This should be mandatory for ANY show, not just Fest. Smart people wear earplugs.

ooh i forgot, don't eat at checkers at 3am, well...don't eat there at all, it gave me a fart attack all night

DO wear good shoes. It can't be said enough: Good footwear is important. Not just good, but broken in. I learned that lesson last year. The shoes were super comfy, but wore a blister in my ankle. Nothing sobers you up like a bleeding blister that burns every time sweat drips into it or you put your foot down to take a step or stabilize yourself during a wicked awesome at the drive in cover set.

DO Hydrate. I'm old and have learned that lesson. I don't like beer, so I spent the three days double fisting Screwdrivers and bottles of water. And I felt glorious the entire time.

Earplugs are awesome, DO bring extras for new friends. They'll buy you a drink, I guarantee it. (and they're also handy if you get sick of listening to the people in the room next to you fucking/fighting all night)

Half full PBR tallboys are NOT partyballs. DON'T toss them around.

DON'T stay up for 41 hours straight drinking and partying with friends before you fly in. You will pass out and miss the pre-fest shows and hate yourself.

Also, DO drunkenly order a pizza from 5 Star at 4 in the morning, and keep enough leftover in the fridge to have a slice every morning.
Big glass of water + small glass of EmergenC + slice of cold pizza = byebye hangover!

Do everything people on this thread are telling you not to do and don't do the sensible stuff they are telling you to do!!!! I'm a 5 time Fest veteran and I get drunk every year, probably don't eat enough and have never had The Fest Lurgy!!!

Andy

P.S. Do rant about the quality of american bacon as compared to the stuff we have in Dear Old Blighty it just doesn't cut the mustard!!

american bacon would probably be good to use as a knife for spreading mustard, it's so thin and hard. and the mustard on it would then make it mildly edible afterwards.

I dont know what you call bacon in the UK, but my american bacon does just fine, thick cuts with gristle, on just about anything. if UK bacon is anything like canadian bacon you have got it all wrong, the healthy bits are for dinners with the family, bacon is the good stuff that causes your heart to explode. My American Bacon is the cure for vegan/vegatarian people...Bacon.

Ear plugs are awesome because it makes me not care that I end up standing in front of the speakers during a set.

The only thing I don't look forward to is being pushed against the stage at the venue again...which I just put up with but hot damn that takes a toll on my thighs after one night

also I might sound nitpicky but can people please not light cigarettes when we're all pushed against the stage? I was stuck on top of someone for Bouncing Souls set last year and they kept lighting cigarettes and since I couldn't move the smoke went directly up my nostrils and I felt like I was going to puke T.T

Going to my first Fest this year and can't wait!!
I gonna be using this for my packing list for the trip.
Anyone have suggestions on flying v driving, and transportation from the Jacksonville or Orlando airports?

I felt like the golden rule last year was to wear a Strike Anywhere shirt if you have a Hot Water Music tattoo and wear a Hot Water Music shirt if you have a Strike Anywhere tattoo. This is totally Okay.

Comfortable. Shoes.

Speaking of earplugs, Walmart has some AWESOME orange rubbery plugs that look kinda like these: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/earplanes1.jpg Only $3 and they bring the volume down without distorting the sound much. Also, I like the idea of bringing extra ear plugs, since 95% of Festers will inevitably forget or not even consider bringing them.

Stage diving/crowd surfing. I get it. It's fun. I do it occasionally. But please, be reasonable. Don't be that drunk jerk who spends more time in the air than on the ground. I don't mind passing people over my head, but sometimes it just gets ridiculous.

Everything else I can think of has already been said.

stop complaining. start smoking.

i like this guy

I've already spent enough of my life smoking and I do not wish to do it anymore
idc if you smoke in the venue that's whatever I'll deal

but during a band's set when everyone is pushed to the front and you're against the stage (as in bent over the stage) and we can't move please don't light up. People are going to continue being pushed into you. I'm sure I'm not the only one who isn't fond of smoking cigarettes through their nostrils or potentially being burned by a cigarette.

Sleep more than 3 hours a night over a 5 night span....I guess that is just common sense though. Not sure how my old ass made it through last Fest.