You bought a concert ticket to see your favorite artist next month. You bought an outfit the week before. You booked a hotel room so you could have drinks with your best friend at the show. You took a Friday off work so you'd make it three hours down the road to be there when doors opened. A few days before your trip or a few hours before showtime, you hear that it's cancelled. Now what?
Nobody is happy about it. Did the artist WANT to cancel? I can assure you not. Did the band members who make their living playing music want to cancel? Nope. Did the venue who would've made their money from the food/drinks sold that evening want to cancel? No way.
There's no good way to describe how much truly goes into putting on a concert for attendees to escape their lives and enjoy music for a few hours. This goes for the venue, the ticket company, the marketing company, the booking company, the artist, the artist agency, the artist management team, the photographer that was hired, and the list goes on. Every single date is planned and prepped to ensure everyone that has a ticket has a GREAT experience and leaves a bigger fan of the artist and venue than they were when they arrived.
We all know that there are trolls on the internet, but sometimes normal people get their feelings hurt and decide they'll message XYZ artist or ZYX venue if something happens. Of course, feedback is ALWAYS welcome. Constructive criticism is a wonderful thing. I guess where I'm getting at here is that behind ALL forms of social media, there are real people working together to push information out. Real people are reading what you send. Those same real people are also NOT happy that something has happened to the show. Would you talk to your friends or family the way you're messaging an account? Think about it next time.
Cancellations from weather and sickness are things that cannot be avoided. Before working in the industry, I can 100% say that I would've been annoyed if a show at 7PM didn't happen because there were storms from 9AM-2PM... Why can't they just hop on stage and play?? Now I know. There are hours (literally sometimes 10+) that go into setting up for an outdoor show and if it doesn't stop storming until 2PM, then the lights and everything else you see on a stage can't be unloaded from a truck and programmed to put on a show in just a few hours. The only thing I can say about anyone complaining that XYZ cancelled because they're sick, is that I hope you never have to use a sick day at work. It's the same thing. Think about it.
A little more on cancellations.. When you buy a ticket, read the fine print. Did you click the "I have read and agree to the current Terms of Use" or whatever you need to click on the website you're buying from? Not all, but MOST ticket companies are "All Sales Final - NO Refunds". If there's an option for the ticket insurance, maybe get that if it makes you feel more comfortable. If not, then you're risking it with the rest of us.
Last piece of this.. Opening acts. You bought your ticket "only" for the opener. We love that, but you also *most likely* agreed to something along these lines in that fine print you may or may not have read: "Opening acts or guests may sometimes tour with headlining performers. XYZ is not always made aware of opening acts or the length of their performances. These opening acts are subject to change or cancelation at any time without notice. No refund will be given if an opening act is changed or canceled." Every venue is different. Every ticket company is different. Every situation is different.
Moral of this whole story: Be nice. Remember everyone is only human. Concerts are a luxury. Enjoy them all and support local when you can.