The sweat is dripping down the back of your neck, your sunglasses are broken in half on the concrete, your friends are missing, your phone is dead, and the mosh pit is slowly but surely opening in your direction. Ideas of where you might be? Three famous words: Vans Warped Tour.
Whether you’ve experienced this first hand, or you’ve heard the horror stories of everyone who says after every year they’re “never going back” but are the first ones to buy tickets the following year (you know you’re guilty), Warped Tour is an experience. I can guarantee it’s unlike any music festival you’ve ever been to, for better or for worse. However, I’ve conveniently put together a list of survival tips below.
1. Come prepared.
Other than the obvious "get a good night's rest the night before, eat an actual breakfast, and drink water," pack a bag. I suggest a backpack or a fanny back--a bag that will somehow be connected to your body (it gets wild). In a perfect Warped Tour bag, you would have the following items:
- Sunscreen
- Hand Sanitizer (because port-a-potties)
- Towel
- Bobby pins/ hair ties – You can use these to trade objects with other girls; they get desperate for some bobby pins! You need some water? Trade a few bobby pins with Rebecca, and you’ll be on your way!
- Money- bring double the amount you think you need but less then the amount you know you want to bring. A water bottle is nearly $5, and believe me, you will want cold water every second you can get it. As far as band merchandise goes, buy little things here and there, but if you see something you really want, ask if you can order it online to ensure you won’t lose it in your long day at Warped (or wait till the end of the day).
- Ziploc Bags – put your phone and money in plastic bags to keep them dry, whether it's raining or not. It could rain later, or you could get attacked with water guns or dripped on by Beau Bokan of Fronz this year.
- Band-Aids- whether you or a stranger need them, band aids and other first aid items are always handy. The first aid units aren't always convenient to get to, and they are usually busy.
2. Wear proper clothing.
Skinny jeans might be your thing, but do not wear them to Warped Tour. It’s far too hot to make a fashion statement. Gentlemen, wear shorts and a man tank if that’s your thing, or a t-shirt. You need to come to terms with the fact that by the end of the day, you will look like you got hit by a train. So ladies, keep the makeup to a minimum, and take advantage of sunglasses. Wear a swimsuit top if you choose, but keep it classy. Do not be “that girl” (we all know the type). A tank and shorts will suffice, as well as tennis shoes. Do not wear sandals unless you want your toes and feet to be all cut up.
3. Be aware of the lineup.
When you arrive at Warped Tour, it’s a good idea to take a picture of the lineup boards and plan out which bands you want to see and which stage they will be on. Find the location of each stage, and make a game plan with your friends. Write the times on paper, too, just in case. Accidents happen all of the time with phones in mosh pits, port-a-potties, and just plain clumsiness. Check back at the lineup throughout the day to make sure times haven’t changed; you don’t want to miss your favorite bands.
4. Apply sunscreen every 12 minutes and hydrate.
The sun will be beating on you all day long, and I guarantee you will get sunburn even with sunscreen. Sunscreen will definitely help if applied regularly (don’t forget your face), and apply on your shoulders as often as possible.
5. Have a meeting spot.
You will lose your friends. It's bound to happen, so be prepared. Have a specific spot you will return back to if you lose your squad and use it. Your phone will die, break, and all you will have left is your meeting spot. Other than that, use the buddy system the best you can, and be aware of your surroundings and your friends wondering off. Believe me, you don't want to walk the parking lot for an hour after the headliner plays looking for your lost friends.
6. Mosh carefully.
Even if mosh pits aren't your thing, be aware you might get thrown into one. Don't panic, just run to the other side as fast as you can. They're actually a great opportunity to run to the front of the crowd if you're daring enough. A tip I use as a girl who's not necessarily trying to mosh is to get behind larger gentlemen and use them as a barrier. Also, be aware of crowd surfers. They come flying into the crowd and, more times than not, injure someone because they were not paying attention. Just duck or move over if you don't want to touch a sweaty body above your head (I don't blame you).
7. Have fun.
Warped Tour is mildly miserable when your skin is boiling and you have other people's sweat sopping off of you as well as your own. However, make the most of it. The lineup for 2015 is rockin’ and the bands want to meet you! Wait in the two-hour line to meet your favorite band. Take as many pictures as you can. Help others out and they will help you, too. Take full advantage of indoor facilities as well as shade. Drink your weight in water and then more. Keep your phone safe in a bag (back pockets can be sketchy). Live in the moment, and take full advantage of all the opportunities Warped Tour offers you. When you come home after more than eight hours in the sun, sunburned, tired, sweaty, and miserable, just know when you say, “I’ll never go back again,” that you really will. You loved it.
