Mistakes People Make At Music Festivals

After a protracted pandemic hiatus, many massive occasions are returning in 2022. One of the buzziest classes is music festivals.

From Coachella to Glastonbury, there are numerous festivals for music followers to take pleasure in this 12 months, and they’re definitely taking benefit. An estimated 750,000 people attended the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April.

Those excessive numbers inevitably embody many first-time competition attendees, who don’t at all times know how you can navigate the expertise. And loads of seasoned festival-goers have taken observe of their missteps.

Below, music competition specialists share the commonest errors that attendees make ― and their recommendation for avoiding these errors.

“So many festival-goers ― rookies and vets ― can get caught up in the sensory overload that is music festivals and end up going ‘all in’ on the first day,” stated Skip Blankley, founding father of Festival Survival Guide. “Music festivals are a marathon, not a sprint, and getting caught up in the excitement of the music, dancing, friends, and positive vibes you find in abundance at music festivals can leave people feeling quite drained after the first day, and find the remaining days less enjoyable due to lack of energy, or just feeling super hungover.”

He really helpful treating the primary day of a music competition the identical means you’d your first day at college or faculty. Take the time to get your bearings, set up your crew, familiarize your self with the panorama and take a look at the facilities and concessions.

If you begin to really feel overwhelmed in any respect, take time to retreat and take a breather. Be conscious about the way you’re feeling and what’s happening round you to keep away from going too laborious on the primary day and getting burned out.

“You’re excited and it’s understandable,” stated Vito Valentinetti, co-founder and editor-and-chief of Music Festival Wizard. “You’ve been waiting a year (or in some cases, three years) for this festival and the natural tendency is to indulge in everything at once. Pace yourself and have fun. You don’t want the next day to be low energy.”

Don’t assume your telephone will work completely all through a music competition. These areas typically have poor service and few battery charging stations. Major festivals like Coachella even have a history of phone theft.

Thus, it’s essential to make back-up plans in case your group will get separated and never everybody can get in contact.

“Back in the old days of 2015, our group would designate a central meeting area in case anyone got separated or people were bouncing out to other shows,” Valentinetti stated. “Because cell phones can still be lost, have no battery, or service is down, this low-tech method still works best for meetups.”

“People are often out on their feet, dancing and moving around in the sun for many hours,” stated Joey Sutera, head of reside leisure at SEERS. “While having fun, drinking alcohol or even if you’re sober, it’s easy to forget to consistently drink water. Especially if you are a fan who loves to be up against the rails or in the thick of the crowd, it will be harder to leave and get to a water station or vendor section.”

He implored festival-goers to hold further water, a hydration pack and even electrolyte tabs to remain wholesome and keep away from passing out. The actual quantity of water an individual wants can fluctuate, nevertheless it usually ranges from two to 4 liters ― and will increase with bodily exercise and time in sizzling temperatures. Pay consideration to sneaky indicators of dehydration ― like dry mouth, muscle spasms and complications ― as properly.

“I can’t tell you how many times I have seen someone pulled out of the crowd on a gurney, or dazed under a canopy while their friends try to fan them and force water down their throat,” Blankley stated. “Staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to not only stay safe, but also keep your body in motion all weekend long. Hydration is not just about water, but electrolytes as well. Being outside in the heat and dancing all weekend long means your body sweating out all of those essential minerals you need to function at your best.”

Just as you put on sunscreen on the seashore to guard your pores and skin, you must also attempt to put on earplugs at concert events to guard your listening to. They’re particularly helpful in music competition settings the place you’ll be uncovered to quite a lot of exhibits with totally different power and quantity ranges.

“As anyone (including myself) who has tinnitus will tell you, bring a pair of earplugs,” Valentinetti stated. “And bring a backup pair in case something happens to them. Earplugs have come a long way and there are plenty of affordable options (Earpeace, Eargasm) that block out high volumes with little effect on the fidelity of the music.”

“Most festivals take place in the heat of the summer and often times people are traveling from out of state and are not quite prepared for the conditions,” Blankley stated. “Protecting yourself from the sun is of the utmost importance. Sunburn is very real and can ruin your weekend if you get hit on the first day without protection.”

Pack loads of sunscreen, hats, sun shades and different layers for solar safety. A shawl or neck gaiter can be helpful for festivals in dusty settings just like the desert.

“The sun can ruin a weekend as quickly as the rain can,” Blankley added. “Be sure to check the weather forecast and if rain is even slightly possible, be sure to be prepared at camp and for the festival itself.”

Ponchos, waterproof footwear and further garments will make a world of distinction for those who get caught in a torrential downpour.

It’s nice to do analysis and familiarize your self with many points of a music competition (just like the climate circumstances) earlier than attending for the primary time. But don’t get too caught up in anticipating and planning each facet.

“Strike a balance between doing all of your research and going with the flow,” Sutera stated. “For example, if you are going to a camping festival way out in an unknown rural area, reach out to the festival representatives, check on Reddit groups and ask questions.”

He instructed factoring prices and comfort when making transportation plans, as an example. Look up the costs of rental automobiles vs. public transportation and put together for spotty service areas. But don’t make a inflexible itinerary.

“On the flip side, I would say try your best to be surprised as to what is on site instead of worrying so much about stage designs, production, and so forth,” Sutera added. “If you trust the festival enough to attend, let the festival do its job and wow you. In my opinion, it’s better to arrive on site and explore everything for the first time versus consistently looking on social media for previews. Arrive with expectations managed, get lost, enjoy.”

“Even before the pandemic, festivals were havens of germs and bacteria,” Valentinetti stated. “It’s called ‘festival flu’ for a reason.”

Recent music festivals have been COVID super-spreader events, so attendees ought to perceive they’re taking up a stage of threat by packing collectively in massive crowds for a number of hours and days.

If you’re involved about contracting COVID however nonetheless want to attend a competition, make sure to masks up once you’re indoors or in dense crowds.

There are methods to maintain well being and cleanliness in thoughts as properly.

“Wet Ones wipes are handy for sinks with no soap, cleaning up after eating, and the nightmare this is a festival toilet,” Valentinetti suggested. “You never know when you are going to reach into a purse and find it’s filled with vomit ― true story.”