1. Know how to camp.

While some music festivals take place in a single day, others occur over the span of two or three days meaning you will either stay at or commute to the venue. The possibilities can range from staying at a hotel, camping in a tent, commuting each day or staying in an RV which is what I did for EDC. It is important to be aware of all your camping options especially if you are on a budget. Staying in the RV for EDC was great and cost friendly because we all helped pay for gas and the parking spot and overall we saved hundreds of dollars each. We were also able to have AC and store our groceries which saved us a ton of money since festival food is very expensive.

In addition, I was also able to drive from Monterey, California to Las Vegas which was a fun road trip to do with friends. Since I am from New Jersey, I have not seen much of California yet so this was a plus for me!

Depending on your financial situation, there are always numerous camping options. No matter what you end up doing always make the most of it! I believe you always get the best experience camping at the venue's provided sites even though it will cost more. I prefer camping at the festival because you are able to get the full concert experience and meet more people. Other alternatives could be staying in a nearby hotel or Airbnb, but make sure to look into these options early in advance as prices will be higher!

2. Do not procrastinate! 

Even though I had a blast at my first festival, there are some things I wish I had been more prepared for so I could've gotten the most out of my experience. Knowing the set times and the stages was hard for me and caused me to miss a lot of the sets that I had been looking forward to. One thing a friend of mine did was write out the set times and stages on a piece of paper before we left for the concert. This also helps due to the fact cell reception is not the best and your phone will most likely die.

Also, plan what you would like to wear in advance. Though I know this is always hard, it will pay off! What is fun about festivals is that most of the time you can wear whatever you want, so get creative!

3. Be sure to mingle!

Always be open to meeting new people at festivals because they can change your festival experience! It always a plus to meet and add more people to your group, and who knows maybe you can find a festival buddy this way!

4. Go with people you will have fun with.

Although this is a given, make sure to go with people you like because you will spend most of your time with them! Going off on your own at the festival is fun sometimes, but nothing beats dancing around with your friends. Team up with a friend who has a similar music taste and you know you get along with. The buddy system is always beneficial at a festival.

5. Take pictures because they'll last longer.

If you didn't post a picture on your Instagram, did you really go to a rave? My roommates suggest always taking your selfies at either sunrise or sunset to capture the best lighting! Although pictures are important, don't spend too much time on your phone as you can easily look up recordings of your favorite sets. Make memories with your friends instead.

6. Make sure you pack the essentials.

When you camp at a festival there will be showers and bathrooms available for use. You should always bring shower shoes, a shower caddy with soaps, one or two towels, makeup/baby wipes, and hand sanitizer. Plan ahead! Things you should bring to the actual festival are chapstick, gum and your ticket/ID! A hydration backpack will come in handy which is something I forget about at my first festival. Getting dehydrated at a festival is really easy and it happened to me on the first day which is why buying a hydration pack is worth the money. A good brand that is durable yet fashionable is by Vibedration.

I thought having a backpack would be annoying but after being dehydrated, cracking my phone, having my phone die and not being able to carry the free things I got, I highly recommend a backpack or fanny pack. You can also put a portable charger and sunscreen in the bag that you have.

We also bought a mannequin and by the end of the festival, she was dressed head to toe!

7. Use the Buddy System! 

Having a specific meeting spot is very important especially when you are going with a big group. Always set a specific time and location for you and friends to meet at that is impossible to mess up. My friend and I decided to meet up at the sausage stand, and after we kept going there multiple times he decided to give us some free food!

Another thing people do is make totem poles to hold up that they decorate sometimes with memes or positive quotes. If you want to meet up with a friend at a set you could always tell them to look out for your totem pole.