Summer is fast approaching, which means festival season will be among us soon! Arguably, one of the best times of the year. For many it is a time to find new music, finally get to see that one favorite band, and lastly have a ton of fun! Over the past few years I have gone to many music festivals and have recently been seeing tweets asking about what to expect at Vans Warped Tour for example, and how to prepare for it. So in response here is my top 5 must do things at music festivals:
1. Do listen to the band member trying to promote his music to you...they may be your next favorite band.
It is becoming the norm for new/ up and coming bands to follow more established, more well known bands tours. If you haven't experienced it yet, it will more likely than not happen to you at a festival this summer. A guy in a v-neck shirt , cropped jeans and convers will come up to you and ask you to take a listen to his bands music. While it can be uncomfortable and no doubt gets annoying after awhile, don't brush them off. They are trying to work hard at promoting their music which they have slaved over for months maybe years. Take a listen, no one said you had to buy their music on the spot. Who knows the band you take a chance on listen to their music while you are standing in line might just be your next favorite band. I know this has happened to me many of times.
2. Represent your fan base well.
Nothing is worse than going to see your favorite band live for the first time and the crowd is just rude! Everyone is at the bands set for the same reason. To listen to good music, and have fun. The fun is often ruined when someone in the crowed gets upset and angry that they have no room to stand, they aren't close enough to the stage (etc). This one person, let's hope its not you, makes the set unbearable and gives a bad representation of the bands fans and the overall reputation of the band playing. Which in return can have a negative impact on the number of new fans that could have been reached, but will not based one bad experience.
3. Do make friends with the people around you.
As I mentioned in my last post, some of my closest friends have been people whom I have meet at concerts. Nothing brings people together faster than standing almost on top of each other in the heat for hours on end. All the new people you meet can teach you something different, and they may just introduce you to a new band that will widen you music horizon.
4. Do try to meet as many bands as possible.
One of the great things about festivals is that many bands have meet-n-greets, formal, but mainly informal. You always want to keep an eye out as well, as you never know when the lead singer of your favorite band might happen to walk past you. Festivals in that way are compared to nothing
else. You have the opportunity to meet many talented musicians, that you have have to otherwise spend $30 or more to meet. Don't let the chance to meet your music idol slip past you this summer.
5. HAVE FUN!
It goes with out saying, the most important thing to do at a music festival is to have fun! Go with your best friend, or meet new ones there. You are sure to have a great time with thousands of other music fans, if you choose to make the most out of the day or weekend. Only you can decided what type of experience you are going to/want to have.
What are your top 5 things to do/ experience at music festivals? Which ones are you going to this summer? Let me know in the comments!
