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Envision finding yourself with a open night. You are energized, eager for new things, and hoping to change your usual routine of relaxing at home. Your options offers possibilities! Would you opt for a) attending a concert or b) engaging in intimacy? The answer, as frequently seen with such kinds of queries, is obviously: “That depends.” Thinking adults might logically ask: what kind of the gig? Who's the partner? Is it likely to be good?

Not many would pick a intense rock concert if the other option was a magical night with a favorite star. But adjust one side of the comparison, and it becomes less obvious. In the case of the participants posed this query from a major concert promoter, no further clarification was provided – and the response was revealed clearly and strongly in favour of concerts.

Research Findings Reveal Interesting Preferences

A worldwide study, interviewing a large sample ranging from 18 and 54 from 15 markets, revealed that concerts are now the most popular form of entertainment, surpassing games, cinema and – indeed – sex. If restricted to a single form of entertainment for the rest of their lives, 39% of respondents chose live music, versus going to the cinema (17%) and games (14%). The group was more than twice as inclined to prefer attending their preferred performer live (70%) over sex (30%).

You arrive expecting to be happily shocked – and frequently you’ll end up with a stranger's hair in your mouth

Context and Considerations

Naturally it makes sense that a promotional study conducted for a live event company would result so overwhelmingly preferring live shows – and, amid the playful mood of a would-you-rather, if your favourite artist is, such as a legendary singer, one can appreciate why watching him might win out instead of a common or garden encounter. Yet this binary choice between gigs or sexual activity, plainly ridiculous even if it seems, is fascinating to consider amid the peculiar point we experience with both.

The Change of Gig Attendance

In recent years, concert attendance has evolved into more than a communal experience but a competitive sport. Event companies duly point out that stadium attendance has “grown significantly year-over-year”, and music festivals sell out faster than ever. Just obtaining tickets now demands military-level planning, instant reactions and deep finances (or a generous credit card limit). Though you’re successful, it isn't sufficient to simply turn up and watch the performance. Nowadays exists an expectation, especially for concertgoers, that you could increase your experience quality by attending more than once (including overseas trips), learning the performance lineup in advance and understanding the rituals to follow and fan traditions created by past attendees.

Numerous attendees describe being scarred by their participation at major tours: what seemed like a choreographed performance of massive crowds, in which particular fans turned up unfamiliar with the routine. That 18-month event, producing huge revenue, was proof of the degree to which fans will travel to feel part of a cultural moment and experience their top musician perform, though the live sound grows somewhat secondary to the production.

The State of Current Relationships

Intimacy, on the other hand – a relatively cheap and common experience – faces dire straits. Based on recent surveys, approximately 25% of individuals engaged sexually in an typical week, while nearly 30% were not engaging. In a different nation, current statistics revealed that more than 25% of adults reported not having intimacy even once in the last twelve months, up from fewer people in earlier years. Across these regions, the shift has been associated with reduced intimacy among younger people. Juxtapose this with the industry driving growth for large concerts and the intense rivalry for admissions. Naturally it isn't straightforward as a straightforward choice between both alternatives – “could you choose experience a popular event multiple times, or stay celibate?” – but it’s perhaps an signal of which is perceived as the more dependable satisfaction.

Interesting Comparisons

Sex and live music are more comparable than people often believe. They both embody the initiation of a bond, a actual experience of ideas or potential that could have built just in your mind. You show up with some idea of how it’s likely to go, but hopeful of being pleasantly surprised – and how it ends up satisfying or frustrating rests largely on how your vibe and expectations correspond with partners. Frequently you might find with a stranger's hair in your mouth, and later be waiting around for a cigarette and a moment alone alone. Similarly for each, drugs and alcohol can potentially heighten or detract from the experience (but absolutely assist the most unpleasant experiences more bearable).

Seeking Harmony

The appeal to live events and relationships hinges on locating that elusive sweet spot between familiarity and novelty, consistency and change, effort and ease. Certainly it's uncommon – but it’s the memory of when they did, the awareness that it can happen, that motivates us to give it another shot: to {