When it comes to concerts in Minnesota, it’s likely that the temperatures people are waiting in are well below freezing. If you end up bringing something to keep you warm in line, it will probably be “a sweater—or maybe a cardigan—but never more than that,” says Ananda Nhouyvanisvong, ‘27. If you [choose] not to “wear anything for [a concert, you] just [have] to kinda suffer,” says Sadie Timonen, ‘28. This proves to be very unsafe, and puts people at risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Even when people do bring things to keep them warm in line, it creates a hassle when they actually get into the venue. Most venues don’t even have a coat check system, so audience members just have to keep their winter gear with them.
This is not desirable because of the change of temperature in a venue with all of the body heat and energy around, especially at “The Armory, [where] people [are] definitely more hot,” says Nhouyvanisvong. Even if there aren’t many ways of keeping your- self warm during those long winter lines, it is still worth it to bring a sweater or even a light jacket. Being in the cold after a long time isn’t healthy for your body— and even if it might clash with your outfit, your health matters more. If you are so worried about your outfit, try and work these things into your look.
Adding on to the hassles of clothing and weather, the way people act may also be determined by the weather. During the winter, the weather can really affect your mood and how you go about things. Some may even “get annoyed or irritable depending on how cold it really is after the concert—or especially if [you don’t] drive [yourself] to the concert, [you’d] be […] waiting outside” in the freezing cold, says Nhouyvanisvong. For concerts on days that are especially cold, the weather may prevent people from getting there as early as they want. This stops people from getting their desired position in the pit of a con- cert. This affected Nhouyvanisvong recently when she went to see The Tulips. Nhouyvanisvong had to think “about not getting there as early because of the cold,” which caused her to not get her preferred position in the crowd for the duration of the show.
A big factor in surviving the heat is making an effort to stay hydrated. Nhouyvanisvong recalls a lot of people fainting at The Marías, which was a popular concert that took place in the peak of Minnesota’s summer heat. A lot of these situations can be resolved with an extra water bottle or fan, but due to the strict rules of most venues, one may not be able to access these without spending money. If buying water and/or a fan isn’t an option, it’s always worth it to hydrate consistently starting the day before. The body stores water very well, and will keep you on your feet even when water isn’t immediately available.
