Going to an event alone feels daunting if you have never done it. The thought of standing in a crowd by yourself, eating alone, or not having someone to share the experience with can be enough to stop you going at all. Which means you miss out on incredible music, comedy, sport, and culture simply because nobody else is available or interested.
That is a shame, because solo event-going is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Once you try it, you may find you actually prefer it.
Why going alone is actually great
Before we get into the practical advice, let us address the fear directly. Here is why solo events are not just tolerable but genuinely enjoyable:
Total freedom. You see exactly what you want to see. No compromises about which stage to watch, where to stand, when to eat, or when to leave. If you want to spend an hour at a tiny stage watching a folk band nobody has heard of, you can. If you want to leave early, you leave. Nobody else's preferences or energy levels affect your decisions.
Better focus. Without conversation and social dynamics, you pay more attention to the performance. Many solo gig-goers describe a deeper connection to the music because they are fully present rather than managing a group experience.
You meet more people. This sounds counterintuitive, but it is true. When you are with a group, you talk to your group. When you are alone, you talk to the people around you. Solo event-goers consistently report having more conversations with strangers than they do when attending with friends.
Nobody cares that you are alone. This is the big one. At any event, the vast majority of people are too busy enjoying themselves to notice or care whether you are with someone. If they do notice, their reaction is more likely to be admiration than pity. Solo event-goers are seen as confident and independent, not sad and lonely.
Starting small
If the idea of going to a three-day festival alone makes you anxious, start with something smaller. A good progression for building solo event confidence looks like this:
- A film at the cinema alone. Low stakes, low interaction, easy. The lights go down and nobody can see you anyway.
- A comedy night. You are in a crowd, you are all laughing together, and the format naturally creates a shared experience without requiring you to interact. See our comedy club guide for what to expect.
- A small gig. A standing show at a 200 to 500-capacity venue. The intimacy of small venues makes it easy to strike up conversation, and the shared love of the artist gives you instant common ground with everyone there.
- A day festival or outdoor concert. A single-day event with multiple acts. You can explore at your own pace and leave when you are ready.
- A multi-day festival. The ultimate solo event experience. It sounds intimidating, but festival culture is inherently social and welcoming to solo attendees.
Practical tips for solo events
Safety
All the standard safety advice applies regardless of whether you are alone or in a group, but there are a few additional considerations for solo attendees:
- Tell someone where you are going. Let a friend or family member know the event, the venue, and when you expect to be home.
- Share your location. Use your phone's live location sharing feature with a trusted contact for the duration of the event.
- Keep your phone charged. Your phone is your lifeline for navigation, communication, and safety. A power bank is essential. Read our guide to keeping your phone charged for more on this.
- Trust your instincts. If a situation or a person makes you uncomfortable, leave. You do not owe anyone an explanation. Being alone means you can extract yourself from any situation immediately without waiting for a group.
- Know your limits with alcohol. Without friends to keep an eye on you, you need to manage your own intake. This is not a reason not to drink, just a reason to be more aware of it.
Positioning
Where you stand or sit at an event as a solo attendee can affect your experience significantly:
- At standing gigs, the middle of the crowd is a good spot. You are surrounded by people enjoying the same thing, and it is easy to start chatting to those around you.
- At comedy clubs, avoid the front row if you do not want to be picked on by the comedian. Second or third row gives a great experience with less interaction pressure.
- At seated events, aisle seats give you easy access in and out without having to ask people to move.
- At festivals, positions near the sound desk (usually the middle of the crowd) give the best audio and a good view without being in the crush at the front.
Making conversation
You do not have to talk to anyone if you do not want to. Going solo does not obligate you to be social. But if you do want to chat, events provide natural conversation starters that barely exist in normal life:
- "Have you seen them before?" works at any gig.
- "What are you looking forward to?" works at any festival.
- "What do you think of the venue?" works anywhere.
- Commenting on the performance between songs or during an interval is natural and welcome.
Most people at events are in a good mood and receptive to friendly conversation. The worst that happens is a brief, polite exchange. The best that happens is you make a new friend.
Solo festivals
Festivals are perhaps the best events to attend alone, despite seeming like the most intimidating. The extended duration means you have time to settle in, the campsite culture is inherently social, and the variety of programming means you always have something to do.
Camping alone
Pitch your tent near other people rather than in an isolated corner. Introduce yourself to your tent neighbours. Festival neighbours often become festival friends who you eat with, walk to stages with, and watch out for each other's belongings. Some festivals even have designated "solo traveller" camping areas where people going alone can camp together.
Eating alone
Food areas at festivals have communal seating. Sit down at a shared table and you will almost always end up in conversation with whoever is next to you. Nobody at a festival thinks twice about someone eating alone. Everyone does it at some point, even people who came with a group.
The freedom factor
Solo festivals are where the freedom advantage really shows. You wake when you want. You eat when you want. You watch what you want. You go to bed when you want. There is a particular joy in wandering a festival site with no plan and no obligations, following the sound of something interesting and ending up at a stage you never would have visited with a group.
Dealing with the awkward moments
There will be moments when being alone feels uncomfortable. The gap between support act and headliner when everyone around you is chatting in groups. The walk to the venue when everyone seems to be in pairs or groups. The moment the lights come up and you look around.
These moments pass quickly, and they are far less noticeable than you think. Everyone around you is thinking about their own experience, not about whether you are with someone. And the discomfort is vastly outweighed by the accumulation of brilliant moments you would have missed entirely if you had stayed home because nobody could come with you.
For more event advice, check out our arena concert guide and our event safety guide.
The best event you attend this year might be one you go to alone. The only thing stopping you is the decision to try it. Buy a ticket to something you want to see, go by yourself, and see what happens. The music does not sound any different just because you are on your own. If anything, you hear it more clearly.