If anyone asked you how long Coachella is, you'd say it's three days. But as it turns out, there's a lot of things wrong with that answer -- first of all, its two weekends, which would make it at least six days. Then, you'd remember that the campgrounds actually open on Thursday morning, and don't close until Monday morning, so it's more like four days each weekend, so eight days total. Plus, between weekends, is Coachella over? Not really, and it's not like anyone even stops talking about it for those two or so days that nobody is in Indio, so it basically lasts twelve days. And honestly, depending on how technically accurate we want to be, it would be easy to say that Coachella lasts even longer.
Between weekends, as well as for at least a month before and after the "official" days of the festival, Coachella goers -- including myself -- are almost (definitely) annoyingly buzzing with excitement about the event. Last year, my Coachella coming-out, I finally got my hands on a Weekend 1 wristband that Wednesday, the day before we left, so I didn't have a lot of time to simmer through my feelings. But after, weeks and even months after, I could have (and did) talk countless ears off about what I would soon unhesitatingly call the "best weekend of my life*."
My second time at Coachella, this was my first time as a returnee, which -- in Coachella terms -- is very meaningful. Most of the time, it's the difference between being a knowledgeable leader and decision-maker and an enthusiastic, but semi-bumbling first-timer. Even though I went to the festival with only three Coachella virgins (and six returnees), it takes a lot of planning to make the journey and experience as smooth as possible. However, since the web is already loaded with totally comprehensive packing lists and tips, I wanted to share some things that I learned at my second Coachella -- not only because, incidentally, they're also some of my favorite things to talk about, but also because I think that the most important thing I learned this year is how to (barely begin to scratch the surface of starting to) enjoy the more subtle delights that my favorite festival** offers.
*So far. I have high hopes.
** So far. Always, always so far.
1. Read the helpful baby pamphlet that the staff offers you upon entry.
Surprisingly, not enough people do this. I didn't do this last year, and I'm not going to lie, I didn't do it soon enough this year. The baby pamphlet is packed with short and sweet info on nearly everything good at the festival (which is, incidentally, almost everything). Baby pamphlet can tell you the full lineups of the stages and tents as well as the DJs at Heineken House, and it was from good ol' baby pamphlet that I learned about the sale of vintage Coachella gear, the surprising variety of food for sale, and the artists featured throughout the showgrounds. On that note…
2. Pay attention to the art.
This has several benefits, the most basic of which is that paying attention to the art exhibits allows you to construct a brain-map of the showgrounds. Coachella can seem huge, especially if it's your first time there, but once you get an idea of the layout it's really not that overwhelming at all. The more important reason to pay attention to the art, however, is that it is absolutely incredible (and unfortunately for me, beyond verbal articulation). The best example of how just incredibly-awe-inspiring-and-magnificent these exhibits are can be found in my mind map of The Corporate Headquarters, a piece that hasn't left my mind since I saw it last weekend. The view from the ferris wheel is a work of art in itself, so...
3. If a line for something you want or need is short, go.
This goes for bathrooms, water bottle refill stations, merchandise, and the activities on the campgrounds and showgrounds. Oh it's just a lull in the night, I'm sure the line for the ferris wheel will be short again later, is a thought that I hope nobody besides me ever has again. Do the ferris wheel, do the face painting, wait in line for the photo op -- it doesn't matter. If you want to do it and you've been blessed with a short wait, do it now. However, that doesn't mean that you need to be constantly going go-go-go all weekend, so…
4. Laying low during the day is worth it.
One of the things that a lot of new go-ers deal with is what to do during the day. A lot of the time, there aren't a ton of awesome bands you want to see continuously from 11am, and it can feel weird to do "nothing" at an event you poured hundreds of dollars and tons of time and energy into. However, many people agree that the music at night is a totally different experience than during the day, and in my opinion this means that daytime can be whatever you want it to be. I roamed around a lot, visited the art (see #2), and sat on the grass while shows played nearby. One of the great things about Coachella is that you can hear music pretty much no matter where you are, so if you find yourself aimless, don't stress too hard. At the same time, though, don't put all your expectations on the evening, because…
5. Sometimes, headliners are disappointing.
In the two years I've gone to Coachella, pretty much every musician I've wanted to see has blown away my expectations. However, that doesn't mean that sometimes the hype surpasses the experience -- I won't name names, but I definitely heard some disappointment expressed in some of the major players this year. But back to the point, sometimes headliners are disappointing and in that case -- leave! You can leave. There's probably another show going on that you might really like, and that's better than feeling tepid at a show that you're only "kinda" enjoying. You could even try the ferris wheel. The most important thing is to stay positive, because…
6. Nothing is a bigger waste of time at Coachella than negativity.
It pretty much doesn't matter what you're stressed about, just stop it. Coachella is a haven, it is a vacation, and it is the last place to spend your energy being upset. I said this last weekend: the thing about real life is that when you experience tiny disappointments, they can stay with you all day because sometimes there's nothing to cancel it out for a long time. But at Coachella, there are incredibly, overwhelmingly positive experiences all around you to cancel out any petty problem that might disturb your fun. Be positive -- it works, it's good for you, and, it radiates. It radiates widely, especially at Coachella. So my final tip:
7. Appreciate the staff.
One of the things I tell first-timers at Coachella is to acknowledge how well-done the festival is. There are security guards and police everywhere (to some's detriment), but unlike in other environments my impression has always been that they're there to help. Not to scold, or scare, but to keep everyone safe. It's the reason why you're allowed a lighter in the campground but not a glass bottle -- they're more scared of you hurting yourself accidentally than on you deliberately burning something down. At the end of the night, staff swarms the paths that people walk on to offer help, direct, and often, escort go-ers back to their campsites. They high-five you when you walk through the gate to the showgrounds (all three days). They're great, they help, and you should definitely give them a cigarette if it's 3am and they're on to work until 8. Because that happens.
Coachella isn't three days, or eight, and it's not really twelve. I can tell you that, as someone surrounded by buzzing returnees for the past year, the sentiment of Coachella follows you for a long time. It's annoying for us and it's annoying for everyone else, but the best thing is to let it be. Whether or not you plan on going again next year, the feelings of nostalgia and awe you gather in Indio, alongside the Emergen-C and eight hour naps that follow during your homecoming, together combine to leave you bittersweet about Coachella's slow arrival and quick departure. That bitersweetness is pretty nice, so I try to hold onto it. At least until after the pre-sale.
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