When the Eras Tour wrapped up, The Times projected a whopping 2.2 billion in North American ticket sales, and a projected 5 billion increase in consumer spending in the US. Not to mention the spike in the streaming of Taylor Swift’s music and the upcoming film version of her concert headed to theaters this fall.
Even if you’re not a Swiftie, you probably were still affected by The Eras Tour this year. Whether you were able to score tickets, knew a Swiftie, or even worked your local box office, it’s clear that Taylor Swift was a tour de force this summer. Let’s dive into the cultural phenomenon of The Eras Tour, and what made it so special.
The Many Eras of Taylor Swift
The Eras Tour was exactly what it sounded like: a nostalgia fueled trip through the many eras of Taylor Swift. Swift’s hype is not new, she has been building her pop star brand since her debut in 2006.
The Eras Tour is celebrating 17 years of Swift’s most prolific hits. It is a showcase of all the ups, downs, milestones and growth for this multi genre pop star. This fan fervor has been building for almost 2 decades.
The Swiftian Mythos
There is no denying that Taylor Swift is a modern day pop star. From her country roots, to her pop hits, to her folk chapter, Taylor has always been known for vivid imagery and storytelling in her works.
Not only that, but she is a true performer, able to command the stage and stand her own alongside contemporaries duch as Adele or Ariana Grande. People have written about her onstage energy and how intimate it feels. It makes sense that The Eras Tour is not just a stadium tour – her first since 2018, due to the pandemic, but rather a showcase of her talent through the years.
In addition, there’s the culmination of what the The Guardian called the Swiftian mythology in her music. Her connection with her fans is not just her ability to woo a crowd. Ever since her debut in 2006, she has always had a close relationship with her fans.
Swift praised her fans’ detective work in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2019, “I’ve trained them to be that way.” The Shake It Off singer not only interacted with fans on social media, but she also communicated with them via her music, literally. She would embed secret messages in the liner notes of her CDs or drop easter eggs using numerology or even color coding in her lyrics. This has led to an ever growing attentive and loyal fanbase ready for the next clue in her music.
More Than Just a Concert
With the hype that’s been building for almost two decades, it’s no surprise that the energy of the concert going experience would exceed the show itself.
For example, There was the growing hype to dress up and make an outfit worthy of the large social event that The Eras Tour was growing into.
But ticket holders weren’t the only ones getting ready for the show. The fan demand for Taylor exceeded Ticketmaster’s supply, so unfortunately, there were many fans who couldn’t get a ticket to the show.
Despite this, there were instances of celebrating outside of the concert itself, known as Taylor-gating. Swifties weren’t letting their lack of tickets stop them from enjoying The Eras Tour.
Fans brought snacks, drinks and even air mattresses to their tailgates, which cost them much less than the resale tickets retailing for $1,000 or more per ticket.
Taylor Swift’s tour stood out as an extraordinary and unforgettable experience. The Eras Tour transcended the boundaries of a typical concert, leaving a lasting impact on her fans and solidifying her status as one of the most exceptional present day performers.
So if you missed out on tickets to The Eras Tour, you’re in luck considering Swift has a movie release coming out on October 13, 2023. Get your tickets to see the show below!
