Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-timer, Selin Kaya is here to help you keep up-to-date with some essential festival tips to ensure you have a rocking summer full of festival fun.
As the summer is slowly coming to an end, so too is Australia’s renowned festival season. However, Melbourne is still jam packed with festival goodness to help you survive through the first semester of 2019. In order to help you stay afloat amongst the sea of red cups and dehydrated 20-somethings, I’ve gathered a few tips here and there over the years which should hopefully keep you feeling cool and collected whilst mid-groove.
Tip #1: Stay Hydrated
If you’ve been to a festival in Australia during summer, or even if you’ve lived in Australia during summer, you’d know that things can go from bad to worse very quickly. One minute you’re watching DMA’s with the sun blaring on your back, the next you’re at home and mum has an entire week’s worth of Powerade waiting for you on the kitchen bench. Definitely keep a sufficient amount of water with you throughout the festival, especially if you’re going for more than a day or two.
Tip #2: Portable Charger
This next tip isn’t extremely vital, but if you’re planning on taking a few Snapchats or pictures for Instagram, it might be worth investing in a portable charger. If you’re a first time festival goer it might put your mind at ease to know that even if you get lost, or all of your friends disappear deep into the depths of the mosh pit, you’ve got your phone to give them a quick buzz at the end of the set. However, if you’re not too worried about dancing by yourself for a while until your friends stumble out then feel free to totally disregard this tip!
Tip #3: Be Respectful
Everyone that has been to a festival knows that it’s the most fun when people respect other people’s space. Obviously in a mosh pit there isn’t a lot of personal space, but if you or a mate witness something that doesn’t look quite right, be sure to report it to the nearest security guard, police officer, or festival hotline. For example, at Laneway Festival in Melbourne, they established a hotline number, 1800 LANEWAY, which allowed festival goers who had witnessed or experienced disrespectful behaviour to seek help from an operator who was on festival grounds.
Tip #4: Start the day with a good breakfast
If you’re gearing up for a weekend away at Falls Festival, or a one day rave at Listen Out, my best advice would be to have the most wholesome breakfast you can imagine. Maybe it’s six weet-bix with some yoghurt and berries, or maybe it’s eggs your-way with the lot. A big breakfast will keep you going whilst you burn all of your energy walking from stage to stage to stage to stage. Also, you might save some cash throughout the day.
Tip #5: Don’t Worry!
Lastly, remember to enjoy yourself. Before you know it summer is over, winter rolls in and it’s full to the brim with study. If you lose a friend at the festival there’s no reason why you can’t gain another one! Have a dance next to the people you’re with and talk to others in the mosh. The best festival memories I’ve had are ones where I’ve put my phone down, hung out with friends, and boogied the night away to as many bands as possible. Stay up a little longer if you can, and enjoy the sun bleached festival moments that we are so blessed to have here in Australia.
Upcoming music festivals in Melbourne to look out for:
16 March – SummerSalt with Xavier Rudd, Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project
06 April – Wine Machine, Yarra Valley
20 April – The Drop 2019, Torquay
