The next two weekends in my college town are going to be overrun by festival goers in extravagant outfits singing their hearts out to their favorite artists at Austin City Limits Festival. Notable acts this year include Dua Lipa, Chappell Roan, Dominic Fike, and one of my personal favorites, Tyler, the Creator. Sadly, I won’t be a part of the crowd this year, nor have I been since 2018, as ticket prices are just not in my budget as a broke college student.
As a music lover, it is very easy to feel heartbroken when your favorite artists are performing in your city but you can’t afford to see them. Our society has created a culture where we feel a level of guilt and even anxiety when we miss exciting events that other people are going to, known as FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out, which has skyrocketed due to social media.
Here are some steps I’m going to take to combat ACL FOMO this year:
- Appreciate Friends’ Social Media Posts
For the longest time, I would feel a sense of jealousy when my feed filled up with photos and videos of the music festival happening in my own backyard. I would even get annoyed at the sheer amount of posts, feeling like they were just salt in the wound. However, one day it finally hit me: Why in the world am I jealous of my own friends? I should be happy that they’re having fun and grateful that they’re documenting the experience. Now I see each post as an opportunity to see and hear my favorite artists from the comfort of my own home, and I genuinely appreciate each one.
- Accept that You’ll Have Future Opportunities
Another acronym, YOLO, or You Only Live Once, has plagued me my whole life. Despite its popularity, the harsh truth is that you live every day. I’ll still be alive when the festival ends, and most likely, so will all the artists. They’ll come to my city again, even if it’s a few years from now. That just means I’ll have more time to save money and properly budget for live music.
- Accept that You’re Not the Only One
My FOMO used to be extremely intense. I would feel like I was the only person on Earth not attending the events I couldn’t afford. One realization that saved me was that not all of my friends were attending either. I don’t think that my friends are any less cool for missing these events, so why should I feel that way about myself?
- Do Something Free and Fun Instead
One of my boyfriend’s hometown friends’ birthday is this weekend and he’s coming into town to celebrate. We’re planning a pool party with our own music and snacks, and I know it’s going to be a ton of fun. In addition, my parents are coming into town on Sunday and we’re planning on going out to eat. Crazily, my boyfriend and I’s two-year anniversary falls on ACL Weekend 2, so I’m sure the festival won’t even cross my mind as I’m spending time with him. I find that spending time with my loved ones generally takes my mind off things, and music festivals are no exception.
While I still feel a little sad that I have to miss ACL again, these tips help me stay sane amidst the craziness that is festival season. I have cut down on my jealousy and began feeling joy for my friends who are attending, while realizing that I’m not the only one missing out and that I’ll have opportunities to see my favorite artists perform in the future. Planning activities that are significantly cheaper than a music festival ticket help me forget about it and have fun in my own way.
If you feel concert or music festival FOMO, I urge you not to feel guilty. At the end of the day, it’s not your fault.