Festival 101: EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Your First Festival

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You’ve probably heard the news buzzing about Coachella or TomorrowLand. You’ve also probably been bombarded out of the blue with Instagram pictures from these wild looking locations.

Maybe you’ve thought to yourself – I want to be there.

Well my beautiful friends, “there” is a music festival, and they are freaking amazing. Imagine a weekend (or longer!) of non-stop music, food, art, and good energy.

But where are these festivals? How much do they cost? Where can you buy tickets? WHAT DO YOU WEAR?!?!

Fret not – this Festival 101 course will school you on LITERALLY everything you need to know (and more!) about attending a music festival! Now, this is a prettyyy extensive guide, so if you already know what you don’t know, use the following links to jump ahead. Otherwise, let’s get do it!

Topics Covered:

When is Festival Season

Which Festival to Attend

How to Plan for a Festival (transportation/housing/lineup)

Safety Tips

How to Budget for Festivals

What to Wear

How to Approach Celebrities

Making Friends at Festivals

Getting to the Front of the Stage

Drugs at Festivals?

Panelists

Since I am still a relatively new festivalgoer, I’ve enlisted the help of these three seasoned festival champions to help give you the absolute best tips on how to make your next festival a smashing success!

Megan

Hii! My name is Megan, my friends call me Megg. I am originally from Honolulu, Hawaii and I know what you’re thinking OMG she’s like Moana! Okay, maybe you weren’t thinking that. Anyways yes, I am Hawaiian and Native American. I’ve been living in South Florida for 4 years now and I am a Chiropractic Assistant! I’m a friend to everyone and even if I only met you once somewhere random, I still consider you one of my close friends. So if you ever see me ANYWHERE don’t hesitate to come up and say hi and take pictures with me because I love pictures with new friends 🙂 They make the best memories!

I have gone to concerts since I was 14 (3OH!3 in Grand Rapids, MI!) and have been into festivals since I was 20. What really grabbed my attention to festivals is how so many people who like the same kind of music could all come together and just vibe and feed off each others positive energies. No matter what festival I went to, EVERYONE there (even the workers) had such a positive outlook and just always looked happy. How can that NOT grab your attention?! I love how easy it is to connect with other festivalgoers and how everyone who is there feels at home.

Ricky

What’s up! I’m Ricky aka Ricky On The Run. Seattle is my home base and launch pad. The majority of my time is consumed by traveling, photography, videography, lifting weights, nap breaks, and meme culture. I share my personal life on IG and occasionally write reflections on my website, rickyontherun.com.

What originally got me into festivals was primarily the music. I’ve always been really into the art of live expression. Festivals were a cost-effective way for me to see a bunch of my favorite artists, and another way for me to discover new music too! I would still say that the music and live performance is the main driving force for my interest in festivals. But I have come to fall in love with the festival culture and the passionate people I’ve met along the way. Festivals can be very inspiring and informational. Also, my friends play a hand in keeping me in the festival circuit. I’m lucky to have an eclectic set of friends, all into different types of music. I try to stay open minded and not too strict when it comes to deciding on where to go.

Stephanie

My name is Stephanie Rosa and I am a Midwest girl turned Denver transplant. I have called a lot of US cities home but Denver has been my favorite thus far. After working several years in the corporate medical world, I can officially call the festival world my full time job. I own two companies in the space. Festival Squad is my first company that I started after a year of travel and has evolved into an online publication focused on festival culture and lifestyle. My second company is called Festivate which is a boutique marketing agency focused on social media management, influencer management, sponsorship and brand activations. 

I’ve always been super into music. And honestly, I’ve always been super into electronic music. When I was under 10 years old I remember to listening to Chicago mix-masters like Bad Boy Bill and Tim Spinnin Schommer. As I grew up, I continued to listen to electronic music but also got into a lot of emo/screamo. My first festival was Warped Tour 2003. As I got older, I got into the Chicago club scene and then into camping festivals. My first camping festival was Bonnaroo in 2007. I walked into a completely new world and I was in love. The sense of community was not something like I had ever experienced and I was hooked! There are so many things that keep me going in this space like my love for the music, the art and the fashion… but truly, I keep coming back for the people, the sense of community, and the unity.

When is Festival Season?

TECHNICALLLLYYY – festival season could go year round. There is always at least one festival every month. However, the big headliner festivals typically pop up at the start of spring, like Ulta, SXSW, and Coachella. As the temperatures cool down in the fall, so do the rush of festivals.

Steph: In business, we see festival season ending with Afropunk, “Burning Man”, or Electric Zoo.

Ricky: Obviously, there are festivals still happening outside of this imaginary season, especially in other countries.

Where to Start??

So you got all these festivals to choose from – WHICH ONE DO YOU PICK?
There are so many great festivals that would be an fun and comfortable introduction to festivals, however it all boils down to the person. That said, there AREEEE a few things that can help you decide!

Start Local!

It’s the easiest to plan, and probably will end up being the most affordable. Going to a local or nearby festival will be a good way to test your comfort levels if you are weary about large crowds or the hype’d up environment.

Megan: Going to a festival in your home state lets you make sure you have everything and if anything was to happen (not saying anything is going to happen) you are close to home.

Sort by Genre!

Believe it or not – FESTIVALS ARE NOT CUT AND PASTE. No two festivals are the same. One large differentiating factor : the music. If you don’t like a certain music genre, you probably don’t want to be stuck listening to it for three days. No matter how dope your friends are, you will be miserable.

Find festivals that are aligned with your music tastes.

Go BIG!

If you don’t know where to start, go with the big festivals. These are the ones that take up all the social media traffic for the week of the event: Lollapalooza, Coachella, Governor’s Ball, EDC, etc. The environment at the bigger festivals cater to a WIIIIIIDE range of interests and tastes, including music, and often have bundle packages that include housing and transportation so all you have to do is show up! They are also the best festivals to see a lot of bigger acts all in the same place.

Ricky: Bigger festivals are good if your taste is eclectic (like mine), because you can bounce around from set to set and see everything from Drum & Bass to American Folk.

Steph: If I were to try to get someone into the festival space, I would probably try to get them to Coachella first. The festival is incredibly well organized, it’s clean, the food is out of this world, the art is unparalleled and the music options are abundant. There is something for everyone there.

Turn it into a Trip!

I mean….if you have to fly somewhere anyway, maybe you can choose a festival in a destination you’ve always wanted to visit! For example, when I went to my first Coachella, I spent the entire week before exploring the Coachella Valley, from Palm Springs to the Imperial Sand Dunes. And then after the festival, I lounged around in Joshua Tree National Park for a few days. It was an amazing vacation.

You could even go international (speaking from an American standpoint)!

• TomorrowLand – Belgium
• AfrikaBurn – South Africa
• Reading and Glastonbury – United Kingdom
• Envision – Costa Rica
• Shambhala – Canada
• Sziget – Hungary
• Rock in Rio – Brazil
• Mawazine – Morocco
• ZoukOut – Singapore
• Splendour in the Grass – Australia
• Sandbox – Egypt
• Exit Festival – Serbia
• Melt! – Germany

You get the point. LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Steph: This year I am looking to attend Tomorrowland or possibly Sonar in Barcelona (my favorite city!).

Ricky: The only festival outside of the U.S. I’ve attended was Ultra Croatia and it was beyond wild. On the first night, I lost my phone, busted my lip, and somehow had my friend’s tooth mark in my forehead.

Okay, but what were YOUR Favorite Festivals?

Or maybe you aren’t concerned about the unknown and what to jump HEAD FIRST into the best action! Festival experts, what were your favorite festivals?

Megan: I would say my favorite festival to date would have to be TomorrowWorld 2014. Unfortunately TomorrowWorld messed up in 2015 and caused huge problems which led to the festival closing down the following year, but the year I went was magical. It really opened my eyes to just how incredible music festivals are and that festival alone brought together over 160,000 people! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!? Everything about TomorrowWorld was breath taking. The art, the music, the experience in general was explicit.

Ricky: This is such a tough question! Every festival provides such a different experience. One that sticks out in my head would be Lollapalooza 2015. It felt like a four-day marathon of partying and seeing some of the best sets I ever saw. It helped that every night there was a different headliner that I was bananas over!

Steph: Well, my favorite city in the world is Black Rock City, home to Burning Man. Because so many people refer to this as a festival (it is not, it is a temporary pop up community), I have to specifically state is as such. In terms of actual produced festivals, Glastonbury in the UK holds my heart!

Planning Process

Boom, so you picked out your first festival. Now the work REALLY begins. That’s right, I’m talking about the planning. I’m not going to lie, ISSA LOT. But – if you cover all of your bases, it will make your festival experience SO MUCH SMOOTHER.

How are you getting there?

If it isn’t a local event, as soon as you buy your festival tickets, you should look into transportation. Do you want to road trip there? Do you need to fly? Can you take a scenic train ride?

If you do need to buy plane tickets, I would recommend using the free phone app Hopper to determine when to buy tickets, especially if the festival is still months and months away as prices can fluctuate. It has never steered me wrong before.

Where you stayin ??

The second after you book your transport (or decide on what to book at a later date), you NEED to look into housing. TRUST – housing will fill up fast. The longer you wait, the less options you will have and the more expensive they will be. There are usually a few housing options offered at festivals, so make sure you decide on one with your group (or even just yourself) as soon as possible.

Camping

Camping is usually the cheapest* option. Most festivals with an option to camp on-site let you park your car right next to your campsite and you are the closest possible distance to the festival. No need to deal with traffic or long car queue lines. And if the weather turns unsavory, you can hop in your car! Plus, your close proximity makes it easy for you to retreat back to the campsite during the festival any time you feel like it! Outfit change? Feeling tired? Just want to get away? Boom, your campsite is there for you.

However, campsites at festivals are usually loud, especially at night. If you are expecting to get an uninterrupted and calm night’s sleep, you might need an eye mask and heavy duty earplugs. Everyone is hyped from the festival, so expect the campgrounds to reflect that.

Megan: Camping at festivals is actually my all time favorite because your campsite is walking distance from the Venue. If you want to stay up for an artist that’s not performing until 2am, you can take a nice disco nap to make sure you make it through the night! I have done a lot of camping Festivals and I am actually going to two more this year, Bonnaroo and Lost Lands!

Also, if you’re camping, you will need supplies. That means food, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a tent, fans, baby wipes, playing cards, flashlights, etc. I would recommend making a list and sharing it with your crew. And you weren’t planning on showering, right? Don’t worry, that’s what the baby wipes are for 🙂

Steph: If you’re camping with a big crew, it is important to coordinate where to meet on the way in so everyone can camp together. Also make sure everyone is on the same page on who is bringing what. You don’t want to end up with 27 eye drops and 0 hand santizers.

If you’re not down with tent or car camping, some festivals offer other onsite or nearby accommodations like yurts or cabins.

Steph: I do prefer to glamp over camp, and SHIFTPODs have changed my camping experience entirely. This structure is the only thing I’ll camp in anymore.

Friend’s House

Okay, remember when I said camping was the cheapest option? I lied. If you can manage to stay at a friend or family member’s house for FREE – then you have a great deal! One few thing to note however would be their distance from the Venue. Is it realllyyyy worth a 2 hour drive to save on housing? I don’t know your budget so I can’t answer that for you, but keep it in mind.

Unless you are a rude human, you should also clarify any house rules. ESPECIALLY if your friend is not attending the festival with you. Is it okay to come home after a certain hour? Do you need to be mindful of drunken and/or rowdy behavior? Do you have free use of the kitchen? And the respect goes the same way if you are hosting someone for a festival. Be sure to give clear boundaries if needed so no toes get stepped on. Nothing worse than soiling a friendship because someone drank the wine that was supposed to be saved for an anniversary.

If you are staying at a friend’s/relative’s house while they are not in town, ASK if there are security cameras and their locations so you don’t accidentally expose yourself or perform indecent acts. And vise versa, if you are letting someone stay in your house, TELL THEM where the cameras are so you don’t see anything on accident. Yanno, like a camera facing the backyard hot tub. True story.

Hotels

Hotels (and basically anywhere that isn’t camping) is nice because you get amenities. Like a shower. But also a hotel can have pools, free breakfast, free water, and sometimes even shuttle service to the event! Hotels in the areas can even host pre-festival parties, like the various hotels in Coachella. If you are staying at one, you get a free pass!

But you know, they are generally the most expensive and book up fast. So as soon as you get your ticket, look into getting your hotel room as well. There is also no guarantee that your crew’s rooms will be next to each other.

Megan: If you are okay with staying at a cheap hotel (that maybe isn’t the cleanest…), then it can significantly cut costs for you. For the past couple Festivals, my friends and I have stayed in some sketchy hotels but it saved us a lot of money! Which, in the end, we of course spent anyway on other things like souvenirs and food lol. I also look at cheap hotels that are walking distance from the Festival to save money with gas and parking because lets be honest I would rather get in a little exercise (lets call it a warm up) before the Festival than wait in a line to pay for parking that is over priced and will be a hassle when you are trying to leave the Festival.

Airbnb

Ah yes, good ol’ Airbnb. Generally cheaper than a hotel but more luxe than a campsite. I love using Airbnbs for big group events because you can usually get a great deal on a place that fits the entire crew! Remember to confirm with your entire group if anyone is uncomfortable sharing beds or rooms.

One thing to keep in mind with Airbnbs ; they can cancel your booking without a moment’s notice. It happened to me a day before, and although Airbnb refunded my money PLUS a little extra, it was still unnecessary stress to scramble and find a place last minute.

Other Housing Concerns…

Ricky: Don’t rule out public transit! Traffic can be bananas all day, especially if it’s located in the heart of the city (like Chicago’s Lollapalooza). Many nearby streets are closed off and it can be an event itself trying to hail a cab during the mass exodus every night.

Set List

Okay so you have to transportation and housing covered, now you can plan the fun stuff! LIKE WHICH ARTISTS TO SEE. I’m sure you already have a thousand alarms ready to go off the second the lineup drops, as you should! It is a music festival after all! Have fun mapping out which artists are playing at which stage and their times, so that you can maximize seeing your favorite artists!

If the festival has an app, DOWNLOAD IT NOW. You can even select favorite artists on the lineup so that your phone will send you a notification reminder so you can head to the stage before they perform!

Ricky: I may try to plan my time by making a “need to see, like to see, open to see” list once the lineup is revealed. But I am not too strict with it. There always seems to be a couple of my favorite acts performing at the same time. You may have to make a tough decision when the schedule is revealed. Pick a couple of sets out that you cannot live without seeing. Then give yourself some flex time. This time can be used for checking out an up and coming artist, seeing the art installations, taking photos, grabbing food, going on rides, or just enjoying your day at the festival. Some festivals have clothing/accessory shops. One of the best accessories I found was actually in the closet of my Palm Springs Airbnb. I luckily came across a straw hat (probably used to wear while mowing the lawn with). I thought it went well with my outfits, so I wore it to Coachella all weekend! People loved it! I did too! It became my signature look all! Break your own rules!

Safety Tips

You’re all prepared for your first festival! At least, as prepared as you can be. BUT, things unfortunately pop up and are unpreventable. The least fun of these unfortunate things are injuries and sickness 🙁

If you use your best judgement (aka not trying to randomly do a backflip for the gram when you can’t even do a cartwheel), you should be fine *knock on wood*. BUT JUST IN CASE – Here are some tips to help you get through your festival weekend in one piece.

1. Stay Hydrated

No matter what the weather is like or whatever festival you go to, PLEASE continue to drink lots and lots of water. Especially in festivals that are in extreme weather conditions, you will lose liquid FAST. Keep an eye on your intake of dehydrating substances (like alcohol or gummies that give you cottonmouth). Replenish your electrolytes. Find shade if you feel overheated.

2. Buddy System

It is way too easy to get lost at a festival. If you are in a group, buddy up and have someone tag along with you and tell the rest of the group where you are going. That way if you get lost, at least you’re together and your friends will know roughly where to look for you. And on that note, time stamp your texts. Personally, I’ve had TERRIBLE service at festivals, with texts and notifications finally sending or arriving sometimes hours after the fact. It will help the receiving person know if they should actually “meet up at the burrito stand for lunch?” NOW, or if that was an old invitation from 3 hours ago.

Another word to the wise: set a meeting location. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to go to EVERY SET your friends want to. People have different tastes, and that’s okay! Designate a meetup location so you can all easily regroup. It may seem like something you can just decide on the spot, but it isn’t. You can’t expect everyone to know which “rainbow balloon arch” you are talking about.

3. Designated Rave Parent

SOMEONE has to be prepared. Make sure there is always at least one sober party member (especially if y’all need to drive back!). They will also probably be the one holding the keys and helping the group stay together and stay safe.

4. Don’t Take Candies from Strangers

Don’t take/buy any substances off of anyone, ever. Not even Advil.

Megan:
If you are going to be doing anything besides drinking, TEST YOUR SHIZZZZ. Its not a joke. I’ve lost a lot of close friends because they didn’t test their stuff.

5. Happy Feet Happy Festival

Megan: Wear comfortable shoes. Even get insoles for those comfortable shoes. You don’t want sore feet or blisters after the end of the first day because then you won’t fully enjoy the festival till the end

6. Learn the Layout

One of the best things you can do early on in the festival is to navigate it. This includes knowing the emergency exits, restroom locations, and any immovable landmarks that would serve as good meeting spots.
Sometimes after a few drinks, festival grounds can be disorienting. Before you start the fun, make sure you know where you are and how to easily get back.

7. Better Safe than Sorry

Ricky: If you are not feeling well, for any reason (including drugs or alcohol), don’t hesitate to stop by the medic tents. They aren’t there to snitch on you, they’re just there to help. They won’t even report it.

8. Know Your Limits

If you’re having a bad time or feel overwhelmed, take a break! It’s completely normal (and necessary sometimes!) so don’t feel guilty or embarrassed for needing some space from all the action. Festivals are marathons, not sprints.

9. Hold your Valuables Close

Like in any big crowd, always be careful with your valuables. Don’t keep you phone in your back pocket. Keep anything super valuable out of your tent and locked up in your car. Just make sure to keep the key in a safe spot!

10. Bring flashlights and reusable water bottles

Flash lights and reusable water bottles are your best friend! Whether you’re at a camping festival or a city fest, you can never go wrong when you have water within reach or light so you can use the portopotties/see where you’re walking. Other helpful items would be tissue paper/hankerchiefs,

How to Budget for Festivals ??

Festivals CAN be expensive, and it is certainly a big chunk of money, but it makes sense. Especially if you add up the costs of seeing all of the artists individually. The headliners alone could easily add up! BUT you also don’t want to get evicted from your home once you get back because you wanted to party like a rockstar.

The experts have some advice on how to have the time of your life and NOT have to file for bankruptcy after!

Steph: Budgeting for a festival should be like budgeting for a trip! The ticket and the flight are typically the most expensive (if you’re flying). Then there’s food, camping supplies, and (potential) shopping. Make a cost sheet beforehand so you can put away enough each month. You’ll be ready to go! To help combat the impact of the expenses, a lot of festivals have payment plans so that you don’t have to spend all your cash up front. Be sure to check if there is a deadline or requirements, like if only the first wave of passes have a payment plan option.

Ricky: It’s much easier and cost effective to attend a festival in city you live in, but that’s not realistic to every attendee. I try to set a daily budget when it comes to buying food and drinks at the festival. Things add up quickly. It can also help to grab food off-site before entering. Some festivals allow you to go in/out a few times a day, so if you’re strapped for cash, take advantage of that to grab food outside. If I need to take a ride-sharing service, I always try to fill the car up with friends! If I’m shopping for festival attire, I try to scour through my local thrift store for hidden gems. Don’t be afraid to check out the racks in both gender’s sections. I’ve found some of my favorite short shorts in the women’s section haha!

Megan: I am not the right person to answer this question about budgeting because honestly I just randomly pick Festivals to attend for the year. I always make sure I go to the Festivals in my home state because they will be cheapest overall. But with Festivals that aren’t in my home state, I usually pick 2 and make sure they are at least 2 to 3 months apart from each other to give me plenty of time to prepare. I also almost always do the Payment Plans because then I won’t miss out on the cheaper prices for tickets and I won’t have to drop a big amount of money right on the spot. I would say the most expensive part of festivals (for me considering I’m someone who loves going all out) would have to be the outfits. I have to have a whole different outfit for each day of the Festival and have all the accessories I need to complete the outfit.

What to Wear

AND ON THAT NOTE: the second most talked about subject of music festivals. The Outfits. In general, a festival’s “dress code” depends on the festival you attend, and more so relates to the festival’s vibe than a strict theme. This ain’t the MET Gala.

However, many festivals do have restrictions on what you can bring into the festival grounds. Common restrictions are weapons (obvi), selfie sticks, chains, aerosol products, coolers, drones, glass, flashlights (INTO the festival venue), and laser pointers. Other restrictions that you might not have thought of would include objects that make noise (like vuvuzelas or air horns), feathered headdresses (just don’t IN GENERAL), and things that may obstruct other’s views.

*~*Finding Inspiration*~*

Ricky: Regarding festival style inspiration, Instagram is a good place to look. Search the hashtags from previous year’s event to get a better idea of how people are dressing (i.e. Summery BoHo versus skimpy rave attire). Also, there are countless articles that interweb magazines will publicize during the festival season. My best advice would be to pick up cues from everything you see, pay attention to how people are blending their colors/fabrics, and remember to prioritize comfort. Most importantly put your own spin and flavor on everything. Only use others’ photos for inspiration. You should have fun and experiment too! Festivals are a great place to be a bit braver than usual. Do not feel pressured to look or dress a certain way.

Megan: I come up with inspiration from the environment of the festival. For example, I went to Forbidden Kingdom (new festival) in February 2019 which, just by the name, led me to choose a darker colored outfit with chains and fishnets (like medieval times). When I went to EDC Orlando, I wore bright neon colors with funky designs because EDC stands for Electric Daisy Carnival, which makes me think of a bright and neon outfit.

Steph: You can go as fun and crazy as you like. I personally love to dress really fun for festivals. I get a lot of my inspiration from UK designers because I love UK festival fashion the most. They typically are over the top glitter conductor fabulous. I also follow the #festivalfashion and #festivalstyle on instagram. I love to save my favorite looks and put my own spin on them.

Order in Advance!

Nothing worse than waiting until the last minute to order your outfit and everything you originally wanted is sold out. Or your get your outfit and NOTHING FITS, but there is no time to reorder. OR there is a shipping delay and now you won’t have an outfit at all!

Megan: Unless it’s Amazon Prime, you never know how long it will REALLY take for something to arrive, especially for novelty or custom items. Unless you are okay with spending sixty some odd dollars on express/expedited/overnight mail, then order early and get the cheap or free shipping. Plus, you still have time to buy more if you realize your outfit is missing that special something.

Outfit Plan

It will save you a lot of time, energy, and stress if you organize and plan your outfit AHEAD of time. Don’t just throw a bunch of random stuff in your suitcase and “figure it all out” sometime in the vague future. It will also help prevent you from overpacking!

Steph: Me personally, I plan my outfits first. I like to try everything on together, bag and label them so they don’t get dirty or dusty before I wear them.

Favorite Festival Finds?

You didn’t think I’d leave you hanging on where to shop, did you? Plus – I HAVE SOME DISCOUNT CODES. And – they have payment plans. #plug

Rave Wonderland

iHeartRaves

Life Clothing Co

Rolita Couture

The important thing to remember about dressing for a festival is to have fun but also STOP WEARING FEATHERED HEADDRESSES. LIKE. STOP IT. Idk who, what, when, where, why, sometimes how that became a “thing,” but it’s not cute.

Remember, APPRECIATE, don’t appropriate. Here are some links to some POC owned brands to shop!

Latinx Owned Brands

Indigenous Owned Brands

Black Owned Brands

Asian Owned Brands

Celebrities at Festivals?

And what about the elusive celebrities that are always posting pictures from these festivals? WHERE ARE THEY AND HOW DO YOU MEET THEM??

Well, at some festivals, there is a separated VIP section. That’s where they probably are. But on the off chance that they leave their protected and privileged sanctuary, or if you snag a VIP ticket, it’s not impossible to interact with them.

Have a Good Approach

Ricky: I have crossed paths with a good amount of influencers and celebrities, especially at Coachella. But I’m not too much of a fanboy. If you wanted to approach a celeb, a good way to start would to be by telling them you appreciate their work (their song, their album, etc.). Follow through with a photo if you’d like. Don’t trip if they say no or dismiss you; they get approached repeatedly. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take though!

Megan: There has also been a couple times where I’m just walking around at a Festival and run into famous people like Shaq! Yes, believe it or not Shaq goes to a LOT of music Festivals and I happened to run into him at TomorrowWorld 2014. They are normal people just like you and me, so don’t be afraid to go up and say hi to them because most of them LOVE meeting new people and taking pictures with them. But just a warning there are some celebrities and social media influencers who are…lets just say ‘unapproachable.’ With those all I can say is don’t take it to heart. You never know what someone else is going through and they may not have meant to come off mean towards you.

Head Backstage

Megan: HA! Funny story about this…so I have met a lot of performers backstage and randomly at Festivals. I used to know the owner of The Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI and he would always hook me up with backstage passes! I met Keys N Krates, Paper Diamond, Flosstradamus, Sick Puppies, Lindsey Lowend, and many more.

Be an Insider

Steph: One of the best perks of owning Festival Squad is being lucky enough to get backstage access, meet artists, influencers or celebrities in the scene. I’ve been fortunate enough to chat with headling artists in both an interview and in casual settings. If you are ever covering the festival as media or get backstage access (or heck if you see your favorite artist rocking out in GA) make sure you remember they’re a normal person.

Steph: Casually spark a conversation and tell the artist/highly recognized influencer or celebrity that you really like what they do. If you want a picture with them, read their vibe first. If they seem like they just want to enjoy time with their friends, shake their hand and move on. If they seem enthusiastic and happy to chat, asking for a quick pic is totally okay. Just respect their time and space! Don’t abuse your press pass because it can (and will) get revoked.

Volunteer

FOR ONE, you may be able to get into the festival for free! Two, you can put it on your resume. THREE, you can have the opportunity to also meet some pretty fly people!

Megan: I have volunteered at Okeechobee Music Festival for 2 years, where I met Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart, and Wiz Khalifa (from a distance because I was kinda busy pouring drinks at the bar lol). I’ve gotten close with many social media influencers like Jake Ryan, Jade the Donut, Elena Cruz, Rosa (the owner of Rolita Couture), Ana Kirilik, Marsha (the owner of Get Braidified), Valerie Leyva (talented makeup artist), and Gabby David!

Making New Friends!

Did you fly solo to the festival? Or are you just social and looking to make some new buddies? Let me tell ya, there are two things in life that can form lifelong friendship bonds: studying abroad and festivals.

If you don’t know me -hi im Kay – I absolutely HAAATTTTEEE talking to people. It’s borderline phobia for me, especially if I am in a situation where I am already uncomfortable. Like somewhere that is crowded and loud. Yanno, like a festival. But making new friends at a festival is super easy!

Wear something loud!

Steph: There is no easier way to make new friends at a festival than to give them something to compliment you on. Whether its a rhinestone hat or a sequin dress or a banana outfit, fashion will always spark conversation at a festival.

Compliments make the world go round

Megan: If you like someones outfit, TELL THEM! If you are waiting in line to use the bathroom and over hear a conversation about something you can relate too, SPEAK UP! If you recognize someone (even if it ends up not being the person you thought it was) – TALK TO THEM! Be a social butterfly because you will meet the most wonderful people on this beautiful universe!

You ALREADY have tons in common!!

Ricky: Making new friends at festivals is so easy! I’m not the best at it because I’m a pretty shy person in general. But I feel like it’s really easy to make new friends at festivals, even for me. People are there to have fun. Most are just excited to be there. You may get the occasional snappy or snobby person, but just move on from it. Use the shared interest of music, style, and being at a festival to your advantage.

Optimal Music Listening Location

I mean, it IS a music festival, RIGHT?!?! Let’s talk about the music!! You wanna get the best seat -or well, stand– in the festival, especially for your favorite artists. But how do you make it to the front to the stage??

“Camp” Out!

Ricky: If you want to get closer to the stage, you can try “camping out.” Camping out is when you stay at one particular stage all day (even during the breaks) in order to get the best spot possible. Most people will file out after a set and move on to a new stage, and you’ll have all this room up front for yourself. I personally have never camped at a stage before. I don’t think it’s the most useful way to use my time at festival. But to each their own. Courteously, swim move your way around people until you feel comfortable about your view and your spot.

I camped out at the Main Stage of Coachella 2018. Luckily for me, LITERALLY everyone I wanted to see that day coincidentally set to perform at the main stage. Back to back. Started the day with Los Angeles Azules, then SuperDuperKYLE, the Neighbourhood, Vince Staples – though then it was my turn to leave and grab food for everyone. After reclaiming my spot (everyone was super nice to let me back in), there was Kygo and SZA. By the time the headliner, the Weeknd, performed, I was LITERALLY in the front row!

SCORE.

To the Left, to the Left…

Steph: To get to the front, go as far left as you can and travel forward! Oddly enough, this can typically get you super close every time! Everyone usually avoids the left side for some reason.

Be Polite

Megan: I’m going to sound like my mom when I say this but Please, Thank You, and Excuse Me will get you further than you think. Whenever I try to get to the front of the stage, I always say “excuse me” or “please let me through” with a smile. You would be shocked how easy you can get up to the front by just being nice and not being rude and pushing passed people. In the event you do need to push or squeeze by, just make sure to say sorry 🙂

Maybe the front isn’t everything???

Ricky: One thing that I began to pay attention to was the energy of the people around me. I can be seeing my favorite artist perform and be super hyped, but it’s a buzzkill if everyone else around me is just standing around and/or on their phones (recording the performance) the whole time. I want to be around people that are singing along at the top of their lungs. I want to be around people who are dancing until their feet fall off. Sometimes that’s in the front. Sometimes it’s all the way in the back. It’s not always about getting a “better view” for me. It’s about having a wicked time!

Are the rumors about festivals true?

I mean…….are they??

Steph: I think that there are a lot of stereotypes about festival goers. There are the stereotypes related to drug use, not having real jobs, being careless, being too crazy, being hippies or g*psies, etc. I also think media has put spotlights on stories that sell in that scene, and people love reading about negativity. In my experience, festival goers are people who are happy and open minded. They are caring, they have an eye for great art, they love good music and they love letting go of their daily stresses (and jobs) for a weekend to unwind.

Ricky: I commonly hear that festivalgoers to never shower, take all types of drugs, and have tons of wild orgy sex! Festivalgoers are all sinners and will be holding hands when entering the gates of hell. Also, another common stereotype would be that people only go to festivals to be seen and show off on Instagram. While these stereotypes may be proven true from time to time, it’s a pretty prejudiced way to think about people. The majority of the people are there to enjoy the music, the weather, and the presence of their family and friends. It’s not nice to generalize homie, so look beyond that.

But Like….Are there actually Drugs at Festivals??

Ricky: Short answer: yes.

Ricky: BUT it’s not as sloppy and rampant as you may think. You’re not going to come across many people selling drugs (and if you do, they could likely be narcs). You won’t even see others doing drugs out in the open either. People are discreet, as they should be. Nobody wants to get caught and kicked out. Also, not everyone is into drugs. Remember what I said about generalizing?! A good rule of thumb is to mind your own business. If you want to take drugs, find your own plug outside of the festival. If you want to bring them into the festival grounds, then you run the risk of getting caught. There are undercover cops that will dress like normal festivalgoers with the sole purpose of busting and arresting you! Trust me, there are more eyes than you think. Do what you want, but do it privately. If anyone asks if you have drugs, always plead ignorance.

Megan: Hard to answer this question because yes there are drugs at festivals but only if you are there to SEE drugs (if that makes sense). If you are at a festival to hang out with your friends and to enjoy the music then there won’t be any drugs. Don’t get me wrong, you can see some MESSED up things, but that’s only if you are there to seek out those things such as drugs, and people acting crazy on drugs. I go to festivals for the good memories, good music, and with good ass people. 

Megan: Here’s probably the most popular stereotype “Everyone who goes to Festivals are drug addicts.” Even my ex-boyfriend assumed that was all I did/do at festivals (hence why he’s an EX boyfriend lol). This stereotype is NOT true. I’ve been going to festivals for 8 years and, yes there are people who are on crazy drugs there but NOT EVERYONE IS. I go to most festivals sober as a bird and still have an absolute blast! You don’t need to do any kind of drug (including alcohol) at these festivals. And no one is judging you if you do or don’t.

There are drugs everywhere. In cities AND suburbs. There are drugs in restaurants, schools, prisons, nightclubs, yoga studios, grocery stores…everywhere. There are drugs at music festivals too.

Steph: If you choose to partake in recreational drug use, that is a personal choice. The only thing that I can strongly encourage from my standpoint is to absolutely 100% EVERY SINGLE TIME test what you have. I am a huge advocate of harm reduction. If you’re looking for more information on this subject as well as information on test kits, please visit DanceSafe.org.

So then…what IS festival culture?

Megan: Festival Culture to me is a celebration of life and happiness. A place where you can be free, express yourself however you want, and dance like no one is watching. Each festival attracts different types of people for instance Ultra in Miami is a mixture of techno, house, and trance music so you get more of a relaxed crowd where they vibe and dance and really feel themselves. But then you have Lost Lands in Ohio where it’s straight dubstep, heavy music, and headbangers who constantly have bass face and they’re not afraid to get down and dirty. Now I’m not saying either are bad because I listen to both and I go to both festivals and I still meet amazing people who are incredibly nice. You just have to find whatever grabs your interest and just go with it and lose yourself in the music!

Ricky: Festival culture is everything that the modern festivalgoer encompasses. Whether it be the way they dress, their etymology/slang, the way they dance, the way they treat one another etc. Different types of festivals attract different type of people. For example, Coachella might attract someone who cares more about the way that they present themselves, versus someone who plans to go to Electric Forest who is more into nature or conservation (not to say that someone who goes to Electric Forest doesn’t care about the way they look or that Coachella attendees are shallow!).

These festivals may be someone’s HIGHLIGHT of the year. Someone’s peak! Because of this, they’ll be doing their planning all year for it. They spend months putting together their outfits (some even by hand). They set their crew up and prepare way ahead of time. They spend hours on Reddit threads sharing insight with other die-hards. They value these festivals way more than you would ever imagine. If you’re attending a festival this season, be sure to create some good memories for yourself and others. Share a laugh with someone new. Help someone in need. After all, we’re just trying to have a good time.

Steph: Festival culture is something that I love down to my core. And the truth is that the culture has blossomed into so many subcultures. When you break it all down, festival culture means being open minded, self expressive, and caring for the strangers around you. I think it is because festivals tend to be a judge-free zone. You can be who you really are, dress the way you want and dance like no one is watching (even though there are thousands of people around). There are no rules. I don’t know one person that has been to one festival and come out of it saying it wasn’t for them and they wouldn’t go to another again.

Steph:  Festivals area place where you can let go of your daily stressors. You can express yourself however you want, you can learn, you can play and feel free like a kid again. If you feel stuck in a monotonus job, in a tiring relationship, in a bland world…. come see us on the dancefloor.

Festival Culture is Freedom

Festival 101 : Class Dismissed

WHEW – that was long!

I hope this guide has provided you with everything you need to know about attending your first festival. You’re going to do great! Thanks again to our awesome panelists for providing all the insider tips! Give their social media some love and check them out!

Ricky

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Steph

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Megan

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