That’s right, the time Swifties have eagerly been waiting for has arrived — Taylor is finally on tour again! My TikTok feed is absolutely dominated by concert videos, outfit inspiration and tips for those attending! As a frequent concert-goer myself — and an established Swiftie — what better way can I utilize my knowledge other than sharing my expertise with others! 

So, without further ado, here is the ultimate guide to The Eras Tour!

Getting tickets and seating

If you didn’t get a chance to buy tickets when they first went on sale, don’t fret! StubHub has plenty of resellers — though, unfortunately, at marked up prices. My tip is to constantly check the website until you find a good deal (usually you can tell which tickets are from resellers trying to make a profit and which tickets are people who genuinely just need to resell their tickets based on the price).

As for seating, if you don’t mind not having floor tickets, I’d suggest getting something a little higher than the pit. Taylor has made a really elaborate stage and it’d be nice to see the whole thing! As for visibility, I usually go for a spot either in the middle or slightly to the side of the bowl for a good view. I wouldn’t recommend anything closer to the ends of the bowl, because you run a risk of only seeing the back of the stage for the entire show.

Parking and transportation

This is a big one, because it’ll make or break what time you’ll arrive at the venue. I would not recommend Uber-ing — all Ubers just always get stuck in a massive line to the drop-off section of the venue. If you’re visiting a town, I would suggest renting a car instead, if you’re capable. Though, if you have no other option but to Uber, NEVER rely on the app’s estimated time of arrival. If it says you’ll get to the venue in an hour, assume it’ll take 3 hours — hundreds of people are going to the same place you are so traffic is inevitable. This goes for those driving themselves as well.

That said, if you are driving instead, you have to get a parking pass. Nothing is worse than getting there and having to buy a parking pass at the actual venue. You will be holding yourself, and others, up from getting inside the stadium. It’s not worth it — buy your parking pass as soon as you know you’ll need one.

Arrival time

This differs depending on what you’re planning to do once you get inside the stadium. If you’re planning on getting merchandise and food, I would aim on getting there around 2-3 p.m. — which I know sounds ridiculously early, but these lines also get ridiculously long. You don’t want to be stuck in a line then have to miss the first bit of the show.

If you plan on just arriving and going straight to your seat, I’d try to get there around 4-5 p.m. These venues are large so you want to give yourself time to get in and find your seat.

Bags

This is a stadium tour, and most stadiums have strict bag policies. The biggest bag you can take in is a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ CLEAR bag — again, it has to be clear, or you will have to get out of line and leave your bag behind. If you don’t have any clear bags, some stadiums will let you take in a small clutch. Approved sizes for the clutch differ from venue to venue, so I would check your stadium’s website to be sure. 

Concert etiquette

You’d be surprised how many people don’t know basic concert etiquette, so let’s go over it! First and foremost, do not throw things on the stage. Artists are people, not show-animals — don’t throw things at them. You run the risk of not only obstructing the show, but hurting the artist as well. 

Second, don’t get on someone’s shoulders for a better view. The only thing you’ll be doing is making someone else’s concert experience terrible by blocking their view. It’s selfish and unnecessary.

Third, don’t wave signs in front of people throughout the entire show and block their view. Again, you’ll be making someone else’s experience worse by doing this. You’re more than welcome to hold it up, but don’t do it throughout the entire show.

Outfits and friendship bracelets

A huge theme with every Taylor Swift concert is the unique and completely remarkable outfits people put together for them. Now, it’s not necessary, but it does make the experience of planning for the show really fun! The sky’s the limit when it comes to costumes for your show — I’ve seen a lot of people dress up as past versions of Taylor or representations of lyrics. I, for example, am debating between dressing up as a mirrorball, something Lover-themed, or Taylor from the “You Need To Calm Down” music video!

But, what’s special about this tour is the incorporation of friendship bracelets! As an homage to the lyric in “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” Swifties have started making friendship bracelets to give out and trade at their concerts! This is something I’m doing, and it’s been so fun for me to make them so far. I look forward to the excitement from people as I give them out. If you’re headed to the Aug. 4 show in Los Angeles, I hope to find you and give you a bracelet!

Memorabilia

If you’re a major Swiftie like myself, you’ll want some scraps as a memento. Tons of people save the confetti that’s thrown during the show as a keepsake. Another special thing with Taylor Swift concerts that you can keep is the light-up bracelets given out at the entrance (don’t miss out on that!). Overall, if you don’t want to splurge on merch, these are great alternatives for a good tour memento.

These shows look incredible so far, so you’re bound to have an incredible time! All in all, I hope everyone’s concert experience is splendid! Good luck!