Going to a music festival is an experience like no other. You’re surrounded by good friends, great music, your favorite festival foods, and amazing vibes all around. They’re a total judgment-free zone where you can be your complete, authentic self, escape from reality, and enjoy the music you love. One of the best things about going to a music festival is, without a doubt, experiencing all the different kinds of people you can meet. It’s a small world out there, so whether it’s your first or 50th music festival, you’re sure to run into a couple of characters that you can really vibe with. At Spencer’s, we’re about living our best lives and suggest talking to as many new people as possible to get the most out of your festival experience. Heck, you may meet someone new and even add them to your festival family! With that being said, here’s our list of the types of people you’ll find walking around some of your favorite music festivals. Keep in mind that our list is for fun and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Shufflers
Every day they’re shuffling. You will rarely catch these people standing still because they’re all about getting their groove on. Usually, you’ll find them towards the back and center of crowds so they can have the most space to show off their moves. Watch as they kick, spin, twist, and turn, all without missing a beat. Find yourself next to one at one of the House or Techno stages and you’ll probably be asking yourself “Why can’t I dance like that?”
Fanners
Fans have become a festival staple, but depending on how you use them, you can either be seen as an angel or a devil. They make a great accessory and are perfect for keeping you cool in a massive crowd. Those who walk through the crowd waving their fan for other people, we salute you and thank you. Those of you who like to clack their fans in the middle of every song, you can find your way to the nearest exit. In other words, if you’re going to bring a fan to the festival, don’t be the one clacking away. Seriously, it’s annoying.
Headbangers
If you want to get up to the front, you’re going to have to fight for that rail. Make your way to a dubstep stage featuring some wonky big bass sounds and you’ll be sure to find yourself amongst the neck-breakers. Headbangers are everywhere and are usually sporting Excision jerseys with a side of bass face, so they definitely won’t be hard to spot. Most of them are die-hard fans just like us and love letting out all that pent-up energy the only way they know how. Tbh, we love them for it.
Entertainers
You know these people when you see them. Either standing towards the back in open space or in the middle of a crowd of people, these people are here to have fun and show off their talents. Usually rocking some light-up gloves, a light-up hula-hoop, or doing some crazy kendama tricks, they love to put on a show of their own. Get their attention and they’ll gladly walk over and show you something amazing.
Mosh Pit Meatheads
If you catch yourself in a middle of a mosh pit full of meatheads, you better be prepared. For the most part, it’s pretty clear which songs are built for headbanging and mosh pits and which songs are not. But to these people, those rules don’t apply. Usually, right in the middle or towards the front of the crowd, these people will go face-first into a mosh pit without a fear in the world and we respect it. No one goes harder than the ones in the pit so if you see one starting to form, you better lookout.
Rave Mom/Dad
They can sometimes get on your nerves, but we’d be nowhere without our rave moms and dads. These are those friends in the group who you think may always be overly cautious and paranoid, but really they’re just looking out for the group. Having a responsible friend to make sure your “fun time” stays fun is truly priceless. They’ll be the ones constantly reminding you to drink water, help you keep track of your items, and usually lead the way through the crowd. They don’t always get the thanks they deserve, but they’re the real MVPs.
Chads
We all know a Chad in the crowd when we see one. Shades on, shirt off, and couldn’t care less about the music. You know they are only at the festival to pick up girls and push through the crowd without saying excuse me. These dudes are the worst and always seem to be in the way of your view. Believe us when we say you don’t want to be one of these guys. No one wants to be worried about being hit on while they’re trying to have a good time. And remember to keep your hands to yourself, Chad!
Kandi Kids
Peace, love, unity, and respect are the pillars of the rave community and no one seems to embody this more than Kandi kids. Always spreading the good vibes and positivity, these people always seem to come out of nowhere at the perfect moment just to put a smile on your face. You never know how much you needed that Kandi bracelet until someone came and handed it to you. Those random magical moments with strangers are some of the best memories we’ve had at festivals. Kandi kids will usually be all decked out in all types of colorful Kandi bracelets and perlers and have some of the most unique styles at the festival. Tell one of these people it’s your first time and they’ll likely always have something for you to remember it by. Getting your first-ever Kandi bracelet is really something special.
Cosplayers
These ravers take dressing up and cosplay to the next level! Totally unafraid to show their love for their favorite shows and anime, these people are some of our favorites to meet at festivals. Bet you never thought you’d see Naruto and Goku going hard in the mosh pit. People who dress as their favorite characters really get the spirit of being themselves, dressing however they like, and are perfect for snapping some unforgettable pics with.
Shoulder Sitters
They may be tiny, but that won’t stop them from getting the ultimate view. Once you’re deep in that festival crowd getting a good view isn’t always easy. It’s survival of the fittest out in the jungle and those who adapt will survive. Those who enjoy sitting on people’s shoulders in the crowd have the Chads to thank for the extra seating. We commend the shoulder hoppers’ tenacity and applaud them for finding someone to carry them around and as long as they’re not in our way, they’re not our problem.
Festival season is right around the corner, so it won’t be long before you’re reunited under the lights with your festival family. The off-season has been a long one, so avoid coming to your first festival back unprepared by checking out our official Music Festival Essentials Checklist so you have everything you need to have an unforgettable experience. Let us know which of these people you are at the festival and be sure to check out The Inspo Spot for more news, tips, tricks, and more all festival season long. For some of the freshest new festival gear be sure to check out our entire collection at Spencers.com!
