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Imagine having a open night. You're feeling refreshed, open to experience, and looking to shake up your typical schedule of evening scrolling. Life itself offers possibilities! Would you prefer a) attending a concert or b) engaging in intimacy? The response, as typically true with these types of hypotheticals, is plainly: “That depends.” Thinking adults may reasonably ask: what kind of the gig? Who's the other person? Is it going to be enjoyable?

Hardly anyone would choose a heavy metal lineup if the other option was a dream date with a favorite star. Yet change one side of the equation, and it grows less obvious. Regarding the 40,000 people posed this query by a major concert promoter, no further clarification was given – and the result emerged unambiguously and strongly preferring gigs.

Research Findings Show Surprising Preferences

An international survey, questioning a large sample ranging from 18 and 54 across different nations, showed that concerts currently stand as the most popular pastime, beating out sports, films and – absolutely – intimacy. Given the choice to only one option of enjoyment permanently, 39% of respondents picked live music, compared to going to the cinema (17%) and games (14%). They were also more than twice as likely to select attending their preferred performer live (70%) instead of intimacy (30%).

You show up hopeful of being happily shocked – and frequently you’ll end up with someone else’s hair in your mouth

Context and Considerations

Naturally it makes sense that a marketing research commissioned by a live event company should come out so overwhelmingly supporting gigs – and, amid the playful mood of a hypothetical choice, if your top performer is, such as a legendary singer, one can appreciate why attending his concert might win out rather than a routine situation. However this either-or decision between gigs or sex, obviously silly as it is, is noteworthy to consider given the odd juncture we’re at with both.

The Evolution of Gig Attendance

Over the past few years, gig-going has grown beyond a communal experience but a intense competition. Live organizations appropriately highlight that arena crowds has “tripled each year”, and festivals get booked up more rapidly than previously. Just obtaining passes now needs detailed strategy, quick decision-making and bottomless pockets (or a high spending capacity). Even if you succeed, it’s not enough to merely attend and watch the performance. Currently there is an anticipation, particularly with music enthusiasts, that you could increase your enjoyment value by seeing several shows (potentially going abroad), learning the song selection ahead of time and memorizing the cues to hit and audience interactions created by previous crowds.

Many concertgoers describe being affected by their attendance at large concerts: appearing as a scripted production of thousands of people, to which particular fans turned up unaware of the routine. Those lengthy event, generating billions, showed of the degree to which fans will travel to feel part of a historic occasion and see their favourite artist play, even if the actual music grows somewhat overshadowed by the spectacle.

The Situation of Modern Intimacy

Intimacy, on the other hand – a relatively cheap and accessible pleasure – faces dire straits. According to recent surveys, approximately 25% of adults were intimate in an regular period, while just under a third were abstaining. Elsewhere, recent data indicated that a significant portion of individuals said they had not sex at all in the past year, increasing from smaller percentages in previous decades. Across these regions, the trend has been attributed to less sexual activity in youth demographics. Juxtapose this with the industry driving growth for stadium extravaganzas and the intense rivalry for tickets. Naturally it isn't straightforward as a basic option between either option – “would you rather see a major tour multiple times, or avoid intimacy?” – but it’s perhaps an indication of which is perceived as the more consistent pleasure.

Interesting Comparisons

Relationships and gigs are more similar than you might think. Each symbolizes the activation of a relationship, a actual experience of expectations or possibility that could have built just in your mind. You arrive with a basic expectation of what might happen, but expecting to be pleasantly surprised – and if it turns out satisfying or frustrating relies heavily on whether your energy and anticipations correspond with partners. Frequently you might find with someone else’s hair in your mouth, and later be lingering for a break and some quiet time on your own. Similarly for each, substances and drinks can sometimes improve or lessen the situation (but certainly help the worst occasions easier to weather).

Finding the Balance

The magic to concerts and intimacy relies on discovering that perfect combination between comfort and excitement, consistency and change, work and relaxation. Certainly it happens only rarely – but it's the recollection of successful moments, the knowledge that it can happen, that drives us to give it another shot: to {