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Envision finding yourself with a night off. You are energized, eager for new things, and wanting to change your typical schedule of relaxing at home. Your options offers possibilities! Do you choose a) seeing live music or b) having sex? The answer, as typically seen with these types of hypotheticals, is clearly: “It depends.” Reasonable people might logically ask: what is the concert? Who is the companion? Will it be expected to be good?

Hardly anyone would select a heavy metal lineup if the other option was a magical night with a beloved celebrity. But adjust any part of the scenario, and it turns more complicated. Regarding the thousands surveyed presented with this choice from a gig organization, no such details was provided – and the result emerged unambiguously and overwhelmingly preferring concerts.

Study Data Indicate Interesting Preferences

A worldwide survey, interviewing thousands of participants aged between 18 and 54 in 15 markets, showed that concerts have become the world’s top pastime, surpassing athletic events, films and – absolutely – sexual intercourse. When limited to only one option of entertainment permanently, 39% of respondents selected live music, versus film attendance (17%) and athletic competitions (14%). They were also more than twice as likely to choose watching their top musician on stage (70%) instead of intimacy (30%).

You arrive expecting to be delightfully amazed – and regularly you’ll end up with another person's locks in your mouth

Context and Considerations

Naturally it's expected that a promotional study carried out for a gig organizer might conclude so overwhelmingly in favour of concerts – and, amid the playful mood of a would-you-rather, if your favourite artist is, for example an iconic star, one can appreciate why seeing him could prevail instead of a routine situation. Yet this two-option scenario between gigs or intimacy, plainly ridiculous though it may be, is noteworthy to think about amid the peculiar point we face with both.

The Transformation of Concert Culture

Lately, gig-going has evolved into more than a communal experience but a intense competition. Major promoters rightly note that stadium attendance has “grown significantly annually”, and music festivals are fully reserved more rapidly than previously. Just obtaining tickets now requires military-level planning, rapid-fire response times and bottomless pockets (or a high spending capacity). Even if you succeed, that alone won't do to just show up and watch the performance. Currently there is an anticipation, particularly with pop fans, that you can boost your experience quality by attending more than once (including overseas trips), swotting up on the set list ahead of time and knowing your marks to follow and fan traditions established by previous crowds.

Numerous attendees describe being affected by their participation at large concerts: what seemed like a scripted production of massive crowds, where some individuals arrived unaware of the steps. Those lengthy event, generating billions, showed of the extents that people will go to participate in a significant event and experience their top musician sing, even if the live sound grows somewhat secondary to the production.

The State of Modern Intimacy

Intimacy, by contrast – a relatively cheap and accessible pleasure – is in difficult times. According to contemporary studies, nearly one in four of individuals had sex in an typical week, while nearly 30% were not engaging. In another major country, current statistics indicated that over a quarter of individuals admitted to avoiding sex even once in the last twelve months, rising from smaller percentages in previous decades. In these areas, the trend has been linked to less sexual activity in youth demographics. Contrast this with the industry booming for major events and the cutthroat competition for admissions. Naturally it isn't straightforward as a simple decision between one or the other – “do you prefer attend a huge concert often, or stay celibate?” – but it’s perhaps an sign of how people see the more dependable enjoyment.

Interesting Comparisons

Intimacy and concerts are more comparable than you might think. Both represent the commencement of a connection, a practical trial of ideas or possibility that may have developed only in your head. You arrive with a basic expectation of what might happen, but anticipating pleasantly surprised – and how it ends up good or bad rests largely on if your enthusiasm and expectations match theirs. Regularly you could wind up with another person's locks in your mouth, and following be waiting around for a cigarette and some quiet time on your own. Likewise with either, stimulants and beverages can sometimes improve or detract from the situation (but definitely make the worst situations easier to weather).

Seeking Harmony

The wonder to both gigs and sex hinges on locating that elusive sweet spot between comfort and excitement, consistency and change, challenge and comfort. Of course it happens only rarely – but it's the remembrance of when they did, the awareness that success is achievable, that motivates us to try again: to {