Written by Allison Toth

I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago about 5 things I wish I’d know when I started raving, but after some reflection, I realized that I couldn’t cap it at 5 tips. There are so many moving parts to the festival lifestyle, and I don’t wanna miss a piece so here are 5 MORE things that I wish I’d known when I started raving. If you haven’t read part 1 yet; check it out here! Once you’ve done that, continue reading for a few more of my favorite pieces of advice for festival newbies.

#6.) Wear what works for YOU

I have a few pet peeves in the festival world – mainly pushing in the crowd without an ‘excuse me’ and people clacking their fans during every drop. The biggest of all being people who judge what other people wear to the fest. I hold a fierce belief that festivals should be the ultimate safe space for complete self-expression and to really wear what makes you feel the most like yourself – whether that’s a t-shirt or a giraffe onesie. Outside of the rave scene, we live in a world where conformity is often celebrated while dressing outside of the box is looked at with confusion/distaste. Dressing in a big t-shirt and wooked out cargo pants is awesome. Dressing in a tank and shorts is awesome. Dressing in a sheer bodysuit and sky-high platforms is awesome. Dressing in something that looks like a literal piece of floss is awesome (and my personal favorite if I’m being real). The only thing that is not awesome is trying to tell other people what to wear or shaming people who dress differently from you. One of the most PLUR things you can do is build others up and celebrate them for being themselves. I try to give out more compliments than I receive at festivals, and let me tell you…it’s challenging, because this community is so warm and welcoming. Moral of the story – wear what you want. And always, always, always give that compliment when you walk by someone looking wildly themselves. Sometimes we all need a reminder that we look stunning when we look like ourselves.

#7.) Anxiety can happen and you’re not alone – but there are ways to manage

I felt a bit like an alien during my first time at the rail. Everyone around me was lost in the music – headbanging and making loud ‘wah wah WOMPPP’ sounds with every breath. And then there was me. Sweating. Gripping the rail. Trying to look like I wasn’t on the brink of a panic attack. I’d been dancing my way to the rail for an hour and now that I was here, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. I felt trapped, and I’d forgotten about my festival superpower – freewill. I allowed myself to excuse myself from the group for a moment to do some deep breaths and ground again. The set ended 30 minutes later, and I met back up with my group for the next one where I spent the full set headbanging and waving to the DJ. All I needed was a moment to be human and to let those overwhelming feelings move through me without fighting them. It didn’t make me weak or silly or boring. It made me a human listening to her inner voice that was asking for just a moment. I absolutely love the rail and being in the middle of the crowd these days. I still have anxious moments from time to time due to being human and all that, but I’ve learned how to pause and ask my body/mind what they need. Sometimes it’s a tight hug from a friend, a quick side quest or a walk away from the extra crowded areas. Other times it’s a smoothie and permission to sit under a tree for a while without letting FOMO take over. So next time you feel a wave of anxiety at the show, remember that you’re not alone and that you are able to feel those uncomfortable emotions for a little while and still enjoy the experience.

#8.) You don’t need a new outfit for every fest. It’s okay to repurpose, upcycle, and borrow

I’m the social media strategist and virtual assistant for 1:11 the Label, a small business of gorgeous handmade fashion created by Carly Scully (link). I LOVE buying new festival fashion that makes me feel sexy, fierce, and free. Ultimately, however, there are other facts to consider. The first and most important being the planet. Fast fashion is a tempting option for ravers since it can provide a quick turnaround on orders at an affordable price point, but we all know the impact that overconsumption of fast fashion can have. I have found that owning a few high-quality pieces for festivals has paid off more than buying a new Amazon fit every time a new line-up drops. You get to support small, have pieces that last longer, and minimize fast fashion purchases (I use Amazon for almost all of my skincare so believe me – no judgement here, just tips). Another beautiful way to create new looks without breaking the bank – sharing/borrowing fest fits! My friends and I frequently loan out our pieces as a way to create new looks without having to spend money or take the time to hunt for them. If one of us loves something the other wore to a show, we’ll ask to do a ‘look swap’ and trade a piece for the next fest. This option is fun, affordable, and a cutie activity to do with your festival friends. I’ve also found that thrift shopping can be an incredible way to score new fest wear. I have found gorgeous pashminas, skirts, shoes, and accessories at my local goodwill that worked flawlessly for styling. New outfits are fabulous and should be celebrated – but I think it’s important to remember the other options as well.

#9.) Navigating the festival comedown

Most ravers that I’ve spoken with have related to this sentiment – coming home from a weekend of music, dancing, laughter, and play, just to be overwhelmed by chores, emails, and the day-to-day stress that patiently awaited your return. Feeling down or even detached/dissociated after an incredible festival weekend is actually quite common and although we can’t avoid it entirely, there are ways to navigate. I set intentions both for the festival weekend and for the week following. I fill my schedule with things that nourish my body and my spirit. I give myself a couple of days to shamelessly rest, doing only what’s required at work and letting myself catch up on movies and sleep when possible. Then afterwards I dive back into a routine that feels so grounding and exciting to me that the post festival comedown doesn’t feel quite so harsh. I get a few yoga or Pilates classes on the schedule, make plans with friends, cook myself an extra special dinner, and take time to reflect on the weekend behind me by journaling and looking back through pictures. Instead of thinking ‘I can’t believe it’s over’, I always try to challenge myself to think ‘I can’t believe I got to live that’. It’s a small shift but a powerful one. All this to say – if you feel alone in those post fest blues; you’re far from alone. Without the magic, there would be no memories. And without the memories, we would forget the magic. The sadness we feel leaving a festival only exists because we experienced so much joy and bliss inside the fest grounds. How lucky are we to experience something that we walk away from knowing we’ll miss? And how lucky are we that we’ll get to do it again and again?

#10.) Don’t forget to take it all in

I feel like oftentimes I spend months and months preparing for a festival – making kandi, ordering trinkets, braiding tie-in hair, curating my outfits, choosing sets that I want to go to (we all know how that goes lol). I spend so much time preparing and getting excited for a festival that when I arrive, I can’t help but fixate a little. Is the outfit, right? Did I train enough to be able to last all day on my feet? What if we miss that one set I’m dying to see? It’s so much easier to get caught in your head but believe me when I say this – the joy of festivals exists in the present moment. Instead of letting your head swirl with, ‘well what are we doing next’, I challenge you to try and just exist for a moment. Nothing major. Just stop and take a few deep breaths and look around so you can take in the magic that is literally RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. My boyfriend, Jackson, is incredible at reminding me to do this. He’ll grab my hands on the dance floor and close his eyes and when I ask what he’s doing, the answer remains the same. ‘I*’m soaking it in. I’m in my favorite place with my favorite person and I’m just letting that sink in,’* was always his response. Overtime it rubbed off on me and now I catch myself checking in at least once a set. Where are my thoughts? Are they racing about the next day or what my plans are once I get home, or am I truly and deeply present within the experience? I believe this is the most important tip on my list because the reason we do this (drive across the country, use up that PTO, spend hours making sure we have the right camping equipment) is because we love that feeling of being at a festival. That feeling when you’re caught off guard by an insane drop. That feeling when fireworks shoot off or lasers fly overhead. Those feelings when you’re pulled in by your friends for a group hug where suddenly everything is okay in the world. Don’t forget to just stop and be here. Every festival eventually ends and becomes a memory, so why not give it your all to make the memory as beautiful and vivid as possible?

So those are a few of my tips and things that I’ve learned in my first few years as a raver. They’re not law, and they are not one-size-fits-all. What works for me may be a completely misfire for you or maybe it’ll deeply resonate, and you’ll take one of these tips with you forever. Either way, I love getting to share what I’ve learned and my firsthand experience because I can’t tell you how many hours I spent on Reddit/Instagram/Google before my first few shows, asking every question under the sun and wondering if I was the only one who felt completely clueless about this new world.

Raving has changed my life for the better and continues to do so with every single show/festival. I never walk away from an experience in the EDM scene without feeling like I learned something about myself, the community, or life itself. I never feel the same as I did when I walked through the festival gates, and I’m thankful for every part of the journey – the smooth, the messy, the magic, the chaos, and every single thing in between.

If you’re a new raver and reading this, I just want to say – welcome to the community. And buckle up. This community and these people were the catalyst to so much healing and self-discovery in my own life, and I hope the exact same for you. Or if nothing else – I hope you’ll dance under lasers and remember that magic does still exist as an adult. It just takes an open-heart, open-mind, and of course – a camping pass.