Summer is just around the corner, and with summer comes the start of another season of concerts at Shoreline Amphitheatre. Shoreline is the big outdoor concert venue for the Bay Area. Although it’s actually located in Mountain View, a forty-five minute drive south from San Francisco, Shoreline is usually the venue where the major summer tours get booked for their swing through the city. And so, as with SFO airport, you might as well consider Shoreline Amphitheatre part of the San Francisco. The artists do, commonly addressing the crowd as "San Francisco," and you can guess which city will be listed on the T-shirt merchandise.

I'm not really a big fan of large venues (anymore), but most of the acts that get booked there are pretty big names, so it's difficult to catch them anywhere else. That is why I attended my fair share of concerts last year, including Van Halen, Page and Plant, H.O.R.D.E., Lilith Fair, and the Bridge School Benefit. I saw a lot a great bands, and I also learned a few tips that I’m going to pass along.

the tickets – If possible, get down to the Shoreline box office when tickets go on sale and avoid the costly BASS service charges. Sure, you’ll pay the price of standing in line for an hour or more, but your friends will thank you, and it’s an opportunity to mingle with other concert goers. Make sure you show up in time to get a number for the random draw, which usually takes place a half hour before tickets go on sale. Remember, since the draw is random, getting there earlier doesn’t improve your chance of snagging good seats. If you’re just buying lawn tickets, see below.

getting there – On the evening of a show, it’s a safe bet that traffic will be backed up on the 101. What do you do? Take the Amphitheatre Pkwy exit, since mostly everyone else will be exiting at Shoreline Blvd. You happily sail right up to the grounds.

parking – It costs $8, but if you don't mind a five or ten minute walk, there's quite a bit of street parking available for free on the north/west side of the park. The pay lot may seem worth it if you’re splitting the cost, as long as you don’t mind fighting a thousand other cars exiting in single file after the show, not to mention the gaping pot holes that only a 4x4 can negotiate.

drink identification – You’ll need show ID to get your hand stamped if you want to drink. There are a bunch of booths throughout the park, so don't stop at the first one behind fifty other people.

lawn seats – The likelihood of finding a spot on the lawn with a good sight line is about the same as finding an apartment in San Francisco with a good view. Don’t expect it, just hope for it. There’s always the projection screens as an alternative, but keep in mind, they’re basically useless until the sun goes down. If you're dead set on getting a good lawn location, show up well before the gates even open. When the herd is let loose, go mark your territory straight away with blankets, jackets, whatever. The crowds are generally pretty good, so once you find a spot, it's yours to keep.

the food – It's all expensive, but if you've still got money left, go ahead and enjoy a Philly cheese-steak or Carne Asada soft taco. However, if you want to save another $6, bring in a bag of groceries. You can even make up your own sandwiches and garnish them at the condiment stands (but don’t say where you got the idea from.) The food specialty at Shoreline is their garlic fries - definitely worth trying, but I recommend splitting them with someone or you'll smell like a walking garlic factory for the next two days.

the beer – Unfortunately, you can't bring your own in, but beer and mixed drinks are available. When shopping around for draft, if you're not fussy, look for the largest glasses. There's like three different sizes of cups, although the prices vary as well.

the washrooms – It should be common sense that the washrooms closest to the seating will always be the busiest. Take the extra two minute walk, and you’ll be back in time for the next band.

the music – Enjoy the show!