Should Electric Zoo Ban Camelbaks?

electric zoo music festival bans camelbaks — Electric Zoo has added Camelbaks to its’ list of prohibited items.

After two deaths shut down Electric Zoo early last year, festival organizers have analyzed all aspects of event production to ensure that everyone is safe and that no illegal, illicit substances make their way in to the festival grounds. However, the folks behind the event that returns to Randall’s Island Park at the end of August may have gone too far with their latest rule installment. Yesterday the festival announced via Facebook that Camelbaks would not be permitted inside the festival grounds.

After consulting with our medical and security experts, we determined the safest way for fans to hydrate during the concert is by using the free cups provided at our high-speed water stations positioned throughout the festival. Any drink containers purchased inside the venue can also be used at these water stations without charge. CamelBaks present a safety issue and are prohibited, as they can easily be used to store illicit materials. Our number one priority is the safety and health of all concertgoers. If you see someone who needs rehydration, alert an Electric Zoo staff member or security personnel immediately.

While this may sound good in theory, this requires attendees to step away from festival sets to seek out a meager cup of water. Anyone who has danced in the Northeast August heat can attest to the fact that one cup of water is not enough to re-hydrate after dancing body to body with thousands of fellow festival-goers, nor does it justify trekking all the way to designated water stations.

With Diplo’s recent kandi ban implemented under the premise that people should be focusing on the music, this leads us to ask:

If these events are meant for us to focus strictly on the music, how does making us leave the stage to compete for water like animals at a trough lend itself to optimizing our experience?

If safety is your primary concern as an event organizer (as it should be) there is no reason that water containers should prohibited. If your major concern is people bringing in alcohol, make us empty our Camelbaks. We would glady oblige if it meant we could have 2-3 liters of water on us at any given time.

As someone who has worked extensively in event management, attended multiple music festivals across the country, and raged with the best of them, I can tell you that banning Camelbaks is a mistake.