GUIDE TO SURVIVING A SUMMER FESTIVAL

One more year, with the arrival of summer, the music festival season is inaugurated, and the whole country is full of people with fabric bracelets and a lot of desire to have fun. In the north you have in June, among other things, the Azkena Rock in Vitoria, and in July the Bilbao BBK Live and Monegros Desert Festival, in Fraga; and further south of the Peninsula, the Contempopránea in June, in Badajoz, or the Planeta Demos in Jaén in July. If you are planning to join the club of tireless festival-goers, enter our "Travel Tips" and take a look first at our guide and our infographic to be well prepared and that nothing and no one spoils the experience!

1. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION BEFORE LEAVING HOME.

Nowadays, getting into a festival site can be as difficult as getting on a plane. Insecurity issues have increased so much, mainly at huge festivals, that if you are missing any paperwork or files, you can be locked out. This is especially hard when the venue itself is far from the center or the region, as is normal, since between making the trip back and forth to pick up the forgotten ticket or ID, you can miss numerous concerts.

2. STOCK UP ON EVERYTHING "MINI".

Anything that weighs little and fits in your purse or backpack is likely to be super useful. It may seem silly, but you can't imagine how pleased you'll be to have taken mini wet wipes, mini dental hygiene kit or mini antibacterial gel with you.

3. DISASTER-PROOF TENT

If you are camping, make sure your tent is strong. Sometimes it pays to spend a little more money on a decent tent than to suffer the hell of resting in a flooded or broken one. Also take a flashlight so you can find your "home" when you return during the night, and a mask to gain a few hours of sleep in the morning, which you will need!

4. OUTFITS FOR ALL SEASONS

The weather at this time of the year, and especially in our state, can be very variable, so be ready for some areas. Take cool clothes, a hat, sunglasses and a fan because if it's hot, it will be three times as hot in the enclosure (there are not usually several shaded areas, and if there are, they will be occupied by other hot festival-goers). Of course, don't forget to wear the right clothing for the cold either, as temperatures will drop during the night, and it may also rain. A good pair of shoes is essential, as you will spend hours and hours on your feet: forget flip-flops or ballerinas that will destroy your feet, choose cool shoes but with an acceptable insulating sole (e.g. sneakers with some platform) and ankle boots for the night concerts.

5. MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY

Carry cash, even a little more than you plan to spend. You never know if you will need to take a cab, buy food or if you will suddenly feel a sudden whim to finish with the merchandising stands of the bands. Huge festivals usually have cashiers inside the festival grounds, but there is an endless queue in front of all of them.

6. FUEL FOR THE BODY

You already know that you're going to spend hours standing, dancing and giving it your all, right? Well, you're going to need to be nourished and hydrated. The food stalls inside the festivals have the possibility of being an acceptable satisfaction for one day, but if the festival lasts the whole week, you will be ruined (apart from the insecurity issues, several festivals are also adopting the costs of airports), and besides you will not have many configurations. It is preferable to take snacks or fruit from home. Even if you are not hungry when you leave, they will taste great after a few hours of concert after concert. Choose snacks that are light and contain sugar, or prepare numerous small snacks for occasional snacking.

7. WATER, LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER

We put it in capital letters because it is very important! The difference you will feel if you hydrate every x amount of time will be colossal, and your health will thank you for it. Drink water even if you are not thirsty, we are in summer!

8. SECURE YOUR EARDRUMS

It may seem absurd or counterproductive to wear earplugs when you go to a concert, but the truth is that you will hear the music more clearly and, best of all, you won't be deaf the next morning.

9. KEEP EVERYTHING CLOSE AT HAND BUT WELL GUARDED

We suggest carrying a backpack or fanny pack rather than a purse or cloth bag. The purse is not good for your back if you carry too much, and cloth bags do not have zippers, so someone can grab your wallet in the middle of a concert without you knowing it. The backpacks or fanny packs are better for the back and more complicated for the bad guys. Of course, if there are crowds, put the backpack forward to control it better.

10. LET THERE BE PEACE

There are several concerts to see, some will coincide in time or overlap, and it is very rare that in a group of friends all have the same musical desires. To avoid fights, it is preferable that you consult the schedules before going and organize them. It allows you to meet your favorite band on your own, and who knows, maybe you will make new friends during the concert. The important thing is to establish a point of rapprochement from the beginning, in case someone gets lost. And limit the use of your smart phone, as it will be a while until you get your battery charged. Call only when it is rigorouslyprimordial and you are not looking at WhatsApp every 5 minutes.