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Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeart Radio.
Good morning.
This is Laura.
Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is that if you are planning to go to a concert or a museum or another experience like that, study up ahead of time.
That way, you will understand more about what you are experiencing.
And that extra knowledge will help you maximize your enjoyment.
So this past summer, I was lucky enough to attend several amazing concerts.
Taylor Swift, for instance.
And a combo Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks extravaganza.
I also found out that Phish was playing at an open-air venue near me.
And I figured I should check the band out.
Before each of these concerts, I made a point of listening to the artist's work whenever I was in my car.
As a result, I became more familiar with my favorite works and I learned more about some unfamiliar pieces.
By the time of the concerts, I was ready to sing along.
Familiarity makes everything more enjoyable.
I think about this sometimes whenever I visit a museum that has one particular highlight piece.
You know, like the Scream at the Munk Museum in Oslo or, predictably enough, the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, despite all the other amazing art that is at that museum as well.
People race through to see their one familiar work, But imagine if several other works felt just as familiar.
That is what studying ahead of time can do.
So if you have a cultural experience coming up, consider studying ahead of time to make the most of the experience.
If you are going to a concert or musical, listen to a recording beforehand.
If you are going to a play, consider reading the play first, or maybe watching the movie version, if there is one.
If you're going to an art exhibit, Get a book from the library and look at images of the artist's work.
Or maybe you can find images online.
You may enjoy finding out what experts have to say, too.
You can read a review of the performance or exhibit you're going to see.
Or you can look for criticism or commentaries on the artist's work in general.
Now I understand that for some cultural experiences there may be something to not knowing exactly what is going to happen.
Maybe there are plot twists, like in the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
So I'm not saying you absolutely have to read the whole script of something like that beforehand.
But I do think that one of the reasons people enjoy the Harry Potter play is that they are already familiar with the Harry Potter characters.
So really, most people have studied ahead of time.
They know how Hermione or Ron will act, and they know Harry's backstory.
They are not coming in completely unaware at all.
Just like savoring an experience while it's happening and reflecting after the fact.
Studying beforehand lets us stretch out the fun.
You know what to look and listen for.
You know what is significant and what is not.
You are aware of what you are appreciating.
And that can take the appreciation to an entirely new level.
In the meantime, this is Laura.
Thanks for listening.
And here's to making the most of our time.
Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.
If you've got questions, ideas or feedback, you can reach me at Laura at LauraVanderkam.com.
Before Breakfast is a production of iHeart Media.
For more podcasts from iHeart Media, please visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Johnny Knoxville here.
Check out Crimeless Hillbilly Heist, my new true crime podcast from smartless media, campsite media and big money players.
It's the true story of the almost perfect crime and the nimrods who almost pulled it off.
It was kind of like the perfect storm in a sewer.
That was dumb.
Do not follow my example.
Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Two rich young Americans move to the Costa Rican jungle to start over, but one of them will end up dead and the other tried for murder three times.
It starts with a dream, a nature reserve and a spectacular new home.
But little by little... They lose it.
They actually lose it.
They sort of went nuts.
Until one night, everything spins out of control.
Listen to Hell in Heaven on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
This is an iHeart Podcast.
