Music Festival Guide
With the hot summer months approaching we have to prepare for the beach, road trips, and - don't forget - musical festivals! These are the events most people look forward to all year, from when the ticket is purchased to when the car is packed ready to go. Whether it's your first festival or your fifth, there are always tips to pick up from other festival-goers.
I have attended Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival the past four years, and felt inspired this past weekend on the farm to put together a compilation of my favorite tips on how to, not only survive, but thrive at music festivals.
Tip #1: Stay hydrated
Stay hydrated. If you've been to a music festival in the summer you know this, and if you're planning on going you have probably been told a million times already, but this is so important that it has to be my first tip. Seriously, dehydration is real and will ruin your time. Not only is it super healthy to drink water to keep your body functioning in the beating heat, but it will also keep you cool and not totally exhausted. If you're consuming any alcohol at a festival, drink extra water! Alcohol dehydrates you, so you need to be slamming back waters along with anything. The last thing you want is to be in a packed crown of thousands of people ready to see your favorite band, and then passing out. Get yourself a nifty Camelbak. They come in handy when you don't want to hold bottles, but really need water.
Tip #2: Functionality over fashion-forward
Don't get me wrong, I love festival fashion and all the trends along with it, but if you type "festival fashion" in Pinterest you may get more of a fantasy than a reality. Festival fashion has become its own style, and it's more inspired than authentic. It may not be a good idea to wear that long sleeved black body suit and metal statement necklace in 90 degree weather. You have to consider where you'll be, and what you won't want to be wearing when you're jumping around in the heat. Wear light-weight clothing, and try to stay away from dark colors so they won't absorb heat. Flowy shorts and cropped tanked tops are perfect, and there are so many ways to make fashionable outfits with them. Also invest in a cute fanny pack. You aren't going to want to lug around a purse or cross body, but you do need a few essentials to keep with you around the festival. Cute fanny packs do exist, and are such a life savor at music festivals. Just trust me on this one. When in doubt, always choose the functional option if you're debating something about your outfit. You'll thank me in the long run.
Tip #3: Make new friends
Get out of your comfort zone! Odds are you have a really great crew along your side, but being friendly to all the other festival goers and getting to know who's around you is one of the best parts of music festivals. You're in a space with what feels like thousands of friends: get to know them. This tip is close to my heart because I met the person who is now my boyfriend Bonnaroo in 2014. If I hadn't followed my own advice and gotten to know the random other people around me, I would've missed out on a life-changing moment. Talk to the girl in front of you in line at the food stand. Vibe with the guy next to at Cage the Elephant's set. You never know who you might meet, and who you may connect with.
Tip #4: Put your phone away
We hear this a ton, but do we listen? After many concerts and festivals I have found my best memories have been when I was just enjoying the performance and not recording it. Think about it: you probably never watch your old concert videos, you can look up it up on youtube if you really want to watch it again, and you truly remember the act better and enjoy it more if you are present and not worried about your phone. And for those of you not recording, but scrolling your feeds during the show: just don't. You payed a lot of money to see these artists perform. Get your money's worth! I promise you will enjoy every aspect of a music festival more if you forget social media and texting for a few hours or even days.
Tip #5: Relax
What I have noticed is the pressing stress to do as much as you can in the few days the music festival takes place. You feel like you have to see as many shows as possible, cover as much ground in as little time as you can, and you barely have any time to just chill out because you end up being so worried about missing five minutes of some band. What I've learned is it is so rewarding to take your time in between sets, while eating some yummy festival food, and hanging out with friends. It minimizes any stress possible, and allows you to soak in the environment and just chill.