“No water for me thanks, only tequila.” You’re unstoppable, invincible. Mortal needs do not concern you.
Have you ever seen a mosh-pit at a trance party? I have. The party was Orca and there I was on the balcony of The Fez looking down at a dancefloor, meant for 1000 people, heave with 2500 (at the promoter’s last count). Like psychedelic blood cells the crowd swelled as one. I heard stories later of feet not even touching the ground. Along with the party’s namesake, Orca, scene stalwarts like the Commercial Hippies and Super Evil tore the roof off. The crowd was rabid. I had been to Fez a week before, the turn out then had been, well, limp, in comparison.
I have news for the sticker-kids and the board shorts brigade; there’s a new generation in town, and there are more of them than ever before. So it’s with this indoor orgy in mind that I look ahead to the summer season. At last we’ll be able to party under the stars and sun alike. But raving in the bush is not for the mild at heart; indeed it takes some balls, but you should be fine with a little preparation.
Your summer survival guide:
A Car Bar is not a luxury but a necessity. Make sure you decant all boozy beverages into plastic bottles or the Red Jackets will be the ones tucking into your supply – and you’ll be left paying bar prices. Cash aside, just like any bar, the Car Bar is a social watering-hole and can provide much entertainment and ‘missions’ to and from the dancefloor.
Water is not your enemy. There comes a time though when hedonism rules. No water for me thanks, only tequila. You’re unstoppable, invincible. Mortal needs do not concern you. But come Monday morning when you feel ‘trance-partied’ you will have wished you had imbibed in H2O. There are some sneaky ways to keep hydrated; drink whiskey with lots of ice and water; top up wine with soda water; stick your head under the tap whenever you walk past it.
Dust. It’ll seep into your clothes, clog your nose, and gather around your mouth. It will own you if you let it. The simple solution? Wet wipes. Buy a packet and leave it in the car. A great way to make friends too; hand them out to the great unwashed.
Your phone. Leave your smart phone at home. The trance gods are known to demand BlackBerry sacrifices. Instead, take along that spare Nokia. Besides some of the makes have a handy torch – useful for night-time navigation.
Cameras. Avoid that sinking feeling on Monday; the after-party Facebook dread. Keep the memories alive sure, but when photo after photo of you with your drunk-face on is all over the net, you’ll regret those shots in the mud. The beauty of the scene has always been the anonymity – the fact that you can let your hair down and go wild without the fear of being judged. Nowadays, with all this rampant technology, you need to keep your wits about you.
Sunglasses are non-negotiable. Not only will they protect your eyes from dust and sunlight, but if you happen to get caught in camera cross-fire at least you’ll look partly normal. Just don’t wear them at night. [So uncool.]
Tent-tiquette. If you’re planning to ‘tent it’ there are a few things you need to keep in mind. One, where you set up camp in the first place ‘by the apple tree with the weird leaves…’ Two, this isn’t your usual camping scenario; there will be people falling over your abode, the music will make the ground vibrate, and you won’t feel fresh in the morning. Bring earplugs and water and you may just make it through the night.
And finally have a snarky answer ready for when you get asked the question: “What time did you get here?”
There you have it, follow all of the above guidelines and you’re guaranteed to have a happy, shiny summer.
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