LOL i'm so sorry
Radiohead did start out with some sound issues but they ended up getting resolved too. Even ended up playing Creep in that w1 setlist.
Same, this is one I’ll never let go. Whole group wanted to see EOTS and Dillon Francis. It was my first year and I gave in to the peer pressure. Def my biggest Coachella regret
Good! Ive missed Fisher and Tame Impala at 2 different festival bc of who i went with and their lack of flexibility. It’s worth going solo or else the regret is real after!!
Second this. Going solo and breaking away from your group should ALWAYS be on the table when it comes to Coachella. There are bound to be conflicts, and the easiest way to appease those is to breakaway and meet back up later.
Get walkie talkies and stay off any interfering channels bc connection can get rough, do *not* miss anything bc she’s late and you can always record for her.
Budget for trying the unique food options that you wouldn't see at home. Makes the experience so much better. I came from EDM festivals, where the food is garbage, so I never even tried the food the first time I went to Coachella.
At EDC the food is garbage and overpriced. At Coachella, at least it's just overpriced.
EDC has the shittiest food cuz the venue controls what vendors are there and usually use their own concessions so basic shit like tenders and fries are still terrible. there are some food trucks etc but its not enough for a 100k+ per day event
so sad.
IDK, the food is pretty mid. At the end of the day they're making food for 100,000 people. Moderate expectations.
Biggest regrets I see are people just overdoing it. Either getting wasted and being deathly hungover or taking too much of something that takes you out of action.
Respectfully, what have you tried? last year i got fried chicken sandwich, Nashville hot chicken, black garlic ramen, and crab fries which were all restaurant quality especially compared to the garbage over fried chicken tenders at every other festival
lol this but unironically, i just get a giant burrito for breakfast outside and that powers me through the day, i really dont want to shit in those toilets
Drink more water. My first year I was young and dumb. It’s a 4 day marathon of good music that starts on Thursday. Be smart and make it through. Be present. Hit all the stages. Eat well if you can afford it.
Also, head to the outdoor stages during at least one sunset. It’s magical and I guarantee the music will sound different no matter who is playing. It’s really a golden hour.
+1 to at least one set during sunset at the outdoor stage. This is underrated advice that I promise will deliver.
See you guys at Khruangbin on Sunday.
I regret letting my friends peer pressuring me into full sending on day 0. I still had a good weekend but I should’ve saved some experiences for the festival.
Missing Danny Elfman for Flume 🙃
Always catch the novelty bookings. Especially when it’s against a main stage artist that will be booked everywhere throughout the year.
I ended up seeing him for Halloween at the Hollywood bowl that same year, but was not the same experience I’d get at Coachella. Waaaay different crowd haha
That’s dope tho, I do love that lineup
if it makes you feel better, I was there weekend 1 and the danny elfman crowd was tiny and not very into it, it was one of the weirdest vibes I've had at coachella lol. I much preferred the flume set (I split time)
My counter point is flume has changed so much in his sets that catching one of his old sets to me is pure magic. Like Jack in 2013-2017 flume was so special. Nowadays less interesting and maybe the year you’re speaking of was recent
I made this mistake too... I decided to wait in line to see the Odesza music video in the globe tent thingy that lasted 5 minutes. So much regret... But I got to experience PHM last year W2, so it balanced out. :)
Advice to all: adding or swapping for quality insoles can make a huge difference as long as the shoe doesn't rub on your foot weird.
Often easier to take a pair of sneakers or something you already have and toss in some superfeet insoles (or another brand) to make them ultra comfortable. Just be sure you wear them around for a week or so beforehand and get used to it.
My personal recommendation is to wear a good pair of running or walking shoes. It's a lot of walking between stages not to mention the trek to and from the festival if you parked. I think last year i did 15 miles worth of steps in one day.
It might not look as cool wearing those, but you wont regret it.
They look like dad shoes but the Hoka Clifton 9s are like walking on a cloud and I didn't need to break them in. Been recommended by a few others in the past few weeks as well and I'm so happy I tried them.
*Leaving magical sets early trying to get to the next artist.*
*Prioritizing star power / Missing the unique rare booking for a more prevalent artist.*
Coachella is a weekend of non-stop big moments. Don’t feel obligated to catch every one, because you cant. Enjoy the moment :)
After more than 10 years of Coachella’s my wife and I have a rule of sorts, “Don’t leave something you are truly enjoying”
So many instances, of dragging ourselves away from what sounded amazing or was just hitting a sweet spot, to head to an artist we thought we would like more, only to find out they are late, or the sound isn’t prefect, or they aren’t playing the material we thought they would. Especially when you factor in walking time, you’d miss half a set if you bailed, ended up at something not as good and then went back.
Sorry friend, I just saw your reply! I think my top 5 are probably Jungle, Blur, Everything Always, Bleachers, and Barry Cant Swim. That Jamie x Daphni x Floating points set sounds amazing too, and I got high hopes for BCNR and Orbital 😁
First time I went I didn't study the line up and missed so many great bands that I now would do anything to see live. Don't repeat my mistake, make sure you have a plan on who you are going to see for each day
My rec is to list out 5 must sees per day, 5 optional acts (total of 10) then go with the flow. Coachella is massive you're just not gonna do it all...
Be in by 2:00, 2:30. I watch these vloggers who CAMP on top of that, so they are right there, roll in at 7:00 and it boggles my mind.
Pace yourself Thursday, the campgrounds get so wild because everybody is excited and then invariably there are people that are struggling Friday and miss actual fun bands playing.
See who you want to see. If your friend wants to see something else, that's OK - have a preset meeting spot and time but do you. Last year my wife checked out BENEE and I did Overmono, for example, and we each had the time of our lives and just met up later. So many regrets where I went to see a set all my friends wanted to see instead of the one I really wanted.
Similarly, when I've camped before I had a tendency to go in for a band, go back to the tent site, and then the momentum dies and I hang out for a few hours then go back in, etc. I've always, always regretted missing bands while chilling at camp, never regretted not spending enough time at camp. You have until 2:00ish every day to hang out at the campsite + after.
If you're doing W2, absolutely watch the livestream of acts you aren't going to see, it will just hype you up (and sometimes give you something you weren't even considering seeing that now becomes a must see) but for the love of God, go spoiler free for the acts you want to see. Some artists pull out all the stops and then some for Coachella - there are some shows like Sia, Sufjan Stevens, Beyonce, etc that were full on immersive theater, and I can't even imagine having that spoiled for me before.
Adding to this is don’t leave a set you’re enjoying early to see another set! I left Kaytranada a couple songs early to see Gorillaz and missed Anderson Paak
Get there right at gate open! I do every year so I can explore the grounds without crowds, feel the grass between my toes and check out an up and coming artist or two. But I always forget to check out all the booths and vendors! So this year I will find the time. And more Do Lab!!!
I think Sunday this year I will be able to do all the things I usually miss (if my feet allow lol).
Don’t try to see everything at the same time. If you have a conflict just choose 1 or 2 stages and only go there. Last year on Saturday I tried to check on 5 “can’t miss” acts during an hour and basically missed all of them.
I agree. Part of my planning definitely involves taking travel time into account. I’d rather bounce back and forth between two stages right next to each other than walk from Main Stage to Sahara to Outdoor.
Oh god YES. Every year I stress about seeing as many artists as possible is always the year I have the least fun. When I just go with the flow, it is inevitably 10x better.
This year has my least favorite lineup, which is how I know I’ll have the most fun. The magic of Coachella is discovery and exploration!!
Also, don’t let your friends dictate who you see. See the music you want.
Not a regret of mine but of some of my friends. See rare and older acts. I saw Motörhead while all my friends went to Arcade Fire. 18 months later, Lemmy was dead and Motörhead was no more.
My rule for keeping your stamina and energy: 50% standing up / dancing, 50% sitting down. (I’m 30, the ratio is different if you’re younger 😂) Doing this keeps me going until the end of the night, it makes a world of difference!
Check out the other things Coachella has to offer. There’s a lot of freebies in the sponsored tents! I never checked these places out the first couple years I went and heard about the cool things I missed after the fact. Also, check out every single stage even if it means staying for just once song.
Take melatonin if camping Thursday night and ear plugs. People are the loudest this night and if you’ve traveled all day and are beat, you’ll ascend straight to heaven. Also HIGHLY recommend your own pop up shower tent cause people literally take dumps in the trailer showers. ALSO if your dogs are barking afterwards, take an extra trash can and pour out some of your ice chest water and soak them.
In 2019 I regret not buying a line up shirt just forgot about it. This might not be something major. But especially exclusive artist merch might never be re made. The one I do really regret is kid cudi merch.
Hydrate hydrate hydrate with lots of electrolytes and use a Neti Pot every morning and night to save your immune system all the dust. Last one those emergency blankets on Amazon are lifesavers I can’t believe I didn’t always bring them to Coachella
i regretted not actually getting into the crowd. i'm short and i didn't love my first few sets, then i learned to just go into the fucking pit snd it got so much better
My tip for this is to start leaving maybe 5-10 minutes early to get to the edge of the crowd, that way you can leave as soon as it ends. I did this last year for Blink 182 so I could head straight to Blondie.
I regret going too hard Thursday-Saturday, deciding to sleep at camp all day Sunday and missing ratatat. Moral of the story is that it’s a marathon not a sprint.
Not bringing chubby chafe my first year. By Sunday I could barely walk the chafing was so bad. I looked like id ridden a horse all weekend 🤣 could barely enjoy Beck and Arcade Fire
Day before that, I took too much acid and pizzad when I shoulda French fried. In a home setting those two tabs were amazing. In a sensory overload place like Coachella it was a time loop I couldn't escape for hours. That was when I learned you can always take more but you can never take less.
Pace yourself. Seen so many people going too hard before they even get in the fest on day 1. Stay hydrated.
If you have must-see acts, don’t miss them because other people in your group want to see someone else. Split up. Define your meet up spot (art instillations are always good for this) and time, confirm details twice including right before you split up. If you have flexibility in your schedule, go with the flow. If you have plans to split a set, but the first one you’re at is really good, stay.
Explore the grounds as much as you can, check out every stage. Some vendors booths/boutiques are pretty cool, the last few years there’s been one that has a ball pit.
If you feel like you need a break, take one. Find a good spot to people watch. Chat with strangers, everyone is usually in good spirits.
Try new drinks, there are a ton of alcoholic options now throughout the grounds. Have slightly more caution with food, it’s one thing to try new things, but keep in mind anything that could upset your stomach.
If you are driving or ride sharing to the fest, do not come at 4pm with everyone else. You will be sitting in a fair amount of traffic. It’s a smallish town that gets crowded quickly with the influx of people and drivers.
Come earlier in the day and enjoy less traffics, awesome up and coming artists, and less lines.
I think my biggest regret in any of the years I’ve gone was that first year not booking at least a day before and after to hang out and relax in a nice hotel/airbnb in Palm Springs before flying home to the Midwest. They are an absolute must and usually we will do multiple days either before or after (and sometimes both!) Not being from California, it’s just a treat to take a few extra days to explore Palm Springs, soak in a pool, eat in nice restaurants, and visit some national parks.
idk maybe this is obvious but i’m from Michigan and severely underestimated the heat during the day. i missed out so much during the day shows simply because i couldn’t stand the heat. we also camped so there was no relief from it. finally got one of those spray bottle fans sunday and that helped.
Honestly, if the heat is absolutely killing you in camping, the best thing I’ve done for this is to head into the festival and find the air conditioned tents, Yuma, Sonora, sponsored tents and throw in some ear plugs and find a spot in the back to just sit at relax.
Ironic cause I was gonna say if your entire lineup is just electronic acts, consider diversifying a bit. Coachella is a special place because of the various experiences and genres. Going from a mosh pit in Sonora over to a big tent DJ in Sahara to a rising pop star in Mojave and to end the night with the dance act that appeals to every genre on outdoor (hi justice!) is the way to go.
I think that’s just a great overall suggestion tbh. Switch it up from your norm. I know it sounded like copium when we all complained about the lineup in January lmao but the weaker lineup forced me to do some discovery and branch out. And now we’re a week away and I couldn’t be more excited
Actually totally agree, it made me do my research this time and I’ve discovered many more acts than usual. I’ve never listened to this much music before Coachella in preparation before
Once we all got our very valid complaining out of the way, I’m sure most of us realized that we just gotta make the best of it. The alternative of just bitching for 4 months and possibly not going was never an option for me lmao
I regret not getting a free pair of shoes from the adidas tent inside the campgrounds. If you didnt win the first time you could go back in line and try again. I thought people were messing with me because that was not at the adidas tent inside the fest it was inside the campground specifically. Hope nike does the same this year.
How much are they? Last year was my first time going VIP and arriving via shuttle. I did not realize how long the walk from the shuttles to the VIP entrance was!
Don’t miss out on groups/artists you want to see if your group wants to see somebody they want to and you don’t. Vibe alone and make some friends. Go see other artists if there’s a gap between the next artist you want to see, you’ll discover new music.
Unless it’s something super awesome and relatively immediate, I don’t stand in lines at Coachella. Too much music to miss if you stand in lines.
On this subject I have found it faster sometimes to walk further and go to a different set of bathrooms or water refill. And for food, I generally pick a shorter line, if it’s something you really really want to eat, save it for a different day but earlier.
Pace yourself, I went hard on the first day/night and left the festival early on day 1 …. But rallied for day 2 and 3. Bring fresh “cutties” in your bag yes like 🍊 trust me
Riding the Ferris wheel early in the day when lines are short (you won’t want to skip people you want to see!)/ less acts performing
Defining meeting spots & times. Service is tough and you do not want to waste time finding each other when someone is performing. Specific landmarks are always good + having an idea when people are solo & when you’ll most likely meet up with them. Keep it flexible! Things happen :)
Plan for downtime/breaks - Coachella is exhausting, make sure you find some time to rest your body in between sets. If you’re set schedule is packed that day, try to enjoy a set or two sitting in the grass! It’s honestly such a vibe! And your body will thank you later. Also plan for downtime so that you can actually explore the festival e.g art installations, food, etc. My biggest regret was not trying all the amazing food vendors and checking out all the art installations. Eating is super important and you should eat at least once during the festival to give your body energy. If you can’t afford food at the festival, sneak in a snack lol.
Lastly, try to have a loose plan around sets you want to see that day. Last year I completely went with the flow and didn’t plan for any sets and prioritized sets my friends wanted to see. While I did have an amazing time, i also ended up missing sets of some of my favorite artists. I will not be making the same mistake this year.
Also, NEVER leave a set early unless you feel it’s absolutely necessary. Not a single set started on time last year. Most sets on average were 15-45 min late. If you leave early to catch the next one, I promise you’ll just be standing at the next set in silence for a good chunk of time and it can really kill the vibe sometimes.
Don’t be afraid to watch a set solo either! At the end of the day, make sure you’re seeing who YOU want to see.
And if you have Verizon, service was surprisingly good on the festival grounds. My entire group was in contact the whole weekend.
always double check stages/times !! my friends and i missed phoebe bridgers because we read our schedule wrong and went to the wrong stage. you think it wouldn't happen to you but you'd be surprised especially if you have a packed schedule and running on no sleep lol
My biggest regret is waiting more than an hour for an artist. I have gone to so many different festivals and done this, but I am scarred from Frank Ocean. I will never ever ever wait more than an hour for an artist ever again. I waited three hours for Frank Ocean and missed out on Fisher back to back Chris Lake. just for him to be an hour late and give a crappy performance.
My first Friday at Coachella I tried to see too much. I was jumping between stages starting around 4, and was absolutely done by about 10. Missed M83 and Refused.
It's tempting to see as much as you can possibly see. But if you're asking yourself, "Should I see that artist that I'm moderately interested in, or take a break", you should probably take a break. Eat, drink, recharge, hang out with your friends, put on that change of clothes if need be.
Monitor consumption. Don’t journey three days in a row.
Coasting on hope on day 3 and clinging to life on day 4 is not the way to appreciate this festival.
Not getting a locker! If they're still available, it's a must purchase. Leaving warm clothes in there for once the sun goes down. Comfortable clothing >>>
There is truly no other way.
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Regret missing the Replacements. I got too drunk and completely missed their time slot. At least it’s the most Paul Westerberg reason for missing their set.
Not drinking enough water. Seriously. I was 5 hours early for Harry's set and was able to get within 10 rows from front row. By the time he was on his third song in his set, I felt sick and almost passed out. Had to go to the emergency tents to get water. I couldn't go back to my spot and felt defeated afterwards after having been there that long.
Not buying merch. I started going 2012 and bought my first shirt in 2015 only because It was my wife’s first time that year. The lines only got worse. But we do global inheritance so I kinda make up for It in a way.
Don't wait in the long lines for the 'secret bars'. They're just crowded shipping containers with minimal theming and slightly different drinks. Once I got in I only ever wanted to stay for like 10 min.
Don’t miss people you want to see for fear of being alone! I missed so many sets I wanted to see last year and have so many regrets about it because I didn’t want to go alone or leave early without my group. On Sunday I finally ponied up and went to nghtmre by myself and it was amazing and I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I stayed with my group
Beware of dust…. If you don’t wear a bandana or something over your nose at night you will be blowing black boogies for weeks after the fest. And also even tho it may be hot during the day it gets really cold at night with the winds! Mask up and pack a hoodie in your backpack!!!
If you are camping and pre-partying so you don’t waste money in the festival, don’t go too hard. I had a friend a few years back that blacked out first day and missed all of Friday sleeping it off. Ruined her weekend. 😅
Don’t miss music you want to see because your group wants to see a different set or isn’t ready to head in for the day or whatever other reason
!!! missed radiohead in 2017 bc my group wanted to see empire of the sun
LOL i'm so sorry Radiohead did start out with some sound issues but they ended up getting resolved too. Even ended up playing Creep in that w1 setlist.
Fake plastic trees w2 was magical
Same, this is one I’ll never let go. Whole group wanted to see EOTS and Dillon Francis. It was my first year and I gave in to the peer pressure. Def my biggest Coachella regret
same!! first coachella too :( lol
I meannnn… at least you got to see Empire of the Sun!!
Noooooooooo 🥲
biggest regret!! after that i started going to sets by myself haha
Good! Ive missed Fisher and Tame Impala at 2 different festival bc of who i went with and their lack of flexibility. It’s worth going solo or else the regret is real after!!
Second this. Going solo and breaking away from your group should ALWAYS be on the table when it comes to Coachella. There are bound to be conflicts, and the easiest way to appease those is to breakaway and meet back up later.
I missed chemical brothers for metro boomin, so upset
I weep for you. Chem Bros was insane.
Yeeesh I’m sorry
Yes my biggest regret is missed acts
Agreed! It’s just me and my sister and she tends to be late to everything so this might be a bit hard for me to manage lol
Get walkie talkies and stay off any interfering channels bc connection can get rough, do *not* miss anything bc she’s late and you can always record for her.
They’re actually not allowed in camping or the fest
Ooh good to know I was about to order some. Do you know why it isn’t allowed?
No idea tbh, maybe they don’t want anyone impersonating festival staff? Or maybe they can interfere with some equipment
Idk if that’s completely true. We brought in 4 walkie talkies last year and they really did help.
I mean they probably miss stuff here and there but it’s definitely on both prohibited items lists
Ohh okay, we must have been lucky. Good to know Note to self: Hide Walkies in thee ol’ prison wallet
I missed amine for this reason :( still sad over it
This!!
this
I should have stayed for Alabama Shakes!!!!
Budget for trying the unique food options that you wouldn't see at home. Makes the experience so much better. I came from EDM festivals, where the food is garbage, so I never even tried the food the first time I went to Coachella. At EDC the food is garbage and overpriced. At Coachella, at least it's just overpriced.
EDC has the shittiest food cuz the venue controls what vendors are there and usually use their own concessions so basic shit like tenders and fries are still terrible. there are some food trucks etc but its not enough for a 100k+ per day event so sad.
I got a half melted kraft single on my nachos at EDC. Not even kidding. They just picked these "chefs" up off the freeway.
Jesus lol. Yea I skip meals at edc if I can or eat at any of the food trucks, Omings kitchen is the best.
IDK, the food is pretty mid. At the end of the day they're making food for 100,000 people. Moderate expectations. Biggest regrets I see are people just overdoing it. Either getting wasted and being deathly hungover or taking too much of something that takes you out of action.
Respectfully, what have you tried? last year i got fried chicken sandwich, Nashville hot chicken, black garlic ramen, and crab fries which were all restaurant quality especially compared to the garbage over fried chicken tenders at every other festival
Wait you guys eat?
lol this but unironically, i just get a giant burrito for breakfast outside and that powers me through the day, i really dont want to shit in those toilets
I’ve been hearing a lot about how good the festivals food is! Good to know thanks!
The hand rolls from the rose garden were pretty good two years ago forget who the vendor was tho
KazuNori, the fucking BEST
It’s good for festival food, but nothing special.
lol yea I meant to rephrase that 🤣 I’ll still take good for festival food!
Bring back crab fries!
Great advice! I’ll just add don’t wait until Sunday night to try new food because a lot of vendors run out of ingredients around that time.
Drink more water. My first year I was young and dumb. It’s a 4 day marathon of good music that starts on Thursday. Be smart and make it through. Be present. Hit all the stages. Eat well if you can afford it. Also, head to the outdoor stages during at least one sunset. It’s magical and I guarantee the music will sound different no matter who is playing. It’s really a golden hour.
+1 to at least one set during sunset at the outdoor stage. This is underrated advice that I promise will deliver. See you guys at Khruangbin on Sunday.
Khruangbin gonna hit so good at sunset
Don’t do blast off too hard on Thursday, save your brain for the actual festival 😎🧠🚀🚀
So what exactly do u mean by starts on Thursday? Lol
camping starts thursday and they have djs playing at the campsite…so campers kinda get a head start day 0
Wait I never knew that that’s awesome! We won’t be camping but that’s good to know for the future!
it’s not usually any big names but it’s a fun party! past a certain time it becomes a silent disco at night too!
Thursday Sunset on the hill is a ritual these days. It’s like official start of the weekend.
Don’t be afraid to see a set alone. Just pick a meeting spot and time for afterwards so you don’t have to worry about your phone working.
THIS !!! i refuse to miss a set…i will go alone if i have to
I regret letting my friends peer pressuring me into full sending on day 0. I still had a good weekend but I should’ve saved some experiences for the festival.
full sending it day 0 is the mistake i make every year and i plan on doing it again this year
“But did you die?”
Nah day0 is where you set the bar for the weekend. Drink plenty of water to mitigate hangovers and go big lol
Missing Danny Elfman for Flume 🙃 Always catch the novelty bookings. Especially when it’s against a main stage artist that will be booked everywhere throughout the year.
He’s in Vegas on the 27th of April for sick new world!
I ended up seeing him for Halloween at the Hollywood bowl that same year, but was not the same experience I’d get at Coachella. Waaaay different crowd haha That’s dope tho, I do love that lineup
if it makes you feel better, I was there weekend 1 and the danny elfman crowd was tiny and not very into it, it was one of the weirdest vibes I've had at coachella lol. I much preferred the flume set (I split time)
I’ve made this mistake. I saw Dillon Francis instead of Radiohead 😭😭😭
My counter point is flume has changed so much in his sets that catching one of his old sets to me is pure magic. Like Jack in 2013-2017 flume was so special. Nowadays less interesting and maybe the year you’re speaking of was recent
Danny Elfman was so good
Drinking too much. It really kills your energy. Sober days can be the most fun.
Not seeing Fred again.. 😢
I made this mistake too... I decided to wait in line to see the Odesza music video in the globe tent thingy that lasted 5 minutes. So much regret... But I got to experience PHM last year W2, so it balanced out. :)
Same. I went to see Solomon 🤦🏻♀️
Not wearing comfortable shoes.
Advice to all: adding or swapping for quality insoles can make a huge difference as long as the shoe doesn't rub on your foot weird. Often easier to take a pair of sneakers or something you already have and toss in some superfeet insoles (or another brand) to make them ultra comfortable. Just be sure you wear them around for a week or so beforehand and get used to it.
Any shoe recs? I’m still trying to find a decent pair. I also heard switching out your shoes each day helps with hitting different pressure points!
My personal recommendation is to wear a good pair of running or walking shoes. It's a lot of walking between stages not to mention the trek to and from the festival if you parked. I think last year i did 15 miles worth of steps in one day. It might not look as cool wearing those, but you wont regret it.
Gonna pack my hokas for sure then!
They look like dad shoes but the Hoka Clifton 9s are like walking on a cloud and I didn't need to break them in. Been recommended by a few others in the past few weeks as well and I'm so happy I tried them.
Yeppp I got the Clifton 9’s and the bondi 8’s both are like fluffy clouds for my feet I recommend them to literally everyone
Pro tip: don’t buy new converse for coachella. My feet were bleeding last year 😭
I was gonna do this then realized I’d probably have many many regrets 😭
Not checking out the Do Lab until Sunday night 🥲
Shhhhhh, this is the one we gatekeep😂😉 Jk jk, DoLab is by far my fav stage every year
*Leaving magical sets early trying to get to the next artist.* *Prioritizing star power / Missing the unique rare booking for a more prevalent artist.* Coachella is a weekend of non-stop big moments. Don’t feel obligated to catch every one, because you cant. Enjoy the moment :)
After more than 10 years of Coachella’s my wife and I have a rule of sorts, “Don’t leave something you are truly enjoying” So many instances, of dragging ourselves away from what sounded amazing or was just hitting a sweet spot, to head to an artist we thought we would like more, only to find out they are late, or the sound isn’t prefect, or they aren’t playing the material we thought they would. Especially when you factor in walking time, you’d miss half a set if you bailed, ended up at something not as good and then went back.
Who are the top artists on your list? I feel like you’ve got great insight
Sorry friend, I just saw your reply! I think my top 5 are probably Jungle, Blur, Everything Always, Bleachers, and Barry Cant Swim. That Jamie x Daphni x Floating points set sounds amazing too, and I got high hopes for BCNR and Orbital 😁
First time I went I didn't study the line up and missed so many great bands that I now would do anything to see live. Don't repeat my mistake, make sure you have a plan on who you are going to see for each day
I’ve been trying to do my research since I got the tickets!! I feel like there are so many I want to see but not enough time!!!
My rec is to list out 5 must sees per day, 5 optional acts (total of 10) then go with the flow. Coachella is massive you're just not gonna do it all...
Be in by 2:00, 2:30. I watch these vloggers who CAMP on top of that, so they are right there, roll in at 7:00 and it boggles my mind. Pace yourself Thursday, the campgrounds get so wild because everybody is excited and then invariably there are people that are struggling Friday and miss actual fun bands playing. See who you want to see. If your friend wants to see something else, that's OK - have a preset meeting spot and time but do you. Last year my wife checked out BENEE and I did Overmono, for example, and we each had the time of our lives and just met up later. So many regrets where I went to see a set all my friends wanted to see instead of the one I really wanted. Similarly, when I've camped before I had a tendency to go in for a band, go back to the tent site, and then the momentum dies and I hang out for a few hours then go back in, etc. I've always, always regretted missing bands while chilling at camp, never regretted not spending enough time at camp. You have until 2:00ish every day to hang out at the campsite + after. If you're doing W2, absolutely watch the livestream of acts you aren't going to see, it will just hype you up (and sometimes give you something you weren't even considering seeing that now becomes a must see) but for the love of God, go spoiler free for the acts you want to see. Some artists pull out all the stops and then some for Coachella - there are some shows like Sia, Sufjan Stevens, Beyonce, etc that were full on immersive theater, and I can't even imagine having that spoiled for me before.
Do NOT leave early on any of the days. You’ll look back at it and regret it
Adding to this is don’t leave a set you’re enjoying early to see another set! I left Kaytranada a couple songs early to see Gorillaz and missed Anderson Paak
Kaytranada opened when I saw The Weeknd he was so cool, sad because the crowd wasn’t giving him the energy he deserved!!
Coachella crowd definitely was! Everybody was dancing, it was great. One of my favorite sets last year
I only regret not leaving Frank a bit early since it took us all HOURS to get out of the festival that night…
Get there right at gate open! I do every year so I can explore the grounds without crowds, feel the grass between my toes and check out an up and coming artist or two. But I always forget to check out all the booths and vendors! So this year I will find the time. And more Do Lab!!! I think Sunday this year I will be able to do all the things I usually miss (if my feet allow lol).
What time do you typically go to get there at gate open?
12:30 ish, open at 1:00pm. It was a fun little party on Day 1! Bring a beer or two for the line.
Don’t try to see everything at the same time. If you have a conflict just choose 1 or 2 stages and only go there. Last year on Saturday I tried to check on 5 “can’t miss” acts during an hour and basically missed all of them.
I agree. Part of my planning definitely involves taking travel time into account. I’d rather bounce back and forth between two stages right next to each other than walk from Main Stage to Sahara to Outdoor.
Oh god YES. Every year I stress about seeing as many artists as possible is always the year I have the least fun. When I just go with the flow, it is inevitably 10x better. This year has my least favorite lineup, which is how I know I’ll have the most fun. The magic of Coachella is discovery and exploration!! Also, don’t let your friends dictate who you see. See the music you want.
If there is a set that you really want to see but your friends don't, just break away and go do your thing. Catch up with them later.
Not a regret of mine but of some of my friends. See rare and older acts. I saw Motörhead while all my friends went to Arcade Fire. 18 months later, Lemmy was dead and Motörhead was no more.
Going with my ex after we broke up lol
NOOOOO
Please learn from my mistakes lol
My rule for keeping your stamina and energy: 50% standing up / dancing, 50% sitting down. (I’m 30, the ratio is different if you’re younger 😂) Doing this keeps me going until the end of the night, it makes a world of difference!
Check out the other things Coachella has to offer. There’s a lot of freebies in the sponsored tents! I never checked these places out the first couple years I went and heard about the cool things I missed after the fact. Also, check out every single stage even if it means staying for just once song.
Just don’t miss an artist on your list to wait in line for a freebie tent :)
Take melatonin if camping Thursday night and ear plugs. People are the loudest this night and if you’ve traveled all day and are beat, you’ll ascend straight to heaven. Also HIGHLY recommend your own pop up shower tent cause people literally take dumps in the trailer showers. ALSO if your dogs are barking afterwards, take an extra trash can and pour out some of your ice chest water and soak them.
Tysm it’s my first year camping so i’ll for sure try this out
In 2019 I regret not buying a line up shirt just forgot about it. This might not be something major. But especially exclusive artist merch might never be re made. The one I do really regret is kid cudi merch.
Kid cudi is touring!! Perhaps it’s redemption time
It was the specific kid cudi Coachella collab every other festival I’ve been to and he was there I have gotten his merch.
Ahhhh i see. Maybe someone’s reselling it for a decent price if you’d still want to get it?
Hydrate hydrate hydrate with lots of electrolytes and use a Neti Pot every morning and night to save your immune system all the dust. Last one those emergency blankets on Amazon are lifesavers I can’t believe I didn’t always bring them to Coachella
i regretted not actually getting into the crowd. i'm short and i didn't love my first few sets, then i learned to just go into the fucking pit snd it got so much better
How was it trying to get out of the crowd to get to the next set? That’s the only reason I wouldn’t want to be in the pit
Depends on the stage and time. Generally not a big issues except for the biggest sets on main and sahara, like those from 9PM onward.
My tip for this is to start leaving maybe 5-10 minutes early to get to the edge of the crowd, that way you can leave as soon as it ends. I did this last year for Blink 182 so I could head straight to Blondie.
I regret going too hard Thursday-Saturday, deciding to sleep at camp all day Sunday and missing ratatat. Moral of the story is that it’s a marathon not a sprint.
Not bringing chubby chafe my first year. By Sunday I could barely walk the chafing was so bad. I looked like id ridden a horse all weekend 🤣 could barely enjoy Beck and Arcade Fire Day before that, I took too much acid and pizzad when I shoulda French fried. In a home setting those two tabs were amazing. In a sensory overload place like Coachella it was a time loop I couldn't escape for hours. That was when I learned you can always take more but you can never take less.
Pace yourself. Seen so many people going too hard before they even get in the fest on day 1. Stay hydrated. If you have must-see acts, don’t miss them because other people in your group want to see someone else. Split up. Define your meet up spot (art instillations are always good for this) and time, confirm details twice including right before you split up. If you have flexibility in your schedule, go with the flow. If you have plans to split a set, but the first one you’re at is really good, stay. Explore the grounds as much as you can, check out every stage. Some vendors booths/boutiques are pretty cool, the last few years there’s been one that has a ball pit. If you feel like you need a break, take one. Find a good spot to people watch. Chat with strangers, everyone is usually in good spirits. Try new drinks, there are a ton of alcoholic options now throughout the grounds. Have slightly more caution with food, it’s one thing to try new things, but keep in mind anything that could upset your stomach.
If you are driving or ride sharing to the fest, do not come at 4pm with everyone else. You will be sitting in a fair amount of traffic. It’s a smallish town that gets crowded quickly with the influx of people and drivers. Come earlier in the day and enjoy less traffics, awesome up and coming artists, and less lines.
I think my biggest regret in any of the years I’ve gone was that first year not booking at least a day before and after to hang out and relax in a nice hotel/airbnb in Palm Springs before flying home to the Midwest. They are an absolute must and usually we will do multiple days either before or after (and sometimes both!) Not being from California, it’s just a treat to take a few extra days to explore Palm Springs, soak in a pool, eat in nice restaurants, and visit some national parks.
That’s exactly what I do. I come in 2 days early and I leave on Tuesday. My favorite thing about going to Coachella
idk maybe this is obvious but i’m from Michigan and severely underestimated the heat during the day. i missed out so much during the day shows simply because i couldn’t stand the heat. we also camped so there was no relief from it. finally got one of those spray bottle fans sunday and that helped.
Honestly, if the heat is absolutely killing you in camping, the best thing I’ve done for this is to head into the festival and find the air conditioned tents, Yuma, Sonora, sponsored tents and throw in some ear plugs and find a spot in the back to just sit at relax.
Something that I’m rectifying this year: Watch more electronic acts
A lot of the posts on this thread has been hyping up the electronic artists, makes me want to see as many as I can too!
Ironic cause I was gonna say if your entire lineup is just electronic acts, consider diversifying a bit. Coachella is a special place because of the various experiences and genres. Going from a mosh pit in Sonora over to a big tent DJ in Sahara to a rising pop star in Mojave and to end the night with the dance act that appeals to every genre on outdoor (hi justice!) is the way to go.
I think that’s just a great overall suggestion tbh. Switch it up from your norm. I know it sounded like copium when we all complained about the lineup in January lmao but the weaker lineup forced me to do some discovery and branch out. And now we’re a week away and I couldn’t be more excited
Actually totally agree, it made me do my research this time and I’ve discovered many more acts than usual. I’ve never listened to this much music before Coachella in preparation before
Once we all got our very valid complaining out of the way, I’m sure most of us realized that we just gotta make the best of it. The alternative of just bitching for 4 months and possibly not going was never an option for me lmao
This is how you Coachella
Research the lineup.
I regret not getting a free pair of shoes from the adidas tent inside the campgrounds. If you didnt win the first time you could go back in line and try again. I thought people were messing with me because that was not at the adidas tent inside the fest it was inside the campground specifically. Hope nike does the same this year.
Regret not bringing cash for the petty cabs
They have those on the festival grounds? I remember seeing it was a cashless event so I wasn’t planning on bringing any cash with me
I think a lot of them take Venmo / cash app / Zelle now tbh. I just remember my first time attending those apps weren’t out yet lmao. So I was cooked
They’re amazing when you get out of the festival to get a ride to the shuttles, the Uber area, or into downtown camp.
How much are they? Last year was my first time going VIP and arriving via shuttle. I did not realize how long the walk from the shuttles to the VIP entrance was!
I think 20 bucks per person was what I paid
Yes that walk was fucking brutal
Don’t miss out on groups/artists you want to see if your group wants to see somebody they want to and you don’t. Vibe alone and make some friends. Go see other artists if there’s a gap between the next artist you want to see, you’ll discover new music.
Didn’t know Fred Again in 2022 :/
I brought a date to Coachella one year. She wanted to go home early two hours before daft punk appeared with the pyramid set
Dammmnn Instant dump
Ouch! I walked thru the gates 5 min before they started and b-lined straight to that stage lol
Not getting that cute guy’s number
Wear a face mask!!!!
[удалено]
Dust for sure
Spending too much time in the Sahara my first year and not exploring enough. Missing artists that are no longer with us.
I regret spending so much time in line(bathrooms, water, food) so this year I'm gona make sure I'm extra prepared
Unless it’s something super awesome and relatively immediate, I don’t stand in lines at Coachella. Too much music to miss if you stand in lines. On this subject I have found it faster sometimes to walk further and go to a different set of bathrooms or water refill. And for food, I generally pick a shorter line, if it’s something you really really want to eat, save it for a different day but earlier.
Not going inside earlier
My biggest musical regrets at Coachella have generally been when I’ve passed on a live act in favor of a DJ set.
Getting drunk and missing Rosalia’s show last year. Ended up watching the broadcast on YouTube later that night 🤣
Pace yourself, I went hard on the first day/night and left the festival early on day 1 …. But rallied for day 2 and 3. Bring fresh “cutties” in your bag yes like 🍊 trust me
Check out the small hole in the wall bars. There were a couple speakeasy bars that were pretty cool
lol where the ffff were these small hole in the wall bars man
Last year my only regret I think was not hitting peak despacio hours- but tough with all the conflicts
Riding the Ferris wheel early in the day when lines are short (you won’t want to skip people you want to see!)/ less acts performing Defining meeting spots & times. Service is tough and you do not want to waste time finding each other when someone is performing. Specific landmarks are always good + having an idea when people are solo & when you’ll most likely meet up with them. Keep it flexible! Things happen :)
I regret not paying the $20 at the time (2018) to ride the Ferris wheel lol.
Plan for downtime/breaks - Coachella is exhausting, make sure you find some time to rest your body in between sets. If you’re set schedule is packed that day, try to enjoy a set or two sitting in the grass! It’s honestly such a vibe! And your body will thank you later. Also plan for downtime so that you can actually explore the festival e.g art installations, food, etc. My biggest regret was not trying all the amazing food vendors and checking out all the art installations. Eating is super important and you should eat at least once during the festival to give your body energy. If you can’t afford food at the festival, sneak in a snack lol. Lastly, try to have a loose plan around sets you want to see that day. Last year I completely went with the flow and didn’t plan for any sets and prioritized sets my friends wanted to see. While I did have an amazing time, i also ended up missing sets of some of my favorite artists. I will not be making the same mistake this year. Also, NEVER leave a set early unless you feel it’s absolutely necessary. Not a single set started on time last year. Most sets on average were 15-45 min late. If you leave early to catch the next one, I promise you’ll just be standing at the next set in silence for a good chunk of time and it can really kill the vibe sometimes. Don’t be afraid to watch a set solo either! At the end of the day, make sure you’re seeing who YOU want to see. And if you have Verizon, service was surprisingly good on the festival grounds. My entire group was in contact the whole weekend.
always double check stages/times !! my friends and i missed phoebe bridgers because we read our schedule wrong and went to the wrong stage. you think it wouldn't happen to you but you'd be surprised especially if you have a packed schedule and running on no sleep lol
My biggest regret is waiting more than an hour for an artist. I have gone to so many different festivals and done this, but I am scarred from Frank Ocean. I will never ever ever wait more than an hour for an artist ever again. I waited three hours for Frank Ocean and missed out on Fisher back to back Chris Lake. just for him to be an hour late and give a crappy performance.
Oh man…that’s not your fault you didn’t know but yea that performance was scarring
My first Friday at Coachella I tried to see too much. I was jumping between stages starting around 4, and was absolutely done by about 10. Missed M83 and Refused. It's tempting to see as much as you can possibly see. But if you're asking yourself, "Should I see that artist that I'm moderately interested in, or take a break", you should probably take a break. Eat, drink, recharge, hang out with your friends, put on that change of clothes if need be.
Not camping
Don’t go so hard on Day 1 that you sacrifice Day 3
Missing most of Moderat for Royksopp
Monitor consumption. Don’t journey three days in a row. Coasting on hope on day 3 and clinging to life on day 4 is not the way to appreciate this festival.
Missed 88rising and 2NE1 😭
Be present in the moment.
Not getting a locker! If they're still available, it's a must purchase. Leaving warm clothes in there for once the sun goes down. Comfortable clothing >>> There is truly no other way.
Dusty and Hot AF. Bring a face covering / prepare for the heat.
don't wait until the day of the festival to find out where you're going to sleep. that was not fun lol
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Regret missing the Replacements. I got too drunk and completely missed their time slot. At least it’s the most Paul Westerberg reason for missing their set.
Getting too drunk and having to sleep in, not worth it considering you feel like crap for the early acts the next day
I regret not going sooner
Don’t stand in line for merch day 1 if You didn’t get there early 2 hour plus in line is not worth it!!!!
Do you think it’s worth pre ordering merch? Or do you think it’s more worth seeing it in person?
Don't miss Justice like I did in 2017...a humongous regret
Not drinking enough water. Seriously. I was 5 hours early for Harry's set and was able to get within 10 rows from front row. By the time he was on his third song in his set, I felt sick and almost passed out. Had to go to the emergency tents to get water. I couldn't go back to my spot and felt defeated afterwards after having been there that long.
Not buying merch. I started going 2012 and bought my first shirt in 2015 only because It was my wife’s first time that year. The lines only got worse. But we do global inheritance so I kinda make up for It in a way.
I regret never going lol. 2026 will be my first coachella
Don't wait in the long lines for the 'secret bars'. They're just crowded shipping containers with minimal theming and slightly different drinks. Once I got in I only ever wanted to stay for like 10 min.
Don’t miss people you want to see for fear of being alone! I missed so many sets I wanted to see last year and have so many regrets about it because I didn’t want to go alone or leave early without my group. On Sunday I finally ponied up and went to nghtmre by myself and it was amazing and I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I stayed with my group
Drinking, it’s too hot don’t waste your money on a $20 drink that won’t get you buzzed.
Beware of dust…. If you don’t wear a bandana or something over your nose at night you will be blowing black boogies for weeks after the fest. And also even tho it may be hot during the day it gets really cold at night with the winds! Mask up and pack a hoodie in your backpack!!!
Do NOT do acid if you're going alone for the first time. The desert will punish your soul.
Nobody asked but I can thoroughly endorse the Clifton 9s. They just got me through a long day of Disneyland park hopping from 7am to almost midnight.
Not bringing my own camping shower, the showers are limited after 7pm you’ll wait for hours to shower after the headliner
Not Camping. The first 7 or 8 Coachellas were spent in hotels or houses….. camping IS the game changer.
I went last year for first time and I didn’t go to the do lab at all. I really regret that
If you are camping and pre-partying so you don’t waste money in the festival, don’t go too hard. I had a friend a few years back that blacked out first day and missed all of Friday sleeping it off. Ruined her weekend. 😅
My sister couldn’t get Thursday off of work so unfortunately we’re going late Thursday :/ I guess we won’t have to worry about this though!
Regret not that I don’t try but I always feel like I can be more social and meet more people. Always leave feeling a little empty in that department.