Have you ever been awake and dreaming at the same time?
I really didn’t know what to expect during the 3-Day Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas. It was like I was lost in a dream (and I literally was lost on Day 2).
EDC is the largest festival I’ve attended. This year there were 300,000+ in attendance, making EDC the largest North American electronic music festival and dance music event. Amazingly, I witnessed no drama as there were no egos and people getting upset because you stepped on their Pumas. There was an overall feeling of peace, love, unity and respect.
I was separated from my group early at the beginning of day 2 but everyone else around took care of me and invited me into their tribes as we danced until the sun came up. As a photographer and DJ, I was caught up in a visual candy store matched with magnetically pulsating rhythms. I was in a different world, mindfully aware of the present moment.
If you are considering to attend an upcoming EDC or a similar event, below are some of my tips and recommendations to maximize your enjoyment.
Drink Mass Quantities of H2O
The Las Vegas heat had me sweating before we even stepped off the shuttle to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the location of EDC Las Vegas. The combination of heat, everlasting dancing, lack of sleep, and other factors all play a a part in making it essential for you to stay hydrated. Fortunately, there were plenty of free water refill stations available within the venue. Purchase an Insomniac canteen or bring your own. If available, bring a camel back with powdered vitamin C or electrolytes.
Dress Light & Comfortably (and w/ Style)
In regards to dress attire, at EDC (as with other areas in life), less can be more. Also, don’t be afraid to wear something ridiculous. Ladies: you basically can wear whatever you’d like but you should probably skip the heels. Men: shorts and tank top or shirtless work just fine. I wouldn’t recommend wearing Louboutin’s or Jordan’s since most of the ground area is blacktop, dirt and grass. Wear footwear that you won’t mind scuffing and dirtying up. Next time, I’ll be sure to wear brighter colors. The night I got separated from my group I was wearing my Baron Davis UCLA basketball jersey and was quickly pointed out by others who adopted me into their group.
Stretch & Warm Up
EDC can be utilized as a workout opportunity, so warm up before you hit the dance floor! You don’t have to go all out with your stretching but you’ll definitely want to get loose before you get into action. Aside from dancing, you’ll also be doing a lot of walking so be sure to take care of your muscles and joints.
Landmarks & Meeting Spots Between Sets
Don’t expect to have any cellphone reception at EDC. While within the venue I had absolutely no reception (AT&T) and my friends with other cell phone providers experienced the same. The long walk to the parking lot was the only way to get reception. With your group, select a destination to meet with each other in case you get separated AND meeting times, preferably between sets. I wouldn’t recommend meeting at a heavily populated spot (like the illuminated flower) since it won’t make it any easier to find each other in a crowd of other people trying to find each other. Next time, we are going to have a large illuminated landmark (see photo below) to carry with us so lost group members can easily find us in a packed crowd. I saw other groups using a large jellyfish, Super Mario and over-sized Kaepernick head on a stick held high in the air; they were very easy to spot at various sets.
Purchase a Shuttle Pass
Unless you’re set up with a local ride, you’ll need a shuttle pass ($89) so you don’t have to worry about getting back to your lodging to recharge. Also, do a bit of research to see which hotel pick up spots are the least crowded. On our first day, we chose the Bellagio pick up spot and had to wait about 45 minutes to board. The next day we went to another location and waited about 5 minutes. The travel time between the Vegas strip to the Motor speedway ranged from 30 to 45 mins.
Don’t Forget the Chapstick & Gum
The dry dessert heat and constant battle for hydration will leave your lips and mouth dry. Make sure your chapstick and gum are sealed before entering the event or else they’ll get thrown out.
Have a Physical Copy of the Festival Schedule
Make sure you don’t miss your favorite artist performing! Also, knowing the set times comes in handy when scheduling meet-up times with others. As a side-note, even in the case you miss a set or are at the wrong set, remember, enjoy yourself in the present moment.
Enjoy Yourself in the Present Moment
The chances are high that members from your group will get separated, you’ll miss specific performances, or someone will lose a cell phone. Whatever happens, make a conscious decision to enjoy yourself wherever you are in the moment. When I was first separated from my group, I was frantically searching the crowd for my friends, until someone stopped me, looked me in the eyes and basically told me to let my worries go and have fun right then, right there. I did just that and re-connected with the joy and happiness that was always there; I just had to redirect my focus.
Ride the Rides!
EDC has full-sized carnival rides and I wasn’t aware that they were all free until the last night! A friend of mine said it well: “Remember that feeling you had as a kid as you first stepped foot onto a theme park? EDC gives you that same feeling and has the rides too!” This time around we only went on one free-fall ride. Next time, we’ll be sure to set aside more time for rides in our schedule.
Stop & Enjoy the Fireworks
I was absolutely amazed by the spectacular sky-high visuals that accompanied the music. Having witnessed the massive fireworks at EDC made my July 4th fireworks show appear tame in comparison.
Catch the Sun Rise
If you’re able to endure the entire night then make sure to pause and take in the miraculous experience of the rising sun. You’ll have great music as your soundtrack as the sun rises over the mountains of Nevada. This year the sky started turning light around 5am and sunrise around 5:20am.
I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to explore and even be embraced by the beautiful people living this culture. I met and made new friends. At times, I was lost, and looking for my friends, and in the end found what I was looking for. There was definitely a sense of passion and I’d do it all again.
Do You Have Any Questions, Tips & Recommendations?
Feel free to share in the comments below!
Leave a Reply