For Campbell, multitude of concerts provides not just hobby, but way of life
Danae Campbell (11) looks over all the tickets she has collected from going to various concerts. She started attending concerts through the influence of her dad.
Arms flailing, legs kicking, head nodding in beat with the music, Danae Campbell (11) thrashed to the song being played by Sonic Boom Six, an English ska-reggae-punk band.
Thus Campbell weaves amongst the crowd during her latest excursion into the world of concerts.
For Campbell, going to concerts isn’t merely an occasional event to pass the time. It is a way of life.
Her vitality has long depended on going to concerts, which is why she chooses it fills much of her free time.
It all started at a young age, only 12 years old, when Campbell’s father first introduced her to the concert-going lifestyle.
Ever since that fated occasion, Campbell has gone to concerts almost non-stop.
It appears that she procured an insatiable appetite for going to concerts after that first experience.
Some would ask why her father tried inspire in her such a rampant passion for something so seemingly trivial to others.
Campbell said that he wished to instill in her an appreciation for live music.
“As a young adult, my dad went to a lot [of concerts] and wanted me to experience the same fun and joy,” Campbell said.
Campbell found that her father’s philosophy of experiencing music in person holds true, and said she wishes to spread the message to her friends and family.
Campbell is not a person exceptionally different than the rest of the teen concert-going population though.
She began going to concerts like most kids, mostly attending $20 shows at venues such as SOMA.
Her routine has evolved over time though.
She said that she has discovered little café and street corner shows at much cheaper prices than the concerts that she attended before.
The ticket prices in these smaller venues range from free to, at the most, $12, thus making going to a greater number of concerts more easily accessible to her.
Campbell is not only willing but delighted to show others the possibilities of attending a multitude of concerts in a frugal style.
“I think going to concerts should be an experience for all kids,” Campbell said. “I’ve gotten so many friends into going to shows. All their parents were hesitant at first but, my dad goes [with us] so that [gave the parents] reason to be OK with it.”
Campbell said that her concert-going lifestyle has led her to face stereotyping against her on occasion.
Campbell said she parries claims that concerts can convert good kids to juvenile delinquents through leading by example.
She maintains a GPA that will give her a strong chance in getting into competitive colleges and has a good relationship with her father, who often provides her rides and accompanies her to various concerts.
While Campbell doesn’t take much notice to concert naysayers, she does have a different problem to deal with.
Because of the economic downturn, Campbell does not attend concerts to such great extents as she used to.
These changes still hasn’t altered the fact that she still considers herself a voracious concert enthusiast.
“I used to go probably a couple times a week,” Campbell said, “But due to the absence of money and time, because of my hockey, I don't go as often, probably just a couple times a month now.”
Campbell said that she must look forward to a future where she can once again attend her concerts in greater volume.
But for now, she must make do with the still relatively massive amount of concerts she attends throughout the year.
With the economic situation of our country looking like it’s still going to be in the gutters in the very near future, Campbell just has to maintain her patience.
She must keep herself thriving on the knowledge that she has helped spread the joy of concerts to others.