Marina & the Diamonds + Charli XCX @ The Shrine

Okay so I watched Marina and Charli last night and it was so damn amazing I swear BUUUUT
Marina had told us that LA was the biggest crowd she had so far. Although it was special, it FUCKING sucked. Here are a little pointers to survive a Marina concert.
I don’t know if the other shows were this hectic but the chaos is so vivid and so…hard to fathom. I swear, it was probably the worst experience ever crowd-wise in the shittiest venue with poor crowd control and terrible organization. The line wrapped around the building at around 1 PM and there were about 100 people already so
#1. BE EARLY
I swear, it was hot and the venue barely had any shade so I got tanner than I did at the beach.
Then, they split the long line up into columns of eight divided in half so that four columns would be directly in front of the other four and in the center of that would be the doors. The division did not work at all and their warning to not run was totally ineffective and people came running through and I swear every part of my body was absolutely squished. I knew that the people first in line wouldn’t get the spot they wanted since the division totally screwed them up and people who just got there had the same chances of getting front and center than the first ones in line. The tickets were collected then once again, we were at a halt with security having to walk backwards and slowly lead the crowd through. There was already an intense amount of pushing and I have never wanted to be sent to balcony so much in my life. My leather backpack was ripped by the extreme pushing and when the security guards finally reached the door, the fight for front row was released. I swear, my hair was pulled, my back was scratched, my legs were kicked, I was yelled at during the first two minutes of getting inside the venue.
#2. DON’T PUSH
It causes people pain and all of you wanna be there for fun. If someone is fucking it up for you, then don’t care about them. They will want to cause you more pain then they already did just because you fought back. Yeah, assholes
I have a dehydration problem where I faint quickly and I felt myself getting queezy once everyone was pushing me and there was LITERALLY no space to breathe. Imagine fitting yourself inside a vent where it’s hot and there’s absolutely no room to breathe. Yeah that was it.
#3. STAY HYDRATED
The security guards eventually have us water since everyone was already out of breath.
Then once I cooled down, people were pushing so intensely, it was impossible to keep your balance.
#4. STAND STILL
If you push, it’ll only be harder for you and people will push you back. Just maintain your spot and don’t try to move up further if you’re at a fine spot. You will eventually lose it for a shitty one. If you need to, whichever direction the crowd is pushing - put your back against it since its easier to resist the pushing against your back rather than your side.
#5. DON’T GO TO THE MIDDLE
I know it’s tempting, but unless you’re front row and center and you are amazing at #4 then don’t do it. If you’re second or third row in the middle, you’re highly likely to lose your spot. And that is literally the death pit. All the pushing came from there, don’t be one of those. Follow rule #2.
#6. MAKE SURE YOU SEE THE SAME PEOPLE
This means - don’t let people in and don’t let the old people out. You can’t let people take over spots around you. It’s also unfair for the people who don’t know how to maintain your spot.
#7. KEEP CALM
don’t yell at anyone, this will provoke them. They’ll be more willing to leave you alone if you’re nice and if you’re calm. Kindly ask them to not push.
#8. LOOK OUT FOR PEOPLE AROUD YOU
This is like #6 but really, if you make allies, your group can successfully fight against the bitchass pushers.
#9. HAVE FUN
I danced a LOT and it made people kind of walk away from me from the intensity of my dancing. If there are pushers, ignore them. Make sure you know where your spot is. (I.E. in front of the drumset).
#9. Should’ve been at the beginning but DON’T WEAR HEELS.
They’re cute but I swear, I don’t know how Jeffrey Campbell’s are at all acceptable at shows. You will break a heel or will be ambushed. Don’t do it.
But yeah, Charli XCX was such a babe with sick dance moves and I swear, she’s one of the most wicked singers ever and her performance was AMAZING. The crowd was so bad that she said “Be careful, there are 12 year olds here”. Yup.
But when Marina came out, AHHHH. Honestly, it was a dream. Her vocals are on point and her dance moves *_____*
We met her afterwards and she was just a sweetheart. I got my poster signed but you had to be quite aggressive to get a picture. It was a great night regardless and she is so gentle and sweet to her fans.
There were so many tumblr girls who ask people if they had blogs and just annoyingass people but it was a good time.