Concert

A classical music concert in the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, 2005

Patti Smith at Provinssirock festival, Finland, 2007

A concert is a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. The music may be performed by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band. Informal names for a concert include "show" and "gig". Concerts are held in a wide variety of settings or venues, including pubs, nightclubs, houses, barns, dedicated concert halls, entertainment centres, large multipurpose buildings, and even sports stadia. A concert held in a very large venue is sometimes called an arena concert. Regardless of the venue, musicians usually perform on a stage. Before the dominance of recorded music, concerts would be the only opportunity one would generally have to hear musicians play.

While the principal reason for a concert is the opportunity for the musicians to perform in front of an audience, even the most purely artistic of endeavors will see gains. Concerts provide the musicians exposure to the public. An attendee will probably see the musicians perform again if the concert was worthwhile. Recording artists usually go on tours to promote record sales and introduce their fans to new musical compositions. Some musicians and musical groups are known for consistently touring and holding concerts, others rarely so.

The duration of concerts vary significantly. For major concerts, it could generally take more than 6 hours, including support bands.

Sales

It is common practice to implement some form of admission charge for a concert, although there are also free concerts. The proceeds from the ticket sales traditionally go to the performing artists, producers, and organisers. However, there are also benefit concerts where either the proceeds or profits will go to charity.

Concert tour

Members of the Grateful Dead performing at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado on August 11, 1987.

A concert tour is a series of concerts by a musician, musical group, or some number of either in different cities or locations. Especially in the popular music world, such tours can become large-scale enterprises that last for several months or even years, are seen by hundreds of thousands or millions of people, and bring in millions of dollars (or the equivalent) in ticket revenues. Different segments of long-lived concert tours are known as "legs". Concert tours are often administered on the local level by concert promoters or by performing arts presenters.