I have a love-hate relationship with real-life people. It’s one of the reasons I spend so much time with my characters. As the product of a highly social mother and a politely introverted father, there is a strong possibility that either of their personalities could shine through at any moment, dominating my interactions with people I meet along the way. Fortunately, the writer in me wields a method for turning those dynamics into workable observations that can be woven into my writing. And so, I’m glad that I left my house for a few days to gain an ocean of inspiration at the annual music festival called ProgPower USA.

Here’s a fact: After mathematics, music is the primary language of the universe. (I love both math and music, but I know there are people out there who are glad they don’t have to understand one to appreciate the other.) And like any language, there are dialects, colloquialisms, and accents that add flavor and texture to any conversation. Which means that when you bring people from all backgrounds together for a musical event, you can find a plethora of unique and fascinating characters who will almost certainly make it into your most whimsical daydreams, your deepest shower diatribes, and best of all, your most vibrant and realistic writing.

Following is a list of characters I found on this excursion, along with comments or questions that will lead me into a place where I can tell my version of their story.

Note: Some people tend to fall into clichéd categories and therefore become a bit boring in terms of character development. But others are vivid and beautiful and tragic and exciting. You can decide which is which as you review my list.

In the Crowd

• The Traveler – This one goes anywhere and everywhere to see their favorite bands. They want their bands to succeed, but also hope for them to stay small enough to play the intimate clubs where the show becomes a personal exchange of ideas and art. I love to imagine who The Traveler meets on their pilgrimages. What is their day job that affords them this luxury?
• The Hard-Core Fan – She comes for one or two bands and then leaves once they’re off the stage. She dresses the part, stays in character, and knows all the lyrics. She doesn’t interact with anyone else in the audience. They’re only shadows compared to the bright personalities on the stage. What is this character like on a regular day?
• The Regulars – These people have sat in the same seats for 20 years and may have forgotten why they first started coming. Some of them don’t even care about the music anymore. They may or may not socialize with their seat mates, and they may or may not spend the entire festival on their kindle or phone. Why do they keep coming? What do they get out of it, other than a Facebook post of blurry pictures?
• The Clique – Closely related to The Regulars, this is a group of friends who sit or stand together every year. They say they’ve had people come and go over time. What happened to the people who have gone?
• The Noob – She’s marked by her excitement over every aspect of the festival – people watching, stage setup, sound levels and intensity, interaction with the bands. (You guessed it. This one was me at this particular event.) Was her experience extraordinary enough to inspire her to come back next year? What do you think?
• The Barrier Warrior – He is always in line early so he can get in first. He walks immediately to the front row, and stays there all day. No confirmation that he eats or drinks anything all day, or if/when he leaves the room for any reason. One thing’s for sure, if you want to find him, you’ll know exactly where to look.
• The Pit Hound – These revelrous rioters will start a mosh pit for any band and any song, and they won’t be satisfied til they have a scar to show for it. Why does it feel so good to feel that pain?
• The Recorder – Luckily, this guy is not as much of a problem as he used to be. Most of the time, he’ll hold his phone (or in some cases, a tablet!) at a less obtrusive level to capture his poor-quality version of the show he won’t remember because he watched it on a screen.
• The Collector – He brings items for the band to sign and will stand in line, missing the actual show, for the chance to tell the bands how many times he’s seen them live. What does he do with all those mementos?
• The Groupie – Sorry folks, this festival was for prog and power metal. Not a groupie in sight. The closest thing is the guy nervously fangirling in the signing line. (See The Collector.) How happy is this guy just to have a moment in the presence of his idol?
• The Expert – This guy knows the complete history of the bands and the genre in general. He thrives on joyfully sharing facts with other Experts and anyone else who will listen. What does he care about outside of music culture?
• Mr. Pretension – This guy thinks he knows everything but doesn’t actually. He looks down on anyone who isn’t at his perceived level of musical expertise, including the band. For some reason, he refuses to clap or show any joy in response to the performance. Why is he so angry? [We have an equivalent to this in the writing world, but I’ll save that for another time.]
• The Heckler – You’ve seen him. That one guy who thinks it’s okay to be rude to a band who are baring their soul on stage. We hate to see him, but we love to see him get kicked out. Buh-bye, buddy. Hope it was worth the price of a ticket for you to announce to everyone that you’re a tool.
• The Drunk – They’re three sheets to the wind long before their favorite band walk onto the stage. Will they remember any of it?
• The Smoker/Vaper – There’s always one, and they’re always situated in exactly the middle of the standing area. Do they ever get caught?
• The Scroller – She always sits right next to me, and her screen brightness is always at its highest setting. Maybe her husband/boyfriend dragged her here for a date. But at the current ticket prices, it might be more cost effective to take her to McDonald’s next time.
• The Talkers – I’m just gonna go ahead and say it. Please take it outside, or text each other like civilized humans. No one wants to hear your commentary during a performance.
• The Amateur Singer – You would think I would find this annoying, but if you are feeling the moment so much that you have to sing along, and louder than the music that requires hearing protection, bless you in all your endeavors. We should all experience such joy.
• The Inappropriate Dresser – Historically, this role was claimed by women who either wanted a backstage pass or wanted to impress their man. But lately, it’s been men in booty shorts and crop tops. Super nice guys, but dang, my eyes!
• The Parent-Child Team – This is either a parent who is trying to connect with their child by sharing their love of music, or a parent and child who have shared music all their young lives and are happy and excited to see their favorite bands together. I have no questions about this. I’ve lived it, and it is a beautiful thing.
• The Lonely Dad – He’s tried to introduce his children to his music, but they wouldn’t bite. (These guys make me so sad because they are the exact opposite of my experience with young music lovers.) Will he ever find something he can share with his kids?
• The Singleton – This category includes a range of folks. The guy who traveled, the girl whose friends don’t understand her music, the friendly older guy who has loved the music for a very long time, the young guy who dances alone to Every. Single. Song. In my opinion, they’re more hardcore than The Hard-Core Fan. Who do they talk to about their experience the next day?
• The One of a Kind – The kid who walks to the beat of his own drum, dresses how he wants, and is oblivious to anyone who might disapprove or make fun of him. I love talking to this character. They are happy, excited, funny, and friendly. May they walk proudly forever in blissful ignorance of the cynicism that surrounds him.
• The Beautiful Lonely Woman – She sat alone by a trash can, texting or scrolling. I can’t stop wondering what her story is.

On the Stage

• The Musicians (general) – The bands who pour their hearts into their performances and then graciously interact with their fans, feeding off their excitement and love of the music. What must it be like from their perspective? And what is next for them?
• The Front Man – He sings about optimistic reconstruction of self, but makes death jokes on stage. I want to meet this character in real life because I suspect we may have some things in common.
• The Showman – That musician who puts on a bold persona for dramatic effect on stage, but is kind and lovely when meeting fans. What is he like when he’s alone?
• The Cry For Help – This character writes beautiful, poignant lyrics, but needs someone to talk to so he can get some meaningful feedback on his very real problems. Will he ever heal?
• The New Guy – This performer is nervous as hell to go on stage. Sometimes it shows, and sometimes he overcomes, at least until he says his thank you’s and walks off the stage. What will it take for him to find his confidence?
• The Youngest Band Member – This is similar to The New Guy, but with the added motivation of wanting or needing to prove himself to the audience, to his band mates, and to himself. And I believe he will.
• The Veteran – This guy must be frustrated by technical malfunctions and hiccups in the performance, but you’ll never know it because he’s a pro and he knows the show must go on.

Behind the Scenes

• The J/V A/V Team – This can go one way or another. They either love their job and strive to make the bands look good. Or they know almost nothing, throw their hands up, and ruin the experience for everyone. The audience will be the judge.
• The Traveling Production Crews – They know their stuff, get it done, and have the eternal gratefulness of both the bands and the audience. How much does it hurt them when they see someone else doing it wrong?
• Security Team – They’re doing their best to follow the rules and keep some amount of order in the chaos. What do they think of the music, the show, the fans?
• Vendors – They’re working hard to bring in merch of all kinds, and hope they don’t have to load too much of it back into their vans at the end of the week. Is this their regular job?
• The Organizer – This guy and his team have worked their tails off for decades to make these events a reality that can be enjoyed by every type of character who shows up. They have our respect and our thanks. What’s next?

I met a wild variety of characters at my most recent musical outing. Each one could become a writing prompt to inspire pages, chapters, or even whole books worth of narrative. Many thanks to the ones I met, the ones I observed, and the ones who will never know the impact they’ll have on my stories.

So, which of these characters deserves their own story?