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Imagine having a open night. You're feeling energized, open to experience, and looking to change your regular habits of post-work slumping. Your options offers possibilities! Do you choose a) seeing live music or b) engaging in intimacy? The answer, as typically the case with these sorts of hypotheticals, is plainly: “It varies.” Mature individuals might logically ask: what is the show? Who's the partner? Will it be likely to be enjoyable?

Few would pick a intense rock concert if the choice was a dream date with a beloved celebrity. However tweak one side of the comparison, and it turns more complicated. Regarding the thousands surveyed posed this query from a major concert promoter, no such clarification was given – and the result was revealed decisively and strongly supporting concerts.

Study Data Reveal Unexpected Preferences

A worldwide study, interviewing a large sample aged between 18 and 54 across 15 markets, found that concerts have become the number one leisure activity, beating out sports, cinema and – absolutely – sex. When limited to one type of entertainment permanently, a significant portion selected live music, versus watching movies (17%) and sports events (14%). Participants were over two times as inclined to prefer watching their top musician on stage (70%) rather than intimacy (30%).

You arrive anticipating pleasantly surprised – and quite often you’ll end up with a stranger's hair in your mouth

Factors and Reflections

Of course it makes sense that a promotional study commissioned by a live event company might conclude so strongly preferring gigs – and, in the freewheeling mood of a would-you-rather, if your preferred musician is, say Paul McCartney, one can appreciate why seeing him may be chosen rather than a ordinary experience. But this two-option scenario between concerts or sexual activity, obviously silly though it may be, is noteworthy to reflect on considering the strange moment we face with each.

The Transformation of Gig Attendance

In recent years, live music participation has become not just a communal experience but a serious endeavor. Event companies duly point out that stadium attendance has “increased threefold each year”, and music festivals are fully reserved faster than ever. Just obtaining admissions now demands extensive preparation, quick decision-making and deep finances (or a substantial budget). Although you manage, it’s not enough to merely attend and experience the event. Nowadays exists an expectation, particularly with concertgoers, that you can boost your enjoyment value by seeing several shows (including overseas trips), learning the performance lineup in advance and understanding the rituals to perform and fan traditions created by past attendees.

Numerous fans admit to scarred by their attendance at popular events: what felt like a scripted production of thousands of people, where particular fans arrived not knowing the steps. The extended concert series, earning massive sums, was proof of the extents that attendees will push to participate in a cultural moment and experience their top musician play, even if the real performance appears more and more secondary to the show.

The Condition of Current Relationships

Intimacy, by contrast – an affordable and common experience – faces difficult times. Based on contemporary studies, nearly one in four of individuals engaged sexually in an regular period, while nearly 30% were not engaging. Elsewhere, recent data showed that over a quarter of adults reported not having sexual activity even once in the last twelve months, rising from fewer people in the past. In both territories, the change has been attributed to reduced intimacy among younger people. Compare this with the industry expanding rapidly for major events and the intense rivalry for admissions. Naturally it isn't straightforward as a straightforward choice between one or the other – “do you prefer see a major tour often, or remain abstinent?” – but it's possibly an indication of which is perceived as the more consistent satisfaction.

Surprising Parallels

Intimacy and concerts are closer aligned than people often believe. Both represent the initiation of a relationship, a practical trial of expectations or promise that could have built only in your head. You show up with some idea of how it’s likely to go, but anticipating happily shocked – and whether it proves enjoyable or disappointing rests largely on whether your energy and hopes align with others. Frequently you’ll end up with someone else’s hair in your mouth, and afterwards be waiting around for a cigarette and some quiet time on your own. Likewise with either, substances and drinks can sometimes improve or lessen the situation (but absolutely assist the worst occasions easier to weather).

Finding the Balance

The magic to live events and relationships depends on discovering that hard-to-find balance between comfort and excitement, sameness and variation, challenge and comfort. Certainly it's uncommon – but it's the recollection of when they did, the awareness that it can happen, that drives us to attempt once more: to {