DO: Be Creative With Your Outfits
Coachella is blogger heaven, so take this moment to try out new things with your wardrobe.
DON’T: Do VIP
Speaking to many frequent Coachella attendees, the extra cost ($500 in addition to the $399 basic ticket) isn’t worth it. The true festival experience is having a General Admission ticket.
DO: Check Out the Do LaB Stage
This stage houses some of the best underground acts. But prepare to get wet.
DON’T: Miss Out on the Early Day Performers
You shouldn’t miss out on the early performers just because they’re not headlining. A couple of years ago, Mumford & Sons performed early in the day, and now tickets to their concerts go for hundreds of dollars.
DO: Head to the (Air-Conditioned) Yuma tent
It can reach over 100 degrees in the desert, so head to the Yuma tent for some cold air and nice pillows for you to rest on. Also, some great DJ talent is always spinning there.
DON’T: Just go see Famous DJs
If you’re deciding between seeing an unknown live performer or seeing a famous group like Major Lazer, go see the smaller performer. You can see Major Lazer in Vegas any time.
DO: Make Sure You Get Educated Ahead of Time
Coachella has some pretty strict rules when it comes to things like selfie sticks, what you can bring into the festival, and codes of conduct. Read these ahead of time.
DON’T: Buy the $14 cocktails
They are loaded with sugar and contain way too little alcohol for the price.
DO: Watch Your Drinking During The Day
The hot desert heat and lack of water combined long days of dancing can cause severe dehydration.
DON’T: Spend the Day on Your Phone
This is supposed to an experience filled with music and friends. Don’t waste your time taking pictures, snapchatting or texting your friends. There’s barely any service anyway.
DO: Be as Practical as Possible
Don’t bring what you don’t need to the festival. You’re not allowed to carry in backpacks anyway, and lockers fill up fast.
DON’T: Rely on Uber
Avoid the ride-sharing service at all cost, unless “all cost” exceeds the app’s 5x surge pricing. Arrange for pick up before, or buy a shuttle pass ahead of time. If you must Uber, avoid the lot at the end of the yellow path; it looks like a refugee camp after midnight. Fenced in, no amenities, no rides available. It’s purgatory.
Do: Plan Which Artists You Want to see Ahead of Time
The lineup came out on Wednesday, so take a peek at the setlist and decide which artists/bands you want to see, and plan out your day accordingly.
DON’T: Wait Until the End to Leave
Your exit time will skyrocket exponentially.
DO: Set Your Friend’s Phone Number as your Home Screen
Change your cell phone’s home screen to the phone number of a friend accompanied by the message, “If Found, Please Call XXX-XXX-XXXX.”
DO: Eat the Food
Coachella is also an art and food festival, so try out the yummy stalls spread throughout the festival grounds. Kazu Nori will be there this year, too!
DON’T: Forget to Scan the Floor
You might find some dollar bills you can use for those expensive $14 cocktails we told you not to buy, ARE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION???
DO: Buy a Bandana
Weather reports this year forecast huge windstorms. Do yourself a favor and buy a bandana to cover your face.
DON’T: Stress About the Side Party Scene
Despite TheWrap’s own party columnist’s obsessive reporting, the best party and scene is the festival itself. It only comes around 6 days a year, and there’s a summer full of pool parties in L.A. if you want to drink a sponsored vodka near Jamie Chung.
DO: Get a Camping Spot
Get a camping spot or find someone who has one so you can store your booze at the campground. Camping spot No. 1 also seems the best of all.
DO: Check out the Sahara Tent
Even if you hate “oomcha-oomcha” music, check out the throbbing spaceship that is the Sahara tent in the corner at least once for the experience. If nothing else, you’ll get a brief teleportation to teen culture.
DO: Download Digital Payment Options
Load up on one of the digital payment options offered by the app (Samsung Pay/Android Pay/Apple Pay). Cashless revelry is the wave of the future!
DO: Check out TheWrap’s Guide to Coachella Parties