You’re all packed, the countdown is diminishing, you have toll and gas money, 43753 glow sticks, and you just got a snapchat from your bff who is ready to go too. You get in the car, you’ve got your playlist that you prepared 5 weeks in advance, and you’re off to a land far away: a music festival where beats, friends, art, and passion will collide to form what could be one of the best weekends of your life. That is, if you make sure to avoid the following:

1. Cram In As Many Sets As Possible

Seriously, this kills me. You will spend far more time traveling from stage to stage than actually seeing performances if you try to see an unreasonable amount of acts. This is especially true if the stages are far apart or if the crowds are difficult to navigate through. You’ll have a much better time you pick a few sets that you must see. See if the festival has a mobile app that allows you to create a custom schedule. Is the artist coming to a town near you on their regular tour? If so, skip them knowing you’ll have another chance to see them and catch someone different this time around. Besides, experiencing a full set from start to finish can be much more pleasing than just hearing a track or two. Rather than camping out with a huge group at one stage all day, grab a buddy and roam around to multiple stages. It’s much easier to explore with one or two friends than a group of 10.

2. Play Fifth and A Friend With Yourself/ Drink A Case of Natty Light Before Noon

Heavy alcohol consumption + long hours in blazing sun + sweating profusely = bad news. This isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to get carried away when you’re super amped up with your friends. Without your health, it’s literally impossible to have a good time. Dehydration is the easiest way to turn a sick weekend into a major bummer. Drink twice as much water as you think you should. Grab some electrolyte chews from a local sporting goods store before you leave for the fest to help keep you on your A game. If you’re going to drink alcohol, stick with beer and drink some water too. No, do not do a liquor bong, Mr. Frat Star.

3. Dress To Impress

We’re all about expressing ourselves and letting our fashion choices do the talking. Festivals are also a great opportunity to wear things you typically wouldn’t. Yes, I mean the glitter booty shorts with ‘twerk’ written upside down. Just consider some things when you get dressed: you will sweat a lot, you will want to be comfortable enough to dance, you will get dirty, your feet will hurt by the end of the day, and you will be standing mighty close to strangers. Note: shoe inserts are life savers – and no, I’m not 83 years old. Also, don’t wear your grandmother’s antique necklace, it will get stuck and ripped off on the fence when you decide to do a little twerking.

4. Pack 1 Hour Before Departure

What do you get when you have four best friends, sleeping bags, a tent, but no tent stakes? Four pissed off best friends and a shitty time. Forgetting camping essentials can put a damper on the whole trip. Tent stakes, a mallet, battery-powered fans, a shade tarp, a cooler, trash bags, rain gear, a watch, first aid kit, and sunscreen are a few do-not-forget items. Make a checklist on your phone so you can add to it as you think of things.

5. Be ‘That Guy/Gal’

The gal puking in the middle of the pit. The guy cat-calling girls as the walk by. The gal hating on other people’s opinions. The guy bragging about all the drugs he took. The all-round d-bag that no one likes to be around. Don’t be this person. You’re at festival to have fun, make connections, find yourself, discover new music, and radiate positivity. Share your water, give a glow stick to a stranger, high-five a stranger. The golden rule is tried but true: treat others how you want to be treated. Spread good vibes people.

6. Send 8 Vines Per Set, Update Facebook Every Hour, Tweet and Instagram 12 Photos Per Day

#No. Studies have shown that you are more likely to forget actually living a moment if you are trying to take a photo or video of it. Your festival experience could be a really special weekend in your life. By being connected to social media at all times, you’re just letting those special moments drift away from you. I’m not saying don’t document your time at all; you definitely want some good pictures. Just don’t over do it. Plus, you’re probably annoying your followers. Pick one or two photos or videos per day to share with your friends. This will also save your phone battery.

7. Set Your Meeting Spot At the Main Stage

This truly is a recipe for disaster. Not only is this probably the most crowded area of the festival, it’s also one of the largest. Finding your group of friends here will be impossible. When it comes to choosing a meeting point, pick a relatively small place that is easy to remember, centrally located, and not heavily populated. A specific ATM, vendor, first aid, or food place are good choices. Don’t forget to set a time to meet, too.

Make it even easier to find your group: make a totem! Totems or flags are a great way to locate your friends and express your creativity. Make sure you check the festival regulations about totems first. Some have requirements such as the ‘pole’ being made of hollow cardboard. It’s also a good idea to hang a flag above your campsite so you can find it when returning at 4 am.

8. Put As Much Stuff As Possible Into Your Backpack

When you’re packing your backpack to take from your campsite into the stage area, remember that you’ll have that thing on your back the entire day. You’ll also be trying to getcha’ groove on and that ain’t no easy task with an eight pound sack on your back. Think about the essentials: an aluminum water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, set schedule, granola bar or two, camera, and maybe a small beach towel to sit on or throw on your shoulders when they start to get crispy. If you fit all of this and still have room in your bag, you can put your glow sticks, blow up whale, bubbles, and fairy wings. Another great option: a fanny pack! Hands free dancing all day baby. Consider a canteen or clip-on water bottle like this if you opt for the fanny.

9. Spend All Your Money As Soon As You Get There

We know that festivals are like a dream world, but sadly, money still exists. Just like in the real world, you do have to budget. There will be a lot of vendors selling awesome clothes, flow toys, food and various merchandise. The only thing I would suggest buying aside from food on the first day is an official festival t-shirt if you want one. The common sizes run out quickly. Wait until the last day or so to buy that heady tapestry you’ve had your eyes on. Think of your money on a day-to-day budget and you’ll be okay. Don’t forget to save some money for gas and tolls or airport purchases on the way home!

10. Keep a Close Mind and Only See Artists You Already Like

As you go through the long list of acts on the festival lineup, you mentally say ‘yes’ to all of the artists you know and love. But, what about the ones just waiting for you to discover them? You’re only short-changing yourself by seeing just the acts you already love. The lineup is jam-packed with smaller artists who could be one of your favorites-you just don’t know it yet! Do a little research on the artists you haven’t heard of and make a point to see them. If you go to their set and aren’t feeling it, you’ll still have time to stage hop. One of my favorite things to do is to chat with strangers and see who they’re excited to see. Are they headed to see someone you’re unfamiliar with? Tag a long with them. Talk about a bonding experience.

What other advice do you have for fellow music-freaks headed to festivals this year? Don’t be shy- comment below or tweet us at @raverrafting and let us know!

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