What I Wish I Knew Before My First Rave
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Time to read 3 min
Going to your first rave? THAT'S AMAZING!
Before you go, here's a few things I wish I knew that would have made my experience so much better.
1. Have a plan
- Review set times
- Plan meetup spots
- On-site help
Pop quiz: The sun is setting and stages are packing tighter. You want to see a different artist than your friends. Do you:
A) Run off without telling them where you're going because YOLO
B) Let them know who you're seeing, but don't put a plan in place to meet them later, or
C) Set a designated meetup time and location to reunite?
Correct answer: C.
It seems obvious, right? But like, when the drinks are flowing, crowds are dense, your phone is probably on 3%, and there's no signal, this is more important than you think. There's nothing worse than ending the night having no idea where your friends are.
As a fellow sidequest gremlin, I love disappearing for a while. But without a plan in place, this can seriously stress out your friends.
When in doubt, know that Ground Control is around to help you find your friends, the med tent, or the chill zone.
I was sidequesting in this pic and literally ran from my friends without telling them. Me is happy. Friends not happy. Don’t be like me. Tell friends.
2. EXPRESS YOURSELF
- Wear what feels like you
- Your opinion matters most
- Accessorize like hell if that's your vibe
Story: It's the week of the rave. That outfit I pictured in my head and meticulously planned based on hours of scrolling Pinterest just didn't come together the way I wanted it to. I've already spent more than I can afford, but now I'm overnighting extra options and accessories. When I checked into the hotel (yep, hotel girly here) with my bag absolutely stuffed, and almost no time to get ready, I quickly threw something together and headed to meet my friends.
Long story short, NOBODY CARED WHAT I WAS WEARING. In fact, I got so many compliments, and could not believe the variety of outfits I saw.
The rave scene is a safe space, honoring the freedom and self-expression of every single person.
You are beautiful as you are.
If you're still in doubt, add more accessories. Works like a charm.
My super cute friend expressing herself (as she should). What a queen.
"We are all dingus"
3. Day 2 Self-Care
- EAT
- Rehydrate
- Chill out (rest)
We all know the feeling. You wake up to light peeking through the hotel curtains, lift your head from the pillow, only to be met with a pounding headache and that nauseous/anxious feeling in your chest. But like, there's a whole 2 days to go. How on earth are you going to make it until Sunday?
Girl I'll tell you how you're going to make it to Sunday.
You're gonna freakin' eat. One non-negotiable for me is a hotel that has free breakfast. Get dressed and go grab a plate. Stuff it with carbs, protein, and healthy fats. If you're skilled enough to balance a coffee on there without spilling, do that too.
Sip water throughout the day (with electrolytes if you have them) and chill out in the room until it's time to get ready again. Maybe take a nap if it'll make you feel more rested rather than groggy.
If you're drinking/partaking all three nights, pace yourself and give your body the care it needs.
Unrealistically good-looking hotel breakfast
4. Learn and Spread PLURR
You've probably heard this term thrown around, and if you haven't, CLASS IS IN SESSION.
Practice PLURR or don't go to the rave.
- Peace- Raving creates a safe space where everyone can let go of life's bs. Be kind to people.
- Love- We love everybody just as they are. We treat strangers like friends, and we lead with love.
- Unity- Music unifies us, no matter where we come from. Raving creates a space for 1000s of people to move together, judgment-free.
- Respect- Keeping things respectful means honoring ravers' personal space and bodily autonomy, saying "excuse me," and being polite, especially when moving through the crowd.
- Responsibility- Take care of yourself, your friends, the community, and the venue. Practice harm reduction, know your limits, keep you and your friends safe, and clean up after yourselves.
Take Care Jersey
Lost Lands Livestream moment heyooooo
You made it this far?!
YAY!!
I hope you gained some helpful tips to keep you safe and stress-free.
Welcome to the community!
Now go have an amazing time. Be safe, spread PLURR, and be feral. You got this!