Copyright gqindia
Enrique Iglesias made a grand comeback to Mumbai’s MMRDA Grounds last night — his first India show in 13 years. The Grammy-winning music icon had millennials, Gen-Z and nostalgic Y2K fans grooving to timeless hits like Bailando, Bailamos, Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) and more. From teasing Mundian Tu Bach Ke Rahi to crooning Hero amid a sea of 25,000 fans, the night was pure pop magic. If you’re catching him live tonight, brace yourself — the crowds will be bigger, the traffic worse, and the heat very real. Here are 10 do’s and don’ts to make your concert experience smoother, saner, and way more fun. Catching Enrique live in Mumbai today? 10 do’s and don’ts to keep in mind for before, during, and after the concert 1. Get there early You may have your tickets locked, stocked, and barrelled, but don’t forget that Mumbai traffic, especially on concert days, tends to be downright abysmal. Even if you’ve spent an arm and leg for VIP seating, it won’t make a fig of a difference if you end up reaching the venue when Enrique is halfway through Bailamos! Arriving early will not only guarantee a more seamless entry process, it’ll also allow you to catch a host of power-packed opening acts like the talented Jonita Gandhi, who was one of GQ’s Most Influential Young Indians this year, and electrifying EDM duo Progressive Brothers. 2. Do a quick check Tickets, phone, wallet, sunglasses, power bank, a bottle of water, and hand sanitiser — make sure you have all these (and more) in your bag before entering the venue. If you’ve been coughing, be a responsible citizen and carry a mask as well. 3. Power bank + 100 per cent battery Considering the 1000 videos and images you’re sure to take of Enrique singing your favourite throwback tracks, make sure your smartphone is 100 per cent charged, and we’d highly recommend you carry a power bank too. Being in a concert without a functioning phone isn’t something you’d want to experience. Trust me. 4. Decide on a meeting spot One of the reasons for the above is that at some point or the other, you will end up misplacing your friends. For starters, the MMRDA grounds are huge, but even then, people will tend to push past you as they elbow their way to the front. Second, in concerts like these, the network is terrible and calls tend to drop. So make sure your group has settled on a meeting point — for instance in front of the Vedica tent — anytime anyone gets lost. 5. Ditch the heels for comfortable kicks Making a stylish statement at a concert of this scale is highly encouraged, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of both comfort and convenience. Ditch those high-heeled boots and pumps for flexible kicks, and your corsets and jumpsuits for an OOTD that will let you breathe and dance to Tonight I'm Loving You! 6. Personal hygiene Even with top-tier management, the washrooms — portable and otherwise — at overpacked concerts like these are a menace. To this end, carry your hand-sanitisers, Pee Safe, toilet rolls and any other hygiene product you think you might need. 7. Don’t be on an empty stomach Over 25,000 fans attended day one, and by all estimates, the number stands to only grow today. This guarantees that the event is going to be inexplicably crowded and hot — the perfect combination to make one feel a tad dizzy. Make sure you’ve eaten a full meal before reaching the overstuffed venue, so you don’t end up light-headed and on the floor. Let the rhythm take you over… but only if you’re vertical. 8. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate Stand in line at the alcohol counters by all means, but first, make sure you’ve bought at least a dozen pocket-sized bottles of water, so you can stay hydrated and energised through the whole gig. And don’t be stingy – if someone’s asking you for a sip of water, let them have it! Concerts are about community, after all. 9. Don’t break the rules Don’t jump section zones through the dividers, like from a Level 2 to a Level 1, because it’s unethical and disorderly. Furthermore, you can get in great trouble if you get caught by any of the bouncers who are sure to circle these perimeters. 10. Plan your commute in advance Try to carpool to the venue with people you know, or hire a car and driver for the night, because trust me, searching for Ubers and Olas post concert is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. Additionally, the Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqualine, has extended its operations until midnight today to facilitate easy commuting for those returning home from the Enrique concert.
