Beyond Wonderland Checklist

The 4th annual Beyond Wonderland Festival sponsored by the infamous Insomniac Events will be taking place this Saturday in San Bernardio, California at The San Manuel Amphitheater. With good vibes and a solid set list, the event looks like it will be a promising success. Nevertheless, Murphy’s Law has a tendency to rear it’s ugly head into our lives from time to time. I have composed a checklist for those attending Beyond so they can avoid a disastrous festival experience and ensure a perfect evening.

1. Make sure you have had plenty of sleep the night before the festival. Having enough sleep the night before will provide you with more energy throughout the night. More energy means more dancing and a longer night of fun filled partying. Studies also show that those who get more sleep are less susceptible to stress, migraines, and getting sick. This is a rave! No one wants to be around a sick, angry, miserable person not to mention the music and lighting effects may further induce the headaches. Make sure you are well rested and ready to have some fun!

2. Bring comfortable, weather appropriate attire. There is nothing worse then having your night ruined because you weren’t wearing the right shoes or clothing. Wear comfortable shoes. Heels may look nice on ladies but after seven hours of dancing, it doesn’t seem to be worth the pain. Instead of heels opt for cute comfortable flats or boots instead. Also, during the day, Southern California has been seeing above average temperatures and since the venue is going inland toward the desert, expect the day time to be hot. Plus it will get hot inside those tents as well with all the body heat and dancing. With that said, the night will get very cold. Make sure you have a nice warm jacket in the car for the ride home. What me and my friends like to do is bring a warm blanket to share in the car after the show. It always seems to work out great.

3. Make sure you have a secure place to hold your belongings. A fanny pack, small backpack or secure pockets are ideal at these festivals because you don’t have to hold anything while you’re dancing and your belongings stay in a secure place. I volunteered at last years nocturnal festival and worked in the lost and found both and was astonished to see how many items are lost due to lack of having a a secure place to hold their belongings. There were dozens of lost drivers licenses, wallets, cell phones, cameras, and miscellaneous items that made it’s way to our booth; and those were just the items that were turned in. Someone even lost their iphone 5 which was just released that day. Please make sure you have your items in a secure place and remember to keep double checking if  they are still there every couple of hours.

4. Bring your own roll of toilet paper. Let’s face it, the portable potties at these events  are gross and only get worse as the night goes on. The bathrooms also tend to run out of toilet paper before midnight. When I attended Escape from Wonderland last fall, my sister had brought a roll of toilet paper because she knew there wan’t going to be any when she got there. She was right. The toilet paper can also be used as a cover seat because we all know those run out even before the toilet paper does. Best advice would be to keep the roll in in your secure fanny pack or backpack.

5. Make sure you stay hydrated. Insomniac Events is really awesome when it comes to providing water for it’s guests. Bring your insomniac bottle from former festivals or invest ten dollars in buying a new one and get free water for the entire night. Being hydrated doesn’t just mean drinking water at the show. Make sure you are hydrated prior to the event as well. Staying hydrated will sustain your energy, therefore your ability to have more fun.

6. Make sure you have your ticket and Identification Card with you before leaving for the show. You would be surprised how many people get super excited to get to the front entrance of the venue only to be turned away because they forgot their ticket and/or identification card. Don’ be that person! Always check and make sure you have both before you leave, and while you’re waiting in line at the front entrance, check again as well. For that matter, check after you leave your car  along with making sure you didn’t lock your keys in the car or leave any lights on. Being stranded is almost as bad as not getting inside the show at all.

7. Make sure you eat a nice, big, healthy meal before the show. Having a nice healthy meal will keep your bodies momentum up for the duration of the evening. Make sure to opt for a healthier meal, especially if you are planning to drink. Doing so will prevent you from getting a stomach ache. I have made that mistake as well as not eating before a festival. Don’t do it!

8. Check the set list and times prior to the event. Insomniac has already released the set times so there is no excuse for not having a schedule in place. Knowing who is playing where and at what time is key, especially if there is a particular DJ you are really trying to see. There is nothing more disappointing then catching the end of a set you were dying to see by mixing up time slots. Check the set times and location to ensure seeing all your favorites without the hassle of looking for it as they are playing. Remember that Beyond will be at a new location so a good piece of advice would be to show up to the event a little earlier and explore the venue.

9. Designate a meeting spot with all your friends if someone gets lost. Thousands of people will be attending this event which means it will be easy to lose a friend at some point of the night along the way. Designate a meeting spot at a distinct landmark, such as a Ferris wheel, statue, lost and found booth, or near the main entrance. Remember that there are going to be thousands of people there, which means the cell phone receptions are going to be bad. Don’t rely on your phone to find your friends, designate a meeting spot.

10. Bring your smile and your good vibes! This one goes without saying. It’s a rave! There will be dancing, drinks, performers, art, and good music. Have fun, smile, bring in the good vibes, and be safe!