Going it alone to a festival

Zhora

Just looking for some opinions/advice. I'd really appreciate some viewpoints on this!

I'd really love to go to a weekend music festival but none of my friends are either free to go or are interested. So am considering taking the plunge and going to it by myself. I've never done anything like this before, have gone to day events by myself yet not a whole weekend festival. I usually don't have any problems meeting people and chatting to strangers. I'm a single lady, 40 but been told I don't look it, and I definitely don't feel it. Not that my age is an issue for me nor do I care what people think, just giving you some background info.

So do you think I should be brave and go alone, even go the whole hog and do the camping thing? Just a bit nervous, new territory for me!

Thanks

wylo

I know the stock answer is "yea sure, go, fair play" etc.

But I really dont think its as simple as that.

Depends why you want to go I guess, like ,if its to see certain bands, then definitely dont let social norms stop you seeing bands. But if its to have the whole "festival experience" , meet people, get drunk, party all night, then you would want to be a very very social person to be able to simply find friends that will chill with you for the weekend.

Its not like travelling where there will be other people in the same boat and where everyone there wants to meet loads of new people (not that they dont but you follow).

I guess alot of it has to do with where you end up camping, and who you end up beside.

My answer was a bit vague, and based on my own personality.

Sorry if it seems negative.
It really depends what you're like as a person, and how little a **** you give about the stuff I pointed out above. From reading your post it sounds like you'd have no issue with the stuff Id have a problem with, so take my advice with a pinch of salt.
For instance, if you are good meeting new people at one day festivals, then I couldnt see a problem, personally I wouldnt mind going to a one day festival to see bands, but I couldnt see myself being too good at making new friends randomly in that situation.

LegacyUser

What's the worst that can happen? You spend two nights talking to no one.

What's the best? You have a great time listening to bands you want to see and you chat to a load of people.

Festivals are fairly anonymous events..... you can move from one tent to the next seeing different acts and no one will think that you're some weirdo.

Last one I was at I ended up going to see bands I wanted to see while friends went off to others.

What I would suggest is maybe get a room in a B&B so you get a decent night's sleep and have somewhere to hang before any of the music starts... but that's me. I just remember not being able to sleep in a tent due to the noise.

If you can chat to strangers then go and enjoy it.

Sleepy

Maybe see if the festival has a forum? I know lots of people that used to post on the electric picnic forums and they'd usually meet up at the festival. Something like that would give you an instant group to hang around with and given the diversity of most forums there'd surely be a few of them at least that you'd get on with.

Zhora

Thanks for the replies. I did find a forum on boards for this festival after I had posted here so I have posted there ask ing if anyone else was going it alone.

The reason to do the whole camping thing was also a way to meet fellow festival goers as I remember before years ago camping at a festival with friends and you do meet people in the campsite too. As its my kind of music and alternative event I think I would meet some like minded, creative people there and who knows make some new friends.

I also found a site for carpooling, people looking for others who are going to this event and looking for a lift. As I have a car and would be heading down I thought it might be a good way of meeting some fellow festival goers by offering a lift. What do you think?

The more I think about this the more my instinct is telling me to go, try it and if I really am having a crap time I can just head home. I'd rather try than regret not going just because I am on my own. This is also part of new attitude to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Being single sometimes you can make it an excuse to not do things.

LegacyUser

I've gone to festivals alone several times.

I met a great group of friends because I went to a festival alone, and camped next to them, and they ended up being from the same place I was living. Like we still hang out 5 years later.

If you don't have any problems chatting with strangers, you'll be fine. Everyones normally on a friendly buzz. If you're the shyer sort, it might be more challenging.

Squiggler

I think you should go for it. Festivals are great fun and I've gone to a few where I might as well have gone alone because pretty much the only time I spent with the friends I went with was in the tent sleeping as we'd split up to watch different acts and sometimes wouldn't meet again until the evening. Met lots of fun people in the meantime.

LegacyUser

Wylo makes some good points above but I think it just comes down to just taking extra care to be safe if you are alone, especially overnight.

That said, I've done travelling and gone to lots of events and concerts alone. To be honest I got to the point in my late teens where my friends just weren't good at making and sticking to plans or just weren't into the same things I was. In the end I just took it upon myself to go.

The first time might seem a little odd but to be honest everyone is in their own world and aren't taking notice of you.

You do need to be pretty out going to be able to meet friends there, they won't come to you, but also if you just enjoy going to the music and all that then I wouldn't even worry about that.

In Ireland, you'll get the odd person who'll say "So who are you here with?" and be a bit smug with the answer. Since I moved abroad I found people more accepting of it since people are more open to it but then again people like that are just the exception and don't worry about it.

The way I see it is, if I want to go to something, I have 3 choices:
- Go alone and not regret missing it.
- Force some friends alone who'll not want to be there.
- Not go at all and regret it.

I'm just back from a road trip myself last weekend to an event and I'd be kicking myself now if I hadn't have gone.

LegacyUser

Hey Zohra,

few years not by much :-) younger than you and I find myself in the same boat "odd" taste in music as my friends would call it ( one is draging me to bressie no offence to people that like that sort of thing but oh my looord )

I have so many bands/festivals I would love to go to but no one will.

I have never done a festival by myself but I have done countless gigs and meet loads of people in the same boat as me god bless us having what I pecieve to be fabulous taste who simply did not want to miss a act and thought F**k it ill go by myself.

My advice make sure you camp somewhere safe , if youmeet peeps in the pub before the gig near them if they seem ok.

Do not camp where my best mate tried to set up a few year back ohhhh good flat land seems quite I appeared asked what that gap there in the hedge ( way down to the toiletry area ) late at night shall let you imagine the rest was not good she still to this day has not forgiven me for not making her move.

You are a sensible chick who likes her tunes so HELL WOMAN go just be safe have a blast and you will have a great time ( and your mates if they are liek mine will go to generic nightclub that night see the same faces same usual and you will have a great time.

Fizzlesque

I most definitely think you should go. A couple of years ago, when I was 41, I went to the Electric Picnic on my own and had an absolute ball.

You'll meet loads of people and get to do everything you want to do according to your own timetable, as and when you want.

Go, go, go.....most definitely do - that's my advice.

harney

I've gone to the last 4 Glastonbury festivals in a row on my own and have had great fun. I am a few years younger than you, but not too many. TBH, I almost prefer going on my own as there are less compromises. You can just wander round and take it all in at your own pace.

Just talk to enough random people and eventually some will talk back Most people are quite friendly, and up for a laugh.