9 Tips to Prepare for a Concert at the SMDC Festival Grounds

Concert junkies are rejoicing because music festivals and concerts featuring local and international artists are again one after the other (sometimes even simultaneously. Nothing can ever compare to the exhilaration of seeing and hearing your favorite artist perform live on stage; after all, there’s nothing quite like that emotion that wells up inside you when you hear the first riff, first drumbeat, or first line of the opening song blasting through the speakers of a live concert venue. 

However, not all venues are created equal, especially here in Manila, and some require more effort and preparation not only from concert organizers but also from audiences, so that the concert or festival experience does not turn into a logistical nightmare.

The SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City is an enormous outdoor venue that can accommodate at least 50,000 people, making it seemingly ideal for shows headlined by the most popular local and foreign acts and their tens of thousands of followers. Staging a major event at such a venue can be challenging for concert promoters, for sure. Based on the experience of this writer as well as many other patrons who have watched shows at the venue, being on the other side of the fence—or rather, the stage—isn’t that much different. It can be challenging for audiences, too.

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Here are some points to consider if you intend to watch a concert at the SMDC Festival Grounds soon. Take this as friendly advice from a concerned citizen who loves going to concerts as much as you do.

1| Get the best tickets you can afford

Make sure that the artist you're going to see is worth the trip, and that you have good seats, or at least, you’re in a good section. As earlier mentioned, the venue is enormous so it's hard to feel connected to what's happening on stage if you don't have a good view and you're too far from the stage. 

These days, many artists offer livestreaming options to their shows, so you might want to consider that if you can’t get good tickets.

2| Meet your concert buddies before going to the venue

If you're going to the show with friends, make sure you meet them before going to the festival grounds. Telco signals in the area fluctuate regardless of the network you’re subscribed to (based on my experience), which makes it almost impossible to make calls with your mobile phone. Cell sites are likely overloaded during those hours and cannot handle the number of users. 

3| Check what you can and cannot bring to the venue

If you intend to bring an umbrella or a water tumbler, make sure it’s allowed. Otherwise, you will have to leave your umbrella or expensive flask at the gate. Don’t expect, though, that there’ll be a baggage counter for your belongings. Organizers will try their best to cover every foreseeable need of concertgoers, but you should be prepared, just in case. 

4| Make sure your feet are ready

Some areas around the venue are muddy, so wear comfortable shoes that you can wash or clean after the show.

5| Bring your own vehicle if you have one

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Bring your own car or motorcycle or bicycle if you intend to go home after the show. Get information on secure parking areas beforehand. As earlier mentioned, cellphone signals and data connectivity are erratic, and remember that you’re probably going to be competing with hundreds if not thousands of other concertgoers. That makes it very difficult or even downright impossible to book a ride through ride-sharing services after the show.

6| Don’t drive? Ask someone to pick you up

If you do not drive your own vehicle, have someone pick you up and set a time and place beforehand so you won't have trouble coordinating. Again, expect mobile signal and data connectivity to be extremely limited before, during, and after the show.

7| If transportation is an issue, get a room!

If you don't have a car and no one can pick you up, book a hotel room near the venue so you can walk to the hotel and have a good night’s sleep after the show.

If you cannot afford any of the swanky hotels in the area, consider staying overnight at one of the motels within the vicinity. There are a few near Taft Avenue corner EDSA.

8| Do not rely on public transportation or ride-sharing services

Do not ever assume that you will be able to instantly book a ride-sharing service or ride public transportation from the nearest bus stop within a reasonable timeframe. Again, you will be competing with thousands of other commuters. 

One concert patron said that even if you do secure a data connection, most of the motorcycle ride-sharing service providers turn into habal-habal riders and many of the car ride-sharing drivers turn into colorum drivers. They tend to overcharge, just like some taxi drivers who refuse passengers unless offered to be paid an exorbitant fee.

Another concert patron claims that he rode his own bicycle to and from the festival grounds, fully aware of how difficult it can be to commute from the area.

Another had to walk all the way to City of Dreams just to be able to book a ride.

Walking to Mall of Asia might help if your intention is to find a jeepney that will take you elsewhere. You might be lucky enough to ride one to Taft Avenue, but getting a ride from there is yet another challenge and might take you another couple of hours. There’s a fast-food joint at the mall there that’s open 24 hours—grab a bite while waiting!

9| Stay nourished and hydrated

Drink lots of water and eat dinner before the show. You can buy food and drinks at the venue, but expect the lines to be long. Buy water to keep you hydrated for the trip going home, too. 

If you don’t have your own ride going home and you have no place near the festival grounds to stay for the night, you might as well accept your fate and the fact that it will take you several hours to get from point A to point B, even if point B is just a couple of kilometers away.

If and when you do find a ride along with the thousands of other concert junkies you shared the night with, don’t be surprised if it’s time for you to prepare breakfast when you finally get home.

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