As a soon-to-be high school graduate with no job, I don’t exactly have cash to throw around. But one thing is for sure: when I get money, I have some priorities. First up: things that I recently ran out of, like hair-ties or my favorite lip balm. After that: concerts.

Most people see a concert as a waste of money. These are the people who’ve probably never seen their favorite artists live. Hell, do they even listen to music?

First of all, the worth of a concert directly equates to your love for an artist. If you spend three hundred dollars to see The Weeknd this year without listening to “Starboy”, go for it, but it may be a little awkward… (why have you not listened to Starboy??) But if you love every song, it’s guaranteed that you’ll have the time of your life.

People also think that you have to go with someone to a concert. While this is preferred by most, I can’t agree. I love being so into the lyrics and the moment at a show that I forget there are people around me at all. I saw Chance the Rapper by myself last October, and trust me, I didn’t miss my friends.

There’s this weird process of emotions that I go through every time I see a show. (If you go to a lot of concerts you get it.) I wake up the day of, more than stoked, wondering what songs they’ll perform, if I’ll have really good seats, or if the opener will do something crazy (not to mention hearing surprise guest rumors beforehand).

Then, I have to get ready, right away. I pick out what I want to wear, and it has to go with the atmosphere and whatever artist I’m seeing. Red Adidas windbreaker for Chance, flower crown for Disclosure, red flannel for Young the Giant. I love being on theme, even just a bit.

Arriving at the concert is the most stressful part for me. I don’t mind standing in line. But when you go to a small venue, sometimes there’s no line, which, in my anxiety ridden subconscious, means I’ve showed up to the wrong address (only once).

I also always get stressed about my ticket. I know that it’s a legit ticket, I only purchase from artists sites, but what if it doesn’t work?? What if I didn’t overthink everything?? That would be nice…

Once I get in, I have two things on my mind: merch and seats. I mean, if you don’t keep your ticket or buy a piece of merchandise, did you really go?

After I get to my seat or find my spot in the crowd, the best part of the concert has arrived. I can enjoy every song by my some of my favorite creators. This collection of moments always finds it’s way into my box of favorite memories, thus becoming my favorite part of the show each time.

The craziest part of a show to me is when you realize where you are. At that point, it’s practically sensory overload. I have a moment at every show that I go to. I look around me and realize that I’m in a room with (potentially) thousands of people. We’re all in the same room as one of our favorite people. This always makes me really emotional, but also the happiest I’ve ever felt.

If you go to a show and you’re allowed to take pictures, do it. But don’t forget that you should be looking past your phone, not through it. It’s so much more real when you’re looking straight at your favorite band.

After I’m home, beside immediate fatigue, I’m insanely excited. I just saw the maker of my favorite song, or my favorite album. I can’t wait for the next show.

Is your favorite band or artist coming to your city? Buy the tickets. You may be out of lip balm for a few weeks, but it will be more than worth it.