The taste of the word “rave” makes me cringe. So for my sake, I’ll refer to them as festivals or shows. The kind of connotation that comes along with the word “rave” is an awful one which is why I don’t like to use it to describe something that I’ve found so much happiness in.

A lot of people probably have this pre-conceived idea about EDM (electronic dance music) shows, and it’s probably somewhere along the lines that they’re Satanic drug-infested slut-fests. But what’s funny is that the people who think this are the ones who have never actually been to one…

I started going to festivals and shows about two years ago and there’s something special about it that keeps me coming back. It’s the people, the music, the environment; it all elicits a vibe that you honest to God can’t find anywhere else. The whole ideology that comes along with “rave culture” is one of acceptance, respect, and love for others, and when you go to a festival this is exactly what you get. EDM shows can be safe havens for those who may not feel very accepted in real life.

They’re judgment-free zones where anyone and everyone can feel comfortable, no matter their sexuality, race or gender, and I personally think that’s extremely important to have. The people you’ll meet at a festival will be some of the most genuine souls you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting in your life. If they see that you need help, they won’t hesitate to stop and offer their hand. Or if you’re dying of thirst, for example, most will offer you some of their own water without a second thought. They’re just really genuine, kindhearted people who legitimately care for people they’ve never even met. That’s pretty rare.

Prime example in a picture below which depicts some people in the crowd at a show lifting up a disabled man in a wheelchair so that he can see. it’s all love here.

One of the best parts about going to festivals is that you can dance like an idiot and it’s all perfectly acceptable, it’s actually encouraged. Surprisingly, there’s something extremely therapeutic and blissful about mindlessly dancing as hard as you possibly can with no regard for what people around you might think. When you live in a world that can’t stop judging, it’s like a breath of fresh air. There’s nothing better than feeling so carefree.

You’ll also inevitably make lots of friends through festivals. Especially if you’re a regular festival-goer, you’ll start seeing some of the same faces at every show and you’ll end up befriending lots of them. A lot of this is set up through Twitter, where there are Twitter accounts specialized for people who like to go to shows, and most of the time people will meet each other through those and then plan to meet up and hang out at the festival. So it’s pretty cool, you get to make friends from everywhere.

So no, we're not drug addicts because we like to go to festivals. We’re students, employees, and active members of society who love music and seek something to relieve us of some of the stress that life burdens us with every now and then. If you ever get the chance to attend an EDM show or festival, give it a chance so that you can see for yourself. It’s a lot easier to experience it than it is to put it into words.

Catch me at EDC Las Vegas this summer!