IT'S OK TO LEAVE THE RAVE EARLY

IT IS OK TO LEAVE A FESTIVAL EARLY. I feel like this is something that no one ever really says especially to people who are just starting. Some people even have a strange sense of pride about sticking it out to the end even if they want to (or need to) go home. Personally, I find that to be a little silly. Raving is like a marathon and the first couple of times you may not be ready to sprint the whole thing (even if you wish you could). Everyone starts out at a different level of endurance, and though you will build it up in time, it is totally okay if you aren’t able to make it all the way to the very end. Sometimes even resting periodically isn’t going to do the trick, especially if you’re like me and tend to have very active weeks and burn themselves out. There is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes even people who have been raving for years get tired and want to leave early, so you as a newbie shouldn’t feel bad about needing to tap out.

First things first, leaving early isn’t a sign of weakness. I know that when you finally decide to go home before the event is over, it can feel a little like you’ve given up, especially if you leave a few hours before the event is over. However, you need to be thinking more about your self and your wellbeing than sticking it out to some arbitrary end time. The most important thing is that you need to listen to your body. If you are feeling fatigued and sitting down to rest isn’t helping, then there is no point trying to force yourself to keep going. One of the most important steps to have a good recovery is to get some rest. If you ignore your body telling you to stop, then you are only going to make it worse for yourself the next day. If you force yourself to keep going past the point of exhaustion, you are also increasing your risk of getting sick after the event. Nobody wants to get laid up with a cold or a virus because they were too stubborn to rest up.

If you are with a group and need to convince them to go with you, point out to them that if you leave early, you miss the rush to get out of the venue. Leaving a festival is the absolute worst, especially if you leave at the end. There is going to be the inevitable fight for Ubers and lifts and just massive lines you are going to have to wait in no matter what you are trying to do. If you’ve waited in the ridiculous Uber pickup lines that make no sense and barely work because there is zero cell service when everyone and their mother is trying to get one, then you know how beautiful it can be to get out and on the road quickly. If your group wants to stay until the end, then just ditch them and go home yourself. You’ll have the last laugh when you are showered and in bed while they are trying to find their Lyft who seems confused about where the pickup zone is.

If you are alone, you definitely shouldn’t feel bad about wanting to go early either. Maybe you came to see one particular set and afterward you have wandered around the festival and still not found any music that you are vibing too with only an hour or so left. Maybe you are just exhausted and are more interested in getting some sleep than standing around feeling exhausted and not enjoying yourself. Either way, if you want to leave don’t ever feel pressure to stay.

I also want to say something to those of you who are in a group where someone wants or needs to go home early. If your friend is 100 percent sober and just tired, then don’t feel bad about letting them go and staying to enjoy the rest of your night. BUT, if your friend looks sick or seems unwell then someone needs to go with them to make sure that they get home safe and also to make sure that nothing happens once they get back to the hotel or the tent. Yes, this is way easier and less frustrating when you are camping and have festival re-entry, but if you are staying at a hotel, especially one far away don’t let your sick friend find their way home. Yes, festivals are very safe and highly monitored, but the area outside isn’t always the same. I’m not saying that anything terrible is for sure going to happen, but it is better to be safe than sorry. I think the most important thing is to be compassionate and try to do what you would want them to do for you if the roles were reversed. Just something to think about.

Anyway, back to something a little less depressing. Leaving a festival is okay. Yeah, it can suck to have to tap out, especially if it is only a one-day event, but it is better to take care of yourself and listen to what your body is telling you. I think the important thing is always to focus on the positive aspects of leaving early rather than the negatives. So as you are on your way home to wash off all the sweat and glitter, enjoy your ridiculously short wait for your ride back, easy festival exit, and extra time to shower because you don’t need to take turns with your roomies.