Whether you are hitting up an giant outdoor party with lasers in the pine trees or a big city gathering with a dozen thousand of your closest friends, music festivals are deeply inspiring, a great place to make people, and fun as hell. With music flowing through your soul and moving your limbs in ways you never thought possible, life is good and you can escape your troubles- as long as the beat goes on. Large events like music festivals take more preparation than a night out on the town, and if you follow these tips you will be ready to roll and better able to take advantage of all the music and art experiences that the parties have to offer.

1.   Buy tickets early. Tickets to music festivals are almost always less expensive the earlier you buy them, and often there are several tiers of ticket prices which increase as the lower tier sells out. Wait to buy tickets at the door and you will almost always pay a premium.

2.   Wear comfortable dancing shoes. Of course you want to look cute, but there is nothing cute about a girl who has to sit out the show because her feet are blistered and bleeding. Save the stilettos for the club.

3.   Hydrate! You are dancing, in the sun, sweating, possibly drinking alcohol, and you need all the water you can get to keep going. As soon as you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. If you have a headache or start to feel bad, drink fluids with electrolytes. You are not sick, just dehydrated!

4.   Go with friends to music festivals to cut costs. Gas, hotel rooms, parking and food are all less expensive if you share them with other people. Plus you will have more fun!

5.   Check out new music artists as well as your old favorites. One of the best things about music festivals is being able to peep in on performers you have not heard of with no commitment. If they are awful, you can move on without losing any money or much time, and if they are awesome then you have discovered a new favorite!

6.   Start off well rested. Music festivals require a great deal of stamina and energy, and if you show up on two hours of sleep, you are not going to last very long. Get a good night’s sleep the night before the party, as it might be the last bit of shut-eye you experience for a while!

7.   Don’t forget to eat. With all the music and dancing and festivities going on, you might find your stomach growling in the middle of the party! Eat foods high in protein for energy, and carry a granola bar around if you tend to get weak or dizzy when your blood sugar drops.

8.   Bring earplugs. Your future hearing depends on it! Everyone loves the waves of bass coursing through your body, but no one likes tinnitus, which is an eternal ringing in the ears, caused by a lack of earplugs. If you forget them, most festivals provide them free or sell them for a buck or two. It’s worth it.

9.   Cut yourself some slack and allow for some downtime. You may want to see every performer on every day of the festival, but it isn’t going to happen. Realize that you are going to miss some of the party, and that is okay.

10.                 Have fun! Music, art and play are some of the most important and enriching parts of life, and too many people eschew these pleasures all too frequently. You are there, so relax, let little problems slide, and have the time of your life!