Some of my friends say that I go to too many concerts, but I don’t think that I go to enough. So, what do I decide to do? That’s right, go to an all-day concert, just to say that I’ve been to one more. I made my trek out to Las Vegas, NV, on September 21st to see the iHeartRadio Music Festival, and if you know anything about Nevada, it’s that it’s a desert. Luckily, though, the temperature was in the high 80s (unlike the week before when it was in the low 100s). But, I still needed to be prepared and if you want to join me on my next festival adventure, you need to be too. Here are some tips to make it through the day:
1. Bring a small bag to put all your things in
Image: Veronica Casarez
Personally, I use a shoulder bag from Official. It’s the perfect size for all the essentials. If you are planning on buying merchandise or don’t want to carry your water bottle, a drawstring backpack or camelbak might be a better option. The one thing you have to keep in mind is that a lot of concert venues won’t let you bring in full-size backpacks, so try to stay away from your typical school backpack.
2. Here are some things you should definitely pack in that bag
- A travel-sized sunscreen: The last thing you want to deal with at the end of the awesome day you just had is a sunburn.
- A small wallet: Only take the essential cards and cash. And of course, carry your official ID with you.
- A battery pack and a cable: This one is pretty self-explanatory, and definitely essential if your phone dies quickly.
- A period product: Or more than one. You never know.
3. Bring a reusable water bottle and actually drink from it
A lot of venues won’t let you bring in a plastic water bottle and if they do let you take one in, they’ll often take the cap from you. So just be safe and take a reusable water bottle with you, or if you have that Camelbak, you’re set. Another rule at a lot of venues is that you can’t have anything in the water bottle, but don’t worry there are filling stations inside the venue… but the line will always be long. If you’re in a safe area, you can fill your bottle in the bathroom sink. If you think throughout the day that you’re drinking enough water, drink more. Since you’re having fun, you might not feel how dehydrated you are.
4. Eat food (even though it’s expensive)
Festival food will always be expensive. Be prepared to spend a lot of money and wait in a really long line. Even if you feel like you’re not hungry, you should definitely eat at least once halfway through the day. You don’t want to pass out from a combination of heat and hunger (trust me, I’m speaking from experience). If you really don’t want to spend money on food, look into the venue’s rules on food; you might be able to bring some substances in.
5. Wear comfortable shoes
I normally wear skate shoes because they are practical and still (kinda) stylish. If you can go all day in heels, go for it, but that’s not my truth.
6. Check the weather beforehand
A lot of festivals are rain or shine. So, you should definitely check the weather beforehand so you can dress appropriately. You don’t want to overheat or have your favorite outfit rained on.
Other than that, don’t forget to have a good time and happy concert-going!