Survival tips and tricks
By Cazzy Lewchuk, Staff Writer
Summer is officially here, and the festival season is upon us. Whether youâre taking in a one-day outdoor concert, or experiencing a weekend event, music festivals are an amazing and often unique experience.
While fun is almost guaranteed, there are many ways to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone, as well as safer, smoother, and more efficient.
Hydrate. Perhaps the most important and universal rule of any outdoor event, especially in the summer. We all need water. Festivals often lead to things like standing in hot sun for hours, dancing, and consumption of alcohol or other intoxicating substancesâall things that lead to dehydration. Bring bottles of water, or face buying a bottle for $8 (and wouldnât you rather spend that $8 on a bottle of beer?) Thereâs no such thing as drinking too much water, so do your best to have it whenever possible.
Be responsible. These festivals are often an opportunity to cut loose and do things you wouldnât normally be doing. Whether youâre going drinking with strangers, or wandering off to an unfamiliar area, stay safe through common sense. Make sure someone knows where you are at all times. Know exactly what you are putting in your body and how much of it. Take a break if you ever feel dizzy or sick, and donât hesitate to seek medical attention if you think you need it. The workers are there to help you and keep you safe, not judge you.
Organize, but not firmly. Plan your day, but donât let the schedule be too rigid. Figure out when and where you have to be for the bands you absolutely canât miss, but also take chances. Go to a few artists you havenât seen beforeâsome of my favourite festival acts have been people I had never heard of, and you never know who might make it big and end up as a headliner in the future. And if something doesnât go according to plan, roll with it. Youâre here to have fun, arenât you?
Respect people around you. This one should go without saying, but it can be easy to forget youâre there with thousands of other individuals. Donât touch people without their permission and donât invade their personal space either. Basically, donât harass anyone, and use common sense to determine how everyone, not just you, can have a good time.
Pack more than you think youâll need. This especially applies at a multi-day festival. If youâre on the fence about bringing something, throw it in the bag. As the old saying goes, itâs far better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. A lot of things come in handy at these shows, sometimes in ways you might not expect. You donât have the luxury of household items available to you, so you may have to MacGyver a situation. And above all, pack wet wipesâtheyâre like a portable shower.
