If you are a lover of music, food, people, and sweating your butt off, then you might be a fan of music festivals.

I, too, am a huge fan of music festivals, and just can’t get enough! While I believe it is often better to see your favorite artists in a setting where they do not have to share a stage, music festivals can open you up to so much more music.

Music Festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza offer experiences of a lifetime because they are a chance to see big time artists and also to introduce yourself to a new sound you wouldn’t have thought of listening to.

With so many different artists, so many stages, different foods, and attractions, music festivals can often feel like a new and exciting experience.

However, there is a down side to the festivals, like the fact that you are sharing a large space with hundreds to thousands of people. It might seem like there is enough space for everyone, but if you are claustrophobic, festivals are not for you. There is no personal space, or even arm room the closer you get to the stage, not to mention the sweat from not only your body but everyone else’s.

During my time at Austin City Limits attempting to watch Kendrick Lamar I genuinely saw the light of the Lord as I feared for my life. I have never been so close to another human being in my life, or have had almost no use of my arms. At times I was helpless to the push of the crowd and couldn’t do anything but try my best not to fall over and get trampled. Several people had to be taken out of the crowd because it was too much for them to bear. I know some might be thinking that I am over-exaggerating, but those of you who have pushed from the back of the crowd to the stage through thousands of bodies, you know what I am talking about.

It’s true this experience is not for everyone, and is not something I would recommend to anyone. However, I am someone who goes for the music and the experience, and so I don’t mind being smashed against people, covered in beer and sweat. Because for me, it was worth it to get this view:

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It was worth it to stand in 90-degree heat, and avoid several different drunk white boy fights, and fainting people in order to watch this:

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Because the beauty of music festivals isn’t the chance to see your favorite artists, or to open yourself up to new music. While those are both benefits, the reason music festivals are fun and exciting is the people around you. To be able to jump around to Migos with your friends, to be able to quote every single lyric of Juke Jamwith the random stranger you make eye contact with. The thing that draws people to music festivals is the human connection. You could listen to your favorite artists on your iPhone just fine, or watch the live stream of Coachella from your couch and still feel like you're there. But the true essence of a festival is the fact that you surround yourself with people who all appreciate music, and all want to experience it with you.