RAVING SOLO
The thought of going to an event by yourself is somewhat daunting. It’s easy to get so swept up in fear that you won’t have a good time because you aren’t surrounded by a group of friends, that you end up giving up on the whole thing and staying home. Most people act like a group is the secret ingredient required to make a good time, but really the only person that controls your experience is you.
The first time I went to a rave by myself I was a little apprehensive. I had gotten over the hurdle of going solo to see shows at clubs, so I wasn’t wholly new to the idea that I could have fun on my own, but even so, there is a huge difference between a little club set and a massive event. There was a part of me that wondered if it had been a massive mistake. From the moment I was dropped off at the gate by my Uber, through to the second I finally stepped into the festival itself I was running through all the ways this could go wrong.
It wasn’t until I heard the sound of bass blasting around the hills that I realized how ridiculous I was being. I had forgotten the reason I had come to the festival in the first place: to be around the music I love and dance the night away like my life depended on it.
Don’t miss out on a fantastic experience because you were afraid of being alone for a little while. Yes, maybe you can come back next year when everyone’s schedules line up, but it will never be the exact same experience. You shouldn’t stop yourself from doing what you want because something seems a little daunting. Raving solo is just like anything else. You only need to know a few things, and suddenly it doesn’t seem as scary as it did before.
So, that being said, I wanted to use this post to lay out a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking about raving solo. Perhaps the first thing I can say is that it is a ton of fun, all it takes is planning, and open mind, and either a willingness to put yourself out there and meet new people or the ability to decided to be totally okay with rocking out on your own.
Focus on the Advantages
There are so many advantages to going to events solo, but its way easier to focus on the negatives. So, I wanted to list a few of the biggest positives just in case you needed a reminder.
You don’t have to wait for anyone
When you rave solo you aren’t on anyone's schedule but your own. You don’t need to wait for anyone to finish their makeup, get dressed, go to the bathroom, or anything else that inevitably comes with being in a large group. If you’re tired and want to go home, you don’t need to worry about explaining why you want to leave a million times or having to wait it out because you carpooled. It’s the little things.
Go to the sets you want and stay as long as you want
If you want to crisscross the entire venue a mullion times to catch all of your favorite sets, then go for it. You don’t need to ask permission or compromise for the good of the group. You control your night and can go at your own pace, which is pretty awesome.
You will meet a ton of people
Yes, it sounds silly, but I have found that I meet way more people going to events by myself than I ever have with a group. If you want to make friends at festivals, you will have to be willing to some degree to step out of your comfort zone, but it is so worth it.
Drama Free
Groups tend to come with drama. Maybe your friend and her boyfriend are fighting, maybe one friend has had too much, and instead of being able to enjoy your night you spend it chasing them around to make sure they don’t get hurt. You will not need to deal with any of that if you attend an event by yourself, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it so much.
Be Prepared
Planning is going to be paramount if you decide to rave alone for a few reasons. The biggest is that you aren’t going to have the resources of a group to rely on if you need anything. This may be alright for a few hours at a club, but if you are planning on going to an event for eight-plus hours, you can’t afford to leave things to chance.
I would suggest bringing along the following items either in a fanny pack or a backpack to ensure that nothing derails your night.
A Hydration Pack
If you plan on dancing all night, you are going to need to stay hydrated. It can be deceptively easy to become dehydrated.
Cash
It never hurts to have a few dollars on hand in case you decide to buy something to eat. If you have a non-major credit card, you run the risk of being declined, which is why it never hurts to have some cash on hand.
gum
Gum is always a great thing to have with you, not only for yourself but to share with others. I have met more than a few people who have evened up becoming decent friends because I offered them a piece of gum or two.
fan
If you dance as aggressively as I do, or if you like to jump around in the heart of the crowd it will get hot. Having a fan can also help you meet people. I have made a few friends simply because I offered them a fan when they looked overheated. Like I keep saying, it’s really the little things.
portable charger
This is another one that is crucial to have if you are going to an event by yourself, especially if you took an Uber. I have had my phone die during an event, and it is the most stressful thing in the world when you are trying to get home, and you don’t have anyone else at the event to call you one.
A few other things to bring:
ear plugs
chapstick
electrolyte packets
bandana
sunglasses
comfortable shoes
Accommodation and Travel
Hotel vs. Camping
If you have decided to go to an event by yourself, you will need to think seriously about accommodation. Camping can be great because it essentially places you in the heart of everything and you can make friends with the people around you. However, I think there is also something to be said for hotels if you are going to an event by yourself. As a young woman, I know I feel a lot safer staying in hotels when I am by myself. That is not to say that camping is dangerous, that is far from true, but I personally enjoy being able to lock my door and being a little bit more removed. Staying in a hotel also gives you the flexibility to explore the area and treat your trip like a little vacation. The downside of staying in a hotel when attending an event solo is obviously that you will be a little more cut off. They both have their pro’s and cons, but I would recommend a hotel, especially if it is your first time raving solo, before jumping straight into camping alone.
Uber vs. Shuttles
I would recommend taking the shuttles (if you aren’t camping) because it will give you another opportunity to meet people headed to the event. If you are someone who wants to attend by yourself and has no desire to join a group, then I would still say you should give the shuttles a try. It never hurts to interact a little with other music lovers. If after the ride you still want to head out on your own, great, but if not you have given yourself a chance to meet some new people.
If you want to meet people, you can
While I can and will write another post specific to how to meet people when you are going to festivals alone, the biggest piece of advice is to be open. Compliment people on their outfits, offer to take their picture, if they look overheated offer to fan them, if you are grabbing a piece of gum for yourself, offer some to your neighbor.
If you decided to go to the event solo but would have preferred to go with a group you can use these little acts of kindness to build one. If you see a huge group of people dancing and having a good time, go up to them! I have never encountered a group who was unwilling to adopt solo ravers, especially if you are nervous about being without your friends.
Obviously, this post has been geared a little more towards those who have chosen to go to an event solo, but who would have preferred to be there with a group, but I wanted to take a moment to say that it is equally fun to truly spend the evening alone. At the end of the day, it is about finding the right Balance of things to make your evening the best it can be.
Conclusion
I hope this has given you a little more of a sense of how to go about attending an event solo or at least removed any fear that may have been built up around the idea. The most important thing is to have fun. I can give you tips to meet people and the tools to have a problem-free evening, but the most important thing is you. If you ever start to worry if you made a bad decision deciding to ditch your rave fam, take a moment and breather. Remember the real reason why we go to festivals: to dance to the music we love.
