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.

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)