Insomniac officially released #edc20 trailer Thursday, and with 46 days left to go, it’s time to lock in some crucial details. I’ve traveled a lot and done some pretty crazy things in my years, but I have to say, nothing takes the cake (so far) quite like my adventure last year—going to Las Vegas for the first time, for my first EDC, completely solo. It was an exercise in independence, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and fully opening myself up to a new world of possibilities. But, I also had to be reaaaaally sure I had all my shit together. Here are five things I did to have an amazing experience that any EDC goer—veteran, newbie, solo traveler, or part of the pack—can find helpful.
- Get all adulting squared away.
The last thing you want on your trip of a lifetime is for something to go horribly wrong. You lose your ID, and now you can’t get into the festival, let alone back on a plane if you’re flying; or for some reason, your debit or credit cards are all denied and now you have no money. In the land of booze and gambling, that’s a sick burn.
If you don’t already have two forms of acceptable ID, you should. The easiest way to do this is if you have a Texas driver’s license, apply for an ID: fill out this form, bring it to a DPS, and pay $16. Other states are just as easy—just use your google-fu. It’s a little extra work now, but if you lose your ID, you’ll have backup, and that’s about priceless. Plus, this is way faster, cheaper and easier than trying to get a passport at this point, but if you already have one (or a military ID), don’t leave it at home.
Make sure to call your bank ahead of time and let them know you’re traveling. I’ve seen it happen a million times when people don’t do this, and the bank thinks someone stole your card because it’s being used far from home. A simple notification will keep that money flowing.
And as old school as it sounds, write down important numbers. We live in the autodial age, and it’s doubtful you have those numbers memorized. If something happens to your phone—and it can happen to anyone—you’ll be able to get ahold of people, at the very least to let them know you’re OK.
- All Hail King Comfy Shoe.
You will be walking. A lot. If you’re staying on the strip, it’s basically pointless to cab it anywhere. And the Las Vegas Motor Speedway? It’s huge. 1,200 acres huge. In a single day/night, you can easily walk 15 miles, likely many more (plus dancing!). Think you can at least live with those cute shoes that were OK that one night at the club? If they are not heaven on your feet, you will want to burn those motherfuckers to nothing by the end of the first night.
Aside from the mileage, you’re in a desert. It’s dry and hot. You’ll want something breathable and made of soft or seamless materials. I recommend a good athletic shoe. It’ll give you the best cushion, support, and environment for your feet. If you haven’t been properly measured/fitted in a long time, now’s a good time to do so (you’d be amazed at how many shoe stores do this).
I also recommend buying your shoes two to three weeks ahead of the event and testing them out regularly. Don’t rely on “breaking in” a pair of shoes—the right shoes for your feet will feel great the first time you wear them around, and if they don’t, find something else. There’s nothing wrong with taking a pair of tried and true shoes, but just make sure they still hold up. If you’ve got a ton of little wrinkle lines in the midsole, your cushion is gone, and it’s time to replace.
- Planes, trains, automobiles … and party buses.
If you haven’t already bought your plane ticket, get on it. The longer you wait at this point, the more expensive it’ll be (pro-tip for the future: I got my best rate at the beginning of February). It’s a holiday weekend (Father’s Day), in the summer, to one of the most popular destinations in the country—there won’t be a magical moment when airfare suddenly drops. If you’re waiting until 21 days before flying or sooner, you’ll pay a major premium. And in case you’re wondering, some studies show that booking a flight on a Tuesday or Sunday will give you the best rate, but not by much considering the demand.
If you’re driving, Insomniac recommends that you don’t use Google maps or Waze, and for good reason. There are all kinds of road closures, reroutes and traffic issues that map apps won’t keep up with for the weekend.
A crucial element in the whole experience is getting to and from the strip and the Speedway. There are numerous options—taxi, Uber, the EDC shuttles, private charter buses, limo, and even helicopter if you’re feeling saucy. Taxis and Uber charge peak rates the whole weekend, so a single ride could run you $100 easily. Even if you’re splitting a ride with three other people, you could spend at least $50 a night for the round trip. That’s good beer money wasted in my opinion, given the other options that either cost less or are way cooler (if you’ve got a squad of eight, a limo actually isn’t a crazy idea). Again, make sure taxi, Uber and limo drivers are using the Insomniac directions, not their GPS.
Passes for the EDC shuttles are still for sale, except from Excalibur and MGM Grand Hotel. They run $90 for a weekend pass, which is definitely a good deal. I will say that I took this option last year and was far from even begrudgingly OK with the experience on night one. I ended up making friends (some of the coolest people I’ve met, for the record) and riding with them in a private driver’s car for $30 roundtrip the next two nights. And yes, that is an option. With some networking with the locals, there are plenty of people happy to take about that much per person per roundtrip. You’ve just got to know how to work it. I didn’t, but my friends thankfully did. I did hear that the shuttles were way better the next two nights, but I had already moved on.
Private shuttles are getting good reviews online, and that’s what I’ll be trying this year. The rates are about dead even with EDC’s option, but they sell out a lot faster. Some offer anytime pickup and drop-off, and others have set times. Just make sure the company is legit—if they haven’t cleared themselves with Insomniac, you could be out money and a ride. Use your judgement and read the fine print. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you read good things, it’s probably worth a shot.
- “Take me back…”
No one ever says that EDC, especially the Las Vegas mothership, is just like anything else. It’s a completely unique experience in one of the world’s most fun cities, and the memories you’ll gain are priceless. So you’ll do yourself a favor thinking about how you’ll capture those memories.
Last year I had a phone with a terrible camera for capturing night photos and I knew it going in (don’t worry, this year you’ll see plenty of photos on our Instagram: @thedepartmentofdance), so I got creative. One of my favorite things to do while traveling is using sense of smell to trigger memories (science!). Before going to a new place, I get something with a new smell to me—last EDC it was a lotion; for Amsterdam long ago, it was a particular deodorant; for New Orleans, it was a deluxe sample of perfume. Whatever that thing is that has a distinct smell unlike anything I’ve worn or used, I wear it the entire trip, and only for the trip. You’d be amazed at what comes flooding back into your memory when you smell it again, even years later. EDC is such a sensory experience that smell takes me right back every time.
And then there’s kandi, the raver’s physical act of making memories. I was a total kandi kid as a teenager at the turn of the millennium (stoked to run into fellow old-schoolers at the 20th EDC), but it’s not such a huge thing for me at almost-30 in Houston. Still, it’s fun, and if there’s one thing EDC can do, it’s make you feel like a kid again. I remember something about every person I traded kandi with last year—their smile, energy, a conversation, a dance, a headbanging moment—and when I go back to my kandi, I can still feel all that energy.
But nothing beats being in the present. Some of my most vivid memories are just being still and taking it all in, if only for a moment. Most of my deepest memories are being completely NOT still and taking it all in. The whole point of EDC is to experience. Live it.
- Remember you’re there to have fun.
As exciting as it is, travel can also be stressful. Sometimes finances aren’t as favorable as you’d like them to be, sometimes you disagree with someone, there’s a lot to keep track of, and then no sleep. But screw it. Check the big things off your list, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Costumes, kandi, totems, and all the rave wares are fun, but if you don’t have the time or want to spend the money, it’s not a big deal. Come as you are, and come to have the best time of your life.
Now, let’s get pumped! See you under the electric sky!
Ash Cash Dillon is a legit word nerd with a killer bass face and a love of all that is stone cold groovy. You can find her writing all over the interwebs, business world, and take-out menus via sharpie vandalism.
