You've seen the blank journal pages. You know the prompts exist. But what does a completed entry actually look like?
That's the question that stops people from starting. The blank page feels intimidating because you can't visualize the end result. So here are two real examples: an arena show and a small club show, to show how the format works in practice.
Both entries are imperfect. Crossed-out words, quick handwriting, some sections left brief. That's the point. A concert journal isn't precious. It's documentation.
Example 1: Arena Show
Beyoncé - Renaissance World Tour
United Center, Chicago, IL
September 14, 2023
This is the kind of show where everything is worth documenting. The production alone could fill pages.
Page 1: Show Details
[PHOTO: Full page showing the header filled out with "Beyoncé" in the artist box, date, and Concert #17. Venue shows "United Center, Chicago." Times Seen shows "2" circled. Tour/Event reads "Renaissance World Tour." Ticket Cost shows "$385." Seat Location shows "Section 112, Row 14." Who I Went With shows "Sarah + Marcus."]
[PHOTO: Rating section with all 7 categories filled in. Overall: 5 stars. Audience Energy: 5 stars. Costumes & Fashion: 5 stars. Stage Visuals: 5 stars. Choreography: 5 stars. Stage Presence: 5 stars. Sound Quality: 4 stars (note scribbled: "some muddy bass in our section"). See Again circled: YES.]
The ratings here are mostly 5s, which makes the sound quality note matter more. Even at a near-perfect show, something stood out as less than ideal. Worth capturing.
Page 2: Your Experience
[PHOTO: Favorite Memory box filled in with: "The silver horse. The way she emerged on the chrome stallion during 'Alien Superstar' and the entire arena lost their minds. Goosebumps that lasted the whole song."]
[PHOTO: "When I Left I Felt..." box shows: "Exhausted but still buzzing. Couldn't stop talking about it."]
[PHOTO: Before/After boxes. Before shows a selfie of three friends in matching silver outfits. After shows the same three friends, makeup slightly smeared, holding tour merch.]
[PHOTO: Quote of the Show box reads: "'Chicago, I need you to let go of everything that's holding you back tonight.' – said before 'Break My Soul'"]
[PHOTO: Experiences checkboxes. Checked: "Heard favorite song," "Got band merch," "Lost my voice from singing," "Made me cry." Additional handwritten checkbox: "Saw literal artwork on stage."]
Page 3: Setlist
[PHOTO: Setlist page with numbered entries 1-29. Opening songs visible: "1. Dangerously in Love, 2. Flaws and All, 3. 1+1..." Encore section shows "Alien Superstar, Summer Renaissance, Be Alive." Notes in margin: "The transition from Cuff It to Energy was insane."]
[PHOTO: Favorite Song section filled in: "CHURCH GIRL. Thought I knew what to expect from videos, but live it hit completely different. The bass, the dancers, the way she commanded the stage. This song now owns a piece of my brain."]
Page 4: Memories
[PHOTO: Blank memories page with items attached: ticket stub (printed from phone), a wristband from the venue, a small flyer they were handing out before the show, and a printed Instagram photo of the stage from their seats.]
Example 2: Club Show
illuminati hotties - Indie Venue Night
The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
March 8, 2024
Completely different energy. 300-person room. No production to speak of. All about the performance and crowd connection.
Page 1: Show Details
[PHOTO: Header shows "illuminati hotties" in artist box. Date: March 8, 2024. Concert #22. Venue: "The Empty Bottle, Chicago." Times Seen: "1" circled. Other Acts: "Recovery Girl (opener)." Ticket Cost: "$25." Seat Location: "GA – got to the rail." Who I Went With: "Just me."]
[PHOTO: Rating section. Overall: 5 stars. Audience Energy: 5 stars. Costumes & Fashion: 2 stars (note: "t-shirt and jeans, didn't matter"). Stage Visuals: 2 stars ("single white backdrop, some red lights"). Choreography: N/A marked. Stage Presence: 5 stars. Sound Quality: 4 stars ("loud but clear for this room").]
This is where the rating categories shine. A 2 for visuals doesn't mean the show was bad. it means it was a stripped-down indie rock show where visuals weren't the point. The 5s for stage presence and audience energy tell the real story.
Page 2: Your Experience
[PHOTO: Favorite Memory box: "Sarah (the singer) stopping mid-song because someone in front was struggling, asking if they were okay, getting them water, then restarting the song from the top. Crowd loved her even more after that."]
[PHOTO: "When I Left I Felt..." box: "Like I just discovered something. Why did I wait so long to see this band?"]
[PHOTO: Before/After boxes. Before: empty, marked "forgot to take one." After: quick selfie in the venue mirror, ears red, huge smile.]
[PHOTO: Quote of the Show: "'This next one is about being really annoying on purpose.' (intro to 'Joni')"]
[PHOTO: Experiences checkboxes. Checked: "Made it to the front row," "Heard favorite song," "Lost my voice from singing." Additional written: "Opener was great – check out Recovery Girl."]
Page 3: Setlist
[PHOTO: Setlist page with 14 songs listed. Notes in margin: "Shorter than expected but nobody cared. Every song felt necessary."]
[PHOTO: Favorite Song section: "MMMOOOAAAAAYAYA. I knew it was coming and still screamed when the opening riff started. Entire room became one organism."]
Page 4: Memories
[PHOTO: Memories page with just two items: the printed ticket confirmation email and a guitar pick that landed near them during the show.]
What Makes These Entries Work
They're specific. Not "great show" but "the transition from Cuff It to Energy was insane." Not "good energy" but "Sarah stopped mid-song to help someone in the crowd."
They're honest about the format. The club show has 2-star visuals because there weren't any. That's not a complaint. It's accurate documentation of what the show was.
They're imperfect. Crossed-out words. Sections left brief. Forgot to take a before photo. That's real. A journal is documentation, not an art project.
They capture different things. The arena show is about spectacle and production. The club show is about connection and discovery. The format works for both.
They include memorabilia. Ticket stubs, wristbands, a guitar pick. Years from now, these physical objects trigger memory in a way that words alone can't.
For more prompts to fill out your own entries, see our 50 concert journal prompts. For a complete guide to building the documentation habit, check out our concert journaling guide.
The Concerts Remembered journal uses this exact 4-page format for 30 shows (roughly 2-3 years for most concert-goers.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my entries aren't as detailed as these examples?
These are thorough examples to show what's possible. Your entries don't need to be this detailed. Even hitting the basics (artist, date, venue, one standout moment) gives you something useful to look back on.
What if I can't remember the full setlist?
Check setlist.fm the next day. Fans post setlists within hours of most shows. Copy it into your journal and add your own notes about which songs mattered to you.
Should I include photos from the show itself?
If you took good ones. But honestly, the before/after photos of you and your group are often more meaningful than blurry shots of the stage. Focus on photos that show the experience, not just the artist.
What if nothing memorable happened at the show?
Document it anyway. "Solid performance, crowd was subdued, left feeling satisfied but not blown away" is useful data. Not every show changes your life. The documentation habit matters more than any single entry.
How long should I spend on each entry?
5-10 minutes for a standard show. 15-20 for a bucket list show you want to remember in detail. The prompts structure your thinking (you're not staring at a blank page.)
What if I don't have any memorabilia to include?
The memories page is flexible. Print a photo from your phone. Sketch the stage layout. Write additional notes that didn't fit elsewhere. Or leave it blank (not every show needs a scrapbook page.)
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