Whether you’re a complete novice or a hardened veteran of umpteen outdoor music events, there are always ways to improve the festival going experience. With an explosion of multi-stage, multi-band, pitching and camping mega-gigs in recent years, it’s hard to avoid attending at least one festival every summer. But your fun-filled weekend can turn into a holiday from hell if you’re not prepared for certain eventualities. Here’s are a few handy tips…
Before You Go
The first important thing to do is find the right festival for you. There are a gazillion advertised every summer for all tastes. Everything from Death Metal to World Music is catered for. Some are family friendly and some are formidably hardcore. Whether you’re planning on going alone, with a couple of mates or with the whole family, do your research and make sure it’s the perfect event for your tastes.
Once you’ve picked your festival – make a plan. Figure out the best (and cheapest) way to get there. Sometimes taking the car is much more of a headache than taking public transport. If your event is in a remote area, see if the organisers provide some kind of transportation option. Then, take a look at the line-up and prioritise what you want to see. If you’re attending a vast festival like Glastonbury, then this is essential. You don’t want to be four miles away from the stage as your favourite band starts to play. And have an escape plan. If the weekend turns into a rain-soaked quagmire, you might want to run away. Make sure you have some idea of how to achieve this.
What To Take
You’ll most likely be camping, so beg, buy or borrow a decent tent that will survive any weather conditions. If you hate the idea of life under canvas, look into RV or campervan rental, especially if you’re travelling with a family. Some festivals provide accommodation on-site, so for a little extra cash you can remove camping woes from the equation. Or, for the truly wussy, you can look into local hotels or B&Bs, see if there’s anything within walking range of the site. If you love your luxuries (like a bed and a shower) this might be for you.
Other than something to sleep under, you’ll want to make sure you’re carrying all the essentials. Water and sunblock should be top of your list. Anything you’ll purchase at the festival will almost certainly be marked-up price wise, so take along some easily transportable snacks so you don’t blow your whole budget on meals. Plastic bags are great for a whole host of purposes, especially if the weather is bad. Wet wipes will become you best friend on that grubby third day and toilet paper is a given.
Plan on layering your clothes, so you’re prepared for all weathers. Some kind of waterproof footwear is a good idea, as are plenty of socks. Take shorts to wear under your waterproofs, they always get hot no matter how damp it is. Earplugs are good to ensure you get a couple of hours sleep and if you take a cigarette lighter and a bottle opener, the people around you will soon become your best friend.
When You Arrive
Picking a camping spot is a difficult, essential skill. The further away from the stage you are, the quieter your pitch will be. Avoid an obvious pathway, especially if it leads to the bathrooms. That will be a busy, noisy route. Hedges, walls and fences tend to be utilised as urinals by lazy, drunken types, so best to avoid setting up home near these. And the higher you can camp, the less likely you will be to end up underwater.
If you are with a bunch of people, plan to arrive at the same time and set up camp together, ideally in a circle with the entrances pointing towards each other. Try to claim a bit of space around your tent by having objects outside, just so you don’t have fellow campers right on top of you. Try to locate landmarks or customise the exterior of your tent, so you can find it. And don’t secure your tent with a padlock; it just makes it look like there’s something inside to steal.
When You’re There
Best not to take anything to the festival that you can’t live without, but if you do have valuables, keep them with you. A small bag or backpack is handy to carry your water, sun-cream, housekeys, snacks and camera. Don’t keep too much stuff in your pockets, you don’t want it plunging into a festival loo! Don’t splurge on the first food stand you see. Try and locate something, good, cheap and unique (veggie is often the best way to go). Follow usual concert going etiquette. Just because you’re in a field doesn’t mean you can push, shove or be generally obnoxious. Have a good time, but try to be responsible with drink and drugs. And make friends! You’ll never know when you might need a helping hand.
About the Author:
Dale shaw currently writes for Wish.co.uk. If you’re looking for something exciting to do such as driving experiences, skydiving or bungee jumping; check out their site to see what activities are going on in your area.
December 21, 2011 | 0 Comments
Top Music Festival Tips for Outdoor and Camping Shows
Whether you’re a complete novice or a hardened veteran of umpteen outdoor music events, there are always ways to improve the festival going experience. With an explosion of multi-stage, multi-band, pitching and camping mega-gigs in recent years, it’s hard to avoid attending at least one festival every summer. But your fun-filled weekend can turn into a holiday from hell if you’re not prepared for certain eventualities. Here’s are a few handy tips…
Before You Go
The first important thing to do is find the right festival for you. There are a gazillion advertised every summer for all tastes. Everything from Death Metal to World Music is catered for. Some are family friendly and some are formidably hardcore. Whether you’re planning on going alone, with a couple of mates or with the whole family, do your research and make sure it’s the perfect event for your tastes.
Once you’ve picked your festival – make a plan. Figure out the best (and cheapest) way to get there. Sometimes taking the car is much more of a headache than taking public transport. If your event is in a remote area, see if the organisers provide some kind of transportation option. Then, take a look at the line-up and prioritise what you want to see. If you’re attending a vast festival like Glastonbury, then this is essential. You don’t want to be four miles away from the stage as your favourite band starts to play. And have an escape plan. If the weekend turns into a rain-soaked quagmire, you might want to run away. Make sure you have some idea of how to achieve this.
What To Take
You’ll most likely be camping, so beg, buy or borrow a decent tent that will survive any weather conditions. If you hate the idea of life under canvas, look into RV or campervan rental, especially if you’re travelling with a family. Some festivals provide accommodation on-site, so for a little extra cash you can remove camping woes from the equation. Or, for the truly wussy, you can look into local hotels or B&Bs, see if there’s anything within walking range of the site. If you love your luxuries (like a bed and a shower) this might be for you.
Other than something to sleep under, you’ll want to make sure you’re carrying all the essentials. Water and sunblock should be top of your list. Anything you’ll purchase at the festival will almost certainly be marked-up price wise, so take along some easily transportable snacks so you don’t blow your whole budget on meals. Plastic bags are great for a whole host of purposes, especially if the weather is bad. Wet wipes will become you best friend on that grubby third day and toilet paper is a given.
Plan on layering your clothes, so you’re prepared for all weathers. Some kind of waterproof footwear is a good idea, as are plenty of socks. Take shorts to wear under your waterproofs, they always get hot no matter how damp it is. Earplugs are good to ensure you get a couple of hours sleep and if you take a cigarette lighter and a bottle opener, the people around you will soon become your best friend.
When You Arrive
Picking a camping spot is a difficult, essential skill. The further away from the stage you are, the quieter your pitch will be. Avoid an obvious pathway, especially if it leads to the bathrooms. That will be a busy, noisy route. Hedges, walls and fences tend to be utilised as urinals by lazy, drunken types, so best to avoid setting up home near these. And the higher you can camp, the less likely you will be to end up underwater.
If you are with a bunch of people, plan to arrive at the same time and set up camp together, ideally in a circle with the entrances pointing towards each other. Try to claim a bit of space around your tent by having objects outside, just so you don’t have fellow campers right on top of you. Try to locate landmarks or customise the exterior of your tent, so you can find it. And don’t secure your tent with a padlock; it just makes it look like there’s something inside to steal.
When You’re There
Best not to take anything to the festival that you can’t live without, but if you do have valuables, keep them with you. A small bag or backpack is handy to carry your water, sun-cream, housekeys, snacks and camera. Don’t keep too much stuff in your pockets, you don’t want it plunging into a festival loo! Don’t splurge on the first food stand you see. Try and locate something, good, cheap and unique (veggie is often the best way to go). Follow usual concert going etiquette. Just because you’re in a field doesn’t mean you can push, shove or be generally obnoxious. Have a good time, but try to be responsible with drink and drugs. And make friends! You’ll never know when you might need a helping hand.
About the Author:
Dale shaw currently writes for Wish.co.uk. If you’re looking for something exciting to do such as driving experiences, skydiving or bungee jumping; check out their site to see what activities are going on in your area.
Tags: guest post, music festival tips, music festivals, spotlight