With only a few short
months left before Warped Tour begins it’s time to start getting prepared for
what you’ll need to make it through your Warped date. Warped Tour can be a lot
of fun but there are a few things you can do to make it even better and ensure
that you’re making the most out of your festival experience. So, here’s a quick
guide to Warped to help you along your way.
Make sure you have
your ticket with you or on your phone. This should be a given but things
happen, things get left behind or deleted and the last thing you want is to
arrive at your Warped date and discover your ticket is gone.
Get familiar with the
lineup and the stages. Warped Tour can be very hectic and a little overwhelming.
There’s a lot happening at once and there’s a ton of different stages all
across the venue where you can enjoy all of the rad music there throughout the
day. Plan and figure out what bands are your priority and what stages they’ll
be at. Set times are released at the start of each show so you’ll have no idea
what time the band’s go on until the morning of your Warped date. Keep an eye
on social media and have a schedule with you so you won’t miss out on any of
your must-see bands at Warped and hopefully none of your faves will be
performing at the same time. You can keep up with a paper copy or install the free
Vans Warped Tour app on your phone and keep a mobile schedule, complete with
notifications for when your faves go on.
Bring a small
backpack to keep with your belongings. You’re going to want a bag with you to
help keep up with your things as well as help you keep up with the merch you’re
going to buy at the festival. On top of all the band merch and official Vans
gear that’s available at the show, there will be a ton of amazing non-profits
and brands that will be at each date and all of them will have their own booths
full of merchandise and other cool handouts that you’ll want to keep up with. Even if you don't have your own, most booths will be giving away tons of cool gear, including backpacks.
Make sure your phone
is fully charged. We know all too well how the battery life on our phones can
let us down when we need them the most. You’re going to want to take pictures
and document your time at Warped so make sure your phone is fully charged.
Portable chargers are also a huge help and you can throw one in your bag to use
to give your phone some extra life during the show. I also believe there were charging stations throughout the venue, so be on the lookout.
Bring cash.
Obviously, you’re going to want to bring some cash along with you. You know
you’re going to want to pick up some merch or buy food or drinks while you’re
at the show so bringing along some cash is a must! One thing to consider is
that some booths might not have a card reader or they may have one and it’s
suddenly not working so always have some actual cash with you just in case that
happens.
Wear sunscreen. I
cannot stress this enough, you’re going to need sunscreen. I don’t care how
impervious you think you are to burning, that hot summer sun is not going to
care and you will end up looking like the most pop punk lobster that ever
existed. Put some on before you get the show and bring it with you so that you
can reapply it as needed at the festival. And trust me; you’re going to need
it.
Wear practical clothes
and shoes. It’s going to be incredibly hot and the last thing you’re going to
want is to wear something that’s going to make you miserable. Those black skinny jeans and leather jacket
may look amazing but it’s definitely not Warped Tour material. You’re going to
want to wear something light and comfy so you can enjoy the show without
feeling like you’re about to die of a heat stroke in the middle of your
favorite band’s set. The stages are scattered across the venue and you’re going
to be doing a lot of walking so wearing comfortable shoes are a must. Whatever
shoes you feel will be the best for walking and standing around for hours are
the ones you’ll want to go with. If you plan to accessorize, be smart about it.
Bring some cheap sunglasses so that if something happens to them or they end
up breaking, you won’t be too crushed about it.
Bring water and
snacks. Staying hydrated and refueling is super important so make sure to bring
some water and some light snacks with you. You don’t want to end up getting
sick or passing out so it’s important to have something with you to prevent
that. Plus, if you’re not trying to pay ridiculous concession stand prices for
a simple meal or drink you’re going to want to bring your own stuff. You can
bring bottled water or if you have a refillable water bottle you can fill it up
for free at the Cool Gear booth.
Locate the shade
tents and other ways to beat the heat. Like I’ve mentioned before, it’s going
to be hot and if the heat starts to get to you there are plenty of ways to cool
off. There will be multiple shade tents around the venue where you can take a
break in the shade and get out of the sun. There’s also a slip and slide if you’re
looking to really cool off. You could also get a tiny portable fan to throw in
your bag.
If you’re going to
wear makeup: sweat-proof is the key. For those that wish to wear makeup to
Warped, it’s all about making sure your face doesn’t melt off while you’re jamming
in the pit. Try to go as light as possible with your products so that you won’t
have to worry about heavy makeup sitting on your face all day. You want to be
comfortable and you don’t want to have to worry about your makeup getting in
the way. Try to use waterproof and smudge-proof products so that you won't have to worry about your winged liner flying away halfway through the day or your mascara running down your face.
Alright guys, that’s
it for this survival guide. Let me know what sort of things you have in your
survival guide or any tips you want to add.
Till next time.
