He Says/She Says: Live Events


35 Comments
He Says/She Says: Live Events

Happy Friday, friends! The weekend is upon us once again, and it couldn’t come soon enough. Johnny and I had our date night one night early — on Thursday night — and went to a college football game. So today feels like it should be Saturday.

I like football games. Johnny? Johnny loves football games. And being there in person to see it all go down just takes the cake for him. Even when we were poor college students, we somehow scrounged up the money for a student pass to all the live sporting events. And when we were paying off our school loans while living in NY and Boston, we managed to find the extra dough to attend several concerts. I like it and I go along with it, but if it were up to me, I’d probably spend that money on something else.

Take football, for instance. If I stay home and watch it on TV, I can also crochet or bake or paint my nails while watching — multitasking at its finest. And I think what I see on the TV is sometimes even better than being there in person.

And concerts. I like those, too. And I like those more than football games. But if the band is one that Johnny likes more than I do, I’ve been known to count songs so I know how many songs are left. I can sense Johnny’s eyes rolling as he reads this later.

To Johnny, it’s worth the money because it’s an experience. I go along with it because I know he loves it, and I like it. A date night is a date night, and I’m always giddy for it. But deep down? I’m actually a big lame-o who would rather just stay home and pocket the money. Or get clothes.

What about you? Are live events worth the money to you? It’s okay, Johnny won’t be offended if you tell the truth. He’ll just block your IP address and send you Nigerian prince spam emails. 😉

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35 Comments

  • Reply Sarah September 12, 2014 at 9:19 am

    So worth it to me! My and the hubby love going to concerts. We aren’t huge football fans {I know, I know} but he LOVES baseball. I’m cool with seeing sports in-person, I guess because it is an experience, but I do not like watching them on TV at all. Even though I could be multi-tasking. I dunno, maybe I’m just a weird-o!

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:43 am

      Not weird at all! I should add that my impatience for live events has increased since we had Sally. I have so little free time that I don’t know that I want to spend it at a sporting event!

      • Reply Sarah September 16, 2014 at 10:21 am

        I can totally see that. I’d be in the same boat. Why watch a sporting event if I can go get a pedicure intsead?? 😉

  • Reply Gaia September 12, 2014 at 9:22 am

    I am like you – a few live events are good, but most I can take-or-leave, and more often leave. But I do go along with my husband sometimes, for the company, and if I really, really have nothing better to do!

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:44 am

      Yes, the company is what makes it worth it. I am alone with my husband on a date, and that’s the only thing that keeps me going!

  • Reply Little House September 12, 2014 at 9:49 am

    I think I’m like you too, I enjoy live events, but I’m just as happy watching them on TV or going without. Thankfully, Mr. LH is the same.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:44 am

      I’ve always been a home-body. Home is where Joanna is. 🙂

  • Reply Valerie September 12, 2014 at 10:55 am

    I’m in the same boat. I love when we go…but the “full” experience can be pricey. Luckily my BF and I agree that SOME events are worth dishing the $$, but not all. For a fraction of the price we can have friends over for a game and have equal, if not more, fun.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:45 am

      Agreed on having people over! I think that’s way more fun! Good food, good company, trash talking. It’s the best.

  • Reply Anne September 12, 2014 at 10:57 am

    We enjoy live events, but don’t go very often. M and I probably attend 2-3 minor league baseball games a year, 1 or 2 paid live shows in town, and I splurge on costlier concert tickets with friends about once every 2 years, which is about as often as M finds himself able to go to an NFL game with the guys.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:50 am

      Good for you for holding out for the occasional really good concerts. That is what I’d like Johnny to do!

  • Reply J.Mill September 12, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    I’d rather get clothes too, most of the time 🙂

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:50 am

      Yesss…. especially right now! My fall wardrobe is looking very sad!

  • Reply Tarynkay September 12, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    I am okay with going to sporting events if I can get a beer. I feel the same way about televised sports- give me some good snacks and a cold one and tell me which side to cheer for and I’m good. I do enjoy concerts, but mostly I think they are too loud. My husband is a musician (not his day job) and I do like going to his gigs, but I always want ear protection, honestly. Sometimes I feel like the memories of doing these things are more fun than the actual doing them part.

    The worst live events are comedy shows or poetry readings. If you are somewhere and the music is bad, you can still talk. Having to sit through awful comedy just not laughing when the comic clearly desperately wants you is the absolute worst. Ooh, or bad theater. I went to a friend’s play once and it was four hours long! It was absolutely terrible AND she had reserved us seats in the front row. I mean, what do you even do?

    .I don’t like the movie theater bc, again, too loud, plus I can’t bring anything to do, and if I am not doing something with my hands while watching something, I usually fall asleep.

    So I am with Joanna. Live events are fun and all, but I’d rather spend the money somewhere else.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:58 am

      Yes! Johnny and I don’t like the movie theater, either. We see maybe one movie a year. And we mostly watch TV shows at home because we have the same problem as you — falling asleep! We’re old and boring, and I’m a-okay with that!

  • Reply Emily @ evolvingPF September 12, 2014 at 3:21 pm

    We enjoy going to free or low-cost live events and occasionally pay a decent amount of money to attend a concert or something. It really just depends on how interested I am in the entertainment (football: not much), how much it costs, and the length of the event. My husband philosophically wants to support live musical performances and theater locally because he wants them to continue to exist, so in that sense we’re not just consuming entertainment but also voting with our dollars.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 12:59 am

      Nice, that’s a good way to look at it. I should use that argument the next time I want to go see a local play with Johnny! 🙂

  • Reply Newbie September 12, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    I haven’t been to a live concert in over a decade. Don’t miss it. I’ve been to a few professional sports events and enjoyed some more than others, but I only went because a friend had a free ticket for me. The exception is when I took my Dad to his first (and only) major league baseball game. Until then, he’d only watched them on television, and it was a special day. I consider the money well spent, as we made so many great memories..

    I go to the occasional AAA baseball game in my city, where tickets are under $15. That fits my budget.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:01 am

      We love doing the same thing with college basketball games. We get $5 or $10 tickets in the nosebleeds, and it’s a cheap outing in a fun atmosphere.

  • Reply Rachel September 12, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    I love live events! More than once my boyfriend had bought my theatre tickets as a birthday present, and I’ve bought him gig tickets. We both love live music and if we can see local live sport on holiday then we do – last year that happened to be the Yankees, earlier this year Real Madrid. To me the experience and memories are worth more than things. However, since buying a forever house we have cut back on the number of live events.

    Regarding the multi-tasking angle, at home watching sports or a movie I am always doing something else (nails, shopping list, facebook…) a live event (even if that is the cinema) keeps me focused and I relax into it, that’s worth the money to me too. So in summary – I’m with Jonny on this one.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:03 am

      Boo! But I totally get it. And awesome that you and the boyfriend feel the same way! I love hearing that other also multitask while watching stuff at home… it’s a girl thang! 🙂

  • Reply Rob September 12, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    Welp, Joanna, better tell Johnny to sic that Niger prince (and his spammy emails) on moi since, as my wife well knows, I hate crowds. I might get out to a movie or 2 throughout the year but otherwise I’m a boring old stay-at-home dude retired dude who’ll watch an event on tv, if it interests me! 🙂

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:06 am

      Oh, I can relate! I hate crowds, too. Johnny doesn’t love them either. I think the worst decision I ever made was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve last year. NEVER AGAIN.

  • Reply Becky @ RunFunDone September 12, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    I like occasional cheaper live events, but for the most part, I’m on Joanna’s side. I always have to think, “Is this really $__ worth of fun?” And for me, concerts and football games are not usually worth the expense in my mind. Yet, I take an international vacation every year, and for me those experiences are well worth it!

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:06 am

      Agreed. And I’m still trying to convince Johnny on the international vacation idea! He’s convinced that all he needs is sand and sun. Booo.

  • Reply EcoCatLady September 13, 2014 at 2:53 am

    For me it depends on the event.

    Football – No Way! Watching on television is vastly superior because you can actually see the plays, plus you can turn down the sound on the TV and listen to the play by play guys on the radio who are worlds better than the stupid television announcers (with the special sports sync radio that allows you to sync the sound perfectly). Plus, you get the injury reports, and nobody obstructs your view with their stupid beer runs or doing the wave. Can you tell I’m a little bit obsessive about my football? 🙂

    Concerts – Well, I used to work in the music industry, so going to a show is a bit like a busman’s holiday for me. I find myself wanting to critique the concert producers… “oh, the lighting’s off there, too much bass in the mix, and who on earth chose that opening act?” So usually if I go see a show it’s because I know the artist personally, or it’s an occasion where lots of friends will be there and it’s a chance to catch up. Plus… having seen SOOO many concerts for free, it’s really, REALLY hard to make myself cough up the amount of money they charge for a ticket these days!

    I guess the long and short of it is I’m with Joanna on this one.

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:09 am

      You’re totally right about radio announcers. If there’s a really awesome football play, we’ll sometimes listen in to see how the radio announcer did it. So much more exciting to hear them! I didn’t know about this sports sync radio, though… I’ll have to look into that!

  • Reply Yvann September 13, 2014 at 8:07 am

    I love to go to the theatre/opera/musicals so that’s definitely shelling out the ££ for a live event, but it’s not one that’s available on TV as an alternative, so does that count?

    I’d usually rather watch sports from home; I don’t get a lot from stadium atmosphere. (Cricket is my sport though, maybe it’s too genteel for stadium atmosphere?).

    Guess I’ll be hearing from a Nigerian prince!

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:11 am

      No, the theatre doesn’t count one bit. I happen to love musicals and live plays, but Johnny hates them (go figure) so we’ve been to very few lately!

  • Reply The Roamer September 14, 2014 at 1:20 am

    I agree with you. I’d rather pocket the money.
    I just don’t see why to ever pay crazy $$ for those things. Neither of us are sports watching fans. The 2 times I went to go see baseball live I about wanted to just go to sleep.The hockey games where more entertaining but still not my or our thing we would totally pocket the money.

    I use to think music would be worth it but not even that. Specially with free summer concert put on by so many cities. I guess you could argue they are not famous people, but really that seem to me like it would be a juvenile argument not all super talented people make it to the big times. So why pay when you can get the entertainment for free.

    AS for DATE NIGHT its a must. But having kids means one on one conversations don’t happen a ton on a regular day basis so to me a date would be to reconnect with my partner… how are concert, games, even movies conducive to that? they really aren’t.

    eh but that’s me. So I am definitely a she says on this one, but i wouldn’t buy clothes either. HAHA I’m on the early retirement train and every dollar counts!

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:15 am

      I agree that date nights should involve talking! But trust me, Johnny does plenty of talking during a live football game. I just get to listen and be entertained. Sometimes his commentary is way more entertaining than the actual game!

  • Reply kelsey September 14, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    I enjoy live events, but only if it’s something I REALLY love. Otherwise it’s not worth it. Taylor Swift concert? Worth it. Football game? Not even close. 🙂

    • Reply Joanna September 16, 2014 at 1:17 am

      Agreed. I have to be SUPER excited in order for all the other things that come with live events to be worth it. Taylor Swift is a good choice.

  • Reply jena September 24, 2014 at 8:20 am

    We don’t do sports, so that drastically cuts down the number of live events we could go to. I also don’t do crowds, so, that pretty much eliminates them all. We were gifted Kenny Chesney tickets last year, and while the show was AMAZING, and I would LOVE to go again, I couldn’t spend that much money for it. I really hate crowds, and it’s just so loud.

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