Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat

I love music festivals! Seeing as it is the end of the year, I can’t help but reminisce the first rave I’ve ever attended in Melbourne, that is Stereosonic. It was also the event that I fell in love with Afrojack.

Stereosonic, as some you might have already know is a two-day electronic music festival that runs across a few cities in Australia. Some of the biggest DJ’s have played at this event, hosting over 60,000 people at one time. An electric music festival has a few simple rules:

1. You come to dance
2. You come to party

It is that easy. Such a big event can be quite daunting for a first timer. But as long as you keep your motto of “I just want to have fun” you will do just fine.

So what is the point of these electronic music festivals really? If you really think about it, it’s just an open-spaced area to host thousands of people. You get in there, thinking you’ve never seen so many people at one place in your life.

As of current, I’ve just been to a total of 5 rave events in my life but I’ll be more than happy to lend a few tips and advises for those of you first-timers out there. Going to an event this big will need some planning.

Be minimal

Now let’s be clear that what I meant here are the things you carry with you; not your clothes. Try to avoid big bags. The only things you’ll ever only need in a rave are : ID, tickets, money, keys. Throw in an extra band aid if you’d like; as long as you can stuff all of these into your pockets without weighing you down. In some cases, rave events offer lockers for you to keep safe your belongings – which means yes to bags but keep it small and light.

Wear comfortable

For most of the music festivals that I’ve been to, goes on for a minimum of at least 6 hours. Depending on the specific music or DJ’s you’d want to see on the day, you’ll be expecting to switch from one stage to another and standing/dancing most of the time. So the key here is comfy footwear. Being among thousands of people would mean higher risk of getting your foot stepped on. There is also a tendency for people to throw things on the floor so you might get your foot hurt. I’d recommend proper shoes, ones you can keep your feet in for a whole day without getting a blister.

An event like this is also a chance for you to really make a fashion statement. That’s the fun bit for me. Loads of fashion advice you can get from Google, but for me personally, it’s definitely bottoms with lots of pockets. Just to be able to keep all the items you’ll be carrying with you.

Keep hydrated

Many music festivals are held during summer. You’ll be outdoor, under the sun and under constant movement. My advice is to keep yourself plenty hydrated. A few drinks here and there can definitely keep you happy but always top it up with water. Water is usually available at the event place as they do not allow you to bring water (some events accept empty bottles). Be sure to bring an empty bottle and keep an eye out for the water booth or water tap. Make sure the bottle you carry with you is filled as this is really handy especially when you’re already deep in the crowd. A friend of mine; well experienced raver, does it smarter! He brings with him a 2L hands-free hydration backpack – easy to carry on and dance with.

Take appropriate breaks

We know the superhuman you can be. But when you’re about to drop dead from all that dancing, it’s time for a break. Whenever I go to these events, I’d make sure that it’s with a good crowd. They are going to be the ones who will be able to take care of you.

It’s always good to keep the good energy with you so have plenty of rest the day before. That way, you can bring your awesome vibes with you – turning it more than just dance.

Let go, live and breathe

Keep an open mind. Be one with the crowd. People who come to raves just want to have fun. Coming to a rave is really about transcending yourself into another universe, for in the moment, every single person you see in the crowd cohesively unites to become one entity.

We breathe the same air, hear the same sounds and move in synchronize waves. It really is a one of a kind experience. This mantra is widely known as P.L.U.R which stands for Peace, Love, Unity and Respect. Study it wholeheartedly and apply it 110%!

You’re never too old for a dance music festival.