Summer Festival Survival Guide

Whether you're a festival virgin or a seasoned vet summer music festivals can be intimidating. 

We've all been there; the person who forgot one thing, and now we're paying for it.  Or maybe that's just me.  Like, Warped Tour '08--I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs, and they looked like lobsters by the end of the day.  I'm box ginger, but I burn like a natural one.

So, I give you my essential items for surviving the summer festival season:

1. Sunscreen-

I can not express how important sunscreen is!  If you don't wear it, you'll look like a lobster at the end of the day.  You'll be in a world of hurt if the festival takes place over a couple of days, like Rock on the Range.  Repeated applications is crucial, especially if you're getting sweaty and gross.  Most places won't let you bring in the spray kind, so a lotion would be a safe bet.  I highly reccomend Bullfrog.

2. $$$-

Money.  Specifically CASH. You'll need it for parking, food, and of course, merch.  If you're like me and want a shirt from every band you like, make sure to bring extra cash for food.  Food is crucial.

3. Drawstring Backpack-

A drawstring backpack, in my little opinion, is perfect for music festivals, especially Warped Tour.  With all of the free stuff you get, you'll need something to lug it all around in.  It holds shirts, and everything else you can get at a festival.

4. Extra Water Bottle Caps-

If you're anything like me, you dn't always chug your bottle of water in one go.  I bring a couple of extra bottlecaps, and I can carry my drink around until I'm done.

5. Aloe Vera Gel-

Aloe Vera gel will be your BFF if you either ignored #1 on this list or you're like me and burn really easily.  It's chilly on impact, but you learn to love it.

6. Sunglasses-

You've seen him; the kid who is forced to squint because he's "too cool" to bring shades to the festival, or the girl who doesn't want the unsightly tan line.  Which, if you read #1, won't happen (or nearly as bad as if you hadn't).  Be like M. Shadows, wear sunglasses all the time, even inside.

7. Gatorade/Powerade-

My friend Ali's mom did this for us after the Sleeping with Giants Tour show at Bogart's in 2007.  After a day of being out in the sun, sweating and singing, you'll need all the electrolytes you can get.  Even after an indoor show, you'll thank me if you have a bottle waiting in your car.

8. Sharpie & Notepad-

You'll need a sharpie and a notepad to write down set times, and possible autographs.  I've seen people write down set times at the beginning of the day, and when I see them later in the day, the set times are just black smudges on their arms.

9. Chapstick-

It may seem ridiculous, but lips can get chapped and sunburnt too.  Softlips even smells good.  The tube is perfect for your pocket, too.  There's sunscreen in that chapstick, so you don't have to worry about buying the sunscreen stick for you lips that just smells bad.  Gross!

10. Camera-

I don't recommend taking this camera, but this is the camera I have, and I already had a picture of it on my computer.  A smaller camera would be best, so you don't get squished by people in the crowd and crowd surfers.  Cameras are good for making memories, and capturing them as well.

That's my survival guide to the summer music festival scene.  If you follow these, you should survive just fine.  Have fun, but seriously, stay safe.

- ToriStory