I have a bad habit that has bitten me in the ass 3 times now over the course of my life. Whenever I see that a concert or show that I would really like to attend is coming up, I will generally buy 2 tickets other the hopes that I will find someone to go with before its time...Then I forget about it. The first time this happened was in the late '90s.

I had never gone to a concert before. Like a real concert. I had graduated High School and pretty much everyone I from then had gone off to college. I had just discovered the Internet (I got a computer later in life then pretty much everyone my age) and I found the website of one of my favorite performers, Weird Al Yankovic. I saw that his tour was coming to Denver so I bought 2 tickets. By the time the show arrived, I hadn't found anyone to go. So there I was, my first concert ever, an empty seat next to me. I wasn't going to let the social awkwardness of being seen alone stop me from experiencing what was an absolutely amazing show. From that point forward I promised to never be in that situation again.

Things were just fine for a very long time after this. I went to plenty of rock concerts with my friend Chris in Colorado, and many a comedy show with him and my brother or various other acquaintances. Then when I moved to California in 2006 I would go to shows with my friend Denise and her now husband Justin and well as her mom from time to time. Occasionally I'd go with people I met through work, nary an empty seat next to me, until last year.

Now technically, there wasn't an empty seat next to me last year. I had recently become obsessed with the hip-hop/dubstep violinist Lindsey Stirling. So much like with Weird Al that first time, I saw she was going to be performing in Anaheim, so I bought 2 tickets with the hopes of finding someone to go. The show was on a Wednesday and I asked a friend that lived kind of far from the venue if she wanted to go the Friday before. I didn't hear back so I asked again on Monday. She thought she had responded that she wouldn't be able to go which I understood because I say kind of far, but that's not really doing it justice. We're talking about 2 hours driving far. So I asked a work friend and she said yes. Unfortunately something very, very important came up the night of so she wasn't able to go. I asked one more person right before I left work to go to the show and he wasn't interested at all. So once again I found myself at a concert by myself. This time though, there was no seating as it was standing room only. So at least I didn't have the empty seat.

That leads us to tonight (well, when I started writing this I was actually in the theater waiting for the show to start, but I'm finishing it the morning after). My favorite comedian ever in life Brian Regan was coming to LA. I bought 2 tickets, even put it in my calendar, and then instantly forgot when it was. I got an email from Ticketmaster on Wednesday reminding me, CRAP! I then went for a long shot and asked someone I knew would most likely be busy, but it would have been beyond amazing had she gone (I will have a future adventure with her someday and you will hear all about it). I didn't hear back from her until Friday so I asked 4 more people that day, all of which were busy, one was already going. I asked 1 more person on Saturday and everyone I knew on Facebook, nothing. So once again, there I was, sitting in a theater to see a show with an empty seat next to me.

Now, could this have been avoided? Yes. I need to start asking people when I buy the ticket, not 2 days before. Do I regret going to these shows by myself, yes, but not for the reasons you might think. It's not about the wasted money or the social embarrassment of being seen alone. I'm kind of used to that as I've gone to movies by myself many times, and have even gone to restaurants by myself (that one’s a little more awkward). I wasn't going to go see an amazing performance by someone I greatly admire and am entertained by just because I had to do it alone. But the thing I regret is that I wasn't able to introduce someone new to this person. The 2 times I've seen Weird Al after that first time was with people who had never seen his show before. Everyone I asked to see Lindsey Stirling hadn't seen her show. Everyone I asked to see Brian Regan hadn't seen his stand up live (this was my 4th or 5th time seeing him).

So what's next? Well, Weird Al is going on tour this summer. No dates have been announced for Southern California, however none of the acts for the OC Fair have been announced yet either. He always plays the OC Fair when he tours. So I'm praying this is the case. So if he does end up playing there, I will buy 2 tickets as always, and then immediately start looking for someone to fill that seat. I will start with people that have never seen him live because I want them to experience a show like they've never seen before. But if it comes down to show time and I find myself sitting in the crowd with an empty seat next to me, I will not regret it, because I'm seeing a performer that I love seeing. And besides, sometimes it's nice to have the extra leg room.