15 do’s and don’ts of attending music fests
With the 7107 International Music Festival just a few days away, our music fest vet (Laneway in Singapore, Fuji Rock in Japan, etc.) and Yahoo photo blogger Niña Sañdejas shares the secrets to surviving and getting the most out of your festival experience.
Being a regular concertgoer doesn’t automatically make you a festival expert. Going to one-off shows is different from attending festivals. As much as festivals are far more rewarding in terms of the sheer amount of artists you get to see, reality dictates that to fully make festivals a memorable experience, some preparation is needed.
It may not matter now that you’re reading this, comfortably daydreaming about that awesome band you’ve been waiting to see your whole life. However, if you attend several whole-day festivals without being prepared, things can go from awe to awry.
Here are a couple of things you should and shouldn’t do at music festivals.
1. DO hydrate.
People who faint during concerts get pulled out by bouncers and brought to the festival clinic. Chances are they wake up at the end of the set. Why spend all that money just to miss that one thing or act you’ve been waiting for? Don’t think it won’t happen to you. Drink as much as you can.
2. DON’T be that desperate fan who tries to sneak in backstage.
This stunt has a very low success rate and you risk getting thrown out or banned from the entire festival.
3. DO bring a hat.
I know some people want to get a little color on their faces, but whole-day festivals under the sun can be seriously hot.
4. DON’T bring an umbrella.
Instead, bring a poncho in case it rains. Umbrellas ruin everything there is about going to a concert. They block off people’s view, hit people in the head and, if you’re beside people who have an umbrella too, none of you can stay dry because water is pouring down on the edges of your “payong.”
5. DO put on sunscreen.
Being under the sun is a tricky thing. Even if it’s cloudy and the weather is cold and cool, we underestimate the fact that given enough time, being outside can burn us. Save your skin for the next day’s festivities or, rather, save it for health’s sake.
6. DON’T record the concert.
Recording the entire set of a band using your smartphone or worse, iPad, isn’t about lifting your arms and letting everyone get a good whiff of the odor you’ve accumulated throughout the day. It’s about enjoying the moment and not blocking people’s view.
7. DO find time to sit on the grass and enjoy the festival.
Some people come early and spend the whole day, from start to finish, at the front row just to get a glimpse of their favorite artists. But festivals aren’t simply about the music, but the atmosphere as well.
8. DON’T blow smoke in people’s faces.
If you smoke, go somewhere you’re not going to accidentally burn anyone or pollute their lungs.
9. DO bring baby wipes.
Tissues or towels are great, but one instant refresher some people fail to bring is those wet towelettes. If you get to that point where you feel like you need to take a bath, then Wet Ones are for you.
10. DO schedule your toilet break.
Avoid the dilemma of asking yourself if you should go now or if you can hold it. Try to go in between sets even if it’s not urgent. If time is of the essence, it’s better to see the end of the show than leave halfway.
11. DON’T be that obnoxious drunk that will ruin everyone’s much awaited music moment.
Imagine Trent Reznor singing a really grand yet toned down version of “Hurt” in a quiet arena and behind you someone is yelling, “I hate that song!” or “I love it!” over and over as they stumble and push people around them.
12. DO help your fellow concertgoers.
Sometimes someone in the middle of the crowd will start to panic (claustrophobics) and want to get out or lose things. Be considerate and give way if you can and ask others to do so as well.
13. DON’T push. EVER.
People sometimes like to push because it seems fun, but your little nudge can become a ripple effect and injure someone down the line. If you must squeeze your way into the front row, it’s never a good idea to go front and center. Staying at the sides is the best way to get close to the front.
14. DO check out lesser-known bands.
You got a ticket that grants you access to a whole day festival, don’t waste it. Try to listen to new bands opening the show. Who knows? They might be next year’s headliner.
15. DON’T complain about how you’re having a hard time.
No one likes a whiner at festivals, unless it is some really important emergency that pertains to your health. Most of the time, festivals aren’t your typical air-conditioned indoor concert with ceramic toilets at your disposal. But not having those is actually part of the experience. It’s gonna get a little rough, but it’s what makes it all fun.
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