🔗 Share this article

Picture being gifted with a free evening. You feel refreshed, open to experience, and wanting to break from your usual routine of post-work slumping. Your options offers possibilities! Do you opt for a) attending a concert or b) having sex? The answer, as typically the case with these types of queries, is plainly: “That depends.” Thinking adults might logically inquire: what kind of the show? Who's the partner? Could it be going to be good?

Hardly anyone would select a intense rock concert if the choice was a dream date with a beloved celebrity. But adjust one side of the equation, and it turns less obvious. For the participants presented with this choice by a live event company, no such context was given – and the answer emerged decisively and strongly in favour of live music events.

Study Data Show Surprising Choices

An international survey, polling 40,000 people ranging from 18 and 54 in different nations, showed that live music currently stand as the number one form of entertainment, beating out athletic events, films and – absolutely – sexual intercourse. When limited to only one option of enjoyment for the rest of their lives, a significant portion chose gigs, against film attendance (17%) and athletic competitions (14%). Participants were more than twice as inclined to select seeing their favourite artist on stage (70%) over sexual activity (30%).

You arrive hopeful of being happily shocked – and frequently you might find with someone else’s hair in your mouth

Perspectives and Analysis

Naturally it's expected that a PR survey commissioned by a live event company might conclude so overwhelmingly supporting live shows – and, in the freewheeling spirit of a would-you-rather, if your preferred musician is, say a legendary singer, you can see why watching him may be chosen over a common or garden situation. But this binary choice between gigs or sex, plainly ridiculous as it is, is interesting to reflect on considering the strange point we face with each.

The Change of Concert Culture

Over the past few years, concert attendance has become not just a communal experience but a competitive sport. Event companies duly point out that large venue turnout has “grown significantly annually”, and music festivals are fully reserved more rapidly than previously. Just obtaining passes now requires military-level planning, instant reactions and bottomless pockets (or a substantial budget). Although you manage, it isn't sufficient to just show up and watch the performance. There’s now an expectation, particularly with pop fans, that you might enhance your experience quality by seeing several shows (potentially going abroad), studying the song selection ahead of time and understanding the rituals to perform and audience interactions established by previous crowds.

Several concertgoers report feeling scarred by their attendance at large concerts: what felt like a orchestrated show of thousands of people, in which some individuals came unaware of the steps. The extended tour, earning massive sums, showed of the extents that people will go to participate in a historic occasion and experience their top musician perform, even if the actual music seems increasingly overshadowed by the production.

The Situation of Contemporary Sexuality

Sexual activity, on the other hand – an accessible and accessible pleasure – faces challenging circumstances. Based on modern research, about a quarter of people engaged sexually in an typical week, while nearly 30% were not engaging. In a different nation, recent data showed that over a quarter of people admitted to avoiding sexual activity a single time in the past year, increasing from smaller percentages in previous decades. In both territories, the trend has been linked to reduced intimacy in youth demographics. Juxtapose this with the market driving growth for large concerts and the intense rivalry for admissions. Naturally it's more complicated as a basic option between both alternatives – “do you prefer see a major tour repeatedly, or remain abstinent?” – but it’s perhaps an signal of which is perceived as the more consistent pleasure.

Unexpected Similarities

Sex and live music are closer aligned than people often believe. They both embody the initiation of a relationship, a real-world test of ideas or potential that might have amassed just in your mind. You come with a general notion of how it’s likely to go, but hopeful of being delightfully amazed – and if it turns out satisfying or frustrating rests largely on how your vibe and hopes align with others. Frequently you might find with someone else’s hair in your mouth, and following be waiting around for a smoke and personal space alone. And, in both cases, substances and drinks can either enhance or reduce the experience (but absolutely assist the worst experiences more bearable).

Finding the Balance

The wonder to both gigs and sex relies on locating that elusive sweet spot between comfort and excitement, consistency and change, work and relaxation. Of course it happens only rarely – but it’s the memory of when it worked, the knowledge that success is achievable, that motivates us to try again: to {