The Lexicon: Don’t leave until the last set is over

By Alexis Schlesinger

Courtesy of Alexis Schlesinger

Editorial Staff

I’ve been telling myself for a few years that I was going to get “into the local music scene.” 

I finally committed to getting myself in there this summer. 

I sometimes fall into a habit of listening to the same songs over and over again, so for a long time, I’ve really wanted to start branching out. I’ve always listened to a pretty decent variety of music, but I sort of felt like I was missing out on a lot too.  

Going to live shows in Boston made it incredibly easy to find new music.  

There’s a lot to be said about live music and the community that inhabits Boston and the surrounding cities.

There are shows every night, in so many different venues, at all different price points. Pick nearly any night of the week and you’ll be able to find a show to get to for $10-$15.

Aside from the sheer amount of music - and the incredible quality of it - the most valuable part of the scene is the way everything connects. 

Not only does everyone seem to know each other, but for each artist you go to see live, you could find two, three, four, or more new favorite artists. 

If I wrote down all the shows I went to over the summer, it wouldn’t be a list, it would be a web. 

Nearly every show I went to led me to another, and oftentimes, there was only one artist on each bill I had seen before. 

The first DIY show I attended, I didn’t know any of the bands. I only knew the opener’s drummer. On top of that, I only knew him from his music, not this band. 

I wasn’t sure if I was going to stay past the first set either. I didn’t know anyone else. 

I had nothing else going on that day though, so not only did I decide to stay for the whole show, I volunteered to set up and break down equipment. 

The decision to stay was likely one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. Before I walked back out the door, I had plans for my next show, new friends, and a new favorite venue. 

I could go on forever about how each artist I’ve seen live has led me to another and all the amazing and talented people I’ve met along the way. 

However, I’ve noticed that there are a lot of people who don’t share the same sentiments that I do about staying for a whole show. 

Between helping out at a few DIY venues, attending a variety of local spots, and even going to a few concerts at high capacity venues, I’ve noticed a large percentage of attendees will come in late, or leave early. 

Too many times, I’ve seen crowds come and go within 30 minutes, their only intention to listen to what they’re used to. 

There’s even been a few instances where I’ve found myself walking out of a show with an entirely different crowd than I entered with. 

This is even noticeable with mainstream artists. When I attended the Reneé Rapp concert at TD Garden on Oct. 2, roughly half the seats were empty until Rapp’s scheduled set time. 

While there is value in simply “liking what you like,” you’re gaining so much more by trying out new things. 

Even if you think about it in a purely monetary sense, you’re getting more for your time and money. What sounds more worth it, $30 for 30 minutes of music, or two hours? 

The worst that can happen to you if you stay? You enjoy the band or artist you came for, and aren’t a fan of the others. Just don’t see the other bands again. 

The best that can happen is you walk away with new music to listen to, new connections, and new concert plans for the future. You gain all of this for yourself, while simultaneously supporting the community and the music within it. 

Supporting the arts is cyclical. Connections and discovery keep the arts alive. 

Supporting the artists your favorite musicians choose to work with benefits everyone and will ultimately lead to more of what you want from who you love. 

Whether you do it for your own benefit, or the benefit of others, stay until the last set is over.