Baseball
1. Going to a ballgame – Going it alone to a baseball game is totally and completely acceptable. Where else can you instantly have thousands of best friends slapping high-fives and offering you peanuts, that don’t even care to know your name? Baseball is after all America’s Pastime, so much so that you instantly feel at home sandwiched between two overweight guys, beer dripping down your shorts and the sun in your eyes…sounds like heaven. This is a great time to be jovial and chat it up with fellow fans but don’t expect to make lasting friendships. If you haven’t started talking to your nosebleed neighbor by the seventh inning then you’ve missed the window of opportunity. Also, be lighthearted in your approach and do not come out with any player hatred (unless on the opposing team) within the first three innings. It is important to also read your neighbor, are they here with the boys and ready to have a good time or are they keeping score and reprimanding their kids? All of these quick observations are key to having a great day at the park. As you are there alone it is also key to remain somewhat cognoscente of your surrounds and section/seat number. You by no means what to be thrown out of a game when you are enjoying solo so swig the beers along with plenty of food. Also, avoid creating a stir in your aisle by having to get up and down every inning. It is poor form to disrupt a row of audience for ONE person and thus do your best to avoid such situations or simply hold it. An advantage to taking in a game alone is the ability to leave whenever you would like. There is no call for conciseness if the game is slow-paced and drawing on and on or if it goes into fifteen innings, you are in control. This is an important factor in commuting as well and although you might not be able to take advantage of the HOV lane, at least you’ve got your own tunes.
Red Flag Warnings: things NOT to do at a baseball game alone, has been provided as a reference point.
REDFLAG WARNINGS:
1. Do not get overly drunk and steal a kids baseball – this will lead to section scorning and a terrible day/night at the park.
2. Do not attempt to start a wave or any other section cheer. If you are alone, your decibel won’t be strong enough so don’t even try. If you attempt a section wave people will be confused by your abrupt standing and arm flailing – simply avoid.
3. Do not bring signage of any nature to a baseball game in which you are flying solo…it only draws attention to you and unless you want people to believe you are there with the people flanking you, it is poor form. Also, the chance that you will be on TV, grows by 90% if you are carrying a sign, so unless you want all of America to know you couldn’t rustle up enough tickets/fan friends, leave the signs at home.
4. Do not yell obscenities, this goes for players or fellow fans. We add this as a caution similar to the ‘bar solo mission’ because we are trying to protect Solo Souls from the inevitable face ramming.
5. Solo fan-photos are a definite absolutely not , unless in the off case (.1%) that you have some ridiculously amazing backdrop and or celebrity/player in your photo. Trust us, your coworkers will not be impressed by you sitting in an olde wooden seat alone.
Museum Puttering
2. Museums are best if viewed alone and even if you are forced into a group visit, split up at the door and meet back at a prearranged location later. A museum is a great place to get lost in and you might as well be by yourself. Factors include the following: speed of reading (a huge point of contention), interest in art forms/exhibits (no one wants to be forced into a boring art instillation while you read every single caption), circumnavigation (if it is an interesting museum, it’s going to be busy, leave the antenna flag at home – along with your friends), movie viewing and or IMAX (“Fighter Pilot IMAX? Who’s in?” “sorry can’t…I get motion sickness”) PLEASE. One of the most annoying things EVER, if you happen to be in a group that doesn’t want to IMAX it, GO.IT.SOLO. And finally, the ‘this is boring when are we drinking’ visa-versa. If you find yourself hating the venue, the tourists or the exhibits it is great to have the ability to flea at a moments notice. Solo museum hopping is a welcome event when it's 'you' and the 'others'...enjoy being snobbish and well cultured.
Concert Going
3. Concerts are a debatable ByUrself activity and the gauge really hinges on concert type, venue and your personality. Concerts that involve aggressive tailgating are a sure sign of group involvement and unless you are wildly outgoing and the mood is light, we suggest you skip the tailgate and head to your seat, or ah, standing space. Super mellow concerts, held indoors in dark theatres are a fine solo event because they involve dim lighting and no talking. Your only rough patch might be intermission but this can easily be circumnavigated by visiting the WC, grabbing a drink, and or checking your blackberry (only to be done in the lobby). That said, a large arena concert is usually acceptable as well. Everyone sitting around you shares a common bond of enjoying the same music so light conversation can be sprinkled into the set list. If you have friends, ten to one you will know someone at the same venue, and it is socially acceptable to meet up with this person and share some 'community time'. The general public doesn't judge a 'byurself concert-goer' because everyone understands the ticket/customer ratio and thus seats are often times split. Regardless if this is your status or not, you can take comfort in the fact that going to a concert and taking in the tunes is an event you can enjoy without ramifications.
Red Flag Warnings: things NOT to do at a baseball game alone, has been provided as a reference point.
REDFLAG WARNINGS:
1. Do not get overly drunk and steal a kids baseball – this will lead to section scorning and a terrible day/night at the park.
2. Do not attempt to start a wave or any other section cheer. If you are alone, your decibel won’t be strong enough so don’t even try. If you attempt a section wave people will be confused by your abrupt standing and arm flailing – simply avoid.
3. Do not bring signage of any nature to a baseball game in which you are flying solo…it only draws attention to you and unless you want people to believe you are there with the people flanking you, it is poor form. Also, the chance that you will be on TV, grows by 90% if you are carrying a sign, so unless you want all of America to know you couldn’t rustle up enough tickets/fan friends, leave the signs at home.
4. Do not yell obscenities, this goes for players or fellow fans. We add this as a caution similar to the ‘bar solo mission’ because we are trying to protect Solo Souls from the inevitable face ramming.
5. Solo fan-photos are a definite absolutely not , unless in the off case (.1%) that you have some ridiculously amazing backdrop and or celebrity/player in your photo. Trust us, your coworkers will not be impressed by you sitting in an olde wooden seat alone.
Museum Puttering
2. Museums are best if viewed alone and even if you are forced into a group visit, split up at the door and meet back at a prearranged location later. A museum is a great place to get lost in and you might as well be by yourself. Factors include the following: speed of reading (a huge point of contention), interest in art forms/exhibits (no one wants to be forced into a boring art instillation while you read every single caption), circumnavigation (if it is an interesting museum, it’s going to be busy, leave the antenna flag at home – along with your friends), movie viewing and or IMAX (“Fighter Pilot IMAX? Who’s in?” “sorry can’t…I get motion sickness”) PLEASE. One of the most annoying things EVER, if you happen to be in a group that doesn’t want to IMAX it, GO.IT.SOLO. And finally, the ‘this is boring when are we drinking’ visa-versa. If you find yourself hating the venue, the tourists or the exhibits it is great to have the ability to flea at a moments notice. Solo museum hopping is a welcome event when it's 'you' and the 'others'...enjoy being snobbish and well cultured.
Concert Going
3. Concerts are a debatable ByUrself activity and the gauge really hinges on concert type, venue and your personality. Concerts that involve aggressive tailgating are a sure sign of group involvement and unless you are wildly outgoing and the mood is light, we suggest you skip the tailgate and head to your seat, or ah, standing space. Super mellow concerts, held indoors in dark theatres are a fine solo event because they involve dim lighting and no talking. Your only rough patch might be intermission but this can easily be circumnavigated by visiting the WC, grabbing a drink, and or checking your blackberry (only to be done in the lobby). That said, a large arena concert is usually acceptable as well. Everyone sitting around you shares a common bond of enjoying the same music so light conversation can be sprinkled into the set list. If you have friends, ten to one you will know someone at the same venue, and it is socially acceptable to meet up with this person and share some 'community time'. The general public doesn't judge a 'byurself concert-goer' because everyone understands the ticket/customer ratio and thus seats are often times split. Regardless if this is your status or not, you can take comfort in the fact that going to a concert and taking in the tunes is an event you can enjoy without ramifications.
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