The Festival Survival Guide

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Q.� I'm planning to go to some of the outdoor music festivals, is there any advice to ensure a safe and successful summer < xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

A.� The golden rules for enjoyment of music festivals are the same as any social event, and they revolve around safety, security, and a large dose of common sense.

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Q.� I've never been to a festival before, what can I expect

A.� The basic idea of a festival is for a group of people to gather together and enjoy a series of bands playing live, usually over a period of several days. Because there is going to be a very large number of people staying in one place, usually camping, you need to ensure you are properly equipped for your stay.

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Q.� What sort of equipment are we talking about

A.� Start with the fundamentals, first and foremost�is a decent tent. You could borrow your little brother's nylon toy tent�he uses in the back garden on summer days, but it won't do you much good when the famous British weather kicks in�- being washed out of your temporary home at�3am�can put a serious dent in your festival enjoyment, so invest in a decent tent, big enough for you and whom ever you are sharing the event with. Remember, this is going to be 'home' for three or four days, it pays to make sure it is waterproof, secure, and comfortable, you'll be glad of all those features as time goes on.

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Make sure you carry enough supplies of food and water to last for the duration of your stay. It may seem macho to pack just a crate of beer and a few packets of crisps, but dehydration and a planet-sized hangover won't gain you the admiration of your fellow festivalgoers, you'll probably end up annoying the medical services as you join a lengthening queue of like-minded people who avoided the basics of survival, and paid the price.

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Take food you can cook easily, and make sure you know how to operate a simple camping stove. Lying in the grass on a boiling summer day is great, but you'll be glad of something hot inside you to get you through the freezing summer nights that are a feature of festival calendars in the UK. Pack suitable clothing for hot and cold extremes, including changes of clothes, a waterproof coat, a sun hat, and some sunscreen. Sitting out in the sun for eight hours with no protection will soon put an end to your enjoyment, take some cream, and use it, remembering to top up as the day goes on. Heat stroke isn't hip, so keep a bottle of water with you as well.

Q.� What other basic rules am I likely to need to know

A.� Once you've found a suitable spot to pitch your tent, find some way of identifying it. Wondering why everyone else's tent seems to have a pretty flag, or a radio ariel sticking out of the top of it It's not just the urge to stand out from the crowd, it's to assist you in the serious problem you will encounter finding your tent in the dark after the last band has finished, and the wide open space in which you pitched your tent that morning is now a heaving mass of humanity and camping paraphernalia. So, identify your tent with some kind of marker, and orientate yourself so you can find your sleeping accommodation in the dark, even if you've enjoyed a few relaxing beers during the day and evening. You did remember to pack a decent torch and spare batteries didn't you

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Q.� Is security likely to be a problem

A.� Festival goers are, by and large, an honest lot�- they wouldn't appreciate being robbed, so they tend not to go in for it themselves, but with a group of several thousand people, there will always be the odd unscrupulous type, so again, common sense applies. If an undesirable sees you lugging enough alcohol into your tent to supply the after-match party at rugby international, the chances are it'll disappear while you are out checking out the bands and having a look round, so take a reasonable amount of refreshment, and transport it discreetly. Never leave any valuables in your tent, and carry the minimum amount of cash you'll need.

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Q.� What about drugs

A.� Ah, the festival favourite. There are those who will tell you that you simply can't enjoy yourself at a music festival unless you've ingested industrial amounts of hallucinogenics, but think about it. Drugs are illegal, and, therefore, their production is unsupervised. Buying from an untraceable stranger who is looking to make money and disappear is a recipe for trouble. If you don't fancy checking out the local casualty unit's drug overdose facilities, steer clear of dealers on site. Drinking in moderation keeps you and your friends safe and secure, anything else is just asking for trouble.

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Q.� Is there anything I should avoid at a festival

A.� The basic courtesies of living check by jowl with other people apply here. You may think it's wonderfully fun to recall all the verses of every rugby song you ever knew, and sing them with your mates at full throttle, but a littlie consideration will be appreciated. Others may be trying to sleep, disturb them, and they may bide their time until you have nodded off, before they cut your guy ropes.

Q.� What about sanitation

A.� Another often ignored, (but not for long!) facet of festival life. If you put a few thousand people together for anything over twenty-four hours, nature can, and does take its course. If you want to avoid the sharp end of festival site sanitation, which starts off being basic, and degenerates into something you'd expect to find in an outer circle of hell. Pack a couple of toilet rolls, you'd be amazed how much people will offer you for toilet paper, a commodity far more valuable than anything else on the site after a couple of days.

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