How long should a concert story be?

Match the length to the question. A yes-or-no question about whether you have seen a band needs one sentence and one detail. A question about what happened needs about thirty seconds, which is four or five short sentences. Sixty seconds is the ceiling in a group, because after that the others are waiting rather than listening. If you have more to say, stop and let a follow-up question invite it.

In a written comment online, two sentences is usually enough, and a voice message should sound like a message rather than a performance. A practical rule is one sentence per part of the five-part story: whenever a part seems to need two sentences, the second one is optional detail and can be dropped as soon as the listener looks ready to reply.

Talking About a Concert in English: How to Talk About Music in English When Someone Asks →