Over the last 30 years, the rave scene has really taken off. More and more people are giving it a go so it’s no longer a fringe activity.
With that said, it still requires some preparation. Newbies – people who’ve never been to a rave before – need to prepare themselves.
A first EDM encounter is quite an experience. You have the thud-thud of the music, the intoxicating atmosphere, and the presence of many bodies around you. The combined effect of all of this is a unique experience that you’ll never encounter again in your life. To put it bluntly, it’s awesome.
However, if you’ve never been to a rave before, you’ll want to prepare yourself, both physically and psychologically. Here’s what you need to know:
EDM experiences can last for up to 12 hours. As such, you’ll want to bring plenty of snacks with you to keep you energized. Remember, you’ll be doing a lot of dancing and moving around, so feeling hungry is perfectly natural.
The best snacks include things like chips, pretzels, and Delta 8 Gummies. In other words, anything you can eat with your fingers out of a bag. You can technically bring a packed lunch, but don’t bring anything that’s too difficult to eat. Remember, there will be a lot of people around and the conditions will be dark.
While wearing sandals or slippers to a rave might seem like a good idea, it’s best avoided. The reason? You never know what might be on the floor. Broken glass is the biggest risk.
The best footwear is solid, well-made shoes. If you can find some thick boots, that’s even better.
Wear A Mask
If you’re worried about people identifying you at a rave, wear a mask. If people can see who you are, it can take some of the fun out of the experience and make you feel on edge. You might be worried about people judging you for what you like to do on the weekend.
Don’t worry: many people at raves wear masks. It’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
Have Fun
Many people worry about EDM events because of their reputation. However, such worries are usually unfounded. Mostly, people are just there to have fun. They’re focusing on themselves and their own experiences and not really concentrating on other people. While there will always be some bad people around, that applies in every corner of life, not just on the EDM scene. In general, most people in this crowd are just there to have a good time and enjoy themselves. Spirits are high and it’s easy to make new friends.
Avoid Getting All Philosophical
While engaging in philosophy is a lot of fun during the day, it’s not something that people who go to EDM raves want to hear about at 5 am. What’s more, you’ll notice that many people just want to sleep. They’re not interested in having deep and meaningful conversations with you.
Getting all philosophical is usually a result of the experience itself. But you don’t have to entertain these impulses. Just enjoying EDM events for what they are should be good enough for most people.
Go With Friends
While experienced EDM veterans sometimes show up to events by themselves, newbies should go with friends. You want someone with you who can take the lead and reassure you.
Remember, EDM experiences are full-on. Even if you regularly go to clubs, you won’t have experienced anything like it before.
Having friends around you gives you a sense of safety, particularly if they have experience with the scene. They can show you the ropes and tell you what to do. They can also help you get out of your comfort zone in a safe and effective manner.
Learn To Become Invisible
While everyone wants to stand out in life, it’s a good idea to accept your invisibility at a rave. There will be thousands of people there, all gathered in a dark room with strobe lighting all over the place. At an EDM event, it really doesn’t matter where you are in the crowd. The front, the back, and the middle are all great places to be.
Concentrate On The Music
People get so worked up about EDM events that they forget that they are fundamentally a show. Ultimately, it’s all about the music, just like any other concert or festival.
For that reason, go with the intention of enjoying the music. Focus on what the DJ is actually doing. Allow yourself to get swept up in the experience instead of worrying about the time, whether you’ve had enough to eat, or where the bathroom is.
EDM can sometimes feel a bit like a spiritual experience when you really get into it. The music is liberating and helps to get you away from all the adult matters in your life that are holding you down, like your responsibilities, or your job.
Because EDM is such an intense experience, many people choose to close their eyes throughout the entire thing. They get lost in the music and the sounds, almost ignoring what’s going on around them.
Of course, if you’re new to raves, then you might want to keep your eyes open at first, just while you get used to it. But over time, you can experiment and really make it your own.
Smile More
Smiling at an EDM event is a great idea (just as it is at any other time in your life). Smiling helps to release tension from the mind and body and makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable.
If you feel stressed at a rave, try smiling and see what happens. You’ll notice that the nature of the experience changes immediately.
Bring Baby Wipes
Bathrooms at EDM events run out of toilet paper quickly. Therefore, you’ll want to take some baby wipes or a spare toilet roll with you.
You might also need something to wash your hands with. Alcohol or more baby wipes will suffice.
Wear Plenty Of Deodorant (And Bring Extra With You)
Things can get a little sweaty at raves. After many hours of dancing, you may notice that you’re not quite as fresh as you were when you arrived.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to bring plenty of deodorant with you. Having extra to hand is a great way to keep yourself smelling pleasant and avoid offending the other punters.
Pack Your Earplugs
While listening to music at ultra-high volumes can be a dizzying experience, you need to be careful. EDM DJs often crank up the sound to dangerously high levels which can damage your ears.
That’s why many people take earplugs with them. These lower incoming volume by around 30 decibels, making it much safer.
The good news is that you can now get high-fidelity earplugs. These don’t muffle the music. Instead, they reproduce the sounds at a lower volume, which is essentially what you want. Just be warned, though, they are more expensive than regular foam plugs.
Book Your Taxi Trip Home In Advance
Make sure that you book your taxi trip home in advance. That’s because many other event attendees will also be looking for rides home throughout the night.
Better yet, get someone you know to pick you up or nominate a friend not to drink for the duration of the event.
Grab A Raincoat
Lastly, if your EDM event is going to be outdoors, make sure you pack a lightweight raincoat to keep you dry. You don’t want to feel soggy and cold all night long.
