Going to a music festival for the first time can be a huge deal. You are spending your weekend in the middle of nowhere, with limited resources and a little knowledge of what’s to come so Virgin Media, headline sponsor of V Festival have created the ultimate festival survival guide for any first-timer.
From the preparation to the partying, there are so many things you need to think of to ensure your weekend runs as smoothly as possible. Hundreds of thousands of music lovers have different experiences each year. These guidelines will help you create a weekend to remember…for the good!
Before you head off to the festival…
· It’s a veritable catwalk out there, so pack your fave festival outfits, but don’t forget some comfy shoes (which you don’t mind getting a bit muddy). If in doubt, take your willies and a pac-a-mac – you may also want to invest in a waterproof phone case, to help protect it from the rain (or beer!)
· Take some ID, cash and your phone, but maybe leave other valuables at home. Not only will this help you to budget more effectively, but will also save you lots of hassle and disappointment if you lose them
· Download a torch app on your phone, to help you find your tent when it’s dark
· Set your TiVo box to record your favourite shows or festival coverage – you might even spot yourself in the crowd on TV!
· To help save on your phone battery try turning down the screen brightness, close all apps you won’t need and turn off Bluetooth and any push notifications, before you leave the house
During the festival…
· Connect to the free WiFi as soon as you arrive on site to help you stay in touch with friends there and at home. Virgin Media offers free WiFi to all festival-goers across both the Staffordshire and Essex sites at V Festival, so you have no excuse!
· Try not to let your phone battery drop below 30%, to avoid shortening your battery life. Don’t be afraid to check out Virgin Media’s recharge points across the V Festival sites, to keep your phone juiced
· To get the best festival pics, try grabbing your friends for a group photo around sunset, with you all facing the sunset to get the best festival-glow in the shot. And don’t forget to turn off the flash when trying to capture shots of the artists on stage – it’s unlikely to make any difference to your photo, and can eat up valuable battery life
· If your phone completely dies or you lose it, fear not – head over to Virgin Media’s Our House and use one of the laptops to stay connected to your friends by sending them a message on Facebook or Twitter
· Follow @VFestival for the latest line-up info, and @VMLouderLounge for the behind-the-scenes gossip
