In brief
Despite the booming concert industry in India, attendees are reporting poor experiences due to inadequate infrastructure and high ticket prices, leading some to consider attending events in other countries instead.
Concertgoers across India are growing increasingly discontent with the conditions at major music events, voicing their frustrations over unsanitary restroom facilities and chaotic traffic. During Punjabi pop star Diljit Dosanjh’s recent performance in Chandigarh, attendees like Amrita Kaur found themselves grappling with inadequate crowd control and insufficient sanitation. The experience was compounded by mobile network failures, which raised concerns about personal safety amidst large groups.Kaur, who expected the usual frenzy that accompanies live performances, was instead left disillusioned by long restroom queues that forced her to choose between restrooms or missing a part of the show. "You pay so much for a ticket and what do you get in return? A possible urinary infection and a bad headache with some bouts of music," she lamented.Currently, India’s live music scene is thriving, with concerts generating around 8 billion rupees (approximately $94.1 million) in revenue last year. This figure is projected to increase significantly, with more than 400,000 young Indiann fans traveling to different cities for live performances, showcasing the growing enthusiasm and demand for such events. However, this has not translated into improved concert experiences, with recent incidents like a diabetic man having an embarrassing mishap due to poor restroom access making headlines.Faced with complaints about infrastructure, Dosanjh shocked fans by declaring he would refrain from performing in India until the conditions improve, although he later clarified he was referring to a specific venue. Social media has since been flooded with grievances over excessively priced tickets on scalping sites and horrid traffic conditions.Those who can afford it are now choosing to attend concerts abroad. Bengaluru lawyer Ishika Goon recounted a much better experience at Adele's concert in Munich, where the facilities remained clean throughout the event. Concert promoters attribute some of the challenges to the lack of dedicated concert venues, often leading to events being hosted in suboptimal conditions that can't handle large crowds efficiently.Anmol Kukreja, co-founder of live entertainment company Skillbox, explained that unlike in many Western nations, India lacks sufficient dedicated spaces for live music, leading to many logistical issues. Organisers often have to invest considerably in temporary infrastructure like restrooms and stages, which can lead to heavy financial losses.The discontent isn’t just among fans; many smaller indie artists feel sidelined by the industry's focus on appealing to large crowds, as economic viability often dictates which events get staged. Increasingly, even large-scale international music festivals have failed to meet audience expectations in terms of cleanliness and basic amenities, frustrating fans who have paid hefty sums for tickets.Concerns regarding accessibility also loom large, as many venues neglect providing adequate arrangements for disabled attendees. The expectations for facilities at high-profile events are being matched with the growing dissatisfaction that could threaten the industry’s upward trajectory.While some continue to cling to the thrill of chaos at concerts, the consensus is clear: without significant improvements in venue infrastructure and basic amenities, fan loyalty may quickly wane. As India braces for future concerts from acts like Ed Sheeran and Green Day, hopeful attendees wish for a far superior experience than they've encountered thus far.
