One of Australia’s favourite music events of the year is the Big Day Out festival, now well over 10 years old. The 2013 lineup contains some of the biggest acts in the world, from veterans, Red Hot Chili Peppers to Las Vegas showmen The Killers. Supporting these headliners are Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses and more.
Festivals as huge as Big Day Out can be a not-so-fun experience if not planned and organised adequately, so this article presents a “Survival Guide” of sorts giving you all the tips and advice you need to make it through Big Day Out 2013 (relatively) unscathed.
Take Adequate Money with You
ATM queues can be a real bitch, and no food or drink outlet is going to take your credit card. Plan ahead and take all the cash you think you are going to need. If you are worried about theft leave the wallet at home and take a clear plastic zip lock bag with just your ID and paper money. Sun Protection
Big Day Out is in one of the hottest months of the year for the eastern coast of Australia, so unless you enjoy lying a cool bath of aloe for days after the event if pays to bring/wear adequate sun protection. This includes a hat, 30+ sunscreen, polaroid sunglasses. Leave the umbrella at home, it is on the list of prohibited items and you won’t even make it past the front gate.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
It is going to be a loooong day in the sun, so make sure you are wearing clothes you are happy to have on for up to 10 hours sweating it out dancing around. Good shoes are a must; leave the high heel platform shoes at home.
Don’t Lose Your Friends!
With all the main stages, side stages and various attractions Big Day Out has, it is easy to get lost. Mobile phone communication can be sketchy too, so it is recommended to have clear meeting points assigned through the day. Make these meeting points easy for everyone to get to, and not right outside band stage (to avoid the pre and post show swarm of people).
Drink Water ALL Day
Make sure you're well hydrated - even if it's not a hot day! The combination of heat, crowds and alcohol can creep up on you unexpectedly, so it's best to drink up even if you're not feeling thirsty. Oh, and the water in beer doesn't count as water.
It is important to make sure you are prepared for anything Big Day Out can throw at you, but it is just as important to have fun, so take the pressure off by following the above preparation recommendations and get ready to rock out with some of the world biggest acts under the Australian sunshine! Happy Big Day Out 2013!
Download Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Killers albums on BigPond Music.
