Going solo: How to navigate concerts as an autistic person

One of the questions I get asked all the time is how I can go to concerts or any sensory heavy events when I have autism. And it’s a good question. As an autistic person, I struggle a lot with loud noises and bright lights so you’d think that concerts would be the last place I would be.

But I love music. And I don’t want to let my autism and support needs stop me from experiencing life. I might just have to do things differently that some people. But if it allows me freedom to do the things I want to do, then that’s okay.

I went to a few concerts recently. I went to see Taylor Swift with friends and then went to see Hozier by myself. And I was so proud of myself because a year ago, I struggled to leave my house and to go from that to going to a concert by myself is just amazing. I’m very proud of myself. But I wanted to put this blog together to share my tips on heading to a gig solo when you’re autistic.

Choose Artist That You Like

This sounds like a no-brainer but when I go to concerts, I will choose music that I enjoy listening to and listen to all the time. And I know that I will be going to a concert months in advance so I can prepare myself. I would not be able to go to a spontaneous concert. And I know that about myself. If you are heading to an event, think about what your support needs are. For myself, I need a lot of support around sensory issues, like bright lights and noises. This can make concerts very difficult for me. But I don’t want to let anything stop me from going to them. I don’t want to miss out on anything. I just need to figure out what works for me. And knowing that I have a concert coming up, it allows me to prepare for it. When I go and see artists that I enjoy, my brain is focused on enjoying the music and experience, rather than my sensory needs.

Do Your Research

I research everything I can before heading to a gig. I look up playlists on Spotify and videos on Tiktok to see what previous concerts have been like. Just so I can get an idea of the stage and the production of the gig and what it’s like. Now, this won’t be the same at every venue but it’s just me some idea. And it also gets me excited about going to a gig. Remember, you’re there to have fun and enjoy yourself. But doing some research beforehand will help to elevate your anxiety. As well as things like transport and accommodation, I also will research things like ‘do I need to order some new Loop earplugs’, or ‘how much space do I have for stim toys?’ Or medications and things like that. Just so I’m prepared.

Pack Essentials

If you are heading to an event or concert, bring a bag with you. Now, the size of your bag will depends on the venue. Some venues have strict rules about bags so, do your research beforehand. But I will make sure I pack everything I need into one bag that I can access quickly. So, I have the basics like my purse and ID. But I also make sure I pack things like stim toys or pain medication. I have endometriosis so sometimes get really bad flare ups. And getting a bad flare up at a gig when I am by myself is not the situation I want to be in. So having pain meds when I can easily reach them means I don’t have to worry too much about it. Although I’m always worried about getting a flare up or having meltdowns, especially when I’m on my own. So, my bag with the essentials in it just gives me some peace of mind.

Embrace Stimming

I also pack a little stim toy. One that is small enough to fit into my purse and my pocket in my jacket so I can stim without people looking at me. But, honestly, people are not looking at you as much as you think they are. They are there to see their favourite artists, they aren’t paying attention to you. So, if it’s safe for you to do so, stim away. And remember to have fun.

Plan Transport

So, public transport can be a nightmare at the best of time, but even more so when there’s gigs on. There’s loads of traffic and some roads can be even blocked off so you can’t go the usual route. Which makes getting to the event tricky. Also, think of your budget. There are private buses and coaches that will take you to the venue. But these can be expensive. It’s the same with taxis. They are also expensive, and some of them might be booked up on the day of the event. So, you might not even get one. I chose to use a private bus to get to Marlay Park and to return to the city afterwards. Just for convenience. It was more expensive than using public transport but I was on my own, so just wanted to go with the easiest option. But, this might not work for everyone so be mindful of your budget and do what works for you.

Accommodation

Speaking of budget, let’s talk accommodation. There are a few different options that you can go with. If you have friends or family that live around the area, I recommend staying with them. They are a safe person you can trust and you might be more comfortable going to a concert yourself if you know you have a safe place to go back to afterwards. But they can sometimes be busy and have their own stuff going on so you can also stay in a hostel. Which is what I usually do. Again, this might not work for everyone. But the reason why I go with the hostel is because, as an autistic person with endometriosis, if I have a meltdown or flare up, I will need to leave early and head home. And I don’t want my friends to cut their might short because of me.

So, I usually stay in a hostel. Which doesn’t always work because they can get really loud. Especially if you are sharing a room with other people. Since I knew I would be going to concerts in advance, I sometimes book a private room. Just so I have my own space. But, like I said before, be mindful of your budget. This might not work for everyone.

The Aftermath

This is the hardest part to explain to people about being autistic and going to gigs where there is loud music and a lot of sensory stuff going on. When I go to a gig, I’m usually full of adrenaline and have a lot of energy. And for the most part, I’m so happy to be seeing artists that I love that I’m distracted from my sensory issues. But those issues are still there. And when the gig is over and all of the adrenaline and energy goes, those sensory issues will hit me like a ton of bricks. And I will shutdown completely. I can struggle to walk or usually, my speech is the first thing to go. I struggle with formulating sentences and telling people what help I need. I completely shutdown and it can take me days to recover. If I’m having a really bad shutdown, it can even take me weeks to recover and get back on track. Because concerts are a very sensory heavy event, I need as little sensory stimulation as possible. So, I will sit in a dark room until I am able to regulate myself. I will not force myself to talk to people until I am ready. And, yes, that might seem like I am being rude but I am looking after myself and giving myself space to come down and regulate myself. And I’m not going to apologise for that. Because I need to give myself time to regulate myself. When I do have meltdowns and flare ups, even the most basic tasks like getting dressed or feeding myself require a lot of energy and that is energy I don’t have. So, I need to look after myself.

So, yes, I can go to concerts and all that, but people don’t see the aftermath of that. Going to gigs or just doing basics things that I want to do, it comes at a cost. I can mask and hide a lot of my support needs but they are still there. And people see me going to concerts or being sociable but they do not see the effort that goes into that. And I think that goes for a lot of autistic people. Especially high masking autistic people. You can see us doing something but a lot of energy goes into that.

Do What Works For You

These are just some of the things that work for me. And I think its really important that you do what works for you. So, you can read my blogs and, if you find something that helps you, that’s great. But not everything works for everyone. It’s important to take time to figure out who you are and what your support needs are. The most important thing that I have found helpful is remembering that I can still enjoy my life and have great experiences. But I might just have to do things differently that some people. And that’s okay. It’s okay if your life looks different than what other people expect. As long as you’re happy with your choices and are working with your support needs instead of against them. If you want to share your own tips on going to concerts solo as an autistic person, please do so down below.