Festival Season is upon us!
I was standing on the top of the amphitheatre hill at sunset. My favourite band were playing their last song and I was looking over a sea of thousands of hands in the air swaying to the music, I know I sound super corny but I actually thought to myself ‘this has to be the best moment of my life’.
When the last song finished I turned around to hug my best friend but she was… gone. Eugh what a mood killer. It was at this moment that things started going down-hill. I started to get that anxious flustered feeling, my heart rate sped up and I suddenly felt very alone. I went to call her but she had already messaged me ‘taking jen home shes wasted, sorry babe see ya tomorrow’. WHAT?! At that moment I realized that I WAS all by myself, how was I going to get home? It was dark now, the crowd was going in all kinds of directions and everyone seemed a lot drunker and rowdier than they did just before. I had no idea what to do next…
Going to festivals can be such an amazing experience. There’s something kinda special about getting to go with your friends and see all your favourite bands rounded up in one perfect location. But festivals can also sometimes end up not turning out the way we plan. So many things can go wrong! Buzz killers like band no shows, wayward friends, missing sets, too many drinks, cancelled rides and lost cash can dampen what was meant to be an amazing time.
Join us next Monday the 13th of january for a chat about how to make festival experiences the best they can possibly be.
Learnt so much good stuff tonight, Thanks guys!!!
Catch you all on the forums 
not to worry @Pillow the best thing about festivals is they come around yearly so there's always another chance can anyone think of anything else theyd like to add?
I guess the only thing I can think of (which has already been kinda touched on) is if you really love a band or really want to go to something (this doesnt even have to apply to just music festivals ... could be a film festival or something like the sydney or melbourne festival or adelaide fringe etc which have a bunch of day events aswll)... I would say just go! I used to feel a bit weird going it alone, but now i revel in it
Yeah, if you want to see a band go and see them ! Just make sure your friends know where you are if you split up and maybe have a meeting place
Well thank you all for coming to this weeks GR sesh! I hope its been helpful and given you some tips to keep festivals a fun experience not a stressfl scary one!
Okay so the key points from today are:
Stay hydrated, keep sunscreened, drink responsibly, make sure you have your festival essentials (money, phone, good shoes, emergency loo paper)
Have a plan about how to get home! and even a backup plan if your first plan goes south!
Do not hesitate to go to first aid even if you are scared or embarassed
and most of all have fun! great attitudes will make great times! by all means if you are uncomfortable and need to leave thats perfectly okay but remember - you attitude plays a big part in how much you enjoy things!
Thanks so much for your input guys and thanks @chelsb for being my co-facilliatator! Until next time 😄
What a great chat! I love learning how to better deal with sometimes tressful situations. Have a good night everyone 🙂
i think also sometimes evaluating the situation and not being afraid to make the call about whether or not its time to go/call yours or your friends parents/ call emergency services if you feel it is that serious... It can be a tough decision to make but its always so much better to be safe than sorry i guess.
yeah @delicatedreamer first aid are the bestttt, theyve got everything! Sunscreen... band aids, but more importantly they are there if things do get messed up. Too many drinks or even if you have decided to try something a little more intense like drugs.... The first aid crew at festivals are soooo ready for all of that, they arent obliged to involve police and they are not there to judge, just there to help us out. Its so good to know theyre there actually now i think about it!
Yes they are awesome hey!
Is anyone going to any festivals coming up?
Not at the moment. I should suss some out! 🙂
Yeah! Now you are armed with all these tried and tested tips @delicatedreamer
Theres always heaps through summer, or even just live gigs outdoors - they are fun too 😄
Let us know about your experience if you do go to any!
Yeah @delicatedreamer im heading to laneway next month im pumped, its a day festival and im really looking forward to it 🙂
@hartley_ i know thats a yucky feeling when you realise youre not getting home how you thought you were, its happened to me too, I learnt the hard way that having a back up getting home plan helps! and keeping in touch with parents/who ever you were supposed to be staying with that night... I used to write my sisters number on my arm so i could call her from a pay phone if i needed to get picked up because my phone always always ran outta battery!
yes @chelsb backup plan your backup plan even!
and tell people where you are or where you are going so if your not there around the time you should be they can contact you and see whats up!
@Pillow comfy shoes, cash and even then a bit of extra cash only to be used in case of an emergency is a must, extra clothes, hitting the nail on the head!
and @delicatedreamer you are too good, you are more than ready for a music festival experience 🙂
@hartley_ bahaha back sunscreen is the worst kinda sunscreen! ANd because you brought up portaloos, if you can fit one of those little compact tissue packs in your bag do it because portaloos alwayss run outta paper, just sayin' 😉
Our next question issssss:
What do you take with you?!
Sunblock, i have come out of a festival betroot red one too many times to forego sunblock....
What else will we need?
@chelsb yes! and theres only so much sunscreen you can borrow from random peoples backs in the crowd (make sure you only do this early on in the day or the sunscreen/sweat ratio is all out of whack)
Good shoes! trustworthy, worn in, comfy shoes
Id go for sneakers/cons/vans
Comfy - no blisters
Closed in - portaloos! and if it rains and also getting stepped on in the crowd
Money. And lots of it lol. Festivals can be quite expensive with food and things so it's always handy to take extra money because you will get hungry.
Take comfy shoes too, I've come home one too many times with massive blisters on my feet from walking in high heels too long at festivals
Extra clothes like a jacket or a tank top incase it gets too hot or cold.
But overall you don't want to take too many things because you will have to carry it around with you
Thanks guys 🙂
What else will we need?
Money, id (I don't know if you need at festivals but I always leave it at home when I need it so I thought I would chuck it in here), water, food (I always like to have a little snack on me), my phone, a hat, a small jacket/ cardi, a rain coat for the aforementioned wet weather 😄 and I definitely agree on the sunscreen! I can't think what else...
@Pillow you took the words right outta my mouth!
yes indeed, say no to blisters!
A light jacket in your bag is good, sometimes it can get pretty chilly at night
especially if you are sunburnt!
hehe this is true 😄 @Pillow
sunscreen, good shoes, full battery on your phone, light jacket, money (lots of it), sunnies and a hat, ID! if you need it
map of the venue and the band times, a meeting point if you get lost...
A plan of how to get home safely !
If you are drinking plan a train/bus/taxi/lift preferably with a friend
If you are getting a lift wiith people then make sure everyone knows and not to leave without eachother!
Once I went to a festival with my friend and her boyfriend and understood that I would get a lift home with her but it turns out they changed plans to stay at another friends (who I didnt know) house heaps far away so I had to catch the bus back to my train station and then get picked up
If you do have to catch public transport alone or if your plans change make sure you msg or call someone to let them know the plans have changed and where you are and what time you will be back
