Welcome my friends to the summer festival season! Once again we pay homage to the sweat coated dirt caked stink bowl full of drunks and weed all in the name of fun.
There is nothing worse than blazing sun and minimal water, coupled with skin to stinking skin contact with strangers. Its my own brand of hell and something I cringe at the thought of it all. The music though.. there is something amazing about seeing live music in such a state of discomfort. Every sense is on overdrive and every emotion amped up- you’re going to love it or hate it and with complete conviction.
At present it is mid June and we have one dead so far. Nice going Electric Daisy! See at fests kids die. They die for lots of reasons- undiscovered medical issues, dehydration, drugs, mosh mishaps- yup… dead, croaked kicked the bucket for a band with a shelf life of a honey bun. Aside from the medical issues (which is damn rare) the fault for these deaths rest solely on the corpse. Am I cold and callous? Why, yes, yes I am.
No one likes an idiot but if you cant control your drug intake or remember to drink water you simply are a jack ass and your great reward is making your parents cry. Then again they raised the idiot so I suppose what comes around goes around, dig?
So here is some tips for you morons who head out there in dimestore flip flops and cut offs with no water no sunscreen and a pocket full of blaze it.. get a fucking clue and play like the big boys.
You (and your parents) are welcome. (and I stole this from about.com)
1. Backpack
Everything else you will need for the day can fit in here; this simple piece of luggage will be your home base. You’ll also want it to store all the stickers and flyers you’ll collect throughout the day, as well as anything else you might end up buying.
Don’t carry anything you don’t need, as you’ll get sick of lugging it around. Also, keep in mind that your bag will be searched, so don’t put anything in here that could prevent you from getting in.
When in doubt, leave it out.
2. Bottled Water
At every Warped Tour date, more than a few people end their day in the medical tent due to heat exhaustion – you’re in the sun all day, and it’s best to be prepared. Bring your own water; inside the gates, a bottle of water will cost you a few bucks, and the lines can be quite long.
Most venues will allow you to bring in at least one bottle of water, as long as it’s sealed when you arrive. Be aware, they may take the cap away at the gates; a full bottle can be used as a projectile.
3. Sunblock
I’ll say it repeatedly — you’ll be in the sun all day! Hats are a good idea to help block the sun, but not as good an idea as bringing a tube of sunblock. Use it early and use it often. You may bring home a bunch of souvenirs, but it’s best if blisters on your ears aren’t one of them.
4. A Camera
The Warped Tour presents a unique setting in that the “backstage” is minimal, so many of the performers hang out at their merchandise tables or simply wander around. This provides an extraordinary opportunity to meet some of your favorite artists.
5. A Pen or a Marker
For the same reason you’ll want a camera, a pen or a marker will make it easier to get a quick autograph if you run into a musician. No matter how cool you think your favorite musicians are, they’ve got places to be and they’re not going to stick around while you try to get a pen from someone so you can get an autograph.
6. A Notepad
When you get to the venue, the first place to go to is the big board that lists each band’s time and stage. There will be several stages playing simultaneously, and it’s nearly impossible to keep track of who is playing where and when.
7. Rain Gear
The Warped Tour happens rain or shine, and depending on where you’ll be seeing it, both can often happen in one day (you know who/where you are). If you get rained on early in the day, you don’t want to spend the next few hours wet and miserable.
No venues allow umbrellas, but they do allow disposable plastic ponchos. The ponchos can also be used as a place to sit when you’re taking a lunch break.
8. Snacks
The place will be swarming with food vendors, and they’re a great place to get a bite, but that’s a bit expensive. Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’re not going to want to rely on the guy at the pizza stand to feed you all day. A couple of granola bars, some candy bars or an apple can go a long way towards helping you and your money make it through the day.
