If you’ve recently attended a concert, you’re probably wonderingwhyit started so late. Whilst it’s tempting to blame the artist themselves, the time a concert starts is almost-always out of the artist’s hands.
So, why do concerts always start late?
The primary reason concerts start late is to increase revenue; the more time patrons spend in the venue, the more money they’re likely to spend. Similarly, it allows maximum exposure for the opening acts and increases the perceived value of the ticket price. Occasionally, concerts will start late due to unforeseen technical issues.
Keep reading for an in-depth guide on why concerts consistently start late, as well as a full FAQ.
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To Increase Revenue
This is the primary reason why concerts start significantly later than the advertized time. Simply put,the more time patrons spend in the venue, the more money they spend.
Aside from ticket sales, most concerts feature three additional forms of monetization:
- Drink sales (for the venue)
- Parking (for the venue)
- Merch sales (for the artist)
Venues, promoters and artists know that giving patrons time to hang around will tempt them to wander over to the bar or the merch table.
Similarly, by extending the time patrons spend at the concert, a venue candoubleor eventripletheir parking revenue. Therefore, they’ll start the concert slightly later than advertized and insert lengthy intermissions in-between acts.
To Ensure There’s A Crowd For The Opening Act
Concert-goers are notorious for showing up late to concerts. This is usually for one of the following two reasons:
- They finish work late: If a concert-goer finishes work at 6:00PM, it’s unlikely they’ll make a 7PM start time for a concert they’re attending that evening.
- They aren’t interested in seeing the opening acts:Sometimes, concert-goers simply don’t feel like going early and sitting through two or three opening acts before the featured artist takes the stage.
Something you might not know is that opening acts are often on the same label/promotions/management roster as the featured artist.
When a label, promoter or management company invests money into an event for an established artist, they’ll usually take the opportunity to cross-promote their smaller acts. It’s in their best interest to ensure as many people as possible see the opening act.
Therefore, they’ll push the start time back by approximately one hour to allow everyone a chance to arrive at the venue before the concert actually starts.
If you’d like to learn more about why concerts feature opening acts, check out our dedicated article.
To Make The Ticket Seem More Reasonably-Priced
The main reason concert ticket prices are so expensive is because of the substantial overhead costs involved.
Venue hire can run into the tens of thousands, as can tour insurance. Furthermore, the musicians themselves require travel, accommodation, catering and a salary.
Despite the high costs involved, a band or artist can only realistically perform for between90 and 120 minutes.This is for two reasons:
- Not enough material: A band or artist will usually release an album every 1-2 years. As touring generates far more revenue than album sales in the modern-day music industry, it’s usually prioritized over recording. A band or artist that has only released one or two albums simply won’t have enough material to form a set that’s longer than two hours.
- Fatigue: Music performance is very physically-demanding. Musicians may have to perform energetic choreography, whilst simultaneously dealing with the stress of playing in front of a large audience. A singer’s voice will also start experiencing fatigue after approximately two hours of singing.
To make the ticket price seem more reasonable, concerts are usually extended via the following two techniques:
- Featuring opening acts
- Extending start/intermission times
Technical Issues
There are a million things that can (and do) go wrong at concerts which set the entire night behind schedule. Here are two of the most common:
- Changeover time: For concerts with multiple opening acts, each opening act’s gear will have to be set upimmediatelybefore they play, then stripped downimmediatelyafterthey play (the headliner’s gear will usually be set up the whole time). Occasionally, gear may take longer than expected to set up/tear down or there may be a problem with a piece of equipment, meaning it’ll have to be fixed on the spot.
- Sound/power issues:I recently attended a concert where the power in the venue went out midway through an opening act’s set. It took almost half an hour for the power to be restored, which set the night significantly behind schedule.
FAQ
What Time Do ConcertsActuallyStart?
If you don’t really feel like hanging around in the venue, you’re safe to turn upbetween 45 minutes to an hour after the advertized time.
That being said, I’dstronglyencourage you to make sure you turn up in time for the opening acts when attending a concert. You might discover a new band or artist that brings immense value to your life, which in-turn helps out those trying to break into the industry.
What Time Are Concerts Over?
Most concerts will have a curfew ofaround 11PM.This is almost-always due to noise ordinances in the local area.
Are There Any Concerts That Start On Time?
Festivals almost-always start on time. With astaggeringamount of acts on the lineup, things simply can’t afford to slip behind schedule.
As festival-goers will be spending the entire day (or sometimesseveraldays) at the event, the organizers won’t have to try and keep them hanging around to increase their revenue.
Additional Posts
- Why Do Concerts Have Opening Acts?
- Why Do Bands Have Rugs On Stage?
- Why Do Musicians Wear Earpieces On Stage?
I'm an avid music enthusiast with a deep understanding of the intricacies of the live music industry. Having attended numerous concerts and delving into the behind-the-scenes aspects, I can shed light on the reasons why concerts often start later than advertised.
The primary motive behind delayed start times is a strategic move to increase revenue. Venues, promoters, and artists are well aware that the more time patrons spend in the venue, the more money they are likely to spend. Beyond ticket sales, concerts provide additional revenue streams such as drink sales, parking fees, and merchandise sales. By allowing patrons to linger, organizers can capitalize on these opportunities, effectively maximizing their earnings.
Moreover, starting late ensures a sizable crowd for the opening acts. Concert-goers have a tendency to arrive late, either due to work commitments or a lack of interest in the opening acts. To address this, organizers often push back the start time to give everyone a chance to arrive before the featured artist takes the stage. Opening acts, usually affiliated with the same label or management as the headliner, benefit from this delay as it provides more exposure to the audience.
Ticket pricing also plays a role in the late start phenomenon. High overhead costs, including venue rental, tour insurance, and artist expenses, contribute to the expensive nature of concert tickets. However, with artists realistically able to perform for only 90 to 120 minutes, concert organizers extend the overall duration through opening acts and prolonged start/intermission times. This tactic aims to make the ticket price seem more reasonable by offering a longer entertainment experience.
Technical issues are another factor leading to delayed start times. Common problems like changeover time between acts or sound/power issues can disrupt the schedule, pushing the entire event behind.
For those wondering about the logistics, concerts generally start between 45 minutes to an hour after the advertised time. However, it's advisable to arrive in time for the opening acts, as they often bring unique value to the overall concert experience.
Concerts typically conclude around 11 PM due to noise ordinances in the local area. Interestingly, festivals tend to start on time, given the multitude of acts on the lineup and the need to maintain a tight schedule for attendees spending extended periods at the event.
If you're curious about other aspects of the live music scene, feel free to ask.
