As summer is quickly approaching and outdoor gigs are becoming a regular occurrence again, here is a list of important tips and tricks for acing your concert and festival season. 

For most teenagers, the main item of concern is what they are going to wear the day of the event. Some prioritize their make-up, while others prioritize their clothes. However, I think that people should be focusing specifically on the shoes that they are going to wear. During a festival you must stand on your feet for multiple hours of the day while also jumping up and down to the music and you want to be comfortable and not let painful feet ruin your experience. Some shoes that I recommend are ‘New Balances’ as they can be comfy and stylish. Their prices can be around £100 per pair.

Another tip for what to have on you during the event is a small bag, specifically a belt bag. Sometimes concerts have strict rules about the size of bags that you can take into the event and a belt bag is usually the perfect size. It fits all your essentials such as your phone, some money, and even some small snacks for the day. “I bought myself a belt bag for a concert I went to the other week, and it was the best. I got to bring all the things I needed while also having fun by not having to wear a massive backpack,” said Isle of Wight teenager.

However, when bringing in snacks and drinks to your events, keep in mind that some places don’t allow unsealed water bottles and they sometimes make you buy food and drinks inside the venue. Additionally, if the venue is carpeted, they won’t allow you to bring in any chewing gum and will throw it away when searching your bags.  

The most important thing about going to these events is always having your ticket on you and being ready for it to be scanned. You don’t want to get to the front of the queue and have your ticket not load because of bad reception at the area of the venue. This is why you should download the ticket onto your phone or take a screenshot of it if allowed. You can even add it into your phone wallet on some ticket apps and websites. 

When thinking about preparation, you also want to think about your own safety. If you are going to an outdoor festival, you want to make sure to find or bring water with you, as well as putting on sunscreen and wearing a hat before the UV index gets too high. I know sometimes a hat can ruin your outfit, but you don’t want to be passing out because of sun stroke while trying to listen to your favourite artist and then missing half of their performance that you’ve come all the way to see.

While sun protection is important, the health of your hearing is also a necessity, and that is why I sometimes recommend buying and wearing earplugs for concerts or festivals. The noise can be way too loud for your ears and can cause temporary or even permanent hearing loss. I recommend ‘Loop Earplugs’ as they are very small and can blend into the rest of your outfit while still protecting your ears. They usually cost around £30.

Lastly, the one tip that I hope you really take away from this article is to find a way of keeping track of your friends. You do not want to take your eyes off them and suddenly lose them in the crowd and not know how to find your way back to them. In a festival location, the cellular service can be so bad that you won’t be able to contact them using your phone, so don’t rely on texting to keep track of everyone. I recommend agreeing on a specific spot before the event starts so everyone has this location to go to if anyone gets lost. That way everyone can always find each other again without wandering around the whole venue getting even more confused.

Another way of keeping track could be walkie-talkies. They work when talking to people lost in the woods so why not in a massive crowd of people when looking for your friends. 

“The most important thing is to stay safe, but also have fun! When you’re in there, stick together and leave together. Keep your wits about you and don’t put yourself in any dangerous situations. Make sure to put on sunblock and keep your drinks covered,” said a teen that goes to the Isle of Wight Festival almost every year. 

I hope these tips make your experience all that much better and that you have the best time when going out to concerts and festivals this summer with your friends and your family.