Warped Tour Survival.

As just about everyone in the music world knows, Warped Tour kicked off a few weeks ago in California. Bringing bands to just about every big city in the country and then some, Warped Tour has been going for fourteen years strong. Even though I'm a veteran attendee myself, everytime I go, I always wake up the next morning wishing I would have done something differently. More sunscreen...more of my own water...And I can't imagine how the rookies feel after a 10 hour day in the heat.

With the help of some friends, a list of survival tips have been compiled. Some may be repeated or some may be contradictory, but they each get the same message across.

"3 things you need. Sunblock, comfortable shoes and backpack full of water. Sure they give you free Monster but after your 14th and being in the sun all day you just feel like dying."

"SUNBLOCK..that is if you're a redhead like me." - Megan Collins.

"Last time I went there, they had free Monsters. So take advantage of that!" - Phil Stender

"LOTS OF WATER... A SUN UMBRELLA... RAIN BOOTS... SUPER SOAKERS.... WATER BALLOONS... AND LOTS OF SUN BLOCK! AND VITAMIN B IT WARDS OFF THE MISQUITOS.
THATS HOW I WAS ROLLIN!!!" - Rita, Horrorpops dancer

"Wear as little clothing as acceptably (I don't know if that's a word, but is is now) possible.

Take your own water, it's super expensive.

Take a backpack or something to carry said water, any merch you buy. And any clothes you might take off.

It's also good to take your own snacks, as the stuff there is also pricey.

Go to the schedule board and write down the times and stages of bands you want to see so you don't have to go back 50 times.

SUNSCREEN!!!

And duh, have fun."

"1. drink LOTS of water before hand
2.take a notepad to write down the names and times of bands you want to see.
3. wait till a huge break in the bands you want to see show times to buy merch
4. the best merch is after it's over because they're practically giving it away at the dropped prices on cd's and shirts.
5. wear ankle high converse if you plan on crowd surfing you may lose a shoe otherwise.
6.dont bring your own liquids cuz they make you either throw it away or remove all the tops off before entering.
7. dont forget your cell phone its easy to lose friends amongst mosh pits.
8. bring a backpack for merch and other things you dont want to get lost.
9.dont be afraid of moshing you dont have to be in the pit to mosh and have fun moving around sweaty bodies, dont be that stuck up bitch in the back watching the band from afar its way better up close and personal. unless your exhausted.
10. if someone pushes you in the mosh, just push back but dont be offended and dont try to start a fight its just the way of the mosh and most people are friendly if you fall they'll help you back up.
11.designate a meeting spot for friends to meet back up with you if you all need to find each other and what not.
12.dont waste your time waiting for bands to sign shit its a waste of time because alot of band members dont even show up for their own signing and sure you get to meet the band but you might possibly miss alot of other sweet bands while you wait so organize your time wisely.
13. have fun finding new bands and listen to their music their quite friendly and their usually selling their own merch so when they make it big you can say you knew them and shook hands with them before they were big.
14. have a fucking awesome time no matter what." - Derek Bromund

"bring a marker to write the schedule of the bands you wanna see on your arms or somewhere you wont lose it. so you wont have to keep walking back and forth to the main schedule."

"1. It seems like it's always hotter than any day else around here so I like to bring a hat and put my hair up. I'm not good with the sun so it's one of my number one survival needs.

2. SUNSCREEN! and make sure you eat the morning of, bring some snacks, or have money to buy some expensive food. You're gonna need it for the whole day,

3. Where light clothes, you probably shouldn't wear black shirt and jeans.

4. I don't know if all warped tour arenas do this but mine always does. If you bring water bottles they usually take the caps off, so always bring a few extra caps and hide them. I hide mine in my bra as crazy as it sounds.

5. Or you can bring a lot of money, because water bottles are like 4 dollars for one bottle.

6. When you get there find the board of all the times & bands. I took a picture of mine so I always had a reference of it (zoom in!) and then figure out what bands you want to see and what time. I put every single band I was going to see as an alarm on my cell phone at least 10 mins earlier, that way it would go off & vibrate and I would know NEXT BAND IS COMING ON! and run there.

7. Where comfy shoes. Flip flops & flats maybe cute but they are really not the best things to wear all day. Plus, make sure your sneakers are secured tightly.

8. Bring a sharpie and maybe something to sign (like a notebook or a blank shirt) inc ase you run into a band you want to meet and they don't have any sharpies or anything to sign on. Plus, if you bring that little notebook you can play games like hangman or something with a friend inbetween bands.

9.
.. Bring batteries if you're bringing a ..camera.
.. If.. you're snapping pictures all day, it may die. Mine always does!

10. Last but not least, if you have a long time period in between any bands (like say and hour and a half) find shade if you can and just sit down and relax. You would never believe how much it can help." - Alishia

"Don't expect to stay the whole day. Play it by ear and leave if you feel uncomfortable.

Expect to get absolutely filthy even if you're not in the pits.

Expect to get sunburn.

Don't bother trying to dress to impress if it sacrifices comfort; you're going to be sweaty and dirty like everyone else within a a few hours anyway.

Don't wear flip flops if you plan on watching bands; you more than likely will lose them and they're uncomfortable to wear all day outside anyway. A good pair of sneakers will do.

Try not to eat much that day. The heat will just make you feel sick.

Drink lots of water and try to skip on soda and the free Monsters. Monster and soda will only make you more thirsty whereas water will keep you hydrated.

If you get a sno cone, ask for one without the syrup. Trust me. You'll appreciate the little ball of ice against your face more than you will eating it.

Don't assume just because a band is talking to you that they're willing to be your bff's for the day.

Don't ask bands to take you to the bus because it's "hot". If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Don't hang around buses. I cannot stress this enough. It's okay to wander, but PLEASE don't just sit beside buses in hopes your favorite band will come out. It's creepy. A bus is a band's home for the tour. How would you feel if a group of people gathered on your doorstep?

Don't freak out when you meet bands. Just relax. They all eat and shit the same way you do.

Don't think that you have a ~shot at dating someone you met at Warped in some band. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but it's highly unlikely. Most guys have their girlfriends on Warped with them.

Above all, be respectful. Have fun. Get dirty. Expose yourself to new music. Meet new people and try not to die." - Jordan



Check out all the bands and lineups and other news at warpedtour.com. Also, feel free to comment this post with some survival tips of your own! Or let us know what date you're going to!

-Courtney "see you in Detroit" Kaz.