25 TIPS FOR COACHELLA NEWBIES (2013 VERSION)

[furnace]

Eating a watermelon will feed you and quench your thirst.

[Riggins33]

Fresh goat meat goes great with freshly squeezed tomato juice, and it will also feed you and quench your thirst.

[PlayaDelWes]

• Aim EXCESSIVELY low when extending the first offer in a bargain. You can usually win the bargain with your initial price, if not, you can always go up.
• Withdraw large amounts of money from the ATM at one time to avoid countless transaction charges
• Always carry an umbrella. An entire day of blue skies is a rarity
• Before you sit down take a few squares of toilet paper and lay them down on the surface of the water for guaranteed silence
• Don't push and strain and give yourself an aneurysm. Stand up. You don't need to pull up your pants but you may want to wipe first. Stand up and wait until you feel things shift. Sit back down and wa-la!

[baily]

• Aim EXCESSIVELY low when extending the first offer in a bargain. You can usually win the bargain with your initial price, if not, you can always go up.
• Withdraw large amounts of money from the ATM at one time to avoid countless transaction charges
• Always carry an umbrella. An entire day of blue skies is a rarity
• Before you sit down take a few squares of toilet paper and lay them down on the surface of the water for guaranteed silence
• Don't push and strain and give yourself an aneurysm. Stand up. You don't need to pull up your pants but you may want to wipe first. Stand up and wait until you feel things shift. Sit back down and wa-la!

WTF

an umbrella - LOL - you need an umbrella like you need to a winter jacket.

The only one that makes any sense is the ATM one, even then you should have pulled out your $ way in advance so you aren't doing an ATM run.

[SepaGroove]

I agree with bringing an umbrella IF you have a locker.

[amyzzz]

They don't let you bring umbrella inside.

[SepaGroove]

Oh well nevermind then.

In that case bring an extra jacket/poncho that can withstand rain, and keep that in your locker.

Ponchos saved my fiance and I at Lolla a few years ago. We for sure would have left if it wasn't for those.

[N33Ns]

Would anyone recommend bringing walkie-talkies or is that too silly?

[Hatinisbad]

consider...
A ziplock bag. I keep my phone, schedule, id, in a ziplock so it doesn't get wet when I go to dolab.
There's a whole other thread for camping. For example, the mister made breaks at the campsite during the 100+ temps quite pleasant.

[sharksfan98]

Thank you so much for posting this up! This is my first year, and I'm totally stoaked man!! Gonna read this thread from start to finish!

[gaypalmsprings]

Shave your lower area to stay cool.

[footixy]

Shave your lower area to stay cool.

[Peter_Tork]

Would anyone recommend bringing walkie-talkies or is that too silly?

Mobile phone coverage sucks down on the field, so that's actually a smart idea. Ignore the people who will no doubt point at you and call you a dork. Or tell them to fuck off (then kick them in the balls or vagetable region and run).

[GDSD573]

I have done quite a few deployments and on the last 3 to Kuwait and Africa and I have to say the best investment I made for my 7 month stays were croc's to wear in the showers...so much better than flip flops or anything I had used in the past. Also a micro fiber towel, it drys really fast. Grab 2 micro fiber towels and cut the other one up into smaller like hand towels to carry around the festival to wipe off.

[kerby14]

don't bring walkie talkies...not enough channels and too many others with them. just have a set meeting point and go there. and if someone isn't there, do what you want to do without them. you only get one (or maybe two) coachella(s) a year, don't waste them on babysitting your friends

[gaypalmsprings]

If someone sticks a pole with a camera in front of your face, blocking the view of the stage, kick him in the nuts and toss water on the camera. If someone blocks your view with an iPad, pull out your laptop and block the iPad.

[deegee]

pull out your laptop and block the iPad.

funniest thing i have read all day

[avastmaryy]

This is going to be my first year - I have glasses but I usually wear my contacts. Do you think the weather will be super irritable and I shouldn't waste my time with contacts?

[ThatGirl]

This is going to be my first year - I have glasses but I usually wear my contacts. Do you think the weather will be super irritable and I shouldn't waste my time with contacts?

There is no way to tell the weather/wind conditions at this point. But bring your contacts and eye drops because you'll definitely need sunglasses.

[amyzzz]

prescription sunglasses!

[ENluv12]

don't bring walkie talkies...not enough channels and too many others with them. just have a set meeting point and go there. and if someone isn't there, do what you want to do without them. you only get one (or maybe two) coachella(s) a year, don't waste them on babysitting your friends

This is 100% complete bullshit. We have used them the last 3 years and never had a problem.

[Lynn163]

There is no way to tell the weather/wind conditions at this point. But bring your contacts and eye drops because you'll definitely need sunglasses.

I wear my contacts every year and have yet to have any problems. I always bring drops and throw a pair of prescription glasses in the locker (or at your camp site if camping) just to be safe.

[mellie_jelly]

Locker question! I booked a locker but read in the FAQ that they only allow a medium backpack in the grounds (no bigger than 20" tall, 15" wide and 9" thick packed) - in a bit of a dilemma as I'm travelling to Coachella enroute to NYC from Australia (where I'll be looking for work) so my luggage will be bigger than that...plus, I'm pretty sure I purchased the XL locker which accommodates a bag bigger than the dimensions in the Coachella FAQ? Would I be able to get my luggage in the grounds and store it in the lockers? Anyone else had a similar experience from past Coachella's?

[Lynn163]

Are you camping? I don't understand why you would put your luggage in a locker in the venue instead of your camp/house/hotel. The lockers are more for keeping daily stuff (sweater, sun screen, merch etc.) and not luggage.

[kerby14]

This is 100% complete bullshit. We have used them the last 3 years and never had a problem.

okay so if you say that to be true, then the first part is 100% complete bull shit. but the part about having set meeting times and not babysitting people is 100% legit still

[PJandBompton]

yeah why the fuck would you bring a big bag into the venue? not to mention security won't even let it happen.

[Santa]

"25 tips for Coachella newbies"
List is at #42.

You know, I'm pretty good at making list and checking them twice.
That way I make sure I dont fuck up.

[mellie_jelly]

Are you camping? I don't understand why you would put your luggage in a locker in the venue instead of your camp/house/hotel. The lockers are more for keeping daily stuff (sweater, sun screen, merch etc.) and not luggage.

that's part of the problem - I don't have accommodation or transport yet as it's been booked out and I'm assuming (praying) that I'll be able to set up a tent in someone's spare camping space. Oh and I'm travelling to Coachella alone...and heading to NYC after so am basically bringing 3 months worth of stuff with me. Hence why my luggage will be larger than usual!

[mellie_jelly]

yeah why the fuck would you bring a big bag into the venue? not to mention security won't even let it happen.

did you read my post??

[baily]

Do like Santa: Make a list and check it twice before leaving