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On principle, I do not attend outdoor concerts in India. This isn't bragging—it's an indictment of how broken our concert culture has become. Time and again I have been glad at missing out on concerts (except the Coldplay one) whether it is the Metallica concert in Bangalore or the Bryan Adams concert in Delhi.

Now that the Guns N Roses concert fever is over, and the smartest and wittiest people have said everything there is to be said, and everyone has their childhood dream come full circle, I think it is time to come to terms with reality. It is time nostalgia meets reality.

The entire concert ecosystem is not designed to give the fan - the true reason for a concert - the best experience of their lives. Barring a few recent concerts - like the Coldplay one - very very few concerts have given the fan a true reason to rejoice. The reasons are many, and just laying this at the feet of the event organisers wouldn't be a fair assessment.

While the event organisers are not entirely blameless, some fault also lies with the concert goer. Our lack of civic sense is world famous. We take pride in breaking rules, smoking outside of smoking zones, and generally being a pain in the ass.

The event organisers, meanwhile, are busy maximizing and squeezing every last penny from the attendees. Ridiculous rules not permitting own water, food, drinks and even cigarettes - all the while selling these at a super premium inside the concert arena - this is the popcorn sales tactic of event folks.

C'mon guys - both lots can do better.

Here's exactly what needs to change:

1. Event organisers - stop treating your paying customers like children

Why must you assume a dictatorial approach to discipline event goers? What is with the random rules of 'you cannot carry water from outside'; 'you cannot carry food from outside', 'you cannot carry cigarettes from outside' - while at the same time you're selling this at eye watering prices inside the arena?

Clearly these double standards are not because you care about security. You care only about the profit you make.

Nothing wrong with that and you will always have a segment that will buy from you. But why stuff these random rules down everyone's throats? It's not like you were able to enforce these properly either, so why make it difficult for everyone?

Stop treating concert going folks like children. We are (most of the time) healthy and functional adults and don't need another set of parents.

2. Think about the experience end to end

At the GNR concert, unless you reached between 4 and 4:30 PM - everyone had to walk kilometers before actually getting inside the venue. By some estimates, it was a 4 KM walk to the concert area. While I understand that at a venue like the racecourse one has to walk a bit, creating those snaking queues outside of the venue was plain harassment. Unnecessary queues just to make your job easy is not the done thing.

Folks with kids were already tired by the time they got in. Did you not consider the Bombay weather while planning? Have some empathy guys.

Your job doesn't end after the last song is played. From the time I buy a ticket to the time I exit the venue, and get transport to home, everything is part of the experience. And we have failed colossally here.

After the concert got over, there was only one exit. Did anyone think about the safety repercussions if a fire broke out? There were no lights on the way out. It felt like walking through a swamp. Another long walk.

But props to every concert goer, who made sure there was disciplined exit and no mayhem. This was ripe for a stampede, but everyone made sure the exit was uneventful.

Uber had thoughtfully set up an Uber Lounge outside the venue, on the opposite side just off the road to the Sea Link. While I appreciate the gesture, what was even the point of the lounge? The Uber drivers themselves had no idea such a pick up point existed. We had to wait an hour to get a cab. And that's not just because there were fewer cabs or more demand, but because the drivers had no idea where to come!

3. Sound check anyone?

The sound engineerings was a total let down. The audio was inconsistent in volume, and quality. When you have a band of this calibre, I'd expect you to nail sound and production design. This was a major let down.

A lot of us left everything behind to come see our heroes - folks travelled from all parts of the country, and this is the experience they deserved?

And this isn't the first time this happened. Remember Trevor Noah's show in Bangalore or Cigarettes After Sex (cancelled one hour prior to go-live!)?

4. Water is free but cups are chargeable? Are you kidding me?

Just when I think I have seen everything there is to see in so far as predatory pricing tactics go, a new one springs on us. In a city like Bombay, and with crowds at that scale, having water counters everywhere is basic. And there were a good amount of water stations all around, provided you pay Rs 100 for a glass.

This is beyond ridiculous. You're literally charging people for the privilege of staying hydrated at your event. In what world is this acceptable?

Encourage everyone to get their own drinkware. It's not that big a deal.

5. Concert goers - where are your manners?

I get that everyone was super excited to hear GNR live after over a decade, but don't forget your manners. We are a filthy lot - dumping our glasses, food plates, and bottles everywhere; smoking in packed areas when there are kids around - what if someone got hurt? By the time we left, the ground was a mess. I feel sad for the folks who had to clean up after us.

As it is we get very few legendary rock bands to perform in India, and then we go screw it up. Some of these challenges are completely avoidable, only if the intent is there. I know the point of running events is to make money, but have a little shame and deliver the experience you promise.

Our bar for a good experience is not very high, and that is because we expect very little from our service providers and hungrily gulp down whatever is served.

The next time you buy a concert ticket, ask the organiser specific questions about sound quality, entry/exit plans, and pricing policies.

Make them earn your money upfront, not trap you once you're there.