If you're reading this, then I assume you don't just like music, you love music. So, happy festival season, you super fan, you! Music festivals are not for the faint of heart, or for those afraid to be faint of hearing. Whether you're a pro festival goer or an amateur, one thing you must be is committed to the music. I recently underwent my first music festival adventure at Shaky Knees in Atlanta, Georgia. Though it was just a short, non-camping, three-day fest, here are some tips I learned that can apply to any music festival experience.
1. Hydrate!
Whether out of recyclables, reusables, fill-up stations, drink!!! It's hot and sunny and you'll be hot and sweaty. Guarantee it. Most of the day consists of standing in crowds in the blazing sun, sliding off of each other's sun-blistered and sweat-covered bodies, so don't be the first one to hit the floor. Your water bottle is your life preserver. Treat it accordingly.
2. Pack and apply lots of sunscreen, but definitely get some sun exposure before you go.
If you air on the more vampire pale side of the skin color spectrum, or if this outing is your first official trip outdoors for the season (guilty as charged), don't go anywhere without your sunscreen. That SPF 50 is basically the only thing keeping this music festival from turning into a seafood festival featuring you as the prime lobster. Imagine this as a visual representation of your skin if you aren't using sunscreen at an outdoor festival. Quite literally getting burnt at a festival.
3. Bring a hat.
Going along with your sunscreen, hats keep you cool, hide your sweat, and protect from burning. Plus, they are all the rage on the fashion scene, so what have you got to lose?
4. See more bands, instead of worrying about how well you can see them.
Getting to be in the front row is incredible, I get it, but there's so many options to choose from, why not sample them all?
5. Dance.
Each and every concert is your moment to just be. Don't give up a prime opportunity to dance your heart out because you're afraid of how it'll look. I definitely did finger guns and air guitar during The 1975's set, and I am honestly not the least bit ashamed. Get diggity-down with yo' bad self.
6. Learn the lyrics before you come.
Hopefully, your favorite bands are playing, so you already know every song by heart. But if not, try and learn the lyrics before you go to the festival, because it just really enhances the experience. There's nothing like singing along with an entire crowd as the artist smiles and holds the mic out.
7. Touch the barricade. Hold the barricade. Love the barricade.
Now, I know I said you don't have to be in the front to have a good time, and you don't! But, if you're a short girl like me, the barricade is your one shot at not getting crushed, or at seeing. It is also an excellent tool for resting.
8. Never underestimate the value of the side crowd.
Who needs the middle when you can get the best spot on the side? The barricade does, in fact, stretch farther than five feet, and there is plenty waiting to love you on the side. The side has never failed me.
9. Wherever you are, be there.
Now, I'm not saying you can't take a picture or two, or a video of part of your favorite song, but you lose so much when you're trying to watch a concert through your phone. You can't even clap because you have an iPhone in one hand. You won't need a picture to remember it by if you were fully present in the moment.
10. Make friends.
Be kind. Talk to someone new. If you're in the same crowd, you already have one thing in common. Festivals are filled with people, so why not pass the time between shows by making new friends? During Florence + The Machine's set, the guy next to me hugged me and told me he loved me. And I believed him. Music brings people together, man.
11. Set a spending limit.
Those food trucks can get expensive, and those merch tents are like black holes for your wallet. Pick a few items you can't live without, and plan your budget accordingly. Don't let yourself swipe your card into oblivion.
12. Comfort is key.
Fashion is always important, don't get me wrong, especially at music festival. But, keep in mind that you will be walking and standing for hours at a time. Also, don't forget about the sun. And the thousands of people around. Basically, if you're uncomfortable in it at all, don't wear it. Don't let your wardrobe hold you back from this glorious opportunity.
13. Pack light.
There are a few essentials you need with you at an outdoor festival, but all of them can fit in a small backpack, or hopefully, a fanny pack. As you might imagine, it's tiresome carrying around a large amount all day, and there's nothing worse than the swinging backpack of death in a packed crowd.
I hope some of these tips come in handy on your festival questing. Keep on rockin' and rollin'.
