With so many people on the internet giving their advice, photography hacks, tips, etc., there is always one piece of advice that I notice a lot of influencers and other photographers forget to talk about. That piece of advice is to do your research. You are probably already thinking, "Well, I am doing my research! That's how I came across your blog or all of these reels, other photographers, know about ideal camera settings, etc." As great as it is to do research and gain knowledge in that area, we also need to make sure we are doing research on our subject.
When I was first doing sports photography, it was important to know who was the quarterback and who the key offensive and defensive players were. Without that simple knowledge of my subject, I would not have been able to truly know who to keep an eye out for when trying to capture those special action shots on big plays. The same applies to concert photography.
When taking photos of concerts, our basic "pregame rundown" is very important, especially when you are trying to have good photos or build a strong portfolio. Some of the research should include how many members are in the band, their stage plot (places where they normally set up on stage), listen to their music or watch videos on social media to get a better understanding of their music style and possible stage mannerisms, what is the stage like, and are there any videos or photos to give you an idea of what the lights are like. Just knowing this basic information beforehand can allow you to have a preexisting knowledge of knowing where to set up, possible shots to get, and the energy and movement at their shows. Being able to know these basics will give you the advantage over others by allowing you to show up with a decent game plan and allow you to go straight into work and focus more on the lights, camera settings, and capturing the energy.
The next time you get ready to take photos at a show, build you a mental checklist about the artist/band, get a decent knowledge of their shows and of the venue, and go take those awesome photos!