How long do rock concerts last? (Aerosmith and Van Halen in particular)

[Barb D]

DD14 and her friend are going to Aerosmith and Van Halen concerts. I've bought 3 tickets for each so that some adult (hopefully NOT me ... I'm not a rock fan!) will be with them. How long should I expect the concerts to last? We'll have to drive 2.5 hours home after Van Halen and they'll have school the next day.

 

[Christine]

DD14 and her friend are going to Aerosmith and Van Halen concerts. I've bought 3 tickets for each so that some adult (hopefully NOT me ... I'm not a rock fan!) will be with them. How long should I expect the concerts to last? We'll have to drive 2.5 hours home after Van Halen and they'll have school the next day.

I went to Gwen Stefani and she was one of the "longer" concerts that I've been to recently. I think we were heading back to our car at about 10:45. t was close to 11:00 p.m. and I was home around midnight.

Are you in the DC area? I know our Van Halen tix went on sale yesterday?

 

[gina2000]

Is there a warm-up band? That adds tiime to a concert.

 

[Christine]

Is there a warm-up band? That adds tiime to a concert.

Aerosmith, in our area, is having Joan Jett. I would assume that she's going to start around 7:30, play for 45 minutes. Then Aerosmith will probably come on closer to 9:00 p.m. and play until about 10:30 or a tad longer.

This is usually how it goes. I would figure until 11:00 p.m.

There was only one concert where I got out really early (at around 9:45 p.m.) and that was Madonna. She had no warm up band, started promptly at 8:00 p.m. and then we were done.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Most venues have an 11PM curfew Sun - Thursday, and slightly longer sometimes, on the weekend.

 

[Just Jan]

You will be home very late!

Or early if your ears start to bleed!!

I do love both of these bands, brings me back to highschool I mostly listen to country country now.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would say it would end around 11pm- I remember those high school days of goignto concerts-we just stayed home the next day from school LOL...

 

[ducklite]

It depends on the local ordinances and IATSE contracts, but generally 11:00 pm is a pretty safe bet.

I think Asia was the earliest ending show I've been to in a long time, we were out of there before 10:00 pm. No opening act, they went on at 8:00 and played until 9:45-ish. The last show I saw was Family Values Tour, and KoRn didn't finish until 11:30.

A tip--buy some foam ear plugs and wear them. Hearing loss is permanant and irreversable, and even short-term exposure to loud noise will cause damage. The "foamies" are available at any drug store and cost about $2 for ten pair.

Anne

 

[suzimar57]

great tip, those ear foamies - we use them every concert (can't make up for those concerts in the 70s we didn't use anything though....what's that you say? speak up - can't hear you!)

 

[crazyme5kids]

It really depends on the act, but most don't play past 11:00 -11:30 around here (give or take). As Ducklite said, it also depends on how the union deal is structured. Not many acts want to pay the overtime hour.

 

[PoohJen]

Those guys are getting pretty old, so it could go either way. Done early b/c they need to get to bed earlier, or done late because they have to break a few times for naps.

oh, sorry, bring on the flames, I just couldn't resist!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I agree with the posters who say 11p (at least). Rock bands are not known for the puntucality Even though they are "sober" they still have the attitude that "we will play when we get there, and the fans will wait". (and we do)

My boss's friend is a HUGE promoter, when we went to see the Stones last year (or maybe 2 years ago), we were seated with my boss, there was some warm up blues guy on, and it was getting late, my boss called his buddy on the cell and the promoter said that the "stones aren't even in the house yet".

For some reason, that got me ANGRY - my DH laughed at me and said, "what do you think is happening, Mick and Keith, sitting behind the stage doing warm-ups and vocal excerices?" I said "yeah", he says "they are still at the hotel participating in orgys, they'll get here when they're done "

 

[ducklite]

I agree with the posters who say 11p (at least). Rock bands are not known for the puntucality Even though they are "sober" they still have the attitude that "we will play when we get there, and the fans will wait". (and we do)

Except for a few that are notorious for having this attitude (Axl) I totally disagree. Touring is a big business, and it's run with the same precision and scheduling that a major corporation runs it headquarters on. I've always been fascinated at how a huge production with hundreds of people involved and thousands of pieces of equipment is brought together with such meticulous order among what to most would look like utter chaos.

Anne

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Except for a few that are notorious for having this attitude (Axl) I totally disagree. Touring is a big business, and it's run with the same precision and scheduling that a major corporation runs it headquarters on. I've always been fascinated at how a huge production with hundreds of people involved and thousands of pieces of equipment is brought together with such meticulous order among what to most would look like utter chaos.

Anne

I agree with what you say 100%, but their tardiness is built into the schedule. So, while the fan thinks they are late, in reality, there is a time cushion for the performer.

 

[gina2000]

For the most part I agree that in this day and age concerts are managed like businesses, not parties. Though I can still remember a Guns n Roses concert tour at MSG that didn't begin til 11pm or 12am. That was totally outlandish.

At that time most acts began within an hour of 8pm if they had no opening act. But there WERE exceptions.....and we didn't mind because it was just more time to hang out and party.

I'm old now, though. I want the acts to show up promptly!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Yep and look where it has gotten Axel. If they weren't in the house it was probably a transportation issue.

When the RHCP played Boston last year, they were all late due to leaving NYC via limos. I guess the limo company didn't factor in enough time for traffic patterns as well as the usual accident delays.

Flea was the first to arrive (about 1 hour before), the others at various times after. They hit the stage on time, but it made a lot of people very anxious, including their manager.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I'm old now, though. I want the acts to show up promptly!

cuz I'm paying the darn babysitter $15 an hour......

 

[crazyme5kids]

Cushion times are not built into a show schedule.

 

[ducklite]

Cushion times are not built into a show schedule.

Agreed. No cushion time. Here's the official time sheet for a show I recently attended:

Droid started their set five minutes early, the rest of the show ran within two minutes of on-time, and ended at precisely 11:30. Those are some pretty tight set changes, considering there was no shared backline.

Anne

 

[RadioNate]

I just wanted to offer to escort them to the shows, I'm in FL but I'd be happy to travel I'm a 30-something, mom who still likes the big arena rock shows! lol

And I agree, I haven't seen anything get out later than 11 in recent years. One I went to last summer started at 7 or 730 and I think it was done by 10. I was actually disappointed it was over so early!