Concerts

One of the most common forms of entertainment is going to a concert.
Read this opening conversation:

Michael:  I really love music, don't you?
Michiko:  I sure do.  What's your favorite kind of music?
Michael:  Well, it really depends on what kind of mood I'm in. Sometimes I like jazz, sometimes I like Christian music,
sometimes classical and sometimes Hawaiian music.
Michiko:  What do you mean by "mood"?
Michael:  Oh, mood means how I feel at the time.
Michiko:  What's your mood today.
Michael:  Oh, I feel like some classical.

Almost everyone likes to listen to music.  In this conversation,
Michiko asked the question:

"What's your favorite music?"


The word "favorite" means the kind you like the most.  So If you could only choose one kind of music, what would it be.

You can use it to ask other questions like:

"What's your favorite sport?"

"What's your favorite hobby?"

or

"Who's your favorite movie star?"


Read these example conversations:

Michael:  What's your favorite sport?
Michiko:  My favorite sport is golf.

Michael:  What's your favorite hobby?
Michiko:  My favorite hobby is reading.

Michael:  Who's your favorite movie star?
Michiko:  My favorite movie star is Audrey Hepburn.

Michael:  So Michiko, your favorite kind of music is classical?
Michiko:  Yes, that's right.
Michael:  What do you think about heavy metal?
Michiko:  I don't care much for that kind of music.
Michael:  Neither do I.

How do you buy a ticket for a concert?  The most common places for a concert are at the Waikiki Shell, the Blaisdell Concert hall or Aloha
Stadium.   Sometimes when you attend a concert, there will be reserved seats.  At other times, you have to go early.  This is called "First
come, First serve" or general admission.

There are two kinds of tickets, reserved and first come, first serve or general admission.



Read this example conversation

Michiko:  Where can I buy tickets for these concerts.
Michael:  Well, the best place to buy tickets for these concerts is at the Blaisdell Box office.
Michiko:  What's a box office?
Michael:  A box office is a place where you buy tickets.  Another way to say the same thing is "ticket counter."  They also give other kinds of information at the box office.

Read these example sentences:

"Where can I buy tickets for the concert?"

"Where can I buy tickets for the concert?"

"What kind of tickets do they have?"


Now let's read this conversation at the box office.

Cashier:  Hello, may I help you?
Customer:  Yes, I'd like to buy two tickets for the Honolulu Symphony. Are there any tickets left for the Saturday afternoon
performance?
Cashier:  Yes, there are a few left in  the balcony.
Customer:  OK, I'll take two in the balcony.

In this conversation, the customer said:

"I'd like to buy two tickets for the Honolulu Symphony."


Read these example sentences:

"I'd like a ticket for the jazz concert on Sunday at  Turtle Bay"

"I'd like two tickets for the Opera in October"

"I'd like 4 tickets for the Honolulu Symphony on Thursday night"


Another way to ask for tickets is to say:

"Can I have two tickets?"

or

"Do you have any tickets for….?"


Read these example sentences:

"Can I have two tickets for the Reggae concert on Tuesday?"

"Do you have any tickets for the rap concert for next month.


Read this next conversation:

Michael:  What are doing on Saturday night?
Michiko:  Nothing.  I was planning on staying home.
Michael:  Would you like to go to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?
Michiko:  That sounds great.  Who's performing?
Michael:  The Honolulu Symphony.
Michiko:  Great.  I love classical music.

There are lots of ways to invite someone to go to a concert.  In this conversation, Michael said:

"What are you doing on Saturday night?"


He wants to know if she is busy.  If not then he can invite her. There are some other ways to ask someone if they are busy on a certain
day.  For example:

"Are you doing anything on Saturday night?"

"Are you free on Saturday night?"

or

"Are you busy on Saturday night?"



After you find out if the person is free, then you can make the invitation.  The invitation is very simple.  In this conversation,
Michael said:

"Would you like to go to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?"


There are many ways to make the invitation.
Read these examples.

"Can you go to a concert at Aloha Stadium?"

"I'd like to invite you to a concert at the Waikiki Shell."


Some invitations are more formal than others.  Here's an example of a ormal invitation:

"I'd like to invite you to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?"


You can use these invitations if you don't know the person very well. But if you are inviting your friend or someone you know well, you can
say:

"Do you want to go to a concert?"

or

"Let's go to a concert."




What do you say when you have to refuse and invitation.  Read these conversations:

Michael:  Would you like to go to a concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall?
Michiko:  I'd love to but I can't.  I have an appointment.
Michael:  Can you go to a concert at Aloha Stadium?
Michiko:  I'm afraid I can't make it.
Michael:  I'd like to invite you to a concert at the Waikiki Shell?
Michiko:  I won't be able to make it.

Read those example sentences again:

"I'd love to but I can't.  I have an appointment"

"I'm afraid I can't make it"

"I won't be able to make it"


If you have to give a negative response, it's better if you can give the reason why.  For example:

"I'm very sorry but I have to work that day"

or

"I'm afraid I can't make it. I already have an appointment."


There are two kinds of seats at a concert, they are " reserved" and "general admission." When you go to a concert with reserved seats,
sometimes people sit in the wrong seats.  If you find someone sitting in your seat, you should say something to them. Read this conversation:

Michael:  Excuse me, what seat do you have?
Michiko:  I have 8D.
Michael:  This is 8E.  I think 8D is over there.
Michiko:  Oh, I'm sorry.  I made a mistake.

If you want to know if someone is sitting in an empty seat, you can ask the them:

" Is anyone sitting there?"

" Are these seats saved?"

or

" Are these seats taken?"



Of course, when you ask someone a question, you should start by saying,  "Excuse me."

Read these example sentences:

" Excuse me, Is anyone sitting there?"

" Excuse me, are these seats saved?"

" Excuse me, are these seats taken?"