I've been going to rock shows since I was 13. I've learned over the past 8 years that there is a specific set of rules one must follow when planning on attending a show. Frankly, I feel like there are lots of people who are either forgetting the rules or never learned them-- so these are for you.
Rule #1: Attire
It's the day of the concert and you're overwhelmingly excited. You're going to see your favorite band play live! I understand, it's a thrilling idea. However, do NOT wear a t-shirt with the band's name on it. We all know you're a fan because you spent 40 dollars on a ticket to watch them play. Wearing their name on your clothes is just overkill.
Rule #2: Line Etiquette
This is something you learn in kindergarten. There's even a charming rhyme about this one simple rule: "No cuts, no buts, no coconuts." Seriously, it's just common courtesy. Don't save spots in the line for your 5 friends who won't be showing up until an hour before the show. The group behind you has probably been in line for 12 hours, so by saving spots, there's a possibility that you're ruining someone else's chance of getting barricade, making their effort pointless.
Rule #3: Line Waiting
If you are staying the night outside the venue, you must make fun of the people who brought a tent, because they are less hardcore than you. Although you may secretly be jealous of the fact that they have something to hide under from the rain while you're sleeping on the sidewalk, soaking wet and freezing.
Rule #4: Before the Doors Open
Your heart is racing. There is one hour until they let you in the venue. One person from your group must run to the car and put away all of your blankets, snacks, pillows and jackets. Now one by one, make sure to run to the nearest McDonald's for the restroom because once you're on barricade, there's no potty breaks until the show is over. This is prime time for people to try and cut in front of you in line. Stand your ground. Don't be afraid to be an asshole.
Rule #5: Entering the Venue
You don't need that purse. Bringing in a purse means the security has to look inside, therefore prolonging your entrance. (Hint: Girls, hook your car key to your bra strap and keep your phone in your front pocket). Once you're past security, RUN to the pit. despite all the guards yelling, "DON'T RUN." Grab the barricade and breathe a sigh of relief because your efforts were worthwhile.
Rule #6: Concert Courtesy
If you didn't get barricade, you didn't get barricade. Please, do not try to squeeze your way up there. Don't be that guy.
If you got barricade, hold on tight and prepare to have bruised arms tomorrow.
If you got barricade and you're a 6 foot tall man, COME ON. Let the short ones in front. You can see over everyone anyway. Rude.
If you have a crush on the lead singer, spare yourself some embarrassment and don't yell "OMG I LOVE YOU SO MUCH" every 2 minutes. Girl we get it, you're thirsty.
If you really love a song, don't scream the lyrics with your horrible singing voice into the person's ear in front of you.
If you really love the band you're seeing, put your phone down. Take a couple nice photos, then enjoy the concert. What's the point of being there if you just record the whole thing? I doubt you'll even watch the videos later.
Rule #7: Post-Show
Your head is spinning; your ears are ringing; you have this undying thirst for a gallon of water. You feel like total crap but it was worth it in the end. You've seen your favorite band play. You've danced to their songs while they sing the lyrics that have gotten through your toughest days. You spent a day with your friends and strangers that you know nothing about. However you do know that you all came together for your equal love of one band. It is a night where you feel like you finally fit in--a night where everything makes sense.
Shows are more than just a past time for misfit teens. They are happy memories for the ones who need them. Follow the rules, enjoy the shows and be grateful for times like these. This is OUR culture.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
High school vs. College
High school was such a simple time. You'd wake up at 7:00 am 5 days a week, maybe work a part-time job or go to an extracurricular activity after school, then have 2 days off to do whatever you wanted. I was a very busy teenager with school, dance, work (sometimes I'd keep 2 jobs at once) and homework, but I still wish I could go back to high school because everything was so easy.
A few things change when one goes off to college. Here are a few things that changed about me, thanks to the increase in responsibility that college gave me.
1) I never do laundry
I look back and think about when I lived at home and there was a laundry machine FOR FREE at my disposal everyday and how I took advantage of that. I would throw my clothes that I wore once in the hamper or even shirts that I tried on but didn't want to wear or hang up again. I ended up needing to do laundry every 3 days because my hamper got full so fast. It's the same with towels. I used a towel ONE TIME before washing it. Today I use the same towel for 2 weeks before washing it. I can't believe my 15-year-old self. Now that I'm living on my own with no laundry machine, I just do laundry when I'm running low on clean underwear (which isn't very often because I have a panty addiction, brought on by those darn sales at Victoria's Secret).
2) Leftovers are my favorites
This is another example of my carelessness in high school. I never ate leftovers. I wish I could slap teenage me upside the head and say, "Oh, you're too GOOD for leftovers? You don't like free food? You think it tastes BAD the next day? Looks like you forgot to put your crown on today, Princess Zoë." Seriously, today if I found an Olive Garden box in my fridge with leftover pasta in it I'd be thanking the refrigerator gods.
3) Manicures are for special occasions
Being the high maintenance brat that I was, I had acrylic nails in high school and would refill them every 2 weeks. I would also get a new set every couple months. That's 20 dollars every 2 weeks and 45 dollars every couple months just for my FINGERNAILS. Don't get me wrong, I'd still love to be able to do that but I have more important things to pay for...like food and gas and electricity. I miss when my mum would give me a blank check and leave me at Hollywood Nails when I spent all the money I made at my two jobs on clothing. If I asked mum for that today she'd be like "LOL no."
4) Online shopping comes second to paying bills
Just kidding, I still online shop...all the time. Oops. Some things never change I guess.
xoxo,
Princess Zoë
A few things change when one goes off to college. Here are a few things that changed about me, thanks to the increase in responsibility that college gave me.
1) I never do laundry
I look back and think about when I lived at home and there was a laundry machine FOR FREE at my disposal everyday and how I took advantage of that. I would throw my clothes that I wore once in the hamper or even shirts that I tried on but didn't want to wear or hang up again. I ended up needing to do laundry every 3 days because my hamper got full so fast. It's the same with towels. I used a towel ONE TIME before washing it. Today I use the same towel for 2 weeks before washing it. I can't believe my 15-year-old self. Now that I'm living on my own with no laundry machine, I just do laundry when I'm running low on clean underwear (which isn't very often because I have a panty addiction, brought on by those darn sales at Victoria's Secret).
2) Leftovers are my favorites
This is another example of my carelessness in high school. I never ate leftovers. I wish I could slap teenage me upside the head and say, "Oh, you're too GOOD for leftovers? You don't like free food? You think it tastes BAD the next day? Looks like you forgot to put your crown on today, Princess Zoë." Seriously, today if I found an Olive Garden box in my fridge with leftover pasta in it I'd be thanking the refrigerator gods.
3) Manicures are for special occasions
Being the high maintenance brat that I was, I had acrylic nails in high school and would refill them every 2 weeks. I would also get a new set every couple months. That's 20 dollars every 2 weeks and 45 dollars every couple months just for my FINGERNAILS. Don't get me wrong, I'd still love to be able to do that but I have more important things to pay for...like food and gas and electricity. I miss when my mum would give me a blank check and leave me at Hollywood Nails when I spent all the money I made at my two jobs on clothing. If I asked mum for that today she'd be like "LOL no."
4) Online shopping comes second to paying bills
Just kidding, I still online shop...all the time. Oops. Some things never change I guess.
xoxo,
Princess Zoë
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Why I would rather not "free" my nipples
We've all heard of the "Free the Nipple" campaign. However if you haven't, this is a feminist movement to decriminalize the female body so that women can go topless just like men. Women are wanting to stop the sexualization of their bodies.
Being a feminist, I find it very fair to allow women to be topless in public if a man can do the same. Ladies--I know you're jealous of a man's ability to take his shirt off on a hot summer day.
Seeing as I lived in France for a year, I was able to actually experience the feeling of equality while being topless in pubic at a nude beach. Honestly it felt rather freeing, but only because I was in France, where seeing a woman's breast is like seeing a woman's wrist. In the United States, however, I feel sort of afraid of the idea.
Being a woman, I find it difficult to imagine women walking around half-nude and not getting harassed for it. When a woman walks down the street in shorts and a t-shirt there's already a big chance that she's going to get cat-called by some creepy guy. Guys, newsflash: No female likes to be cat-called. Ever. So how bad would it get for a woman walking topless?
If one day we can all take our shirts off in public, it would be a fantastic day for sex equality. Nevertheless I feel like I would still not feel comfortable joining in because I do not believe that ALL men will ever see a woman's breast desexualized..not any time soon at least.
Being a feminist, I find it very fair to allow women to be topless in public if a man can do the same. Ladies--I know you're jealous of a man's ability to take his shirt off on a hot summer day.
Seeing as I lived in France for a year, I was able to actually experience the feeling of equality while being topless in pubic at a nude beach. Honestly it felt rather freeing, but only because I was in France, where seeing a woman's breast is like seeing a woman's wrist. In the United States, however, I feel sort of afraid of the idea.
Being a woman, I find it difficult to imagine women walking around half-nude and not getting harassed for it. When a woman walks down the street in shorts and a t-shirt there's already a big chance that she's going to get cat-called by some creepy guy. Guys, newsflash: No female likes to be cat-called. Ever. So how bad would it get for a woman walking topless?
If one day we can all take our shirts off in public, it would be a fantastic day for sex equality. Nevertheless I feel like I would still not feel comfortable joining in because I do not believe that ALL men will ever see a woman's breast desexualized..not any time soon at least.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Marriage might be worth it
I've always been known to sort of run from commitment. My siblings refer to me as a "strong independent woman" which is just a nice way of saying "the sister who will never get married."
For the most part I've become rather comfortable with the idea of living on my own. When you're alone there's no one you have to clean up after and you can take up the entire bed without issue.
However, when I was sick last week I got to thinking about the downsides of living alone and thought maybe marriage MIGHT be worth it for a few reasons:
1) Someone to take care of you when you're sick
This was obviously my first thought. Let's face it- it sucks living alone when you're feeling sick. It would be nice to have someone get me a cold wash cloth for my forehead and chicken noodle soup. Nobody likes getting out of bed with a fever..so that's where a significant other comes in handy. In sickness and in health, right?
2) Someone to cuddle
I don't care who you are, warm bodies are needed to cuddle in specific situations.
Example a: When you're sad
Example b: When you're cold
Simply put, we'd all be happier if we just had someone to cuddle every once in a while. I guess a cat could probably fulfill this one but if you're allergic to furry friends, a husband is your answer.
3) Someone to cook for
Personally, I love to cook. It's very difficult to cook an entire meal for just one person though. It would be nice to have another person to cook dinners for so I'm not eating my leftovers for a week straight.
4) Someone to do the dishes
This sounds lazy of me but if I'm cooking, the other one should be cleaning the dishes right? I actually just hate doing the dishes and I'm sure any of my past room mates would tell you that's the truth. Maybe a husband would be a helping hand?
5)Someone else to shop for
I love clothes. I love buying them and putting together outfits but a lot of people say I have too many clothes of my own. So why not use my addiction for good and make a well-dressed man out of it? Seems legitimate to me.
6) Someone to hang out with me (even when I'm hormonal)
Sometimes I want to watch a movie with someone other than myself. Sometimes all my friends are busy. Sometimes I'm too grumpy for people to want to be around me but a significant other is there for better or for worse! Built-in BFF.
With all of this being said, I'm still anti-marriage...but I could be convinced.
For the most part I've become rather comfortable with the idea of living on my own. When you're alone there's no one you have to clean up after and you can take up the entire bed without issue.
However, when I was sick last week I got to thinking about the downsides of living alone and thought maybe marriage MIGHT be worth it for a few reasons:
1) Someone to take care of you when you're sick
This was obviously my first thought. Let's face it- it sucks living alone when you're feeling sick. It would be nice to have someone get me a cold wash cloth for my forehead and chicken noodle soup. Nobody likes getting out of bed with a fever..so that's where a significant other comes in handy. In sickness and in health, right?
2) Someone to cuddle
I don't care who you are, warm bodies are needed to cuddle in specific situations.
Example a: When you're sad
Example b: When you're cold
Simply put, we'd all be happier if we just had someone to cuddle every once in a while. I guess a cat could probably fulfill this one but if you're allergic to furry friends, a husband is your answer.
3) Someone to cook for
Personally, I love to cook. It's very difficult to cook an entire meal for just one person though. It would be nice to have another person to cook dinners for so I'm not eating my leftovers for a week straight.
4) Someone to do the dishes
This sounds lazy of me but if I'm cooking, the other one should be cleaning the dishes right? I actually just hate doing the dishes and I'm sure any of my past room mates would tell you that's the truth. Maybe a husband would be a helping hand?
5)Someone else to shop for
I love clothes. I love buying them and putting together outfits but a lot of people say I have too many clothes of my own. So why not use my addiction for good and make a well-dressed man out of it? Seems legitimate to me.
6) Someone to hang out with me (even when I'm hormonal)
Sometimes I want to watch a movie with someone other than myself. Sometimes all my friends are busy. Sometimes I'm too grumpy for people to want to be around me but a significant other is there for better or for worse! Built-in BFF.
With all of this being said, I'm still anti-marriage...but I could be convinced.
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