ACL is T-minus one day and I couldn’t be more excited. The lineup this year is fantastic and I’ve already started to prepare myself so I’m ready for Friday. Seeing Paul McCartney, no matter how far away I end up being, is going to be a significant moment in my life.
After 8 years in Austin and nearly 20 music festivals under my belt, both here and elsewhere, navigating the craziness of a music festival is old hat. I always come out of it breathless and excited; have a great time every year, and have minimal mishaps.
I’m lucky to have lived and learned from my mistakes. Today, I’m here to share those lessons with you.
If you don’t have time to read all these, might I recommend skipping down to #8.
#1: Be Prepared
First thing’s first. Register your wristband, and sign up for Cashless. This means your wristband is securely linked to your bank account–and instead of fumbling around in your bag for your wallet every time you want a taco, you tap your wristband to pay. This is an awesome, awesome thing.
If you’re going with other people, look at the map and select a specific meeting place. If something goes wrong, your phones die, you can’t find each other, or you just want to reconvene after everyone goes off to check out different sets, you can make your way to a select place. And let me tell you–shit happens. People get separated. There’s upward of 100,000 people wandering around the grounds at any given point.
Pack your bag the night before. This way, if you’re missing something, can’t find it, or it’s broken, you can take care of it ahead of time and not miss that band you’re dying to see. I’ll be posting suggestions for what to bring. Pack everything you need except your phone and your extra battery. Charge them overnight and make sure they’re as close to 100% as possible when you head down to the festival or you’ll regret it.
Give yourself a full hour to get down to the festival before your first band. You have to drive down there in Austin traffic, find a parking space, maybe take the shuttle, maybe get dropped off, then walk down to the grounds, and go through security. Sometimes the lines to get in are really bad. Sometimes the security people are on a power trip and are frisking everyone who walks through regardless of whether they look like they need to be frisked. There was one time I waited nearly 45 minutes to get into the park. Luckily I had given myself plenty of time to get down there. Busy times seem to be mid- to late-afternoon, so give yourself even more time if you’re heading there at that time of day.
#2: Take Care of Your Body- Before AND After the Festival
The week leading up to and the week immediately following a festival, I make sure that I a) take my vitamins, b) eat as many fruits and veggies and healthy foods as I can and c) get good sleep. This is so important. Festivals are intense. You’re going going going all the time and trust me when I say you’ll have way more energy if you’re healthy and well rested.
And don’t forget—germs EVERYWHERE. Thousands and thousands of people touching barriers and sneezing and giving you their bacteria. There’s no running water. That drunk guy behind you probably did not use hand sanitizer after pee-peeing in the port-a-potty. Ew. Boosting your immune system with healthy foods and vitamins is an absolute must if you want to be able to fight off sickness.
Additionally, if you’re as healthy as possible, you’ll feel better Monday morning.
#3: Pick Your A-List
Fact: you’re not going to be able to see everyone you want to see.
Every year, no matter what festival you go to, there’s going to be overlap. I’m pretty sure they do this on purpose. So take my well-seasoned advice: pick two, MAYBE three artists each day you 100% have to see. That’s it. The rest of the bands on your schedule should take a backseat. It’s better to see and enjoy three bands you really love than fighting the crowds to see a measly 10 minutes of each band you’ve ever kinda wanted to see live.
Festival grounds are huge. It can take 15 minutes to walk from one end to the other depending on whether you know where you’re going or not. And whenever you’re in a hurry, people tend to be in your way, moving slowly, blocking your view, etc. That’s stress you don’t need. You’ll be standing there through the first band worrying about how you’re going to make it to the second. Not worth it. Make the adult decision and stick with just a few key bands. I promise you’ll see more than those A-Listers.
A couple of things to keep in mind when having to make a tough choice between bands:
-Is one of them an older band that doesn’t tour as much? Is one band on the up and coming and likely to come back to your town soon? Pick the one that tours less frequently. It’s always, ALWAYS better to see a band at their own show than at a festival. So if you’re likely to see one band over the other at a real show, pick that band that might not come back soon.
-Is one band more popular than another? Choose the less popular. You’ll get a better spot and won’t be vying with annoying fans.
-What type of music is it, and what kind of live show do the artists put on? Something that’s chill–just a chick and a guitar, for example, or that sensitive singer-songwriter–is not going to fare as well in this environment as that epic rock act with the light show. If you know an artist has a reputation for a dynamic show, it’s going to translate much better in the atmosphere of a festival.
Not that you shouldn’t see the chick with the guitar or the singer-songwriter; I saw City and Colour a few years back at ACL and he was fantastic. And if City and Colour is playing and there isn’t someone else you want to see at the same time, then you’re golden. Go for it, go there early to get a good spot, and enjoy. But if City and Colour is playing at the same time as one of my other favorite bands–like, say M83–I’m going to pick M83 every time because they’re high energy and epic. At a music festival, at least.
Once you have your Big Two (or Three), then you look at your schedule and plan around those. Make your B-list and C-list. And know that you won’t get to see every act you plan to see; things happen. Know this going in and you’ll have a much better time.
A note: know how close you want to get for your A-list. If you want to be front row, or at least close, and they’re a C-Tier band or above (Third act from the end of the festival is a C-Tier; Second from the end a B-Tier, and the A-Tier is your headliner), to get close you’re going to have to wait at the barrier way earlier than their set (see lesson #8.) You’ll be stuck there for a long time, watching only those people playing at that particular stage. Want to be up front for the headliner? Expect to sit there all day. Again, see #8.
If you’re going in a group: Don’t be afraid to break away to go see the bands you want to see, no matter if anyone else wants to go there or not. My first year at ACL I went with a bunch of people and had to sacrifice some of my A-Listers because I didn’t want to make people feel bad for me breaking away. Big mistake. Go where you want, and meet up later.
#4: Dress Appropriately
I’m not talking about wearing something your grandmother would approve of. I’m talking about paying attention to the weather and wearing something you’re going to be comfortable in. If, like me, you’re in Texas in October, one thing is for certain: it’s gonna be hot. I know this. I’m not going to wear jeans and long sleeves and a leather jacket, as much as I’d like to.
Instead, I’m going to wear thin, natural fabrics that breathe. I know it’s supposed to rain this weekend; I’m gonna bring my poncho and a plastic trash bag to sit on. And I’m going to wear the dirty, ugly old Converse that I don’t mind getting muddy. And I’m going to put supports in them, so my arches don’t fall halfway through Paul McCartney’s set.
Fashion is great. Festival fashion is even better. What’s best? Being comfortable AND looking awesome.
Did I mention you need to wear comfortable shoes? Wear. Comfortable. Shoes.
Oh, and please don’t forget to put on deodorant.
#5: Festivals are Uncomfortable
If you’ve got it in your head that the weather’s gonna be nice, the crowd’s gonna be chill, you’re going to get a good spot for every band you want to see, and you’re not going to be sore or tired, you are fooling yourself.
This is one of the biggest mistakes for new festival-goers. The truth? Festivals are dirty. They’re hot or they’re rainy. The people around you are drunk or high and don’t give a shit that you’re actually trying to listen to your favorite band. You’re not going to have any personal space. Your feet are going to be sore. You’re going to be tired.
Know this going in, and prepare for it.
Don’t wear anything you don’t want to get ruined. Bring a poncho if it’s going to rain. Try to ignore the people who are being rude (or bring them to the attention of the security guard, if they’re REALLY disruptive.) Understand that you can’t control them. Don’t let it ruin your enjoyment. Know that sometimes hanging by the sound booth or back away from the crowd can be a good thing. One of my favorite experiences from ACL was the night Atoms for Peace headlined in 2013. I hung in the very back of the crowd and started a dance party with a bunch of random people. It was GREAT.
Know that if you do want to be close you’re gonna be hot and people and their smelly armpits are gonna be in your face.
If you’re claustrophobic, make adjustments for this. I am claustrophobic; I still have a good time because I stand where I know it’s not gonna bother me. And if it is bothering me, I get out, instead of making other people suffer for it.
#6: Take it Easy on the Substances
Yep, I’m going there. I know what you’re thinking. That I’m a prude or a stick in the mud and that’s what you do at festivals, man!
That’s not true. Yes, a lot of people do partake, but I argue they’re not getting the most out of their festival experience.
Firstly, it’s hot. It’s crowded. Water’s available but you have to wait in line to get it. And from a general health standpoint, it’s really not a good idea. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen pass out at the various festivals I’ve been to. Probably on a given day at ACL I see at least four people in various levels of physical distress get take out of the crowd. Don’t let yourself be one of those people. Don’t wait all day for your favorite band to be taken out on a stretcher. That is, as we say in Austin, no bueno.
And then some logic: why pay hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars to go to a festival you’re too messed up to remember?
You’re going to have a lot more fun if you take it easy. There’s a time and a place for everything and festivals really aren’t the best place to get smashed. On top of that, if you’re that drunk asshole screaming “FREEBIRD!!!!!”* at the top of your lungs and pushing everyone and generally being a nuisance, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Let’s be honest. If you’re doing that, you’re pissing off everyone around you. And that probably means you’re about to get your ass kicked.
Look, I’m not your mother. It’s your body. But if you choose to partake, do us all a favor—stay out of the crowd. Drink water. Get help if you need it. And please have someone pick you up from the festival, or take a rideshare. Stay off the roads. For everyone’s sake.
*See #8
#7: Go Analog
One of the worst parts of festival going is the cell service. And by “cell service.” I mean “complete and utter lack of cell service.” Too many people using too many phones at once. Your service is going to suck. Text messages, if they go through at all, might show up right away, or they might not show up until six hours later. It’s too loud to call anyone. There’s no wifi and your data is going to be slower than grandma at the grocery store. No matter how many years we’ve had this issue, it never changes.
So what can you do?
First, follow my advice and have a meeting place with friends. Even if it’s a plan to meet at a certain exit at the end of the night. Obviously this is a moot point if you’re like me and do the festival thing on your own. One of the many benefits of lone-wolfing it.
Secondly, get one of the paper maps that are available. They used to hand them out at the entrances; now, I think, you have to physically ask for one. But it is so handy, especially in the evenings when your phone is all but completely useless.
There’s an app, of course, which will always be more up to date than the paper map, but as I’ve mentioned already cell service is terrible and a lot of times it’s quicker to just to use the paper–AND it saves your battery for when you want to take pictures.
Additionally, it has a printed schedule on the back, which is great for finding your way when your phone battery gets low. I also like to use it to mark the artists I actually see vs the artists I plan to see. I’ll circle every one I go to and then mark it down for posterity (otherwise it’ll all run together; it’s so much at once.) On that note, a pen is a handy thing to have with you.
If your battery starts to run low there are always charging stations somewhere at the festival. Be prepared to wait, however. Better to have a portable charger with you. Or, even better, put the damn phone away for a little bit and make some friends IRL.
And, last but not least, the most important lesson of all…
#8: Be Nice
GASP. Did Jax just say that? Jax, the self-proclaimed misanthrope and grumpyface? Wants you to be nice to people? Yep.
At least to other people who are nice.
Being in close quarters tends to bring out the best or worst of a person. But remember: we’re all in this together. You’re being squished, the guy behind you is squished, the people next to you are squished. Nothing you can do about it.
So it’s important to follow proper concert etiquette. I’ll go into this subject deeper in a future post, but here’s a summary of hard, fast rules you MUST follow if you want to consider yourself even a remotely worthwhile human being.
- Make friends. Speak to the people beside you, behind you, in front of you. Get their names. Ask where they’re from, who they’re excited to see. You’re going to be spending a lot of time next to each other and it’s better if everyone’s friendly. Hell, you might even make a new friend
- Hold people’s spots when they need to go to the bathroom, get food, etc. Especially important if you’re waiting for HOURS at one stage with the same people. Additionally, if you’re going to get water, for example, you can offer to fill bottles, etc. Start the trend, and you’ll be rewarded when you’re the one who needs to pee or needs a drink.
- Be aware of personal space. If the crowd allows, give yourself some space between yourself and the people in front of you. No need to crowd them. In turn, they won’t push back at you because you’re invading their comfort zone.
- If you’re going to smoke, make sure you tilt your head and exhale UP and OUT of the crowd. Not forward into people’s faces. As an asthmatic I can tell you this is one of my biggest pet peeves. Nothing like some asshole making me have an asthma attack in the middle of the show.
- If you want to be at front, wait at the front. Don’t show up 5 minutes before a set starts and push your way through. Those people up there have been waiting patiently, sometimes for hours, sometimes not having any food or water for hours. Don’t try to force your way through. I promise you, it’ll piss everyone off, and you’ll come out the worse for it. Karma’s a bitch.
- Don’t scream at the top of your lungs. Don’t woo after every word an artist says. Clap, cheer, at the appropriate times, but remember that you’re yelling directly in people’s ears. Be considerate. And for fuck’s sake, don’t yell “Freebird.”
Well kids, that’s it. Follow these rules and I promise you’ll have a much richer experience, whatever festival you decide to attend.
