You’ve already purchased the tickets so you’re over the hump. Now, you can finally focus on how best to prepare for your first (second, third?) Candlelight concert to ensure everything goes smoothly. There will be talented musicians and thousands of candles waiting—obviously. But there are a couple of other essentials to keep in mind, from planning your route to the dress code so you don’t look out of place. Without further ado, here’s a list of things you need to know before attending Candlelight in Birmingham. You’ll thank us later.
1. Plan your journey
Although Candlelight venues are usually centrally located, first thing to remember is to always plan your route. Whether you like Birmingham’s many public transportation options or prefer walking, it’s always better to plan ahead in order to enjoy a stress-free evening. What’s more, seating at Candlelight concerts is usually assigned on a first-come, first-served basis within each zone. That’s why we recommend getting to the venue as soon as the doors open to get the best seats in the house.
2. The dress code
There’s no real dress code and you certainly don’t have to show up dressed in your finest attire. The key is to enjoy the evening to the fullest so perhaps slipping on something informal is fine—always within reason, of course. We recommend going for smart casual as it guarantees both style and comfort.
3. Check the programme
You can’t imagine how many times people have shown up to concerts without really bothering to check what they’d paid for. Although this seems like an obvious tip, it’s best to highlight it just in case.
Each plan includes the setlist, the duration of the performance, type of musician ensemble, as well as other important details. However, it’s significant to point out that the programmes are tentative and subject to change. This is because the music curators and the talented musicians can make last-minute changes to create the perfect flow for the tributes, whilst featuring the artists’ most popular tracks.
4. Keep your mobile on silent
And that includes no vibrate! Firstly, you don’t want to be that person that disrupts the whole show and distracts the musicians with their tacky ringtone. Secondly, guests are asked to wait until the very last set or the song to take photographs. We know that Candlelight is an audiovisual heaven, but it can be annoying for other attendees. Not to worry though—one of the musicians will notify you when you are allowed to record or take pictures of the performance so you can treasure this experience forever.
5. Candlelight is flexible
Say that due to unforeseen circumstances, you can’t go in the end (perish the thought!). Well, life is full of surprises so Candlelight gives you the option to pay a small fee for the flexible cancellation ticket option. This way, you can reschedule or claim a refund when you cancel up to 48 hours before the concert start time, no questions asked.
Done and dusted. Now that we got these things out of the way, you can finally immerse yourself in the soothing ambiance at the city’s finest venues, like Birmingham Cathedral, and unwind to timeless tunes produced by top-tier musicians. And if you like the experience, spread the joy with a Candlelight gift card so you can treat your nearest and dearest with a fabulous show anywhere in the UK.