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Summer Festival Season - HR Tips

Sykik

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Jul 25, 2008
Messages
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Location
Brisbane
Hey Guys,

Seeing as the summer festival season is about to be coming into full swing. I thought I'd start a thread where we can discuss some HR tips, and general advice for the new and old punters alike.

For me. Take a bag, a small one, it can hold your phone/wallet/money/water/sunscreen and you can still dance like a holligan.

Also, if you haven't seen it. :)

Jaydos - Festival Hints

I stand by most of what he says, besides the statement double the fuck drop, only if you've tested/tried them before.

Share your wisdom people.
 
For me. Take a bag, a small one, it can hold your phone/wallet/money/water/sunscreen and you can still dance like a holligan.

Great idea for a thread.

The clean ounce bag idea is a great one that has saved my arse many a time.

*A meet up spot at the end, away from everyone else's meetup spot, is essential.
*Don't kiss the flag
 
Keep your clothes on, even if it feels natural to take them off. No one likes a shirtless bogan

this stems from two incidents I've found myself in. One directly related, bdo at the start of the year, my best mate took his shirt off and seemed to end up being the target for unguided missiles. People just don't like it.

Second, I had given my gf LSD for the first time (although this seems to be an ongoing issue) and it made her just a bit too loose. She felt and believed ot was the right idea to be one with nature and take her clothes off. Before I could even realize she was walking around in her knickers.

I guess my point is no matter what you're on or what festival your at, think about your actions before you do it. Really think about it. Try and compare it to your normal behaviour otherwise it may lead you into some shitty situations.
 
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^^ Please keep this thread away from festival hate, and the standard comments like the one above me.

If you want to talk like that, start a thread in AusSocial.
 
Also keep in mind that if you do sneak in and get caught, in Qld at least, you will receive an on the spot fine of several hundred dollars for trespassing.

One story worth telling involved a guy who had a ticket but was kicked out as soon as he walked in the gate for being drunk. When outside he thought he'd scale the wall, and once over, lay down and crashed out. Police had watched the whole thing, and brought him into the Chill tent. I got involved when I saw them return and go through his pockets while he was still asleep. In response to my concern, one of the boys in blue explained that they were just looking for his wallet so as to give him the trespassing notification. They neatly folded the ticket, placed it in his wallet and returned that to his pocket. The chap eventually woke up, but left before anyone could tell him what had happened.

Nothing like a fine you can't remember receiving :\

So just be aware that most large event venues in Qld are classed as licensed premises, and as such, those caught entering illegally or without a ticket will be heavily fined.

My other tips for the festival season:

  • Prepare yourself by eating and sleeping well in the days preceding the event.
  • Take some sunscreen, and water to drink while waiting in line to get in.
  • Don't forget a hat, sunnies, something to wear if it suddenly turns cold. Oh, and sensible shoes.
  • Try to get someone who's not going to the event to drop you off and pick you up. Walking home bedraggled after a long day's fun in the sun is not something to look forward to.
  • Don't arrive in a visibly intoxicated state or you may very well be escorted out moments after you've handed over your ticket.
  • Be well aware of the consequences of getting caught on site with illicit substances. Even if you are pulled up by police and have legal highs on you, if the cops don't recognise these as legal ( and many probably don't know what's available) you could still be put through the ordeal of being processed, having your details recorded etc.
  • Pace yourself. Spread any alcohol and or substance consumption out so as to mimimise your chances of having a bad one. Use onsite chill areas, and keep up your water intake, although be aware of safe levels if using drugs like MDMA (250-300ml/hour if inactive (sitting around) and 500-600ml/hour if active. In Qld, if you have no water and no money, there should always be somewhere on site to get free water (check the RaveSafe/Crowd Care/Chill Tent).
  • Keep your energy levels up. Eat regularly throughout the day if possible. If you can't eat due to substances consumed, then eat sweets or drink something containing sugar.
  • Try to stick with your mates throughout the event and look out for each other. Don't rely on hooking up via mobile, and prearrange meet up spots and times.
  • Know your drugs: In my experience - particularly from helping those who have had a bad time due to substance consumption - large festivals are not ideal environments for first trying a new drug, or anything you're not previously familiar with. Some people are not so good with big crowds, and for them, some drugs, particularly hallucinogenics, can end up being very hard to handle.
  • If you live at home, make sure you've got Mum or Dad's phone numbers in your phone. If something should happen whereby you need to get a lift home but are unwell, it will greatly assist those who help you.
  • Try to know the play times and stages for your fave acts before you arrive. Programs are usually available, but sometimes they can be hard to find. Check the chill area or information stand. ime, knowing ahead of time allows better planning on the day. Also try to get to the stage before the artist plays to ensure a good position. However, if being squashed isn't your fancy, avoid mosh areas and the area right up the front. Always take sun protection and water with you if you are planning on standing near the stage.

If you're attending multi day festivals, check this page Surviving Large Outdoor Festivals for more tips.
 
On the theme of pacing your self, just accept that pills/mdma only last for 5 hours before redosing just leaves you sketchy but not actually higher. Plan when you want to come down, at sundown just as all the best bands come on or at the end of the night.

Thongs are rubbish at a festival. One thong is even worse.

Smiles are contagious.
 
On the theme of pacing your self, just accept that pills/mdma only last for 5 hours before redosing just leaves you sketchy but not actually higher. Plan when you want to come down, at sundown just as all the best bands come on or at the end of the night.

I'm going to second this, nothing sucks worse than crashing out halfway through a festival when most of the acts you want to see haven't played yet. Save the pills for later in the night and drop 4 - 5 hours before the party ends, that way you should crash out as you're on your way home.
 
^+1 more on saving yourself for when the party gets started.

Also with so many hot days on there way this summer - hydration kiddies - get the balance right!!
 
I stole the following from this program i was listening too but i thought it would fit in this thread.

Toilets -- familiarize yourself with all the toilet locations when you first arrive. If you can, steal some toilet paper at the start of the day so when they've run out later you're all sorted! And on that note, don't rely on the festival organizers / venue to provide soap. Take a mini bottle of hand sanitizer or a travel pack of baby wipes..
 
might be just me, but i always get my spirits mixed with dry ginger, that makes my belly feel nicer, nothing worst than at a festival and having a upset guts.
 
^Amen. The police in my experiences have always been really good in these circumstances. Any advances to interrogate you are usually faught off pretty quickly by the ambo's/volunteers - if you're conscious that is.

Can't stress enough how important meetimg spots can be. As said above, somewhere where not too many people will be. Good idea to have a meeting time before you're groups favourite act/ ending act too!
 
HR tip: don't take any psychedelics at a moderate to high dose at a festival in, unless you want to spend the rest of the event sitting in a car thinking people are out to get you.

And don't mix any legal party pills with booze.
 
Good thread sykik!

Agree with lovegrud on not over doing psychs. I learned that one the hard way and you commonly see heroes losing their shit from taking way too big a dose for the environment which they are in. I find low doses of psychs are very enjoyable at doofs and high doses detach you from the event and are a waste. Save the super mind surfing for home or camping with small groups of friends...

My main addition to this thread is something that most people don't talk about much and when it is brought up, it commonly gets laughed at. This is a serious issue that needs much more attention than what it receives...

Use protection if you are having sex with strangers at festivals.

Some of the things that my mates picked up doofing over the years are warts, chlamydia and herpes to name a few...

STD's are more prevalent than ever before and some of them are for life.

Many of us get frisky when we are high and the consequences of of this can change your life forever.

I have luckily only picked up chlamydia once back in 2005, which is very common and thankfully easily treatable. I'm glad that my wake up call was treatable because it easily may not have been!

A close friend of mine killed himself after catching an untreatable STD a couple of years back. Using protection could be the best decision you ever made.

I also can't recommend camel (liquid bladder) packs enough! My 2ltr bight valve backpack is a lifesaver. At doofs I carry 2 liters of cordial, 6+ alcohol cans, nanger plus bulbs, all the essential plant materials and chemicals, small tube of sunscreen, lip balm, lollies, money... I go down to the D floor for 6+ hours at a time, where as most people are forever missing the action when they have to return to camp for supplies (mainly fluids).

Pace yourself. I'm fucking sick of my friends bitching that they missed the best part of a festival (usually Sunday morning) because they were smoking crackies and pinging on googs on the first night. Save the crazyness for the main event and you will be forever grateful.

Party safe people :)
 
If you overindulge on something or youre not feeling well and need treatment please visit first aid, you wont be arrested although you may have to go to hospital if its really bad. I overdosed on mdma afew years ago and it was the smartest thing that I ever did, they let me go afew hours after managed to calm down. It isnt really worth risking your life.

Great thread :)

I'd just like to reiterate romie's point. If you need help then seek it! Don't play the hero if you or a mate has over done things, swallow your pride and get help! Festivals have crowd care and first aid for a reason.

Stay safe!

=D
 
might be just me, but i always get my spirits mixed with dry ginger, that makes my belly feel nicer, nothing worst than at a festival and having a upset guts.

I can't believe I didn't think of this. Fucking brilliant! Ginger is great for settling you're stomach!! Fuck I know what I am drinking from now on.

HR tip: don't take any psychedelics at a moderate to high dose at a festival in, unless you want to spend the rest of the event sitting in a car thinking people are out to get you.

And don't mix any legal party pills with booze.

HHH I believe aren't allowed to sell most pills at festivals any more (well here in SA) due to their interactions with street drugs. (Mostly dodgy pills). If you are taking one substance, stick to it. No need to throw other things in the mix.

+1 If you are taking psychedelics at any dose, or coming down off meth try and remember, not every one is looking at you and not every one is talking about you ;)

IF EVERY THING GETS TOO MUCH MOST FESTIVALS HAVE CHILL OUT ROOMS, USE THEM! They usually have quite trippy stuff in them to look at too and nearly every one else in there will be in the same mindstate, best way to get out of a bad or rough trip.
 
Some great points made.

i would recommend getting your orientation first before you ingest psychedelics at large festivals. particularly those where you are camping. I have seen many people be completely lost for hours when tripping at night straight after arriving, and not orientating where they have camped. Maybe not that big a deal if your with your mates, but if you get lost, or it gets really cold or rains, things can get shitty.

Again let me reiterate taking it easy on the psychs (or most drugs for that matter) at big festivals. Sure some people can handle it, but the sheer volume of people, bizzare behaviour, and overstimulation can push some people over the edge. Been too many a doof where you see people walking around looking distressed with no concept of reality. Lower and managable doses of psyches are alot more fun and functional at events.

carry water and something to cover yourself from the sun (if you go shirtless).

oh and try and find out if there will be sniffer dogs at the festival and take the necessary pre cautions if there are. Not so much HR, but been careful might save you a record. and please DON'T neck all your drugs if you see them.
 
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