I just attended my first ever concert festival. And when I say "just," I mean I'm literally sitting in my hotel bedroom an hour after the final act performed writing this article.
I had many expectations for concert festivals. I've been obsessed with Lollapalooza for as long as I can remember, I grew up 15 minutes from Firefly and in all honestly, who hasn't heard of Coachella? I knew festivals were wild, fun and a little messy from time to time.
That being said, is anyone ever fully prepared for an experience until they really just live through it? No matter how much we research, plan, or put into consideration, some things are impossible to prepare for until experienced.
But, to save you from some pain, stress and the possibly of walking around in damp clothes, here's somethings you should know before you attend a concert festival.
1. It might rain, so be prepared.
Don't do what we did, and come completely unprepared for rain, then spend $10 on ponchos that worked as well as wrapping ourselves in Saran wrap. I would suggest bringing ponchos bought from somewhere cheap but reliable, and maybe a pair of rainboots.
2. Have a set meeting spot.
This is good because it's very easy to get split up at festivals because there are thousands of people in attendance and 20 different places to go and things to see at a time. Also, in case the festival is evacuated (much like my experience), it's easier to know where to meet so everyone can head out together.
3. If you are evacuated, don't panic.
As I said before, we were evacuated from our festival, and yes, I panicked. I'm almost 20 years old, and I clutched my mom's hand while trying to bob and weave through a sea of people. It turned out we evacuated because of weather, so my panicking went to waste. So just remain calm, and don't almost pass out on a street corner in the middle of a city you've never visited before in the pouring rain.
4. Wear proper shoes.
I think the best kind of shoes to wear at ones that are comfortable, waterproof and durable. I wore plastic flip flops that I've owned since the eleventh grade, and they lasted the whole weekend and my feet obviously survived with only some dirt on them. Sneakers would actually be a bad idea, considering if it rains your feet get water-logged. Also, your shoes will most likely get dirty and possibly destroyed, so a nice pair of sneakers is probably not your best bet.
5. Check out all the food options before committing.
There were a ton of food trucks at the festival I just attended, and they all had some pretty delicious food. My friend and I took a few laps before deciding to buy jalapeno tater tots and the world's most expensive smoothie. The food will be expensive and the lines will be long, so pick your best option to make the pain worth the gain.
6. Don't skip other acts to wait for hours.
Unless you bought day passes just to see one band or artist, or if you literally only came to the festival to see your favorite artist, I would try to enjoy as many other performers as possible before getting to your main acts. I almost missed out on watching Kesha to wait for a good spot to see my favorite band but changed my mind last minute. I'm so happy I didn't miss out because Kesha was amazing, and I still had a great spot later on.
7. Be ready to weave.
There are so many people everywhere that weaving through a crowd will be your number one activity all weekend. You have to weave your wave into the park, weave your way around the park, weave your way to get close to the stage, and so on for the entire weekend.
8. Buy a shirt ASAP.
Jump on the chance to get a shirt as soon as possible so that none of them are sold out yet. By the second day, a ton of shirts was gone, and by the closing act, almost all of them were sold out. Don't limit your options and get to the T-shirt booth as soon as possible.
9. Take lots of pictures when you can.
Take pictures when you have the chance. You might get very sweaty and look like you ran a marathon if you wait til later. Or it might rain and you'll look like you went for a swim in all of your clothes if you wait. Or you'll run out of time and never take the great pictures you wanted to take if you wait (like I did). If you want cute festival pictures, take them as soon as possible.
10. Know all the info beforehand.
Know when the gates open, the schedule of the acts, how to get around the park, what is and isn't allowed inside the park and so on. A lot of people were holding up the line because they didn't know what they could or couldn't bring into the park. I saw a kiwi get confiscated from a woman's purse. Don't be that person. Don't try to bring kiwi's where they aren't allowed and hold up an entire line of people.
11. Get ready to go with the flow!
I knew concert festivals were about going with the flow and just letting things happen as they happen, but I didn't realize how important it was to be easy going. It can be scorching hot or pouring rain. Everyone can be evacuated and everything can be postponed for an hour. A smoothie can cost $20 but it comes in a real pineapple so it was worth it, right? You could end up singing "Put Your Records On" with Corrinne Bailey Rae and hundreds of other people. You might make friends with a bunch of strangers because they let you get in front of them to see the stage because you're too short otherwise. Dirt, grass and the faint smell of drugs, alcohol and sweat might cover your skin, but it's all in the experience.
It's a weekend of memories, experiences and just letting go of everything just to enjoy the music and the people you're surrounded by.
