First festie advice

[boo]

I have read a lot of post about this being their first fest. I thought this be good for those who are attending a fest for the first time. For those who have been in the past can share their advice and ideas to help better prepare those who haven’t and make it better for those who have.


I would say the items that top my list are
Shade
baby powder
baby wipes
plenty of water
sunblock that isn’t expired <--learned that the hard way at roo last year
lots of chapstick.
Glo toys
Bubbles
Batteries
Of course tent and tickets

[itrainmonkeys]

Good thinking Boo!

-I'd definitely make sure to bring Toilet Paper........sometimes when going to porta-potties at festivals you'll find that they are out of paper and you could be screwed. Extra TP is always essential.

-Water is another biggie.

-Plenty of tent stakes.......not sure about how it will be in Maine but at other festivals if the wind/rain picks up you may want to make sure your tent is nicely secured.

-Hammer (for hitting/removing stakes into the ground)

-Duct Tape - it could save your life.


I'll update this with more when I remember other essentials.

[pimpmcgeorge]

If you're a guy, be sure to pack some Gold Bond...a long, hot day of dancing and walking around can lead to juuuuuuuust a little discomfort. Conversely, you can do what I do and invest in a pair or two of Under Armour thermal undies. Those things are life-savers.

Also, hand sanitizer is good to have, especially if you wear contact lenses.

[crixtala]

Apr 15, 2010 10:29:49 GMT -5 itrainmonkeys said:

-Hammer (for hitting/removing stakes into the ground)

This is a biggie... the first fest I went to, we didn't think to bring one. Contemplated using a frying pan to hammer our steaks into the hard ass Tennessee clay before a neighbor came to our rescue.

Apr 15, 2010 10:38:33 GMT -5 pimpmcgeorge said:

If you're a guy, be sure to pack some Gold Bond...a long, hot day of dancing and walking around can lead to juuuuuuuust a little discomfort. Conversely, you can do what I do and invest in a pair or two of Under Armour thermal undies. Those things are life-savers.

I invested in some of these last year and they're awesome. Although, I didn't need them (or anything to fight chafing for that matter) at Rothbury. I'm hoping the Maine weather will be similar, but I'll definitely be prepared in case it's not. You'd be surprised how big of a damper this little bit of discomfort can actually cause you.


And to go further on boo's shade suggestion... I'd suggest an EZ-Up or other shade 'tent.' We've always used one to protect our actual sleeping tent from the morning sun, and it makes sleeping in a little easier, even in the cooler climates.


5-day coolers and dry ice have always been a big help for us as well. Keeps water frozen, and mini-candy bars ice cold for a nice afternoon surprise on a warm afternoon. ;D

[iamwelting]

I like to bring a little grill for cooking burgers and what have you, just make sure that you use it properly and it's on level ground. Last year our neighbors at Mt. Jam almost burned down the entire camp site. Also, extra tarps are always handy and easy to pack. A little folding card table can be nice as well.

[djinnandjuice]

I second the TP suggestion, avoids some problematic situations to have your own. Grill/food is a biggie, unless you want to buy every meal from vendors, in which case plan to spend mad cash. Besides, my BBQ chicken has always been a fast way to make friends with my neighbors. An iPod or cd player is useful to have for the times at your site, keep the jams rollin'. A small luggage lock for your tent is a good idea, for the less valuable stuff you don't want to lock in the car every time you leave your site. You'd be amazed at what the sketch factor will take if you leave it unsecured. Small flashlight/glowsticks/some sort of light source for night time in the portajohns is highly recommended. Good vibes and big arse smiles are a must.

[iamwelting]

Another thing that occured to me is don't neglect warm clothing. It can get chilly up here in Maine at any time of the year, especially on rainy nights, so bring at least a sweatshirt, rain coat and some pants so you can dance hypothermia free all night long. That being said, I'm praying for beautiful weather all weekend.

[itrainmonkeys]

Speaking of rain.....make sure to bring ziploc/plastic bags for your valuables in case of the bad weather.

Warm clothes are key. Even at Bonnaroo it could get chilly/windy at night sometimes. I usually bring a hooded sweatshirt with me.

[velvetc]

This thread seems to be about what too bring so far, but here's some advice I have about experiencing a first fest.

- Pace yourself during the days. You don't want to drink your ass off all afternoon long and then miss the headliner or latenight fun. Most people learn this the hard way.

- Pace yourself the first day you're there. It is really really easy to start partying your ass off once camp is finally set up because you've been looking forward to it for so long and celebrating comes so easily at that point, but overdoing it the first day could lead to discomfort (headaches, hangover, illness) for following days.

- Find time to relax. You don't need to be dancing all the time. Some people want to say they partied harder or danced harder than anyone else there, but your body will fight you as you overdo it.

- Know your way around. Now Nateva doesn't seem like it will be that big so finding your way around shouldn't be too hard, but find those little landmarks that help you get back to camp when it's three in the morning and you're exhausted and possibly out of your mind. At Rothbury '08 my cousin walked back to camp alone and it took him about four hours to find camp. He felt that for the rest of the weekend.

- This one is very obvious, but be open to people. We always set up our camp so that our canopy and chairs and everything are right out along the open lanes or paths, that way we can easily enjoy watching people walk by and we can meet lots of people. Some like to set up their camp behind their cars but I find that keeps you separate from where all the real fun is, which is the other fans you're there with.

- Water, water, and more water. Beer rules. Love it. It's the best. But nothing but beer ain't gonna help ya get through four days of using all of your energy and getting little sleep.

[atmosphere]

Well said Velvetc. Anyone who is a newbie, you may as well print what he wrote and keep it in your pocket. LoL. I can honestly say i learned the hard way: referring to the first four on the list. Go easy Friday! Well..you know what i mean. Rage at say.. 80%. Its so temping to do everything you see and to spend hundreds of dollars within the first night. Another thing is to only carry around a $100 or so with you, the rest lock up and hide well.... no not in your tent! Gas and toll money for the ride home + extra hide separately and don't tap into. A shade tent and a 5-day cooler will be your best friend. Many others.. will add as we go.

[fearlessfreak]

Thanks for the exclusive tips, guys. As a firsty, I do actually have some questions...

My posse and I are getting to Maine by bus, so we're packing light, buying food at a Maine grocery store, etc... due to our footedness we have some big limitations. My biggest worry is keeping our stuff secure, since we won't have a car to keep our valuables in. Do any of you have experience with this?

More questions as they come. thaaaaaaanks.

[Dexxy]

You should either get yourself a small lock for your tent OR carry anything with you that you feel you cant stand to lose or replace. Stuff def gets stolen at festivals and people always complain about it, unfortunate fact of life. Keep your money, camera, anything electronic, with you at all times. Since you dont have a car, it may be wise to stick anything in your tent that may tempt a young wook. You be surprised at the things I have seen taken... chairs... coolers... beer.. drinks..food.. flashlights.. speakers on and on and on. Some kid stole my 1lb bag of jerky while I was sleeping at Mt. Jam and left me some fungus on my table, usually people dont leave you gifts in return lol. Put those things in your tent and lock it when you can when no one will be around you site, especially at night.
Your best friend in helping to secure your belonging will be your neighbors. Make friends with them right off. Bringing some extra goods to share is always helpful in this. If you have good neighbors they will notice if there is some sketch rooting around in your stuff and hopefully will stop it before anything is taken. Do the same for your neighbors.

[djinnandjuice]

All excellent advice dexxy and velvetc...hard to remember all the hard earned lessons when put on the spot...also, as velvetc said, easy to fall into the thought pattern of things to bring with you and forget that kind of solid advice

[wvmountainweir]

I pretty much second everything that was already said here:
-Drink plenty of water
-Use sunscreen
-make friends with neighbors so they will watch over your stuff (and vice versa)
-Don't try and live beyond your means; If you feel tired or dehydrated and feel you need a break. For heavens sake, take a break from walking around or dancing! sit down, relax, refuel and you will be back out there in no time.
-Bring good, postive vibes! Being kind is contagious...
-

[rochon]

All great advice so far, especially about pacing yourself, drinking water, and being open and friendly to people.

Here's another one I've learned: clean up as you go along. Granola bar wrappers, empty water bottles, last night's glow sticks... all this garbage can add up at your campsite, and not only is it crappy to live in and to look at (for you AND your neighbours), but it sucks to wake up on the last morning of the festival to a trashed wasteland! Therefore, bring a few garbage and recycle bags.

Also, one of the best things I always bring to festivals now: earplugs for sleeping at night. Man, what a huge difference it makes to actually get a quiet sleep!

[hammerhead]

We like to attach glowsticks to our tent and/or EZ up lines. Other folks appreciate not tripping over the lines at night. And you'll appreciate not having to restake your tent or EZ up every morning.... or worse.... waking up to some 300lb drunk dude landing on top of you in the middle of the night. Oh yeah.... and they look cool and give you a little light around the site as well.

All in all though, I think the most important thing to bring to any fest is a positive attitude. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's the truth. Rain happens, long lines happen, dirty poopers happen, bad sound happens, etc. The one thing we actually have control over is how we react to these situations.

Be willing to roll with the punches and try to find something positive in what's going on around you no matter the circumstances. If you see someone struggling (and you will) for one reason or another, step out of yourself and give them a hand. You could be on the other end of that situation yourself the very next night and you'll appreciate someone helping you get grounded again. Being friendly and open (without being naive) goes a long way at this sort of thing. If you're good to the festival... the festival will be good to you. Be part of the solution... not the problem.

[wvmountainweir]

Apr 17, 2010 16:19:35 GMT -5 rochon said:

All great advice so far, especially about pacing yourself, drinking water, and being open and friendly to people.

Here's another one I've learned: clean up as you go along. Granola bar wrappers, empty water bottles, last night's glow sticks... all this garbage can add up at your campsite, and not only is it crappy to live in and to look at (for you AND your neighbours), but it sucks to wake up on the last morning of the festival to a trashed wasteland! Therefore, bring a few garbage and recycle bags.

Also, one of the best things I always bring to festivals now: earplugs for sleeping at night. Man, what a huge difference it makes to actually get a quiet sleep!

Good call on the earplugs. Every festival I always find myself laying in tent at 4AM trying to pass out, wishing I have earplugs to drain out the super late-night people. But this time, I will remember to bring them!!!

[liveyoursong]

Apr 17, 2010 17:15:11 GMT -5 wvmountainweir said:

Apr 17, 2010 16:19:35 GMT -5 rochon said:

All great advice so far, especially about pacing yourself, drinking water, and being open and friendly to people.

Here's another one I've learned: clean up as you go along. Granola bar wrappers, empty water bottles, last night's glow sticks... all this garbage can add up at your campsite, and not only is it crappy to live in and to look at (for you AND your neighbours), but it sucks to wake up on the last morning of the festival to a trashed wasteland! Therefore, bring a few garbage and recycle bags.

Also, one of the best things I always bring to festivals now: earplugs for sleeping at night. Man, what a huge difference it makes to actually get a quiet sleep!

Good call on the earplugs. Every festival I always find myself laying in tent at 4AM trying to pass out, wishing I have earplugs to drain out the super late-night people. But this time, I will remember to bring them!!!

Yes, earplugs are crazy good idea, and if you can stand to wear one, an eye mask to block out the early/mid morning sun. You'll be very happy you brought them.

[moehead]

If you gotta long drive to the fest, do not neglect your car! Oil change, air in spare tire, anything else you can think of. Im pretty sure that no one mentioned not to forget your tickets...

[hw1204]

wow, great advice so far. i second (rather third, fourth, fifth) drinking plenty of water and being positive and open to meeting new people. some other random things i thought of:

- i try to bring something to share with neighbors
- i like to bring something to personalize my camping space.. a tapestry, funky lights, etc
- bring a tarp for under your tent. last year at vibes it rained every night
- definitely bring some type of shade. before my first festival i didn't really understand how exhausting spending every second of the day in the sun would be
- put sun screen on the tops of your feet if you're wearing flip flops. i had a friend who came home with purple feet they got so burnt
- i haven't seen this stated anywhere on the Nateva site, but a lot of festival "won't let you" (although, often do let you...) bring in a grill unless you have a fire extinguisher
- freeze a bunch of water bottles and put them in your cooler with your food. when they melt, you've got more water! also, to save space, i'll sometimes freeze water in ziploc bags and stick a couple in between layers of food
- go see a few bands you've never heard of. i feel like that goes without saying, but my first festival i really stuck to the main stage. come to find out, i ended up really loving a bunch of bands that had been on the smaller stages and totally missed out!
- bring condoms! you never know.... there are also usually booths that will hand them out. last year i came home from a festival with condoms stuffed in every pocket i had. i was finding them in random places for weeks after...
- do a ticket check before you leave. i had a friend that forgot his one time, luckily we were only about 20 minutes away from home when he figured it out

[Dexxy]

Check you tent equipment before you leave. Set it up a couple of times so you are comfortable with it and to make sure you have everything you need and enough stakes to pin your tent down. Learn how to properly assemble your rain fly. Simply draping it over your tent will not work, any points of contact with the fly and tent will cause drips of water to fall into your tent. Properly staking your fly down with enough tension to keep it tight and off of your tent will pay off exponentially.

Also HW above mentioned to bring a tarp to stick under your tent. This is good advice ONLY if you are sure to keep the entire tarp under the tent. Any parts of the tarp sticking outside of your tent or under your rain fly will catch ALL of the water and send it directly onto the floor of your tent. I usually find as long as I set up my tent on dry flat ground, even if it rains I dont need a tarp, the ground under your tent will stay mostly dry.. tarps always complicate things for me

[boo]

i agree with dexxy on this setting up your set before you leave is important! which gives you the chance to waterproof your tent!!

[mojo4395]

What does everyone recommend to waterproof a tent? Just bought a new one, and want to make sure it holds up.

[Dexxy]

Mojo just follow the advice I left in my post above on rain flys. If your tent has a good one that covers the entire tent and you do a good job of assembling and maintaining it you shouldnt need to do anything extra. Really just making sure the fly is properly staked down and TIGHT, not touching the tent, only the tent poles, will be all that you should need to do.

[pimpmcgeorge]

Mojo, it also might not hurt to put down some layers of tarp/garbage bags on the ground and then put the tent on top of that. Groundwater seeping up through the bottom of your tent can be extremely irritating.