What I learned at Warped Tour

Last week I posted my Ultimate List of What to Bring to Warped Tour, and this week I have what I learned from my Warped date. Check out the link above if you are getting ready for your own date and want to know how to over-pack.

This list isn't complete, but I wanted to out it out there for people to look at and learn from. I will add to it every once in a while as I think back to Warped Tours I have been to. I like to know what I am getting into, and I like to let other people know what to look for. I hope you don't mind all the details and enjoy the list as you think about your own experiences and hopefully future ones, too. 

1. You will, hands-down, have one of the best days of your life, every year that you go.
   
2. You will get sunburned.
   
3. You will get funny tan lines.
   
4. You will feel like passing out at some point because of dehydration or not eating (guilty).
   
5. You have to lookout for crowd surfers and the mosh pit so that you don't get knocked in the head by a foot or pulled into the pit on accident or squished because of the pit opening up.
   
6. People will start to sit in really obnoxious places at the end of the day, like right where everyone is walking.
   
7. A lot of bands do free signings, and some you have to get a pass for. The free signings are usually right after a band's set and you get one thing signed (try buying a cd or bringing in one you have already bought) and maybe a hug or a high-five if it's okay. Other signings, especially for the bigger bands, you need to get a pass (which are limited) and you get maybe a photo with them and something signed. Sometimes you can hug them, but each meet and greet has its own rules. If it really means a lot to you and there are tight rules, just write them a quick letter telling them whatever you don't have time right then to tell them. Some people might find you a nuisance, but a lot of bands (most of them) want to know and hear about the differences in people's lives that they are encouraging.
   
8. Bands don't start playing until 11:30ish, which gives you half and hour or more time to figure out when and where the bands you want to see are playing. I also used this time to buy merch. I got my "shopping" out of the way because I made a list beforehand listing what bands I wanted to see and if I wanted (needed) their newest cd or a tshirt. Also because I bought everything right away, I didn't have to worry about them running out of their allotted merch or sizes and I had cds ready to get signed if I met the band. I ended up getting four signed cds this year, and that makes me really happy. The only problem with buying merch early is that you then have to carry it with you all day, which leads me to my next point:
   
9. Bring money because you will want to buy a lot of merch (and for emergencies of course), but don't bring too big of a backpack so as to prevent yourself from buying too much merch (guilty). I don't know, you have to fix this problem one way or another. I don't like to bring too little money because I might just need it for an emergency, and then if I don't spend it all I have some left over for, say, the next concert (or paying back my mother the money I owe her), but you can get carried away if you go in blind and don't know what you are going to want in the first place. Just plan ahead.
   
10. You will meet a lot of people and a lot of people are willing to chime in on your conversations with other people. You learn a lot from them.
    
11. If you see a famous person or band member, don't be afraid to talk to them if they are not super busy or doing something else. You will come across the people who take pictures of the bands, or representatives from non-profits, the people who run social media to music labels and other music-related companies, the selected Youtubers, and of course band members. A lot of them are out on the tour to meet people. Ask for a picture/high-five/hug if it seems like an okay situation/time to do so, or even just say hi to them. The point is, you are likely to not see this person or be able to meet them ever again. Don't let the moment pass you, just because you are nervous or "don't want to bother them."
    
    Leading off of this point, an example is that I was waiting in line to meet a band and another one passed by on their way to somewhere important following a security guard. People saw that and did say hi to them in passing but weren't obnoxious enough to try to get a picture or completely stop them on their way to wherever they were going. Take from that and live your life. Don't miss opportunities.
    
12. Some bands do a really great job of getting the crowds into their set, even people who aren't waiting to see their set. The people who set up the stages will put two stages next to each other so that they can prepare one stage for a band while another band performs, so that as soon as one is done the other starts. This means that there will usually be two crowds, but one stage with a band. My favorite is when the band performing engages the other stage's crowd. Be open to hearing other band's music and don't disappoint by not reacting to the band trying to get the other crowd engaged by just being a bump on the log.
    
13. You will get handed a lot of free stuff and there will be a lot of people trying to hand out the free stuff. Just make it easy on the non-profits and take their free stuff. You can throw it away later, but it looks good on you and them.
    
    I would do Warped Tour every day if I could. It makes me so happy to be surrounded by loud music and like-minded people all day. I will continue to add to this list, but let me know if I missed anything that you think I should add down in the comments. Also, check out my ultimate list of what to bring to Warped Tour if you are getting ready for your own date.