Concert anxiety? (Page 2 of 2)

Thanks, Banshee. Yeah, everyone who's chimed in here totally rocks! I feel like I'll be in very good company; even though I haven't met any of you yet, it eases my mind knowing that I'll be among friends. And I'm sure this will be the first concert of many, since he seems to make Iowa a regular stop. Thank you all again for all the support and encouragement. See you guys in a couple days!

Ok, gang, time for an update! I put most of my impressions of the show in the Des Moines/Iowa Trifecta thread in the Show Reviews and Set Lists forum, but I wanted to let those of you who contributed to this thread know how I fared on Friday night (hint: mostly great!). 

As Patty mentioned, my guitar teacher Chris is one of the sweetest, mellowest guys around, so I felt pretty calm going into it, but it also helped to see when I got to the Civic Center that the seats had tons of leg room and were spaced out enough so that the theater felt very airy, not claustrophobic at all. On the other side of me was a mother and her 7-year-old daughter (so cute!) who apparently was the niece of the production manager. It was her fifth Joe concert! Starting 'em out young, lol! Anyway, I was happy to have a nice family next to me and not a drunken hooligan (there were plenty of those in the row in front of me and closer to the center; they were quite chatty during some of Joe's quietest solo parts in John Henry and Django, which irked me a bit, but I just tried to tune them out).

Did employ my earplugs during part of the first set, as we were on the left side right near one of the huge speakers and it seemed pretty loud, but I did the electric set without, since the earplugs really muddied the sound and I wanted to hear everything as pristinely as possible. Also, since I knew the setlist in advance, I knew when I should step out if I needed to, and I did, as the volume and energy of the place were just making my bones rattle a bit. Nothing too bad, though. Went out to the bathroom, walked a bit, and just took a breather so I could go back in and hear a few of my favorites to close out the show. Didn't have a freakout moment til I walked back in, haha -- I was going to stand against the side wall until the song was over so I wouldn't walk in people's way, but I made the mistake of looking up toward the back of the theater and was like, "holy s**t! that's a ton of people!" and promptly went right back out into the hallway. Once I took another minute to chillax, I came back in just in time for the next song, and succeeded in tricking my mind into believing that it was just me and Joe and the eight rows of people in front of me there, so I felt like I was at an intimate venue rather than a stadium. Everything was fine from there on out; it was just a little more intense at the end since people were getting rowdier and I was getting more tired and my ears were probably a little tired too. But it was all well worth it. I met some of you kind folks, and I got to see Joe up close and personal, which I've wanted to do for so long. I'm glad I did it, and proud of myself for going and just honoring what I needed each step of the way. When's he coming back??

Thank you! Yeah, sometimes the buildup or nervous anticipation is worse than the reality! But it really helped to have everyone on here reassuring me that it was fine to get up or do whatever I needed. Joe was so incredible; I just feel fortunate to have been able to finally see him.

Girl .. that is awesome!

U controlled each situation like a champ! ^5 (high five!) .. and I'm willin to bet ur cheeks will be sore for another week .. that silly grin ur still wearin eh .. lol

Glad to hear u had a wonderful experience .. and met some awesome folks while doin it.

Anxiety got shown the door .. u settled for exhilarating

So glad you got to enjoy it and made such huge strides against that evil anxiety.   I too feel like Joe is playing just for me sometimes, just his music is so intimate at times.  Congrats and give yourself a huge pat on the back

Mary