerts.
They’re less likely to absorb heat which makes them cooler to wear.
You’ll get hot a lot slower with a bright-colored shirt than with a dark-colored one.
If you’re going to attend a concert and intend on spending a lot of time there, then wear a bright-colored shirt.
5. Bring A Change Of Clothes
It’s also worth bringing a change of clothes.
Concerts are sweaty experiences.
If you want to stay comfortable, then it’s worth having another pair of clothes waiting for you in your car.
This is also ideal since you never know if someone is going to spill their drink on you or even puke on you.
No one wants to wear clothes covered in vomit or alcohol.
For an outdoor concert, it’s also helpful because if it rains, then you don’t have to worry about standing or sitting in soaked clothing.
You can change into your fresh and dry clothes.
Having a change of clothes on hand can make your concert experience a lot more enjoyable.
Conclusion
Concerts can last for an hour or more.
Music marathons can even last an entire day.
To ensure you’re ready to last through a long concert, follow the tips above.