5 Festival Tips for New Ravers

by PLURTHLINGS

How To Party Through Your First EDM Concert Like A Pro!

1. Your health is the number one priority.
2. Being aware of the weather is super important too.
3. Your outfit is crucial, but also must be comfortable.
4. Your tribe creates the vibe and it starts with you.
5. Better rave scenes are built on supporting local events.

What To Expect At Your First EDM Concert

Believe it or not, we were once newbies to the rave scene too. Everyone goes through this, but with some advice from experienced ravers, you'll be able to start off like you've been going to festivals for years too. You're in luck, because our mission at PLURTH is to turn ravers into festival lifestyle superstars.

Since our early days between 2007 and 2010, we've now had the privilege to DJ our music for many first-time ravers. We absolutely LOVE the fact that we're building a bridge into the rave community for new people from all walks of life. We also think it's incredible that old school ravers that have been away from the scene for awhile get inspired by our music and want to start raving again.

This guide is for all ravers to enjoy, just like our music. It's also there to help you find out more, even if you don't already know what a "raver" is yet.

Finding the right event to start your journey ...

Summer 2019's festival season is over now and if attending your first EDM concert was somewhere on your summer bucket list, don’t freak out. Depending on when you're reading this, you might still make it to Lost Lands, or plenty of Red Rocks shows to choose from, but the busy season is mostly coming to an end.

Luckily though, EDM festivals and raves are happening all year round now, especially around Halloween and New Years Eve. In fact, depending on how motivated you are (and the current state of your budget) you could very easily attend several festivals before Denver, Colorado's first snowfall (our hometown), but definitely before summer festival season 2020 kicks up again. By then you'll be ready to take on all the best ones, like Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival, or even across to Europe for Tomorrowland or Defqon1. 

The best idea is to go to a decent size festival first that has a good history with having consistent events over the years with top-performers on the lineup. For Halloween, this could be Freaky Deaky, Hard Day of the Dead, Escape, or Supernatural. For NYE, there's Decadence, Snowglobe, Countdown, or Snowta. Always plenty to choose from, even if you need to travel a little bit. It's worth every penny to see a great production for your first festival. Usually when there are multiple big name artists on the lineup, that means the festival was able to pass all the tests required to get through those artists' booking agents. Trust me, that is a feat in of itself! When they can handle all the demands of a large artist production team, most likely you can trust them to throw a great party.

Once you’ve pinned down which festival you’ll attend first and organized the crew you’re going with, there are a few other things to be aware of before you dive in to your first event. We understand the nerves and the excitement you’re feeling right now, and it’s easy to overlook some of the details that nobody warned you about EDM and other music festivals.

You'll never forget your first rave ...

First off, expect every sense to explode with pure joy and raw emotion. Then, don’t expect anything else. Take it all in, open your mind and let the lights, the energy, the people and the music flow through every ounce of your being.

One of the big things to remember here, is that festivals are safe zones for people to express their creativity. It's okay to watch, but if you see something you don't like, move on to the next attraction that interests you instead.

Always be vigilant for any aggressive behavior and alert the security or medical teams in case of emergencies. But most of the time, festivals are about peacefully experiencing all the cool stuff other humans do and to share your passions too. Art itself is very subjective and the festival ground is where performance art is everywhere. Doesn't mean everyone has to like everything. That's the whole point! To figure out what really makes you feel alive and go towards that light with all your heart.

Keep in mind that there is no amount of planning and researching that you can do that will prepare you for the experience of EDM festivals. Ask anyone who has attended even just one, and they’ll tell you it was a trip of a lifetime. PLURTH admires anyone who is willing to try anything once, and we’re beyond stoked that you’re finally going to attend a festival for the first time. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

Just like any event that draws a massive crowd, things can get a little crazy, especially for those who are inexperienced. Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for people and music fans having a good time, but we don’t want good times to be had at the expense of your health and safety. Which is why we put together a quick list of what to expect, and what to bring, to the first of many festivals you’ll attend.

#1 is Your Health

Take it from us, water is going to be your best friend at any music festival you attend. Even if the temperature outside is cooler, all the jumping, dancing, and body heat from ravers surrounding you will have you parched in a matter of minutes and leave you feeling like a fish out of water. Don’t be surprised when you see the line for water is twice as long as the restrooms, so plan ahead. Check the policies for the event beforehand to see if you’re allowed to bring your own water bottle (many will require the water bottle to be empty at the entrance) and if you can bring your own water bottle inside the venue, do it — you’ll be glad you did. Nobody wants to be the guy who fainted and be the inspiration for #festivalfail.

Wear Protection

Take that however you seem fit, but what we mean is sunblock. You’re going to be outdoors all day long. Even if you’re drinking water and taking breaks in the shade, you’re still exposed to the sun, meaning you will likely burn to a crisp if you’re not wearing sunscreen. We would suggest wearing clothing that will protect you from the sun, but we all know that’s not appropriate rave attire, which makes good ol’ SPF all the more important. Plus, nothing complements your festival outfit more than a perfect golden tan.

Speaking of tanning ...

#2 - What’s The Weather Going To Be Like?

You probably rolled your eyes at that question, didn’t you? We’re not trying to sound like your overbearing step-dad who is pretending to care, but this is a valid question. Take a quick glimpse at the forecast, and plan ahead because nothing is worse than trying to dance in your best rave apparel and cute festival outfits while there is a torrential downpour. We’re not suggesting that you pack a bag like you’re about to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, but at least be aware as to whether or not you need to pack a poncho. Our Plurthlings logo hoodie is a dope option. Plus, there are so many festivals that go throughout the winter months, that the cute festival clothing you want to wear, might not be all that practical.

Dress Your Best  

Prepare to see some of the most insane festival clothing. You might think you’re dressed just fine for a festival, but rave fashion is not the same as any other concert you’ve been to. From the moment you enter the venue you’ll be greeted by the most unique rave apparel you never even thought of, you’ll probably feel a bit underdressed. But in all honesty, wear whatever is you’re comfortable in because you’re going to have a blast dancing and raving until the sun rises.

If you’re looking for festival clothing online and other EDM accessories, shop now with Plurth. We have everything from our women’s festival clothing and bikinis to men’s EDM shirts featuring our Plurth logos and unique designs.

Pack a small bag, or a fanny pack, satchel, tote bags, sack — the point is you want to have something easy to carry that can hold a few of the essentials. Many venues will limit what you can bring inside (for obvious reasons) so keep it minimal. Really, all you’ll need is your ID, keys, cash, phone, pass, and sunscreen. You’ll notice that most people don’t have anything on them at all and in our opinion is crazy, because that means they’re literally holding everything in their hands, risking the inevitable — losing, dropping, or breaking their belongings. And that totally sucks. 

The reason for a small bag should be obvious, it keeps your hands free and it’s comfortable to wear close to your body all day long.    

Bring Cash

You’re thinking, Duh. Obviously money is a no-brainer. But we mean cash, like paper currency. NOT your debit card. There is so much going on around you at an EDM festival, and as much as you’ll try to keep tabs on your belongings, you never know if/when you will lose track of your fanny pack. The pack isn’t the issue, it’s what is inside of the pack that matters. And losing your debit card and phone is quite possibly the worst feeling ever. Whereas only losing $100 in cash is a hell of a lot easier to deal with instead of losing every dime in your checking account. Even if there’s not a whole lot left in your checking account (we totally get it) you’re still putting your personal information at risk, and that’s really effing hard to come back from.

Seasoned festival veterans might even suggest some pretty clever places to store cash that’s not inside of your fanny pack.

Develop A Buddy System

We’re taking it back to our first-grade field trip days and encouraging you and your crew to establish the buddy system. Have you seen photos of music festivals? People everywhere.

The energy is high, the venue is incredible, your new favorite artist is already onstage, you and your friends are bound to get separated. Sure, you can always text/call when you get separated, but be real, how often does that actually work? Instead, try to designate a meeting spot and establish a buddy system, to reduce the chances of getting separated. 

Now you’re ready for your first EDM festival, we want to see Plurthlings in their element wearing your favorite designs. Tag us and share your first EDM festival experience. Visit us online and shop the best EDM accessories and rave clothing today!

At PLURTH, we say "Where the Rave Never Ends, because we want to RAVE to actually SAVE the Earth." In order to keep the fun alive, we must also work on making the world a better place. We must help create a sustainable planet. That planet is PLURTH!

How Can We RAVE to SAVE the EARTH?

You know those companies like Toms Shoes that donate a pair of shoes to someone in need for every pair that you purchase?

That is the basic premise of PLURTH. We throw parties for people who need an escape from the tough world we live in. Then we use profits in order to make that world a better place for everyone by investing into sustainability.

Bur what does sustainability really mean?