From Kanye West to Shakira, cancelled concerts in India are pushing Gen Z to plan impromptu trips
Excited fans who buy expensive tickets to these shows bear an outsized portion of these burdens. With concert attendees sometimes spending close to an entire month’s salary on tickets, hotels and flights, cancellations can have deeply emotional and financial repercussions. However, this hasn’t deterred them from forming memories around these cancellations, with or without the music. Bangalore resident Aastha Jindal hadn’t attended many concerts but as an ardent fan of John Mayer, she was determined to attend his show in January before a postponement was announced just days before the show. Having already booked tickets to Mumbai, she travelled there regardless to spend time with her best friend. What began in the shadow of a cancelled concert eventually turned into one of the best impromptu girls’ trips for Thapar. “In a sudden turn of events, we ended up taking a vacation to Goa and had such a great time there that the concert never even crossed my mind. Going against my nature, I ended up doing this spontaneous last-minute trip, which would never have happened otherwise, so if anything, I’m thankful for this whole experience.”Creative director Ruhani Singh was aware of the risk of cancellation when she booked tickets to Dubai for a live show by Abida Parveen but ended up travelling despite the concert being called off due to the 72-year-old singer’s ill health. “There’s so much to do in Dubai, especially with friends. Alserkal Avenue is my favourite place because it has so many galleries and concept stores. You get to experience a more cultural side to Dubai instead of spending all your time at the Dubai Mall.” What made this particular trip even more special for Singh was the fact that she was joined by her mother and sister. That said, she is clear that if Parveen were to ever announce a concert again, she would still book tickets.During moments like these, when it seems like having a good time is tied to factors beyond our control, turning disappointment into opportunity becomes an act of gaining back some of the agency we lose. What Thapar and Singh missed in the communal grandeur of a concert, they made up for in cosier moments of joy and discovery as they gave in to the happenstance of it all. Opening yourself up to uncertainties can prime you for experiences you never planned to have. In Shillong, Chouny ended up touring the entire city in a car with local friends, ending the trip with a bittersweet visit to the empty concert venue that the Scorpions were supposed to play in.
