Sponsored by BBC The Proms are held at Royal Albert Hall every year over the summer period and it is a collection of classic music, famous musical artists and comedians that come together. You can buy full price seating tickets from £8 to £80 or you can prom on the day for a fiver. I had seen posters around the tube stations for it and sort of always glased over them until I was reading my trusty little Top 100 book (#30)and found out it what exactly it was.
As a self confessed band geek (yes I was in the high school band, yes I did go to band camp and no I didn’t play the flute) I was really keen to see some classical music played live while also checking out a famous building that I had only seen from afar. Shea who is my Top 100 partner and crime went one sunny Friday afternoon after work to check it out.
We made our way down to South Kensington armed with some snacks from a supermarket (we were determined to keep this a cheap night out!) and managed to find our way around the building, down several side streets to find the end of the queue. Now English people are famous for their queuing and this event was no different. Everyone just politely waited and chatted while we slowly inched forward. No complaining and no loud obnoxious people making a sheep noise! We only lined up for about half an hour before getting inside what I have to say is one of the most gorgeous buildings I’ve seen.
For a fiver you could either stand on the first floor or make your way up into the gallery and shea and I indadvertedly scored the best tickets - the gallery. I say they are the best even though they aren’t the closest because you can climb up the 4 or 5 flights of stairs to the top where you can look down over the whole building. Up in the gallery you can also sit or lay down and close your eyes as you listen to the music. Its so peaceful and quiet and nothing like a usual friday night in a noisy crowded pub. The pro's had come prepared with picnics of cheese and wine and cushions and blankets. We didn't know anything so we just sat down on the floor and laid with our handbags as pillows. We stayed for two symphony’s played by an orchestra before we both decided if we stayed any longer we would fall asleep.
It was such a cheap fun night out and a great chance to do something cultural for a change. I was actually surprised about how much I enjoyed it and would definitely go again next year. Next year I might try and get tickets to a comedy act or a jazz show instead of a symphony. Or even camp out in Hyde Park for the final night of The Proms in September. It was definitely one of my favourite things I’ve done in the book so far. We are slowly working our way through the Top 100 and I can only hope the rest of them are this much fun!
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