Beat the Heat at Summer Concerts the Right Way

One of the true signs of summer is outdoor concerts at amphitheatres. Fans flock by the thousands to see their favorite acts. This summer alone John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Kenny Chesney have embarked on summer amphitheatre tours. Concertgoers also have their pick of many festival tours like the Warped Tour or Ozzfest. There have also been many special outdoor events like Live Earth and Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival.

Unfortunately, summertime concerts also come with summertime weather. Many of these events will be held in extremely hot and humid conditions. Concertgoers expose themselves to dehydration, sunburn, heatstroke and other risks. The foul weather conditions can also cause fans to have an unpleasant experience at a concert they paid a hefty price to attend. There are some things that music fans can do to ensure a healthy, good time.

Drink water, not beer. Drinking water instead of beer will help you make it through an outdoor concert, especially if it's an outdoor festival concert. Often times, you'll see overzealous beer drinkers having to leave an outdoor concert before the main acts hit the stage. What a waste of money!

Only move your way to the front for the bands you really want to see. On a hot summer day it is very difficult to be in a crowd right by the front of a stage or in a mosh pit. Of course, that is usually the most enjoyable place to be at a concert. It is important to realize that you won't be able to be in that hot spot all day, so select a couple of the bands that you want to be really close for and sit back in the shade during the rest.

Do not forget to bring sunscreen. Even if it's not particularly sunny when you leave for the concert, it may be later on in the day. All day concert festivals mean a lot of exposure to the sun and if you don't have sunscreen it will mean a sore morning the next day.

Don't be cheap. At outdoor concerts you can expect some very pricey concessions; it's just the way it is. Make sure to bring enough money to purchase enough concessions to get through the day or evening. The main things you'll need are water and sunscreen. It is irritating to pay four dollars or more for a bottle of water, but it's better than getting dehydrated and chances are good that if there is sunscreen for sale at a venue, it will be expensive as well.

Although the weather may be less than perfect, summer concerts are very fun and something that everyone should experience. But it is very important to make sure you take care of yourself at these shows, otherwise you'll remember the concert for the wrong reasons. These tips will help ensure that your summer concert experiences are great!