Dancefestopia clarifications podcast

   I made this podcast to make some clarifications about dancefestopia and purchasing tickets to it, also I discussed the things that make this dancefestopia so exciting.

The link I discussed in the podcast can be found here

Making it to Dancefestopia

     If you have been following the blog, you have likely ran into either a post or reference to multiple festivals. What I omitted was the "horrendous" cost of these large festivals. Making it to Dancefestopia will cost you, but I doubt you will regret it.

Electric Daisy Carnival 3-day general admission tickets are 426$
Tomorrowland 3-day general admission is 868$
Dancefestopia however is only about 168$

   "Only" may seem like an under exaggeration, it is a-lot to spend for most people. When you consider what that 168$ purchases though it is actually quite the deal. There will be 75+ sets performed at Dancefestopia this year, 3 days of nonstop music and enjoyment, the experience is more than worth it. There are other expenses to consider though before you just run out and get festival tickets. A 3-day festival will require you to purchase/bring plenty of food and water. Also if you don't have a tent, you will either need to get one from the DFT shop or buy your own. Also gas and a required parking pass if you drive there. This means in reality the entire weekend will cost you around 300$ to 400$.

     BUT Dancefestopia offers you the opportunity to get your tickets free by selling them on their behalf. http://dancefestopia.thephysicalnetwork.com
Sell 8 tickets get yours free, there are also a number of other incentives depending on how many tickets you manage to sell. This is a cost effective way for determined festival-goers to make it to them more often.

     It located on the bank of the river.

Dancefestopia

     The footage of EDC 2014 and Tomorrowland always invoke a sense of excitement in ravers hearts. For some of us though, those events are out of reach. For those of us living in Kansas though, we have Dancefestopia, and Dancefestopia is awesome.

     Don't believe me? Check out this video teaser for last year's Dancefestopia.

     Dancefestopia is in Kansas City, which for most of us is a relatively short drive. It is a 3 day festival with onstage performances non-stop. There will be 3 stages and with the way acts are set up it is possible to see all 35 of the headliners and majority of the other 40 or so acts that will perform during the festival: and most importantly there will be access to showers this year! Which if you've never been to a festival seems like an odd thing to be excited about... but trust me you, and anyone near your tent will be more than happy about it.

Here are a couple of pictures from Dancefestopia and also this years line up of performers.

...

Electric Daisy Festival

     The Electric Daisy Carnival is biggest EDM event in the U.S. and the excitement for it this year is as large as ever. For good reason too: there are rumors of some really major DJ's performing at EDC 2015.
     It recently became a 3 day event that drew in more than 700,000 patrons in 2014, EDC is a big deal. Last year at the Sundance festival, there was a documentary about EDC released. You don't necessarily have to watch the entire documentary, but EDC will mean that much more to you if you do.

     and if you'd like a short version of what EDC looks like, here is footage from EDC 2014.

   

DanceSafe is Your Friend

     If you have ever been to a rave in a major city, you may have seen various tables setup with brochures and various other reading materials. This was a "DanceSafe" table if you were not intrigued enough to go investigate.
 
     DanceSafe is a nonprofit started in the late 90's. This group has youth volunteers that go to raves and other edm events and set up tables. They distribute non biased information on drugs, and supply event patrons with water, condoms, and ear plugs. They even wade through the crowd to ensure that people are hydrated and safe.

     Though DanceSafe is only in 9 cities across the U.S. their are many groups mimicking this trend and working to keep raving safe for everyone.

     This video was made by the DanceSafe volunteers and it sums up this great organization.

I'll take you to the Kandi shop!

     In earlier posts I talked about Rave fashion and it's accessories; colorfully known as "kandi."
Kandi's overall importance to rave culture and fashion. The wonderful thing about kandi is the broad selection available to purchase and even more possibilities to create kandi.

     If you are interested in buying kandi, http://kandigear.com is one of the best sites on the internet to do it. Their selection is original and offers something for just about any outfit.
Their "trademark" are their kandi masks.

     If you are interested in making your own kandi, as many people do, the best places to get inspired and instructions are pinterest and etsy. Users are constantly sharing great kandi, and how to make your own. If you artistically challenged you can purchase custom made kandi on etsy.

     Here are a examples of some kandi-clad ravers.

Rave Terminology

      One of the most confusing aspects of rave culture is our jargon. You may be surprised to find out  "kandi" isn't always edible. This list highlights jargon you need to be especially wary of. You do not want to find yourself in a situation where your life and future are jeopardized.
Below is a short glossary guide (Which is based off of common British EDM jargon) made by the guys over at http://www.fantazia.org.uk/ which is a great source of rave related information.

Bad Banging Berry Blaff Blissed Out Bollocked Bosh BPM Buzzin Cap Charged Up Cheesy quaver Cream Crackered Cutting Shapes Disco Biscuits Dosh Fast stuff Flying Geezer Get right on one Gurner Gutted Havin It Large! MAD WAE IT! Mega Maytee Melted Mental Mintered Monged Munted Mullered! Off my nut OI OI! Parad up to fuck Peaking Peeker PLUR Pukka Punters Putting one together Quiver Rave Rammed Right on one Rush Safe Salmon Sorted Spangled Stash Stomp Stompfest Sweeties Top Buzz Trip Trippin Twisted Plimsoll Vera's Wicked Zoot

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Good, attractive Referring to quality tunage Pill to blaff a pill or pills Attained the highest happiness Well and truly fucked To eat drugs Beats per Minute Having a great time/On a high Capsule form of a pill Loaded, filled to the full of drugs Happy Hardcore Raver Exhausted, worn out Dancing Ecstasy/Pills Money Speed Dancing/High on drugs A Man's Man Have a Pill Making facial expression on E To be rather disappointed Good Time/Max dancing/Drugs out of ones face on the choice drugs of the rave Great, very large, huge A sociable, familiar, all-round good person Wasted A great night out Embarrassed by a fellow raver out of it on pills (certain E's had this effect) Wasted Wasted Extremely high on drugs Greetings out of ones face on the choice drugs of the rave when yer dancing & ya feel that euphoria A raver on E Peace Love Unity & Respect Very good Customers Rolling a joint Coke A great night out Filled to capacity mashed too the limit and enjoying oneself The highs from Ecstasy/Euphoria I'm Okay Cigarettes Got drugs for the night Drug State you are in Secret store of drugs Dancing Dancing Pills Good Journey that Acid visions take you on Seeing abnormal images etc Wasted Rizzla Very Good Joint

Do your research!

     You cannot go to just any show you find or hear about. I touched on this in an earlier post, but I want to address this with more specificity and create a 3 step walk through based on my personal practices when deciding whether or not a show is for me.

1. The first thing you need to know is who is headlining the event.

• You are gonna wanna know some background on them, if they have any gimmicks during shows or anything else that could surprise you. (E.X. There is a popular DJ that actually throws cakes into the crowd. Not something you want to be around if you have any allergies to cake ingredients)
• Genre and Subgenre you don't wanna go to a show with a genre you don't particularly care for. Shows are pricey and it would be a shame to pay so much for an experience you won't enjoy.

     2.  Check out who is opening the show.

• Are they local dj's, or are they touring with the main show.
• You want to look into all the questions you would ask about a headlining event to determine whether or not you will attend the whole show or just get there in time for the headline event.

     3.   Consider the venue the show will be in.

• Have you been before? If so then you should be familiar with anything you need to be wary of.
• If not you are gonna wanna do alot of research and asking around to make sure you will be somewhere safe.

So you wanna make your own EDM?

     It has come to the mind of every EDM fan I know, and it is natural. We all covet the idea of being the next great DJ getting paid to go to the shows we love, and all the glamour of being the DJ that just walks out and sends the crowd into a frenzy. It is a lot of hard work though to learn, and if you have no musical background it is even more difficult. The basic tools and software to start making EDM are also very expensive. I recommend researching EDM production, and also starting to learn to read music, and researching music theory.

Intimidated? 

(Photo Credits: Image-Line)

     You should, and should not be. When you start learning music production and have your own DAW(Digital Audio Workshop) you will know what all those buttons and knobs do.

     There is a Youtube series (many infact) that will teach you the basics to music production. This is their first video installment of the series. Watch it see if this interests you, if it does pursue it. Who knows in the next few years you could be the biggest DJ on the scene performing at festivals all over the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=457tWi-QxjM

Show Review: Kap Slap & Gazzo @ The Granada

     Kap Slap & Gazzo stopped in Lawrence on their "BREAKOUT" tour. The show hosted by Hy Tekk Productions at the granada was one to remember. The names attached to the show were not the biggest in the mainstream industry, so the crowd was not as packed as it gets at many Hy Tekk shows. There was however a building of over flowing support, and the slightly smaller crowd did nothing to dampen the night for the DJ's. Doors opened at 7 and the pre-show session was a nice primer for the sets starting at 8. Two local DJ's opened the show and they did great, but the show took on a completely different life after Gazzo opened his set. Gazzo's energetic set and use of familiar mixes put the crowd into the right energetic mood. Then the lights changed and Kap Slap appeared on stage and that was when the show had started to reach its peak. Kap Slap's mix selection was always in line with what the crowd wanted. He kept the crowd jumping, and dancing constantly. His pacing was also great too, some DJ's just hit you constantly with bass and that can get tiring physically and mentally. There were "rest" songs in between his hardcore mixes and he also shot a cooling agent out into the crowd to keep everyone cool. That is an underappreciated service at shows, the level of energy and body heat in the crowd, he very well may have saved a life with these practices. I could sing praises for days for his performance today, and the 4 or 5 encore songs he treated the crowd to. Kap Slap is definitely someone you want to keep your eyes on in the EDM scene.

     Here is a 60 minute Kap Slap Mix for your enjoyment.

Check out his youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/KapSlapEntertainment

Hy Tekk Productions

    If you are an EDM fan in the NE Kansas & NW Missouri area then chances are you have either heard of or been to a show hosted by them. Hy Tekk Productions is a great EDM production company. Founded 5 years ago in Kansas City Missouri they have grown exponentially over the last couple years. They are now one of the biggest EDM show organizers in the midwest. They have an excellent reputation for their shows, and house parties and are attracting big names in the EDM industry to our little neck of the woods. If you are thinking about going to a show in this area of the country, then you are definitely gonna wanna check out their shows.

     Their Official website with everything you could want to know, and also a lot of great pictures from their events.
http://hy-tekk.com/

     Follow them on facebook for event details and free ticket opportunities.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hy-Tekk-Productions/184187091852

There are things better Tomorrowland out there!

   The last update I focused on what many believe is the "greatest show on earth" Tomorrowland. There are many other shows and festivals that are just as amazing as Tomorrowland as hard as it is to believe. Majority of them however do not travel like Tomorrowland does. So below is a video from a youtuber with what they thought were the best shows of 2014. I suggest watching and seeing if anything is close to home or close to a future destination of yours.

EDM Around The World

     EDM music and rave culture span the entire globe. The current rave culture and EDM trends were all born in western europe, not that the eastern half has not made significant contributions to the culture. What was originally a niche culture grew into a world wide phenomenon. EDM for the most part has no language with no language barriers many EDM DJ's have fan bases across the globe.

     The shows on the international circuit are a completely different beast.They are much larger, much louder, and from what I can tell much more fun.

      Tomorrowland is my favorite on the international circuit, and it is the favorite of many EDM/rave enthusiasts. It is hard to call Tomorrowland a "rave" necessarily for one it is not one and done. Tomorrowland is a 3 day festival that tours the different cities around the world. No description I nor even the official website can give does Tomorrowland justice. So below is footage of the 2014 Tomorrowland  festival tour. Feel free to add it to your bucket list like so many others before you have!

Play by Play on Show Day!

     The day is here, you are ready for your first show! You have taken all the necessary safety precautions and have all your.

Arrival:

I believe 30-45 minutes early is the best time to get to your venue. It ensures ticket availability and also you get your pick of the landscape inside.

Entering the Venue

As you enter the venue you want to identify  where the exits are, where you can find access to water, bathrooms, and also the "RaveSafety" tables you will often see with information and warnings for you.

Pre-show

Before the DJ's go on with their sets they will be playing music to get the vibe for the night set in before performances even start. This is the time you want to spend finding a place to settle into for at least the first portion of the night.

During the Show & Leaving

Just have fun! Keep safety concerns in mind, but have fun. This is a fun experience, a euphoric paradise this is what you have been so curious about. Hopefully you didn't come alone stay with the people you came with and move through crowds together no one should be alone at any point in the night. At the end of the night if you and your travel buddy are separated from the main group just proceed outside and call or meet at a previously agreed upon location.

Rave Ready?

     Up to this point we have have addressed a lot of the cultural essentials to the EDM music scene. You should be, at this point ready to go to your first show. In fact, I know you are! Because many people do not take any time to research all this information before going to their first shows. Which is okay if you are  being guided by an experienced raver, but going at it on your own can be an overwhelming experience. There are also some safety points I touched on before and I wanted to address again fully. Lives are unfortunately lossed at shows due to negligence on patron's part, and that gives the EDM scene a bad name as well. So below are a list of important safety points I want to make, and also resource URL's for finding more information about safety.

1. Water is probably the most important thing, Stay hydrated, it is probably hot you are dancing a lot a heat stroke can onset faster than many realize. Also if your empathy compels you keep an eye on those you came with or even those in the crowd near you and offer anyone water that you think needs it. Your kindness is often returned at some point, but also pay attention to the water you are offered to ensure their is nothing in it.
2. Find bathrooms, access to water, and exits BEFORE the show starts.
3. Take breaks if you get tired or drowsy, breaks are best taken in public places to avoid any one hassling you or bothering you while you rest.
4. Ensure your clothes are comfortable and won't cause any physical discomfort during the different sets.

This is a much more detailed and eloquent list:

http://www.complex.com/music/2014/03/edm-festival-survival-guide/be-knowledgeable

And I wouldn't feel right if I didn't offer a list specifically for women who unfortunately have a whole slew of other concerns and things to watch for:

http://showbams.com/2014/01/15/10-safety-tips-women-should-know-when-going-first-music-festival/

Venues on the Menu

     Venues are the place where shows are held, they are usually local clubs and theaters, but in festival showings venues are sometimes put up specifically to host shows. This blog is directed at people in the midwest, and me being a native kansan leaves my personal experience very limited, so I will direct everyone to the much more experienced electronicmidwest.com writers for their opinions on the better venues near us. This site is also a great resource to look for when you are thinking of making a longer distance trip, and need to know where the best shows are gonna be.

     I will say it is very important to not only research the popularity of venues, but also their quality. What are their sound capabilities, how many people can fit in the venue, how many people are projected to attend the rave, the security quality of the venues, and any local reputation the venue may have. Some places are really "shady" and not where you wanna be. A short anecdote from my life, I went to a rave in Lawrence. It wasn't at the Granada, or as it is better known the "Granasty," the local venue I frequent. It was in a makeshift venue in a warehouse. I came in and their was what I was told pigs blood smeared on the wall in the shape of pagan symbols and people doing drugs and self harming in the crowd. Not what I was shopping for, so I always caution people to be very careful and selective when choosing a venue or rave to attend.

     This is a photo from inside my "home" venue the granada. Which if you are looking for a first venue this one is great with an extremely smooth learning curve. By the second or third trip you will feel confident inside it and move as you please.

(Photo Credits: Hy-Tekk Productions)

Dress to Impress

     Raves also double as strange fashion shows. It is a part of the scene that I am not too deeply involved in. I value comfort while raving above all. It is also a predominantly  female facet, not to say that males do not peacock at raves. It is to a lesser degree of our female counterparts. Others disagree and put on a full peacock display for fellow ravers.

     ... and I use the term "peacocking" because a very popular style trend is based off of actual peacocks.

Photo Credits: Electric Laundry on Twitter @ElectricLaundr

          The creative ceiling is boundless at raves you could see the cliche  "sexy *insert a profession here* "

Like the lovely rave ladies you see below. 

Photo Credits: http://www.vyneworld.com/

     These costumes are classic and easy, but do not satisfy some ravers desire for individuality. So some go the extra step and make their own costumes, and they are interesting to say the least.

Photo Credits: http://imgarcade.com/

     There are some things to keep in mind though when deciding what to wear to a rave, you don't want functionality to go completely out the window. You have to remember that you will be dancing and moving. So your clothing will need to be sturdy if you want to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. Also you are going to want to use water proof make up. If not your sweat someone elses you brush up against could ruin your outfit.

      For more information on rave fashion I recommend some, Google-Fu, individual study of the topic. Even if you are not that interested in the fashion portion of the culture the costumes are at least interesting to look at.

All the Pretty Lights!

     If you are a reader that is interested in going to a show the information in this post could potentially save the life of you or a friend. A popular and often sought after facet of shows/raves are the light shows. The lights show style and intensity varies based on the show. It is possible, and very easy for those susceptible to seizures, to go into one during these intense light shows. It is important to keep that in mind when considering going to shows. There are also a variety of projectors you can buy for at home light shows to accompany your music.

      I highly recommend those for people that like to emulate the rave environment at home with friends.
     
      Below are some examples of what to expect during light shows.

     This is the upscale end of light shows you wont usually see, but if you ever do cherish the experience. Most shows feature a strobe light, a few lasers, and some fog.

     Most "light shows" you will see will actually be performed by other ravers. Light up cloves and other accessories are used in light shows performed by crowd members. There are even "street performers" set up depending on the venue that have their own light performances. You can buy the gloves and lights at any local niche gift shop (ex. Spencers, Hot Topic, Zumiez)

Dance Like No One Is Watching!

     So you found some music you like, you've been listening to EDM for a sort time, seen some footage from shows and festivals and you think you are ready to hit the scene and go to your first show. Slow down eager beaver! A common misconception is that EDM and raves are a package deal. In many ways they are but the two are not completely co-dependent. There are still some pieces of informations and features of the culture you want to be familiar with before you dive in to your first show.

      Dancing, activity of choice for fans of EDM and also a necessity for ravers. "But what if I am a bad dancer?" Let me say now, no one cares. Literally no one, no matter how off beat awkward, or physically incapable you seem out there on the dance floor.  EDM has a very liberal culture to it, everything is generally accepted. So when we dance in this culture, we leave it all out on the dance floor. Admittedly dancing was not my favorite activity when I first started with EDM, but it grew on me. Before you go to your first show it is greatly advised that you check out the music they will be playing and experiment dancing to it. Just let the music guide your movement and pretty soon you will start to feel comfortable and confident dancing in public. 

      If you have a severe rhythmic disability use the video below, and others like it on youtube to inspire your moves:

Finding Favorites

     The first step of joining the EDM/rave culture is to identify which sub genre's of EDM you prefer. This is especially important in EDM. There are approximately 12 sub-genre's of EDM and those have 6-12 sub genre's of their own. Though many songs and mixes fall into multiple sub genres and the "sub-sub-genre's" in many cases are difficult to distinguish from each other. There are distinct pillars though in the EDM genre in which. Below are my three favorite sub genre's that also serve a great inductions into the EDM music scene.

1. House 

     House is one of the most popular genre's in EDM. House Music was born in the backyard of the midwest in chicago. Heavy use of 4/4 beats and drum machines. House, in the simplest terms, is dance music. It has a lot of disco and pop influences and the samples used in house music draw from any generation of music; from old school big band swing music, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Paula Abdul, etc. I always recommend House to newcomers asking about EDM, it has a wide variety and is probably the best representation for EDM.

Recommended DJ's

Avicii

Daft Punk

Kaskade

David Guetta

Dimitri & Vegas

Examples of House

2. Dubstep

     Dubstep is not one of my favorite sub genre's I actually do not like majority of the genre's music. It is however, an excellent genre for those new to EDM and there are admittedly quite a few musical gems in the genre. It incorporates a lot of other genre's into its style; break beats, and drum & bass styles. I joke about it being the "gateway genre" because a lot of my friends into the EDM scene started by listening to Dubstep.

Recommended Dj's

Skrillex
Adventure Club
Flux Pavilion
Zeds Dead
BassNectar

Examples of Dubstep

3. Trap

     Trap is my favorite form of EDM, it is not a genre for the faint of heart. The drum and bass kits are very heavy, and the vocals in the songs are often aggressive. . It originated as a form of southern hip hop that was extremely violent. As EDM Dj's moved into the genre it's focus shifted. It still incorporates many hip hop influences. If you like it loud and in your face this genre is definitely the one for you.

Recommended Dj's

RL Grime

Baauer

Hucci 

Stooki

Mr Carmack

Examples of Trap

Introduction Post

     Welcome to the Rave Ready blog! In this blog I will provide information useful for both new and experienced fans of the EDM (electronic dance music) genre in the midwest. Covering a wide range of topics; sub genres, shows, dj's, etc.

     It can be difficult to be an EDM fan in the midwest and more specifically in Kansas. Shows can be few and far between if you don't know how and where to look. It can also be a bit overwhelming to actually enter the scene. To a fresh, dough-eyed beginner  the loud music, flashing lights, smoke machines, and crowds of people can be very intimidating. Even for those not so frail of heart there are also a number safety measures and precautions. Poor judgements, and reckless actions at EDM shows too often result in hospitalization and death. There will be information in this blog to help readers have a safe and fun experience at EDM shows.

     Below is a video recorded at what was actually my first show in Lawrence last november. I have been to two shows since and a few "raves" it all came to me naturally.

Take a look at the video, and share your thoughts in the comments!