I Tried Going To The Biggest Electronic Music Festival Solo — Here Are My Tips And Tricks For Making The Most Of Your Time Alone
If you're wondering about going to a music festival solo, I'm here to talk you into it. My name's Pernell, and I love going to festivals with friends — it's like being in a movie with your favorite people and a built-in soundtrack. Since I have anxiety and am a people pleaser (not a judgment, just a fact), I've been eager to finally try a three-day festival completely alone at my own pace and in my own style to decide if it's right for me. That's how I ended up at EDC Las Vegas, the world's largest rave, with me, myself, and 500,000 other people.
I'll be honest: Attending and camping a music festival of EDC's magnitude on my own inspired some lonely moments. But the freedom that came with being alone also led me to discover side quests, new friends, and great music. So if you're solo-fest curious, here's why you should full-send that thought, along with my tips on how to survive it:
1.Being a party of one means you can see whoever you want, whenever you want, however long you'd like!
Insomniac / Via giphy.com
I've had incredible times going to festivals with friends, but sticking together or finding each other later, especially when phone reception tends to get unreliable at these massive events, has historically led to me leaving early from (or missing) certain sets of artists I wanted to see — coordination demands compromise.
At EDC, I didn't worry about that; I was on my own, kid. I used that freedom to take my time at each stage and discover new artists in my downtime.
Now, when I listen to Azzeca and Medusa, I remember my ears perking up as I walked by their sets, dancing my way into the crowd, and spontaneously staying the entire time because I could. That's what music festivals are about.
2.Flying solo makes it more manageable to meet new people, make festival friends, and build better bonds.
Meaningful conversations are more likely to happen when you're not worried about finding your group again or making it to the meet-up spot in time. And fellow festival-goers can be really kind to folks who are alone — I was adopted into rave families, and invited to join groups of old friends I randomly bumped into. And since I was on my own time, I could hang out as long as I wanted.
And actually, my favorite EDC memory from this year happened when I was feeling extra lonely: I was sitting on the ground at the back of the crowd during Tiesto's set, watching friend groups dance and cackle together from below. People lacking spatial awareness kept tripping over me like I was invisible, or Mia from The Princess Diaries before her makeover. I stood up in defeat and to retreat even further back when a raver in a wolf hood asked me about my totem sign.
Instead of just leaving, I stayed and talked to him. We bonded over our similar mindsets and that we were both alone. And by the time Chris Lake hit the stage, we became another duo cackling and dancing together.
3.You can choose to be as close to or as far away from the stage as you wish when you're on your own. And it's a lot easier to get make your way through a crowd if it's just you.
One thing I loved about being alone was feeling free to constantly change where I stood. If I was at the back and feeling like not enough people were grooving around me, I'd dance my way to the front. If it started to get too crowded for me, I'd move to the back. And when I wanted to go back into the crowd, I would.
If I was with someone else, I wouldn't do this out of courtesy. But since I wasn't, I was able to figure out where the best spot for me was at every single stage.
Also, folks are more receptive to just one person navigating a crowd, especially if you're dancing. The crowd isn't as warm to a long train of people.
That said, one of my favorite things to do at festivals when I want to get closer is to hop on at the end of a train and see where it takes me. Try it out!
4.Going alone gives you the freedom to roam. And don't just limit yourself to the stages. Check out the rides, pop-up shops, and food spots you normally wouldn't be able to.
Music festivals that are the size of EDC and Coachella usually have so much more than just music going on. There were "hidden gems" such as a funhouse of mirrors, a rave hangar, a legit wedding chapel, a live dating game show, a drag queen bar (Coco Montrese was one of the performers), and so much more I didn't even get to. Roaming around is how I found the Wagyu burgers, the best thing I ever ate at EDC (for Coachella, it's the paella).
It kind of felt like I was living a first-person video game discovering new things, which I guess is what life technically is, but it's more fun at a music festival.
Personally, I recommend going early and sober on the first day of any festival so you can get familiar with the layout and explore as much as possible. While that's personally impossible for me because I'm late to everything, it's nice to be on your own time.
Those are the main reasons why I'd recommend trying out a festival solo if you don't have anyone to go with, or just want to try it out. Now, here are my tips on how to meet others and make the most of being alone:
5.Consider bringing a totem! It makes for an easy conversation starter — I met so many people over the festival weekend because of this sign, and it also helped them find me again.
Picture this: You have a meet-cute with a stranger. You get separated before you could exchange Instagrams, and hope to bump into them again. How the hell are you supposed to find one another in a sea of 500,000 people? I did. They just looked for the sign.
My favorite part of the weekend was people coming up to me to tell me how much they appreciated my totem. A stranger even snapped the top photo of my sign, then took the time to come up through the crowd and show me it.
I even bumped into an old friend I lost touch with four years ago because of the sign — they saw it, recognized me holding it, and called out for me. That was a beautiful reunion.
I saw all kinds of cool totems at EDC, including a totem with a Super Nintendo attached that people could actually play with. The possibilities are endless!
And if you're not a sign person, or the festival you're going to doesn't allow them, there are other ways you can invite people to talk to you.
And if you're not really a totem person, or they're not allowed, wear statement shirts — go for meaningful or niche-funny, that way you know people are coming up to you because they're having a positive connection to what you're wearing.
I made these shirts myself because I print/design as a side hustle, but you can easily do it with printable iron-on transfers available at any craft store, too.
6.Join online communities through Facebook groups and Reddit ASAP. There are probably even groups dedicated to people attending solo. You can "meet" people through these communities ahead of time, learn really valuable tips from festival veterans, be inspired by people's outfits, or even find roommates.
I'm begging you to NOT show up at a large festival without doing some research. That's how I knew to bring a wide-wheel wagon with me to EDC; for camping at EDC, I had to park my car and walk 15+ minutes through tough gravel with all my stuff, which was so much easier because I knew to bring a wagon with me. Other people were struggling.
Being a part of these online groups also gave me a heads up to what kind of people were going to be present, and how friendly/open they'd be. The groups get especially active during the festival, so it's a solid spot to see what people are talking about and what they recommend trying out.
If you are using online communities to find roommates or find secondhand tickets, please be cautious of scams and do your due diligence in verifying who you're speaking to — ask to meet in person or chat over a video call if possible. Many people recommend paying through PayPal Goods & Services vs. Venmo or Zelle for an extra layer of protection against fraud.
7.If the festival you're going to offers a camping component, I highly suggest it. There will for sure be fun activities to participate in and you're more likely to meet folks who are excited to socialize before the festival doors open.
One of my favorite memories at Camp EDC was watching a lip sync battle between two campers, and the entire packed crowd cheering as one of the contestants shablammed to the floor.
Camping makes it a lot easier to meet new people. The convenience of not having to worry about getting to or returning from the festival relieved a huge amount of stress, and made me feel better I knew I could party how I wanted, and be able to make my way back home without thought. Camp if possible, or stay at affiliated accommodations.
Also, not having to worry about a commute or catching a shuttle back to a hotel was clutch. When it was time to go, I just had to walk back to my campsite. This allowed me to take breaks and naps in my own bed during the festival. I felt way safer letting loose and partying on my own because of it.
To me, the flexibility of camping was a life-saver since I was on my own. Don't get me wrong, camping in Vegas in May was hot as hell (and low-key dangerous), and because of that, I'll be going in an RV whenever I do return to EDC.
And if camping just isn't your style or it's not available, use the online communities to learn where people are hanging out before/after the festival. Large festivals like EDC, Lollapalooza, and Outside Lands will have events throughout the city.
8.No matter where you're staying, decorate your space. Make it inviting on the outside to others and inviting for you on the inside. Having a cozy and comforting spot to recharge in helped me feel ready to take on each day, which was really important whenever I felt overwhelmed or lonely.
I feel like every introvert understands just how healing a home base can be. I went as far as bringing a side table and flowers with me for the tent, and it really made it feel like a second home.
My favorite decorating tip: Bring a cheap whiteboard with you, so people can leave messages for you (and you for them). It was a fun low-energy way for me to sort of socialize with folks and create a moment for others.
9.Introduce yourself to surrounding neighbors sooner than later. I like to do this for safety reasons, and to meet new people. It'll also make it easier for you to be able to ask them for anything if you need to throughout the weekend.
As much as I like doing things alone, I understand the importance of feeling safe. For me to feel safe, I like to know who's around me in case of an emergency and so that we feel comfortable checking in on each other.
You don't have to overdo it if you want, but it felt more warm exchanging quick hellos with my neighbors at Camp EDC after the first day versus us just keeping to ourselves when we were all moving in.
10.Carry a phone charger and other essentials like hand sanitizer, wipes, and gum. For yourself, and for others.
CBS / Via giphy.com
I cannot stress this enough: You do not want to be traveling alone, and not have a working phone with you. It just makes everything so much more stressful. So carry a power bank with you, and make sure it's charged. It also feels nice to be able to offer these things to other people who might really need them.
11.Take more breaks — nobody's waiting on you. And embrace the overwhelming moments with grace.
Another benefit to going solo to a music festival is when you suddenly feel tired, hungry, or just not in the mood to be in a packed crowd, you can just walk away and sit on/touch the grass.
Also, you're going to be at a large music festival alone — of course you're going to feel lonely sometimes. I know I was. I was extra hard on myself in those moments for not being as social, or lit, as I would have liked to be. It was up to me to pick myself back up, and even when I didn't, that was still part of the journey.
Don't dwell on having a great time or a bad time. Just do things with your time, and look back on it later. Explore the venue, follow the music (why you're there), compliment a stranger, and treat yourself to some nice food. Be kind to you!
12.Seek out other solo folks when you're feeling hard on yourself for feeling lonely. Stick with each other for a bit if y'all vibe with each other. And if you don't, you can just walk away!
Leon Denise / Via giphy.com
I guarantee you that whenever you're feeling lonely at one of these festivals, you aren't the only one. When this happened to me, I'd talk to other folks who were just chilling by themselves at the set, or eating at the back of the crowd. And when they weren't into it, I'd excuse myself and never see them again.
And if you're not one for small talk or that seems too scary, I'd regularly and randomly go deep into the crowd at EDC, dance my ass off, hype up a random person who's dancing too, and slip back out of the crowd.
13.Do what you can to help other people have a good time. It'll pull your focus away from dwelling on your own experience. And when you do start to dwell, look around the crowd for some inspiration.
It was night two and I was in a trance, lost in my thoughts at 2 a.m. during Tiesto's set when a stranger tapped me on the shoulder.
"I really appreciate your sign," he said, pointing to my 'Fuck Anxiety' totem. "I was having a lot of anxiety right now and literally wanted to go back to the hotel, and I saw your sign. I think it changed the course of my night."
I gave him a hug because I didn't have words. That's why I carry the sign at events. It was comforting that even though I wasn't fully present, I was still a positive part of other people's night.
An easier way to do this is to look around for you and find a scene in the crowd that makes you smile, and cheer them on. Another thing I did at EDC when I felt lonely was praise people's outfits, dance moves, or anything else besides their physical appearance. It made me feel so much better knowing that at least for a moment, I helped a stranger feel a little more confident themselves. Supporting others feels way better than tearing down yourself.
14.Ask a close friend or loved one to check-in and message you every morning and/or night.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Being away from my normal environment and experiencing everything alone tugged hard at my insecurities. It's easy to persuade yourself that you're having a bad time and that you should've never come. Having friends and loved ones from back home text me helped ground me, and remind me I wasn't alone.
Also, if you are having a bad time, it's good to talk with someone who isn't there to help you talk through things. Having this check-in system can tip them off if something's wrong, or if you need extra support.
15.Write down a few reasonable hopes and dreams ahead of the weekend, and look at them each morning. I didn't until day three, and my mindset changed when I did. I was sad I wasn't having a life-changing experience like I've had at past festivals, until I understood that I did have most of the moments I wanted to.
16.And finally: Try everything twice.
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Going alone to a music festival is a huge undertaking, and your first time doing it might be like mine where it's so overwhelming you don't get to fully enjoy it. I recommend going into your first solo fest with the mindset that you're laying down the foundation for your second time (and all the ones after that).
I got to talk with legendary producer and DJ Kaskade at EDC this year, and he said something that really stuck out to me: "EDC just keeps elevating every year. For me as an artist, I see that as a challenge — I gotta continue to elevate, because they continue to elevate. If this festival can continue to grow, expand, and bring in new ideas, then I can do the same, too."
These music festivals are only getting bigger. Take that as a challenge, like Kaskade, and grow with them.
