Tips to enjoy Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Singapore, from where to buy merch to staying cool

In just a blink of an eye, we’re down to our last three shows of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Singapore. While Swift’s performances have been unanimously praised, the concert experience has been mixed for a few attendees.

Head to any social media platform and you’ll see a litany of grievances aired by concertgoers – some of which are admittedly valid. Having seen the concert myself and after speaking to a few Swifties, I’ve compiled a few tips you can use for your upcoming Eras Tour show, whether you’re a first-time viewer or a repeat attendee.

1. STICK TO THE EVENT’S OFFICIAL RULES

This entire article can be summed up into one sentence: Read the rules before heading to the Eras Tour concert. I’m sorry but some of you wouldn’t have had to get rid of your umbrellas, bottles and carabiners if you had taken the time to read the event’s official rules – something that was posted two whole days before Taylor Swift’s first show.

It’s important to note that different rules can apply to different shows, even if they’re at the same venue. So something that worked at Coldplay’s concert might not necessarily fly at the Eras Tour.

Now, whether or not some of those rules make sense is a whole different story, which is where the rest of the article comes in as we outline a few steps you can take to adapt to the situation on the ground. 

2. BRING A PONCHO 

For some reason, collapsible umbrellas aren’t allowed into the Eras Tour shows. In any case, you can still shield yourself from any potential downpour by bringing along a poncho. This is especially useful as the walk from the security area to the top of the stairs, just before the gates, is completely exposed.

3. IF YOU HAVE A TOILET SONG, USE THE TIME TO BUY MERCH AND FOOD

For those who don’t know what a toilet song is, it’s essentially a section of a concert that an attendee has determined to be the optimal time to use the bathroom. This usually applies to a song that an attendee doesn’t like or a sequence with a pre-recorded video.

Don’t worry, we’re not judging any Swiftie who has a toilet song; the concert is over three hours long, after all. However, if you do have a least-favourite song, use the time – and lack of queues – to also buy your favourite merch and food. With queues for the Eras Tour merchandise reportedly lasting hours on certain days, bathroom-break songs are your best bet at snagging some merch while most of the crowd is distracted.

There is a merchandise section in the venue itself, right next to the food stand, with a limited inventory. A fan we spoke to told us that she only saw T-shirts when she was there. Nonetheless, her husband managed to get a few tees at this stand during his toilet song.

It’s important to note that different attendees have different bathroom-break songs. However, a sizeable number of fans are reporting that their toilet songs are during the Evermore and Folklore eras. So use that information to plan yours.

4. PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST THE HUMIDITY 

Taylor Swift may have joked about her “hair returning to its factory settings, thanks to the humidity here” but the reality is that it has been particularly hot and humid in the National Stadium. You can blame the weather or the poor ventilation in the stadium, but in any case, it would be wise to protect yourself.

Firstly, dress up but dress light. There may be many different Taylor Swift costumes to take inspiration from but just remember that you’ll be in it for more than three hours. As such, a little less goes a long way.

Secondly, bring a mini fan or wet wipes. It seriously helps. I didn’t bring any of them and had to rely on the residual breeze from the fans around me to get through Swift’s entire set. One fan said she brought a small face towel to dab away sweat as the night wore on because tissues just wouldn't be enough. 

Lastly and most importantly, hydrate. Whether it’s by filling up your empty plastic bottles before heading to your seat or buying water from the food stand, you need to drink up during the concert. It’s better to have a bathroom-break song than to miss an entire concert due to heat exhaustion.

5. HAVE FUN BUT READ THE ROOM

In the days following Swift’s first few shows, much has been said about the energy of the Singapore crowd. “The SG crowd is so lifeless” and “Singaporeans don't know the fan chants and are just standing there looking at Taylor” are just some of the common complaints thrown at the crowd here.

But here’s the thing: Who’s to say that screaming and dancing non-stop is the one true way to enjoy a concert? Some people may be enjoying a show but they’re simply not expressing it as outwardly as others. Ultimately, ticket buyers deserve to enjoy their concert experience the way they choose, as long as they’re not inconveniencing others.

So how do we navigate this dichotomy? Simply read the room. The fact of the matter is that each seating section’s concert experience is dictated by the majority in that section, that is, it’s the luck of the draw.

If you’re in a section where 99 per cent of the crowd is just sitting and nodding their heads, you can stand up and screech the lyrics of Enchanted. Just as long as you’re aware that you’re probably gonna be the only one doing so and will have dozens of irritated attendees glaring at you.

Similarly, if you’re in a section where 99 per cent of the crowd is standing up and dancing, feel free to sit and enjoy as you would – as long as you’re aware that you’ll also be hearing a lot of screams around you.

In my experience  watching concerts in various countries, I’ve learnt that the best way to enjoy a show is to have zero expectations and just go with the flow.

6. PLAN YOUR EXIT ROUTE

Getting out of National Stadium after the Eras Tour is a journey on its own. As such, before you enter the venue, take the time to recce the area and mark out little-known exit points. For instance, there is a mini staircase at Level 3, next to the merchandise area, that is a few metres away from the main staircase. It is way faster to exit using this mini staircase as there are fewer steps.

Similarly, given the large crowd queuing up to enter Stadium MRT station by Exit A, you can bypass this by entering via Exit B which has a way shorter queue.

7. TAKE NOTE OF THE MAKESHIFT TOILETS

Good news, ladies. There are extra toilets for you to use at the National Stadium during the period of Eras Tour. According to a spokesperson from Kallang Alive Sport Management, these toilets were converted from the male toilets and "a total of 16 cubicles for female patrons were added to toilet blocks located inside the National Stadium".

Furthermore, there are also 18 unisex portaloos for patrons on the field of play. The converted toilets are sufficiently equipped and have sanitary bins for the remaining Eras Tour concerts at the National Stadium.

The spokesperson added: "In preparation for The Eras Tour, we linked up with counterparts in Melbourne and Sydney, where the show was being performed in February 2024. We exchanged ideas on plans to manage crowds and formed our own learnings to ensure Swifties were looked after when at the National Stadium. One insight we gleaned was that a high percentage of the attendees are females. Hence, we adapted our venue to better serve our patrons."

At the end of the day, Swifties – both from Singapore and from overseas – just wanna have fun. Given the sheer scale of the Eras Tour and the thousands of attendees that come with it, it follows that not everything will be smooth-sailing. Hopefully, your experience will be made a little better with these tips.