Six Tips to Get You Through the Music Festival Season
Anna Marketti, ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
Tip 1. Water
Water is always your best friend, whether it’s a festival or just a normal concert. The rules are different for every festival, but usually they’ll let you bring in either a sealed store bought water bottle or your own reusable one- empty, of course. If you opt for the store bought bottle, the rules usually dictate a size limit, around 1 liter–so go as big as possible! Freeze your bottles the night before, that way it’ll melt throughout the day, leaving you with ice-cold water. If you’re a frequent festival goer, you also may want to invest in a hydration pack, like a Camelbak. Hydration packs are backpacks equipped with a special compartment to hold water in them, as well as an external “straw”so you can drink from it while wearing it on your back. You can find filling stations around most festivals for hydration packs and water bottles alike, ensuring you never end up dehydrated. There’s always the option of purchasing water bottles, but averaging around $6 per bottle, staying hydrated can make an impact on your wallet. There’s nothing worse than feeling sick and dehydrated- so bring your new best friend H2O.
Tip 2. Rest is Just as Important
It’s very important that you’re getting some shuteye at night and taking breaks throughout the day. A good show can fill you with a lot of energy, keeping you riled up for hours afterwards, but at least try to go to sleep as soon as you can–otherwise you’ll spend the next day feeling worn down and unable to enjoy the festival as much as you could be! Lack of sleep can also bring lots of bad vibes, causing you to be irritable and impatient–two feelings not well received at festivals. There are going to be lots of people, long lines, loud music, and it’s going to be hot. Not only can this make a sleep-deprived person very cranky, it can also make them nauseous. Not a very pleasant combination. So, for the sake of those around you as well as yourself, make sure you get enough sleep every night.
Tip 3. Keep Scheduling in Mind!
Festivals release set times well in advance, which gives you plenty of opportunity to plan out your days. Get together with the friends you’re going with and make the most fun decisions you’ll ever make in your life. Have everyone circle, write down, dot- whatever- which bands they’d like to see, along with what stage they’re at and the set time. Once everyone’s finished, compare and compile. There’s going to be some overlap and there are going to be slots where people disagree on who you should see. Things will work out, and you’ll still have an amazing time. Since you’ve planned in advance who you want to see, where, and when, it’ll make navigating the festival so much easier. You won’t have to rush to decide at the festival, possibly missing some of your favorites. You can also plan out meeting times and food breaks accordingly and in proximity to whatever stage you’re at.
Tip 4. Be Mindful of the Stages
Speaking of stages, there are usually at least two at a festival, if not more. The bigger the festival, the more stages. Occasionally, stages are organized in categories, depending on the festival. If it’s a one genre fest, it’s not very likely, but since most of the popular ones encompass various music tastes, it’s common to find, for example, an EDM stage, a new music stage, and a headliners stage. This can help you figure out where a band might be playing. Sadly, though, there often comes the problem of bands playing at opposite ends of the festival. If the venue is large enough, this could mean a twenty-minute walk between stages. If you don’t want to miss half the set of your favorite band, you may have to make some sacrifices. There’s also the issue of being at the front–everyone wants it, but few achieve it. To get to the front, you either have to get to a set very early or camp out at one stage all day. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with watching your band from afar- but I completely understand the desire to be within spitting distance of your beloved bassist. So when you’re choosing who you want to see, take into account which stages they’re at and how close you’d like to be.
We pay hundreds of dollars for colorful cloth wristbands to get into these precious festivals we love so much, and the incentive to do that comes from the lineup. “It’s perfect!”some cry in ecstasy as they refresh their browser. “This year’s lineup sucks,”grunt some others as they click “purchase”anyways. And it’s all done strategically and on purpose–festivals choose acts they know will draw crowds, booking huge headliners and unique collaborations. But interspersed with these radio stars are small name acts, some even unknown.
Tip 5. Try New Things
Of course you should still go see that band whose every album you have, but if there’s a gap in your day and you’re sick of browsing patchouli oil and hemp jewelry, go see a band you don’t know. The band wouldn’t have been booked if they weren’t good enough to put on an entertaining show. Of course, not everything will be your cup of tea, but there’s no such thing as bad music–we’re just entitled to our own tastes. Whether or not you end up liking the band is completely subjective, but at least you’ve reached out and tried something new. Maybe you don’t like them, but hey! This sounds like something your friend could be into–you can pass their name along, spreading the joy of new music with others. You also may end up discovering your new favorite band. At least once; do it for me, guys. You won’t regret it.
Tip 6. Radiate Positivity
The reason we shell out so much time and money to attend these festivals is so that we can have the time of our lives and make lasting memories. In order to make that happen, it’s important that everyone makes an effort to bring good vibes. It’s going to be crowded and lines are going to be long- don’t shove and don’t complain. We’re all managing as best we can, and you’re no exception. Everyone is uncomfortable, most are just conscientious enough not to vocalize it. Being stubborn and rude will not only make those around you more uncomfortable, it will also reflect back on you and make your experience less enjoyable. If someone is trying to get out of the crowd for whatever reason- don’t block them, help them out. There might be a good reason they’re leaving- they could be sick, they could be helping a friend who’s about to pass out. Even if they’re just bailing early, allowing them that easy exit will allow you to return to your spot and continue having a good time more quickly. We’ve been learning it since kindergarten- be nice to others and they’ll be nice back. You’ll remember the night you spent laying on a blanket, staring at the stars and jamming to Mumford and Sons far more fondly than the one your buddy got punched in the face for being a jerk.
Music festivals are a special experience unlike any other. The sense of community cultivated in a few short days along with the incredible music and memories to be had will last a lifetime. If you want to have a good festival experience, follow these tips! If you want to make it even better, pass them on to others! Working together will foster incredible results. If you create a fantastic experience for yourself as well as others, you’ll encourage them to come back year after year, and hopefully you will, too.
UPCOMING FESTIVALS:
WEST COAST–
Electric Daisy Carnival, Las Vegas, NV, June 20-22
Outside Lands, San Francisco, CA, August 8-10
EAST COAST–
Governor’s Ball, New York, NY, June 6-8
Firefly, Dover, DE, June 19-22
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI, July 25-27
Gathering of the Vibes, Bridgeport, CT, July 31-August 3
MIDWEST–
Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN, June 12-15
Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL, August 2-4
Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, June 25-29/July 1-6
Pitchfork, Chicago, IL, July 18-20
Electric Forest, Rothbury, MI, June 26-29
North Coast, Chicago, IL, August 29-31
TRAVELING–
Vans Warped Tour, various locations, June 14-August 3