The appeal of seeing your favourite artists multiple times on tour

A look at what can be gained from seeing an artist more than once

I’ve often been a one and done concert kind of gal. Catch an artist when they stop in my city, check off a bucket list item, and then wait for the next comeback.

That was the case when I saw Harry Styles in 2022, which was arguably one of the most competitive ticketing experiences I’ve had in my life. I would even say the same about seeing Beyonce once during her Renaissance tour last summer. The show was amazing, life-changing and awe-inspiring. But did I feel the desire to see her again the next day? Not really. But that’s also because tickets to her show were very expensive.

But somehow for K-pop shows, my mind is just built a bit differently. They become some sort of an addiction.

That’s because after attending one show, I find myself wanting to see some acts perform the same concert again and again.

I have seen BTS’s Permission To Dance on Stage at least 10 times (most of it virtual, and twice live in Las Vegas). When AGUST D toured, I saw him two days in a row (and then three more times virtually and in theatres). And most recently, I caught TOMORROW X TOGETHER three times during their Act: Promise U.S. tour.

I realize this sounds like overkill, especially to friends and family who often ask me what the appeal is. But personally, I feel something new can be gained from each show even if setlists, costume changes and concert speeches remain the same.

For instance, sitting from different sections in the same arena helps me gain new perspectives for the concert. For the TXT shows, I sat in both the 100s and nosebleeds, and actually had a bit more fun in the upper section. Don’t get me wrong, I loved both shows. But on the lower level, I felt the people around me were more focused on filming with their phones (me included, if I’m being honest) rather than living in the moment. Whereas in the nosebleeds, the crowd felt more enthusiastic just to be in the same room as the artists. The second night of seeing TXT at New York’s Madison Square Garden also felt more relaxed—probably because the band was less tired from all the travelling.

I also get more appreciation for how a concert is produced. Knowing the meticulous efforts put into production, choreography and costume changes in K-pop shows, seeing the artists perform a setlist from different angles also gives me insight into how to make something visually appealing for thousands of people watching.

From the back of the nosebleeds, I witnessed what a stunning spectacle it is to watch TXT perform a remix of “Sugar Rush Ride” while wearing hanboks as an homage to their Korean roots.

And while sitting in the back of the lower bowl, I was more fascinated by the camera crew shooting the band members up close during fan interactions. I was also intrigued by seeing the production crew use a computer program to change the colour of lightsticks in the crowd based on each song. Putting a live show together is extremely hard work, and it’s amazing to see just how much thought goes into making concerts enjoyable from all angles.

As it turns out, I’m not alone in feeling this way. I recently asked people on Instagram about the value of watching the same concert multiple times. Here’s how some of you answered:

“I’m more present after watching the first time. Phone is down more and I’m watching [and] feeling.”

“A different experience every time, different point of view for the bigger shows. You notice other things.”

“In terms of concert movie/recorded rewatches, each time [brings] a different mood. Setlist may be the same, but different audience (or venue) brings different interactions, banter & energy.”

“A different seat offers a new perspective. Setlist might be different too!”

And to that last point, surprises do often happen. At times, there are special guest appearances. Other times, acts sing surprise songs.

During encores, TXT often switched up the songs they would sing. During some shows, they would perform a combination of their singles “Cat and Dog” and “MOA Diary”. Other times, they would sing “Do It Like That” or “Happily Ever After.” But only in Houston, the band sang “Blue Hour”. That’s probably because the dance break is very in line with the cowboy theme in Texas.

That to me, is the beauty of live music!

However, I do see a few potential downsides to following your favourite acts around on tour. K-pop thrives on parasocial relationships, and the cost of purchasing barricade seats and goodbye sessions with your favourite artists has resulted in poor financial decisions and also some not-so-great interactions between fans.

The presence of social media platforms like TikTok also adds to a fan’s desire to go to multiple shows. And these days, there is just so much pressure to capture Yes/No viral moments with your favourite artists. As writer Brooke Lamantia wrote for NYLON, “concerts have turned into content-crazed arenas, where every second exists to be commodified.”

At the end of the day, it is a privilege to be able to see a show, whether once, twice or multiple times. And as a fan, I personally will pay more for an experience than merch.

As I have written before, going to see a concert sometimes isn’t even about the main event at all.

Some of my favourite memories have been built around going to shows, mostly because they are a chance to explore new places (if the concert is out of town) and hang out with my besties.

That was the case for BTS, in which everything revolving the concerts themselves felt like the main highlight. The moments I actually remember the most are the pop-ups, the exchanging of freebies with fellow fans and making friends in the merch lines.

Why wouldn’t you want to relive that again and again?

These interactions are things you just can’t get elsewhere, and it feels good to be able to build connections with random strangers all because you love the same thing. To me, getting to see a band more than once is the true bonus.

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