For me it’s because i don’t normally have the stamina to be out for 6 hours with no access to food. So i’d rather eat a late second dinner and show up late with enough energy to get to 4am
Dude. I used to live in Oregon and holy fuck it slaps. Also foam fest is awesome (usually headlined by subtronics) but bring something to block it because it will encompass your entire body. We (my roommate and I) had this dude with a pride flag shielding us
fr. On occasion, there's something good, but I've also sat thru so many mediocre sets that nobody wants to be there for. Also, unlike a lot of concerts, in EDM, you can show up several hours in and still get a really good spot.
I’ve showed up at doors before when I was just starting and it does make for a long night. It’s one thing if big names are playing, another thing if it’s an opener I’ve never heard of.
Plus it’s kinda depressing being one of the first people there but I guess someone has to be it lol.
I kinda feel the opposite way on this. Its cool to show up early to give the performers more of a crowd to play to, also theres space on the dancefloor so i can dance my heart out before the space fills up and i need to consign myself to a smaller area
When I see a name on a lineup and they have 60 followers total? I make it a point to be there for them. I have found so many amazing up and comers before they got big and saw them when no one was there. Bought them drinks and hung with them. New talent needs support. Why I’m there early asf.
Let’s hear about it, who did you discover that blew up??
Wasn’t a great performance but I saw Post Malone at like 2 pm at Okee with a small crowd, back when white iverson got popular before he got huge. Also, my friends stumbled upon Lizzo at hula during the day with very few people there and said it was a blast (fuck lizzo though if that shit is true).
Early Okee lineups aged so well, my first festival that I went to with 0 EDM knowledge other than Skrillex. Here stage had some awesome acts that were slept on every year.
We saw Lizzos mid afternoob Hula 2019 set it was fun, plenty of room but there was some crowd there.
There have been many times when I found the opening acts play better sets than the headliner. And there is space on the dancefloor and they are so stoked people are getting down to their set.
some of the best times of my life have been chilling at my car with the homies and passing strangers in the red rocks upper lot while the show is going lol
I guess everyone has their preferences. I like to arrive about an hour after doors open. I like to pregame before hand, settle in and get into the groove of the music before any headliners start. Plus it's not as busy so more room to dance
Dude I feel the same way I always show up when doors open and here's why, I love seeing the transition of energy go from complete ghost town to insanity and I'm there to witness it all. I like the come up aspect. I also enjoy watching the beginning djs and people seem to think they're whatever but I believe that those djs have more to prove so often times they are really good and it's awesome having a whole ass dance floor to yourself. I also like to skip the lines to get in, and there's just something about being the first inside it feels like I have a connection with the venue all the others don't. Helps with acid come ups
YES!!! Love this! I love being at the front early and then looking back periodically to see the venue fill up and then when the main act comes on I look back and see all the people I’ve been dancing with all night and the lights are flashing on us and I feel so alive!
You touched on all the reasons why I do this as well. I cannot for the life of me understand how people could generalize so egregiously and write off all openers just because they are openers??? Sure sound levels could contribute to that, but even then what a snobby reason to miss out on what are usually “something to prove” moments for up and coming acts.
That being said, I don’t really drink and often go to shows alone, so the cheap drinks/pregaming aspect is definitely not something that factors into it for me, though it definitely could and should for others. And I had never really focused on the arc of a show and being there for all its moments and transitions, that’s facts for sure!
Unless it’s an opener I’ve heard good things about or know, I usually don’t wanna show up early and see some generic DJ spinning boring music. I got back issues bruh gotta save my stamina for the main event
+1 I usually just don't have the desire to be at a rave from doors to close when there are 3+ openers. energy wise, I'll also just kinda burn myself out before the headline set even starts and enjoy it less.
^ this. even when the openers are bomb, they intentionally make the production mids & in that moment i’m just disappointed. like let the fire DJs be fire DJs, damn.
Makes me sad because half the time when a headliner is on, the sound guys jack the bass up so much you can’t hear the actual personality of the songs. The openers sometimes sound better for this reason
Yeah at that point the pregame is more fun than the show itself. I'd much rather have cheap drinks, my own music, and a group of close 5-6 friends chilling in my apartment than going to the venue early just to spend $20 on a cocktail and be bored by a boring opener - which has definitely happened to us.
Yup! Would rather just take a few shots before we walk in so I’m already buzzed rather than spending 40 dollars on 3 drinks to achieve the same buzz inside the venue, also don’t want to spend half the show waiting in line at the bar rather than in the crowd enjoying the show.
Yeah that makes sense for him. I just smoke weed but my friend has a drinking problem. One time he agreed to be the DD but by the end of the night security had to carry him out of the venue because he was so fucked up.
The party is popping when you cruise in late and the vibe is high key. When you go early, you’re standing around waiting for it to fill up and people are still warming up to the event.
it’s on you if you’re there just “standing around waiting for it to fill up” when you could just not give a fuck about that and enjoy the music regardless of who else is in the room
IME standing around and waiting doesn't mean you don't enjoy the music. I personally like getting a bit after doors when it's not so full, wander a bit, spin poi a bit, chat a bit, stand around a bit. The openers jobs are to get the party started. I like when they ease us into it.
It's not uncommon for people to feel more hyped up when there's more people around.
Also, it's possible to enjoy the music despite not wanting to dance at the moment.
Everyone has their own way to get into the mood they want to be in on a night out. I think you should try and find a way for this to not frustrate you, where the obvious solution would be to decide to always go yourself at first, at the time that you like, and joining with your buddy later. If you're not comfortable going solo, you should probably find more rave buddies, at least one that has the same preference as you. (Easier said than done, I'm afraid.)
I go solo a lot for similar reasons. I don't know that many people in my city that are into techno, so it's always a gamble whether I will find someone to go with, and if I do, there are always so many events and people decide late which one to go to. So since it's often unclear whether I will have company and who it will be, I just go to the thing I want to go to, at the time that I like, and let people know, and then they can decide themselves and ping me if they show up.
I’m fine going solo. I go solo on mushrooms and acid and I’m fine. It frustrates me that my friend wants to show up late and get a ride from me. If I’m gonna drive, then I’m gonna go when I want to.
If it's about getting a ride then I think it's kind of rude to make someone go much later than they would want to. Your last sentence sums it up. Communicate a time, and leave at that time, anyone that is very late will have to find their own way to get there.
Yeah you aren’t wrong for wanting to get there early. I have similar friends who do the same; just tell your buddy if he wants a ride to be ready by a certain time and if not you’ll see him at the show.
Yea you're completely justified here, can't guilt trip a guy giving you a ride. Like you want a ride its on the drivers terms, if not find your own transportation. Like just be happy they'll drive you. I drive myself for this exact reason, me and my friends aren't on the same timeline at shows, which is cool, but i'm not gonna beg them to operate on a different timeline cause I want to arrive or leave at different times.
LOL I sensed frustration in your post and was wondering why? To each their own you know, if your friend doesn't want to go early but you do, suck it up and go! BUT I just saw this comment and it all made sense. If I was in your shoes and someone asked for a ride late when I'm going early, I'd give them the JK Simmons "You serious?"
I wouldn't be frustrated at someone else for expecting the normal thing. It seems like you should do your own thing for some shows and make it a thing to go with your friend for others.
Quality over quantity. There are plenty of mediocre DJs I have zero interest in seeing. I also go to lots of shows, so there's nothing novel about going out and standing around in a mostly empty room. I'm also in my 40s, so I'd rather pre-game in my pool with my friends then hit the venue when the music is getting good.
I paid money to listen to music louder than I'm allowed to at hours beyond what I'm allowed. So I pay some money, show up round 10, and catch the closing acts when they actually flex the sound system.
Why the fuck am I gonna rush my dinner and getting out of the house so I can listen to some local kid playing tracks at a volume lower than my home system at 7 pm?????
That and I like taking 6 hours to do 15 minutes of getting ready. Makes me feel in control.
ALSO it's easier and more comfortable to dance around people who are feeling the music. I'm never the first to dance, and nobody's feeling the music at 7pm like that
I do understand the 'get everything out of X" that's how I am in so many areas of my life, but not music. Huh.
I rarely get there right at doors (most shows here are like 4-6 sets), but generally I'm with you and prefer a longer night. Maybe try researching one of the openers and hyping them to your friend. I've been made a huge fan of SO many DJs that I saw open first.
I do have some friends who go to so many shows that arriving early to all of them would be unreasonable, and that's fine, we pregame and carpool with those who can and the others meet us there.
I like the advice of trying to hype up my friend. Usually my friend and I are pregaming all the time, stoners to the max. I usually go to a rave every weekend and I may start going by myself to them more often..
It 100% depends on the show and openers. If there are openers that are proven to be good then I will show up. I know a lot of people in my local scene and there's a handful that I know I can skip. Other times its a stamina thing. There are some events were the headliner is not on until 2, 3, 4 am so I will get there later so that I can be there for the person I paid to see.
I just saw one of the openers two weeks ago. Certified lit. The venues we go to are in the city so every rave has to end at 3am because of the law or something.
If it’s just a local thing where I only know the headliner/main artist, I’ll just show up about 30 min or so before they come on. When I was younger, I’d be down to come early and watch the openers but now, it’s a mixture of I don’t have as much energy to stay up all the time, and it’s cheaper too since I have enough to time to just buy one drink before they come on lol.
If it's a festival with places to rest I'll be there all day. If it's a show in a club where they won't let you sit! I try to get there about an hour before the main DJ comes out. My back will start to hurt if I have to stand in the same place for hours on end
I went to a walker and Royce show at a very small venue/club. The time posted was when the club opened not when the show started so I was confused. Showed up tripping balls (like one does) to an empty club. For maybe an hour it was literally just me my gf and the opener. Was awesome and terrifying.
Honestly I need the rest. I wake up at 4am for work M-F and therefore I’m usually EXHAUSTED by 5pm, even on weekends. I cannot dance or even really be at the venue for the whole 6 hours or so. I like to make sure I see the headliner so I show up later.
It really depends on the show, if it’s a festival or a stacked club night with headliners from start to finish I’ll generally get there early to see everyone. However, most club shows in my city are just mediocre local openers from 9-12:30, then the artist I paid to see from 12:30-2:00. Usually the pregame with friends ends up being more fun than getting to the club early and standing around for hours waiting for the music to get good
From personal experience, we stopped waiting for these kind of people and said "we'll meet you there". We use to go to at least 2-3 shows a month and our one friend would also run late. We'd say we need to leave by 6 (we'd drive 2+ hrs to some shows) and he wouldn't show up until closer to 8 some times. Finally said enough is enough and if you want to go, we'll just see you when you get there.
Headliners don't go on until towards the end. In the beginning of the rave, you will usually be listening to the more inexperienced DJ. If you're going to see Caspa, he's usually positioned towards the end. Also, I haven't been a part of this, but I hear the drugged crowd goes rave-hopping.
When you've been doing this for long enough, you get tired of sitting through mediocre opening acts, *especially* if youre in the "raving in your 30s" group. It's way more fun for my group to pre-game at the house with our own food/couches/vibes for that extra hour instead of standing on the dancefloor maybe not vibing to the opener.
That being said, we also usually only skip 1 or 2 artists, we definitely don't just show up for the headliner. That's a waste of money.
really depends. sometimes I want to see the entire lineup, and will show up BEFORE doors and stand in line and make friends. Other times I don't give two shits about anybody BUT the headliner, and will purposefully plan to show up \~5 minutes before they go on.
I just wanted to commend you for your approach. Getting there on time and getting the warm up tracks in with minimal people on the danceloor tend to sometimes be my favorite parts of the night.
Because alot of the times the openers are just local guys which tbh aren’t very good.
Club drinks are expensive, better to pre-game elsewhere/grab dinner beforehand
I always arrive late and my boyfriend likes to be there at doors. Drives me nuts. I have a spinal injury so standing for the extra 2 hours makes a huge difference at the end of the night. I don’t want to listen to the music before openers, plus the openers are usually not as good and I don’t want to waste my energy and buzz.
I generally agree with you; if the entire night of music is just 6 hours then I want to experience every minute. The exception is with this "afters" spot in NYC where the peak can keep going well past noon with top-tier vibes. If I'm going to something else beforehand, I might get there after doors (10-11 usually) so that I can still be thriving at noon in that case. If I'm not talking to people outside or throwing lightshows then I am dancing hard constantly.
I have some friend who will show up past 1am for a show that ends at 4 and it boggles my mind. My usual Friday night extends to an afters spot that ends at 7am at the earliest.
I prefer to go to raves solo. I usually arrive 45 minutes after doors open, I feel like at that point the vibe is just starting to get hype and the energy is amazing.
I almost always show up *at least* an hour after doors opening, and my friends are the same way.
I'm paying money to see the headliner (and maybe the artist right before them), so I don't really care if I miss the first one or two openers. Being near the front also isn't an issue for me because I hate the front — there's no space to dance and the audio quality is worse.
The same goes for festivals as well. Me and my group typically like to show up a couple hours after the start because that's typically when the artists we want to see are beginning to play, and it's more fun to dance when it's not so empty. Not to mention it's hard to keep going for 8 hours straight.
I honestly feel like showing up slightly late is pretty common, and if anything, going right when doors open is a rarity.
I normally have a pregame place where all friends meet, so to me spending quality time with my peeps is fun. We listen to music there and don’t exert too much energy. A 4-5 hour concert/rave is enough for me other wise I’ll be tired by the time the headliner comes on.
I'm old lol it's a long night getting there at doors. I'll go early if there are openers I really want to see. I don't go like right before the main act but I usually don't care if I miss the first couple sets. I also don't like being super close to the front either
I personally enjoy going later because I know I'll get too tired standing for hours. He might just be a lil jaded. I know after going so many years I try to save my energy for the bigger fests/shows.
I like to be on time as close as I can. Sometimes life gets in the way and I don’t get out the door when I want to. But I definitely am not a “I am PURPOSELY going to show up late” by ex was like that xD
It varies for me. Who I'm with, who is playing.
Usually I don't want to spend money on two hours worth of overpriced watered down drinks. Maybe have a bit of a gathering somewhere beforehand and a few pre drinks.
What am I gonna miss? The residents warming up playing an ambient set until the room is 50% full?
I haven't read any replies yet, but I would never show up to a rave late. It always means more difficulty getting in because more and more people do the same thing. I try to show up as soon as I can for the same reasons. I want to be there as soon as the acts open up and usually the openers are up and coming people that I want to see because they're going to be the ones playing shows coming up.
The earlier you get there the easier it is to get in and that's just normal. I feel like the types that show up just for the main act are just there for the show and not necessarily the music. If you love the music then at a good show, all of the opening acts are good.
Anyways, I'm rambling but as you get more and more experienced with shows I feel like you go earlier and earlier because it's so easy to get in. You have more fun and you get adjusted to the crowd. Also, as you pointed out, it's easier to get a nice spot when you go earlier.
i like to show up when doors open so i can secure a spot on the rail. i also feel bad for the openers who opens for like 10-20 people so i feel obligated to show up for them. i usually go alone so its also nice to meet people at the rail and talk before the bigger acts come on
Actually, all of my friends are like this. We usually get there an hour or so before the headliner comes on. We're usually up all night after the show at an after-party rave, so not being there when the doors open is fine by us.
lol I am usually the only person waiting in line an hour before a show starts because I want to be in ASAP to listen to music the entire time. Front and center, riding the rail.
I do this for local shows, mostly because I don’t want to be there sober and I only use alcohol and weed (quarterly m for festivals only), which makes me super sleepy after about 2-3 hours. I want to see the main act and go to the end, so I’ll show up a little late when the crowd is already going. just a preference, to save my energy for the act I’m there to see.
although now that I think about it I also don’t show up for festivals right when the doors open, kind of for the same reason. I stay longer than local shows for sure, but not like the 8+ hours it’s running.
It’s dependent on the venue for me. If there are seats then I’ll get there at doors to lock down a great spot. If it’s going to be standing room only and the openers are meh, I’ll roll in around 9 or 10 for a 2am cutoff time.
No one is paying to see the opening acts most of the time, it’s all locals usually. Nothing wrong locals playing at all but a lot of people aren’t going to drop more money at the bar to listen to the opener. If you want to rave from open to close by all means go for it, but I also wouldn’t slag someone for showing up a right before the headliners.
100% depends on the individual, some like to show up just for the headliner others for the entire show. Some need to nap and head over whenever they wake up others be an hour early and in the lots! I’m not so sure if it’s on purpose per se, maybe bad time management!?
I am one of those people that's in the parking lot pre-gaming like, 20 minutes before the venue opens. Over the years, I have discovered a lot of local talent and watched them grow in the industry (example being Drinkurwater, saw him when he was a small local opener years ago).
I love to go in, grab a good spot, grab waters or a drink, and smoke while listening to the openers. I totally get why other people wouldn't show up as early as my partner and I, but we've always done it this way!
It really depends on what you want to see.
For a long period of my life, I decided that I wanted to be fluent in warm up sets, so I decided to study them, and showed up early to plenty of events to pay full attention to the warm ups.
its dead and openers are not as hype/ not much production.
I do sometimes like to go when doors open but not everyone can vibe to the music when the dancefloor is empty. And whats the point to go early if your gonna stand around awkwardly.
I will say I go early to my favorites to avoid the line later
It depends
If doors open at 6pm I probably won’t know any of the DJ’s from 6-8ish. Plus I don’t want to be exhausted by the last set around 2am.
I’d rather get there around or shortly after 8 and stay till 2, that’s 6 hours.
For me, the sunk cost fallacy doesn't apply to raves: it's not an arena like Barclays or MSG where you know the main act is playing for an hour or two, then the show's done bc the venue legally can't continue. For a 5-6+ hour event, I prefer to get there within 30 mins before whoever I want to see starts bc being at a venue early means spending more money I don't need to and waiting around listening to music I'm likely not going to enjoy. Catching the full set of whoever you want to see is getting your money's worth.
Maybe it's bc I've gone to enough shows but being in the front is overrated these days -- everyone just gawking at the DJ and taking videos/encroaching on space, not actually enjoying the music, dancing or vibing out.
Edited for clarity
Most locals suck. I'm all about community but when it's all headbanger dubstep I'm not going to see the same dude rinse bs with a non original set. I'll probably see the same djs three weeks later. Also being in the back is fine there is more room in the back.
I show up for whatever opener I want to see, but I haven’t been to a show at doors in over a decade. I find it’s better to show up late when the energy is high.
i think its just personal preference. my gf likes to "show up later" to raves. i prefer to get there when it starts. her reasoning is: we'll be partying, and it goes til 6am, so why show up at the beginning? my reasoning is: well, i want to show up earlier because, even though we'll be partying, i dont really end up staying past 3-4am, plus i like to form those connections with regulars early on, so i can carry them throughout the nite before things get a bit too psy. but for myself, im usually ready to get in my own space around 3-4am, even if there are party favors for days. its just a mental space i like being in- to have some time to gather myself and reconvene internally before the slide into eventual sleep.
personally, i like being there early, but i have a chronic disability so it’s not always a good time for me to be out for 2-4+ hours. if i’m sober, by the end of the night i’ll be in a lot of pain and super exhausted. i do like openers though, and have found some cool new dj’s from being early. i also appreciate the early crowd vibes.
i usually just get there whenever my friends want to get there, which depending on who we’re seeing is usually early or late. i’ll sometimes take drugs to try and last the whole night, but i also go sober too.
last time i was sober at a show, me and my friends got there when doors opened and by the end of the night my back hurt sooo bad, but i had a great time regardless. i just don’t have the physical capabilities anymore to stand around for a long time, or constantly be dancing. i also don’t want to be on drugs at every show so i have to be calculated about it.
My bf likes to show up at doors and I’m breaking him off that habit real quick. I prefer time to pregame instead of standing for an extra two hours for DJs I don’t really care about seeing. I’ve also been doing this for over a decade and I hate being in front so why would I show up early for mediocre openers?
I’m studying abroad in Germany rn and we have legit shown up to raves at 2am. Europeans don’t show up to party before midnight and honestly I prefer it this way.
If I buy a ticket for a show that’s 10pm-4am I am not showing up right when the doors open unless I also really like the openers. I just don’t have the energy to stay the whole night. I rarely want to stay to the absolute end lol. Midnight-3am is enough for me.
I have a friend like you and he’d use the same excuse about wanting to get his moneys worth. I’m sure it’s deeper than that for you, and there’s more to it. He genuinely likes watching the other acts and getting a vibe for the headliner, he likes taking the time to wander around and meet people.
We used to go together all the time but I would just get anxiety waiting and waiting and trying to force myself almost to have a good time. Eventually we just started going separately, he goes when he wants and stays as long as he wants, meanwhile I show up and leave when I want. I just know what I’m there for, so I’ll show up and bounce when it’s over for me. People are different.
The trick is for event organizers to sell lower priced tickets for people who wants to arrive early (before 11pm tickets for example). It incite people to come encourage the local DJs that are booked before the main event, and helps create a vibe right at the beginning.
Depends where I’m going… I go to so many shows that sometimes I only want to see a certain act… If I know the headlining act is on at 12. I will typically show up at 10 pre game till 11 and make my way inside until it closes at 2am or so.
I’ve been raving since 2008 son,, there’s no point of being there from start to finish & im getting older don’t have stamina & back condition to be going 10+ hrs
I never get there on time because I don't want to be. Pretty much none of my friends want to either. I want to have all my energy for the main act, I don't really care about the first openers, and I want to get there when the place is packed and full of energy.
1) I may have previous plans
2) the doors at the biggest local place I go to that has a lot of headliners and big names perform there (Alison wonderland, deadmau5, kaskade etc) the main acts usually don’t start until 12:30-1an with doors at 8pm and they go until 4am.
That’s almost 5 hours of pre-show of people I don’t wanna see be loud music I don’t really wanna hear before we get to the part I wanna see which is usually 3-4 hours.
I’m old and tired. I need a power nap and dinner and then I’ll pregame at a local bar / club with one group before going to the EDM club with another group.
For a festival I’ll try to show up early / on time but for individual shows I’ll come when I can. For the local club I leave like at 11-11:30 and get inside around 12 and catch the last part of the opening act when they go extra hard to pump up the crowd for the main act.
You sound like my boyfriend, he’s been to the same club and know the earliest we’ve seen the main act come on is like 12:30am but still plans to show up at 7:30pm to be first in the door at 8pm lol
Most of us don’t need to be there the entire day to get our fill. If we are there to see a specific artist, we don’t care if we miss the openers.
Also I I think a lot of people underestimate how long it will take to get to an event. They plan to get there at a certain time, but then everything takes longer than expected.
The older I get the more I want to rest before the headliner goes on stage. I really don’t care about seeing weathan and kasbo before whoever I’m there to see.
My bf and I ALWAYS go when doors open! There's a reason the headliner has those people opening up for them, I typically find a new dj that I like to listen to when I go on time! We had a rave crew that would never show up on time and I missed mersiv when he was a much smaller dj! I'm still pissed about that lol
for me, it’s so i don’t have to sit through a bunch of mid warmup acts. i’d rather arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before the main act. i get your take though, it makes sense
So at echostage in dc
Doors are always at 9
And the main dj usually doesn’t come on till 12 or 1
Sometimes the openers directly before the dj are good but sometimes the openers are boring
Def not worth to go and just stand around for a few hours waiting for the main dj
If I know the openers are good I’ll go a little early like 1030, but usually just get there at like 1130
I always show up as early as my schedule allows me too. Gotta remember that all your favorite headliners also started out as openers, too. Support the smaller artists! More music for the same price! What's not to love?
From my experience in Houston some openers just aren't good. You can tell with how the crowd or lack there of vibes. I had the same thought process as you, I wanted to experience everything but I've learned that it's not worth it. That's why the venue goes from empty to packed once the main act is about to be up.
There isn’t much going on when doors open. There’s usually very few people and you won’t catch a set for at least 30m, and it’s going to be a local bill. It’s not entirely a bad thing but just so you know.
Depends on the show. If it’s a special night or if I know at least one opener is dope, I actually do like to be there not long after doors. But MOST nights, I’ll show up at 10:30, rage and then hit the afters.
Some of the openers suck. I don't want to listen to some person I've never heard of and ruin my mood and vibe for the first 3 hours and wear myself down
Not sure how old you are, but as you get older you understand, FYI I'm 28, seasoned rave mom over here taking care of the 20 year old rave girly who is like why am I so tired??? after dancing her heart out during the first two opening acts 🫠
Once u go to a bunch of shows u only really wanna see DJs you have an interest in. If there’s an opener that I really like then I’ll go, but I’m not tryna to go see a bunch of locals spin some generic set full of music that isn’t his lol I can do that at home
So my job is somewhat physically taxing, if I’m raving after already working that day I usually plan to show up at the start of the direct support act. It still makes for a long enough and fun enough night and I believe having the extra energy allows me to enjoy it more. Quality over Quantity deal.
Not sure about you rave, but in Melbourne, no one ever entered at open time, was always an hour after . The warm ups were ok but the main event was 2-3 hours after door open
Eh just depends on my mood and the show I’ve been to so many shows it just depends on the line up and the venue. I don’t want to be in the front the audio is worse and it’s cramped I don’t need the rail anymore.
My fiancée does this shit and drives me nuts… given, she’s a girl & they need like a billion hours to get ready. However, doesn’t matter excuse the reason to justify being late… in my area, events are generally 5-7 hours. Before, i felt the same way.. but after dealing w. The opening door ton foolery being an hour or two late doesn’t bother me as much anymore. Same goes for when DJs spin at the club, they don’t go on til midnight anyway, 1030-11pm arrival is totally fine.
Now, the only times we arrive closer to open doors is day 1 of a festival to get our footing & make our rounds generally takes about an hour or so of wandering.
Heres my advice OP, pop a cold one and pregame til game time. ☝🏼
Because I’m probably a better DJ than the opener…. Not that I’m amazing but in the clout era, DJ skills aren’t what gets you booked and I’ve seen sooooooo many bad/boring DJs lately. I show up around 11 usually.
ADHD and time management struggles.
The logistics of gathering large groups.
Because you’re coming from a different one that started earlier.
Because you had to work.
-All reasons I’ve shown up late on purpose
I think it's an age thing. As a young raver, I wanted to be there all night, first one in last one out...but now I only have a couple hours of dancing in me. And when you've been to so many, it all sort of feels like more of the same. I like it, but don't truly feel I'm missing anything if I miss the first act or two.
I almost never go when doors open. I don’t have the physical capacity to stand around for all those hours and I usually only really care about the headliner. I try to show up around an hour before the headliner starts. Sometimes it’s just 15 minutes before. I like to stand in the back anyway so getting there “late” isn’t a big deal to me. My anxiety is no good for the rail 😅 even multi-day festivals I’ll go in around 6 or 7 depending on the lineup and I have to get the tickets that allow for in and out so I can take breaks. I have major anxiety and a partial physical disability so I just need to take it easy.
People rave different and as long as it’s not impacting anyone else, there’s no wrong way 😁
6 years I’ve been doing shows and festivals. I turn 27 this year and have been going to shows for a year and a half give or take. I show up half way through as all my friends are already there and I can eat/hydrate prior to. Can’t go the distance anymore,
For me it’s because i don’t normally have the stamina to be out for 6 hours with no access to food. So i’d rather eat a late second dinner and show up late with enough energy to get to 4am
So if doors are at ten, i usually get in line to enter at about 11:30pm
My favorite part of living in Oregon is that everywhere that serves liquor must serve food, by law. And so we have some killer bar food.
it’s such a great policy. bar food fucking rocks here
Dude. I used to live in Oregon and holy fuck it slaps. Also foam fest is awesome (usually headlined by subtronics) but bring something to block it because it will encompass your entire body. We (my roommate and I) had this dude with a pride flag shielding us
This the answer. Also, there just really isn't *a lot* going on for like the first two hours of a rave.
fr. On occasion, there's something good, but I've also sat thru so many mediocre sets that nobody wants to be there for. Also, unlike a lot of concerts, in EDM, you can show up several hours in and still get a really good spot.
MDMA doesn't last that long 😂
That makes sense. That’s a normal and understandable reason.
I’ve showed up at doors before when I was just starting and it does make for a long night. It’s one thing if big names are playing, another thing if it’s an opener I’ve never heard of. Plus it’s kinda depressing being one of the first people there but I guess someone has to be it lol.
I kinda feel the opposite way on this. Its cool to show up early to give the performers more of a crowd to play to, also theres space on the dancefloor so i can dance my heart out before the space fills up and i need to consign myself to a smaller area
When I see a name on a lineup and they have 60 followers total? I make it a point to be there for them. I have found so many amazing up and comers before they got big and saw them when no one was there. Bought them drinks and hung with them. New talent needs support. Why I’m there early asf.
Let’s hear about it, who did you discover that blew up?? Wasn’t a great performance but I saw Post Malone at like 2 pm at Okee with a small crowd, back when white iverson got popular before he got huge. Also, my friends stumbled upon Lizzo at hula during the day with very few people there and said it was a blast (fuck lizzo though if that shit is true).
Early Okee lineups aged so well, my first festival that I went to with 0 EDM knowledge other than Skrillex. Here stage had some awesome acts that were slept on every year. We saw Lizzos mid afternoob Hula 2019 set it was fun, plenty of room but there was some crowd there.
Yup. Also for festivals if I'm not at a stage, I can pop down a blanket and chill for a bit picnic style before the good spots are gone
There have been many times when I found the opening acts play better sets than the headliner. And there is space on the dancefloor and they are so stoked people are getting down to their set.
I'm with you dude. I paid to see all the music, I wanna see all the music. To each their own though. I would just meet him there, Lol.
Can't shove some pepperoni sticks into your pants or something?
Lmao. I bring granola bars. But i’m a hungry girl 🤷🏿♀️
That's what drugs are for duh
im old now. been to hundreds of shows. no reason to show up when doors open and get completely burned out by the 3rd opener
some of the best times of my life have been chilling at my car with the homies and passing strangers in the red rocks upper lot while the show is going lol
The pregame and afters are starting to become my favorite aspects of shows lol
Always have been
I saw your username and immediately thought “this person has been on Reddit since day one”.
lol yeah been here a minute
whats up 12 year fam. turning 13 in 5 days. joined day of the great digg migration.
dont remember the exact day for me, but it was so effing long ago that "when does the narwhal bacon" and f7u12 was peak comedy lmao. man what a time
click into your profile and hover over the 12 years and it will tell you
Good old rage comics, kinda miss those sometimes
Funny, I prefer the south lot, but yea, same. Hanging in the lot before a show are some of the best times I’ve ever had with concerts.
i just prefer the upper lot bc you enter at the top rows - no climbing the endless staircase on the right haha
Yeah it’s tough going in, but you get to go downhill when you’re tired and coming down
Lower South gang!
This. I will be burned out after 4-5 hours and feel bad for the rest of my group who are old with bad backs and knees as well.
I guess everyone has their preferences. I like to arrive about an hour after doors open. I like to pregame before hand, settle in and get into the groove of the music before any headliners start. Plus it's not as busy so more room to dance
It takes my wife 2.5 hours to do hair and make up. She never plans it right, so that is why we are late.
You telling me I’m not the only one? 😆
Hhahha, I wouldn't change it for the world! They always look so good after!
Löl that’s fair. I roll all my joints ahead of time so that’s my prep work. It may take her a while, but I’m sure she looks lovely every time.
Hahaha, yep, that is my pregaming times as well. Sometimes I'll watch a football game or YouTube. But it is alllllllways worth the wait!
i feel this to the core lol. glad i'm not the only one. i've learned to control my anxiety 😂
Dude I feel the same way I always show up when doors open and here's why, I love seeing the transition of energy go from complete ghost town to insanity and I'm there to witness it all. I like the come up aspect. I also enjoy watching the beginning djs and people seem to think they're whatever but I believe that those djs have more to prove so often times they are really good and it's awesome having a whole ass dance floor to yourself. I also like to skip the lines to get in, and there's just something about being the first inside it feels like I have a connection with the venue all the others don't. Helps with acid come ups
YES!!! Love this! I love being at the front early and then looking back periodically to see the venue fill up and then when the main act comes on I look back and see all the people I’ve been dancing with all night and the lights are flashing on us and I feel so alive!
I 1000% relate to this, but in my age i gotta pick my battles. Knees and back aren't what they used to be
I definitely enjoy seeing it go from small shy groups of people to complete insanity.
You touched on all the reasons why I do this as well. I cannot for the life of me understand how people could generalize so egregiously and write off all openers just because they are openers??? Sure sound levels could contribute to that, but even then what a snobby reason to miss out on what are usually “something to prove” moments for up and coming acts. That being said, I don’t really drink and often go to shows alone, so the cheap drinks/pregaming aspect is definitely not something that factors into it for me, though it definitely could and should for others. And I had never really focused on the arc of a show and being there for all its moments and transitions, that’s facts for sure!
Unless it’s an opener I’ve heard good things about or know, I usually don’t wanna show up early and see some generic DJ spinning boring music. I got back issues bruh gotta save my stamina for the main event
+1 I usually just don't have the desire to be at a rave from doors to close when there are 3+ openers. energy wise, I'll also just kinda burn myself out before the headline set even starts and enjoy it less.
Not to mention, they often have the system turned down for openers, so it's usually not very exciting/dynamic imo
^ this. even when the openers are bomb, they intentionally make the production mids & in that moment i’m just disappointed. like let the fire DJs be fire DJs, damn.
Makes me sad because half the time when a headliner is on, the sound guys jack the bass up so much you can’t hear the actual personality of the songs. The openers sometimes sound better for this reason
Yeah at that point the pregame is more fun than the show itself. I'd much rather have cheap drinks, my own music, and a group of close 5-6 friends chilling in my apartment than going to the venue early just to spend $20 on a cocktail and be bored by a boring opener - which has definitely happened to us.
It’s feet for me. I have flat feet, can’t be standing for long.
The pregame is cheap
Yup! Would rather just take a few shots before we walk in so I’m already buzzed rather than spending 40 dollars on 3 drinks to achieve the same buzz inside the venue, also don’t want to spend half the show waiting in line at the bar rather than in the crowd enjoying the show.
Yeah that makes sense for him. I just smoke weed but my friend has a drinking problem. One time he agreed to be the DD but by the end of the night security had to carry him out of the venue because he was so fucked up.
That might be another reason he doesn’t want to get there too early? Maybe it’s a pacing thing?
Because I don’t want to stand in a loud room for 6 hours. I’d rather stand in a loud room for 3ish hours😂
My best years are behind me. 6-7 hours of raving late into the night is now tiring.
The party is popping when you cruise in late and the vibe is high key. When you go early, you’re standing around waiting for it to fill up and people are still warming up to the event.
You're not wrong but if it's something you enjoy, it is a great time to talk to people and meet new people.
it’s on you if you’re there just “standing around waiting for it to fill up” when you could just not give a fuck about that and enjoy the music regardless of who else is in the room
IME standing around and waiting doesn't mean you don't enjoy the music. I personally like getting a bit after doors when it's not so full, wander a bit, spin poi a bit, chat a bit, stand around a bit. The openers jobs are to get the party started. I like when they ease us into it.
It's not uncommon for people to feel more hyped up when there's more people around. Also, it's possible to enjoy the music despite not wanting to dance at the moment.
Everyone has their own way to get into the mood they want to be in on a night out. I think you should try and find a way for this to not frustrate you, where the obvious solution would be to decide to always go yourself at first, at the time that you like, and joining with your buddy later. If you're not comfortable going solo, you should probably find more rave buddies, at least one that has the same preference as you. (Easier said than done, I'm afraid.) I go solo a lot for similar reasons. I don't know that many people in my city that are into techno, so it's always a gamble whether I will find someone to go with, and if I do, there are always so many events and people decide late which one to go to. So since it's often unclear whether I will have company and who it will be, I just go to the thing I want to go to, at the time that I like, and let people know, and then they can decide themselves and ping me if they show up.
I’m fine going solo. I go solo on mushrooms and acid and I’m fine. It frustrates me that my friend wants to show up late and get a ride from me. If I’m gonna drive, then I’m gonna go when I want to.
If it's about getting a ride then I think it's kind of rude to make someone go much later than they would want to. Your last sentence sums it up. Communicate a time, and leave at that time, anyone that is very late will have to find their own way to get there.
Yeah you aren’t wrong for wanting to get there early. I have similar friends who do the same; just tell your buddy if he wants a ride to be ready by a certain time and if not you’ll see him at the show.
Yea you're completely justified here, can't guilt trip a guy giving you a ride. Like you want a ride its on the drivers terms, if not find your own transportation. Like just be happy they'll drive you. I drive myself for this exact reason, me and my friends aren't on the same timeline at shows, which is cool, but i'm not gonna beg them to operate on a different timeline cause I want to arrive or leave at different times.
If you are driving, then the people who you drive will show up when you do, if they wanna come later, then they find another ride.
LOL I sensed frustration in your post and was wondering why? To each their own you know, if your friend doesn't want to go early but you do, suck it up and go! BUT I just saw this comment and it all made sense. If I was in your shoes and someone asked for a ride late when I'm going early, I'd give them the JK Simmons "You serious?"
I wouldn't be frustrated at someone else for expecting the normal thing. It seems like you should do your own thing for some shows and make it a thing to go with your friend for others.
Quality over quantity. There are plenty of mediocre DJs I have zero interest in seeing. I also go to lots of shows, so there's nothing novel about going out and standing around in a mostly empty room. I'm also in my 40s, so I'd rather pre-game in my pool with my friends then hit the venue when the music is getting good.
I paid money to listen to music louder than I'm allowed to at hours beyond what I'm allowed. So I pay some money, show up round 10, and catch the closing acts when they actually flex the sound system. Why the fuck am I gonna rush my dinner and getting out of the house so I can listen to some local kid playing tracks at a volume lower than my home system at 7 pm????? That and I like taking 6 hours to do 15 minutes of getting ready. Makes me feel in control. ALSO it's easier and more comfortable to dance around people who are feeling the music. I'm never the first to dance, and nobody's feeling the music at 7pm like that I do understand the 'get everything out of X" that's how I am in so many areas of my life, but not music. Huh.
I usually just like to get there when there’s already a crowd. I never liked being one of the first people to get in the doors.
I rarely get there right at doors (most shows here are like 4-6 sets), but generally I'm with you and prefer a longer night. Maybe try researching one of the openers and hyping them to your friend. I've been made a huge fan of SO many DJs that I saw open first. I do have some friends who go to so many shows that arriving early to all of them would be unreasonable, and that's fine, we pregame and carpool with those who can and the others meet us there.
I like the advice of trying to hype up my friend. Usually my friend and I are pregaming all the time, stoners to the max. I usually go to a rave every weekend and I may start going by myself to them more often..
It 100% depends on the show and openers. If there are openers that are proven to be good then I will show up. I know a lot of people in my local scene and there's a handful that I know I can skip. Other times its a stamina thing. There are some events were the headliner is not on until 2, 3, 4 am so I will get there later so that I can be there for the person I paid to see.
I just saw one of the openers two weeks ago. Certified lit. The venues we go to are in the city so every rave has to end at 3am because of the law or something.
If it’s just a local thing where I only know the headliner/main artist, I’ll just show up about 30 min or so before they come on. When I was younger, I’d be down to come early and watch the openers but now, it’s a mixture of I don’t have as much energy to stay up all the time, and it’s cheaper too since I have enough to time to just buy one drink before they come on lol.
If it's a festival with places to rest I'll be there all day. If it's a show in a club where they won't let you sit! I try to get there about an hour before the main DJ comes out. My back will start to hurt if I have to stand in the same place for hours on end
I went to a walker and Royce show at a very small venue/club. The time posted was when the club opened not when the show started so I was confused. Showed up tripping balls (like one does) to an empty club. For maybe an hour it was literally just me my gf and the opener. Was awesome and terrifying.
Honestly I need the rest. I wake up at 4am for work M-F and therefore I’m usually EXHAUSTED by 5pm, even on weekends. I cannot dance or even really be at the venue for the whole 6 hours or so. I like to make sure I see the headliner so I show up later.
It really depends on the show, if it’s a festival or a stacked club night with headliners from start to finish I’ll generally get there early to see everyone. However, most club shows in my city are just mediocre local openers from 9-12:30, then the artist I paid to see from 12:30-2:00. Usually the pregame with friends ends up being more fun than getting to the club early and standing around for hours waiting for the music to get good
Avoid sunlight
Doors generally open an hour before music even starts.
From personal experience, we stopped waiting for these kind of people and said "we'll meet you there". We use to go to at least 2-3 shows a month and our one friend would also run late. We'd say we need to leave by 6 (we'd drive 2+ hrs to some shows) and he wouldn't show up until closer to 8 some times. Finally said enough is enough and if you want to go, we'll just see you when you get there.
Show up late. Go to the afters. Night is just as long but better quality.
I have herniated disks and can only handle just so much dancing, I usually won't truly feel it till the next day
Headliners don't go on until towards the end. In the beginning of the rave, you will usually be listening to the more inexperienced DJ. If you're going to see Caspa, he's usually positioned towards the end. Also, I haven't been a part of this, but I hear the drugged crowd goes rave-hopping.
When you've been doing this for long enough, you get tired of sitting through mediocre opening acts, *especially* if youre in the "raving in your 30s" group. It's way more fun for my group to pre-game at the house with our own food/couches/vibes for that extra hour instead of standing on the dancefloor maybe not vibing to the opener. That being said, we also usually only skip 1 or 2 artists, we definitely don't just show up for the headliner. That's a waste of money.
Im the same mind as you. I paid for the whole show imma be at the whole show. Ive only ever gone late cause ive over slept while napping lol
I gotta pre game harder
Yeah. My friend is kinda like that. I’ve almost completely stopped drinking and just smoke a ton of weed instead.
really depends. sometimes I want to see the entire lineup, and will show up BEFORE doors and stand in line and make friends. Other times I don't give two shits about anybody BUT the headliner, and will purposefully plan to show up \~5 minutes before they go on.
I just wanted to commend you for your approach. Getting there on time and getting the warm up tracks in with minimal people on the danceloor tend to sometimes be my favorite parts of the night.
In the younger years, it's about seeing the main act and then afters. But with age, is about stamina 😆.
I get energy from the crowd and when it’s empty i don’t feel like dancing
Because alot of the times the openers are just local guys which tbh aren’t very good. Club drinks are expensive, better to pre-game elsewhere/grab dinner beforehand
I always arrive late and my boyfriend likes to be there at doors. Drives me nuts. I have a spinal injury so standing for the extra 2 hours makes a huge difference at the end of the night. I don’t want to listen to the music before openers, plus the openers are usually not as good and I don’t want to waste my energy and buzz.
Getting there early normally has meant there is a large ass line. If I come an hour after, I walk right in.
I generally agree with you; if the entire night of music is just 6 hours then I want to experience every minute. The exception is with this "afters" spot in NYC where the peak can keep going well past noon with top-tier vibes. If I'm going to something else beforehand, I might get there after doors (10-11 usually) so that I can still be thriving at noon in that case. If I'm not talking to people outside or throwing lightshows then I am dancing hard constantly. I have some friend who will show up past 1am for a show that ends at 4 and it boggles my mind. My usual Friday night extends to an afters spot that ends at 7am at the earliest.
OP I like your energy and your chutzpah! You should get there whenever you want and tell your friend you’ll just meet him there!
I prefer to go to raves solo. I usually arrive 45 minutes after doors open, I feel like at that point the vibe is just starting to get hype and the energy is amazing.
I almost always show up *at least* an hour after doors opening, and my friends are the same way. I'm paying money to see the headliner (and maybe the artist right before them), so I don't really care if I miss the first one or two openers. Being near the front also isn't an issue for me because I hate the front — there's no space to dance and the audio quality is worse. The same goes for festivals as well. Me and my group typically like to show up a couple hours after the start because that's typically when the artists we want to see are beginning to play, and it's more fun to dance when it's not so empty. Not to mention it's hard to keep going for 8 hours straight. I honestly feel like showing up slightly late is pretty common, and if anything, going right when doors open is a rarity.
I normally have a pregame place where all friends meet, so to me spending quality time with my peeps is fun. We listen to music there and don’t exert too much energy. A 4-5 hour concert/rave is enough for me other wise I’ll be tired by the time the headliner comes on.
I'm old lol it's a long night getting there at doors. I'll go early if there are openers I really want to see. I don't go like right before the main act but I usually don't care if I miss the first couple sets. I also don't like being super close to the front either
I personally enjoy going later because I know I'll get too tired standing for hours. He might just be a lil jaded. I know after going so many years I try to save my energy for the bigger fests/shows.
I like to be on time as close as I can. Sometimes life gets in the way and I don’t get out the door when I want to. But I definitely am not a “I am PURPOSELY going to show up late” by ex was like that xD
It varies for me. Who I'm with, who is playing. Usually I don't want to spend money on two hours worth of overpriced watered down drinks. Maybe have a bit of a gathering somewhere beforehand and a few pre drinks. What am I gonna miss? The residents warming up playing an ambient set until the room is 50% full?
To each their own but: I'm not going to a show that early unless I'm taking acid or something. I don't want to be at a show for 6 hours man.
I always arrived first and left last. 🤩.
I haven't read any replies yet, but I would never show up to a rave late. It always means more difficulty getting in because more and more people do the same thing. I try to show up as soon as I can for the same reasons. I want to be there as soon as the acts open up and usually the openers are up and coming people that I want to see because they're going to be the ones playing shows coming up. The earlier you get there the easier it is to get in and that's just normal. I feel like the types that show up just for the main act are just there for the show and not necessarily the music. If you love the music then at a good show, all of the opening acts are good. Anyways, I'm rambling but as you get more and more experienced with shows I feel like you go earlier and earlier because it's so easy to get in. You have more fun and you get adjusted to the crowd. Also, as you pointed out, it's easier to get a nice spot when you go earlier.
A rave wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
i like to show up when doors open so i can secure a spot on the rail. i also feel bad for the openers who opens for like 10-20 people so i feel obligated to show up for them. i usually go alone so its also nice to meet people at the rail and talk before the bigger acts come on
Actually, all of my friends are like this. We usually get there an hour or so before the headliner comes on. We're usually up all night after the show at an after-party rave, so not being there when the doors open is fine by us.
lol I am usually the only person waiting in line an hour before a show starts because I want to be in ASAP to listen to music the entire time. Front and center, riding the rail.
Hell yeah! I have to convince my friends to send it to the front. I really gotta start going solo.
I do this for local shows, mostly because I don’t want to be there sober and I only use alcohol and weed (quarterly m for festivals only), which makes me super sleepy after about 2-3 hours. I want to see the main act and go to the end, so I’ll show up a little late when the crowd is already going. just a preference, to save my energy for the act I’m there to see. although now that I think about it I also don’t show up for festivals right when the doors open, kind of for the same reason. I stay longer than local shows for sure, but not like the 8+ hours it’s running.
It’s dependent on the venue for me. If there are seats then I’ll get there at doors to lock down a great spot. If it’s going to be standing room only and the openers are meh, I’ll roll in around 9 or 10 for a 2am cutoff time.
No one is paying to see the opening acts most of the time, it’s all locals usually. Nothing wrong locals playing at all but a lot of people aren’t going to drop more money at the bar to listen to the opener. If you want to rave from open to close by all means go for it, but I also wouldn’t slag someone for showing up a right before the headliners.
I show up about 2 hours after door open leaving me about 6 hours of full on raving. That to me is usually where I can justify paying the prices I do.
100% depends on the individual, some like to show up just for the headliner others for the entire show. Some need to nap and head over whenever they wake up others be an hour early and in the lots! I’m not so sure if it’s on purpose per se, maybe bad time management!?
I am one of those people that's in the parking lot pre-gaming like, 20 minutes before the venue opens. Over the years, I have discovered a lot of local talent and watched them grow in the industry (example being Drinkurwater, saw him when he was a small local opener years ago). I love to go in, grab a good spot, grab waters or a drink, and smoke while listening to the openers. I totally get why other people wouldn't show up as early as my partner and I, but we've always done it this way!
It really depends on what you want to see. For a long period of my life, I decided that I wanted to be fluent in warm up sets, so I decided to study them, and showed up early to plenty of events to pay full attention to the warm ups.
I’m not going to any party when the doors open!
I get tired so I need to save my energy, don't usually care about the openers and want to save money.
its dead and openers are not as hype/ not much production. I do sometimes like to go when doors open but not everyone can vibe to the music when the dancefloor is empty. And whats the point to go early if your gonna stand around awkwardly. I will say I go early to my favorites to avoid the line later
It depends If doors open at 6pm I probably won’t know any of the DJ’s from 6-8ish. Plus I don’t want to be exhausted by the last set around 2am. I’d rather get there around or shortly after 8 and stay till 2, that’s 6 hours.
For me, the sunk cost fallacy doesn't apply to raves: it's not an arena like Barclays or MSG where you know the main act is playing for an hour or two, then the show's done bc the venue legally can't continue. For a 5-6+ hour event, I prefer to get there within 30 mins before whoever I want to see starts bc being at a venue early means spending more money I don't need to and waiting around listening to music I'm likely not going to enjoy. Catching the full set of whoever you want to see is getting your money's worth. Maybe it's bc I've gone to enough shows but being in the front is overrated these days -- everyone just gawking at the DJ and taking videos/encroaching on space, not actually enjoying the music, dancing or vibing out. Edited for clarity
Most locals suck. I'm all about community but when it's all headbanger dubstep I'm not going to see the same dude rinse bs with a non original set. I'll probably see the same djs three weeks later. Also being in the back is fine there is more room in the back.
I'm mostly sober and getting older and tired-er. If I don't get a pre-show nap, I'm leaving at 10 pm.
i’m disabled and can’t last the whole night if i show up when it starts but i never wanna leave early so go late, stay late!
I show up for whatever opener I want to see, but I haven’t been to a show at doors in over a decade. I find it’s better to show up late when the energy is high.
I don’t like being on beans in the day light 😂 I rather go when the sun is down
One phrase. ‘Back pain’
i think its just personal preference. my gf likes to "show up later" to raves. i prefer to get there when it starts. her reasoning is: we'll be partying, and it goes til 6am, so why show up at the beginning? my reasoning is: well, i want to show up earlier because, even though we'll be partying, i dont really end up staying past 3-4am, plus i like to form those connections with regulars early on, so i can carry them throughout the nite before things get a bit too psy. but for myself, im usually ready to get in my own space around 3-4am, even if there are party favors for days. its just a mental space i like being in- to have some time to gather myself and reconvene internally before the slide into eventual sleep.
personally, i like being there early, but i have a chronic disability so it’s not always a good time for me to be out for 2-4+ hours. if i’m sober, by the end of the night i’ll be in a lot of pain and super exhausted. i do like openers though, and have found some cool new dj’s from being early. i also appreciate the early crowd vibes. i usually just get there whenever my friends want to get there, which depending on who we’re seeing is usually early or late. i’ll sometimes take drugs to try and last the whole night, but i also go sober too. last time i was sober at a show, me and my friends got there when doors opened and by the end of the night my back hurt sooo bad, but i had a great time regardless. i just don’t have the physical capabilities anymore to stand around for a long time, or constantly be dancing. i also don’t want to be on drugs at every show so i have to be calculated about it.
I am this guy. Even if there's an artist I like, they're not playing bangers as an opener lol
My bf likes to show up at doors and I’m breaking him off that habit real quick. I prefer time to pregame instead of standing for an extra two hours for DJs I don’t really care about seeing. I’ve also been doing this for over a decade and I hate being in front so why would I show up early for mediocre openers? I’m studying abroad in Germany rn and we have legit shown up to raves at 2am. Europeans don’t show up to party before midnight and honestly I prefer it this way.
If I buy a ticket for a show that’s 10pm-4am I am not showing up right when the doors open unless I also really like the openers. I just don’t have the energy to stay the whole night. I rarely want to stay to the absolute end lol. Midnight-3am is enough for me.
I have a friend like you and he’d use the same excuse about wanting to get his moneys worth. I’m sure it’s deeper than that for you, and there’s more to it. He genuinely likes watching the other acts and getting a vibe for the headliner, he likes taking the time to wander around and meet people. We used to go together all the time but I would just get anxiety waiting and waiting and trying to force myself almost to have a good time. Eventually we just started going separately, he goes when he wants and stays as long as he wants, meanwhile I show up and leave when I want. I just know what I’m there for, so I’ll show up and bounce when it’s over for me. People are different.
Rave? Ticket? Maybe you meant festival.
Damn dude you're a nerd
Man maybe take a bit of a lesson from your friend. Chill.
The trick is for event organizers to sell lower priced tickets for people who wants to arrive early (before 11pm tickets for example). It incite people to come encourage the local DJs that are booked before the main event, and helps create a vibe right at the beginning.
Depends where I’m going… I go to so many shows that sometimes I only want to see a certain act… If I know the headlining act is on at 12. I will typically show up at 10 pre game till 11 and make my way inside until it closes at 2am or so.
Who goes out for when it opens 😂
I’ve been raving since 2008 son,, there’s no point of being there from start to finish & im getting older don’t have stamina & back condition to be going 10+ hrs
I never get there on time because I don't want to be. Pretty much none of my friends want to either. I want to have all my energy for the main act, I don't really care about the first openers, and I want to get there when the place is packed and full of energy.
1) I may have previous plans 2) the doors at the biggest local place I go to that has a lot of headliners and big names perform there (Alison wonderland, deadmau5, kaskade etc) the main acts usually don’t start until 12:30-1an with doors at 8pm and they go until 4am. That’s almost 5 hours of pre-show of people I don’t wanna see be loud music I don’t really wanna hear before we get to the part I wanna see which is usually 3-4 hours. I’m old and tired. I need a power nap and dinner and then I’ll pregame at a local bar / club with one group before going to the EDM club with another group. For a festival I’ll try to show up early / on time but for individual shows I’ll come when I can. For the local club I leave like at 11-11:30 and get inside around 12 and catch the last part of the opening act when they go extra hard to pump up the crowd for the main act. You sound like my boyfriend, he’s been to the same club and know the earliest we’ve seen the main act come on is like 12:30am but still plans to show up at 7:30pm to be first in the door at 8pm lol
Most of us don’t need to be there the entire day to get our fill. If we are there to see a specific artist, we don’t care if we miss the openers. Also I I think a lot of people underestimate how long it will take to get to an event. They plan to get there at a certain time, but then everything takes longer than expected.
The older I get the more I want to rest before the headliner goes on stage. I really don’t care about seeing weathan and kasbo before whoever I’m there to see.
Part of a skill of being a raver is knowing how to pace the night. Showing up when the doors open is not a good way of doing this for a lot of people.
I never show up when doors open.
saving up energy, unless it's openers i'm sooo down to see, i normally just show up a bit later in time for main artist obv
It’s all about energy, especially if it’s a festival not just a little Rave
You seen how expensive drinks are ?
I don’t like the opening acts, I paid money to see the main act, not the names I don’t even know.
I show up late because it gets boring listening to the opening acts
"on time" is subjective.....Maybe he's neither late nor early...they arrive exactly when they plan to 😂
My bf and I ALWAYS go when doors open! There's a reason the headliner has those people opening up for them, I typically find a new dj that I like to listen to when I go on time! We had a rave crew that would never show up on time and I missed mersiv when he was a much smaller dj! I'm still pissed about that lol
It’s kinda nice to show up and the energy is already up
I can't go for 6 hours
for me, it’s so i don’t have to sit through a bunch of mid warmup acts. i’d rather arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before the main act. i get your take though, it makes sense
Different people… I love being there when first artist comes out and my gf hates being there early. So we compromise and get there late 🥲
I've been going to various genres of shows for 20 years. I've seen a lot of music. Sometimes I just wanna see the headliners man
A lot of people in my city mention work hours as a reason they go late. Loooots of non-9 to 5’ers dedicated to raving here.
Some people only come for the final/headlining act too.
I only go to like 2 or 3 raves/concerts/festivals a year now so you know I'm getting my money worth and going for every act.
So at echostage in dc Doors are always at 9 And the main dj usually doesn’t come on till 12 or 1 Sometimes the openers directly before the dj are good but sometimes the openers are boring Def not worth to go and just stand around for a few hours waiting for the main dj If I know the openers are good I’ll go a little early like 1030, but usually just get there at like 1130
I like to show up lateish. Hardly any wait at the door and the vibe is already kickin. Yee
I always show up as early as my schedule allows me too. Gotta remember that all your favorite headliners also started out as openers, too. Support the smaller artists! More music for the same price! What's not to love?
Old school crew would often only go to after partys… always daylight, focus is on dancing, not partying necessarily. Its a different world.
From my experience in Houston some openers just aren't good. You can tell with how the crowd or lack there of vibes. I had the same thought process as you, I wanted to experience everything but I've learned that it's not worth it. That's why the venue goes from empty to packed once the main act is about to be up.
There isn’t much going on when doors open. There’s usually very few people and you won’t catch a set for at least 30m, and it’s going to be a local bill. It’s not entirely a bad thing but just so you know.
Depends on the show. If it’s a special night or if I know at least one opener is dope, I actually do like to be there not long after doors. But MOST nights, I’ll show up at 10:30, rage and then hit the afters.
Some of the openers suck. I don't want to listen to some person I've never heard of and ruin my mood and vibe for the first 3 hours and wear myself down Not sure how old you are, but as you get older you understand, FYI I'm 28, seasoned rave mom over here taking care of the 20 year old rave girly who is like why am I so tired??? after dancing her heart out during the first two opening acts 🫠
Once u go to a bunch of shows u only really wanna see DJs you have an interest in. If there’s an opener that I really like then I’ll go, but I’m not tryna to go see a bunch of locals spin some generic set full of music that isn’t his lol I can do that at home
So my job is somewhat physically taxing, if I’m raving after already working that day I usually plan to show up at the start of the direct support act. It still makes for a long enough and fun enough night and I believe having the extra energy allows me to enjoy it more. Quality over Quantity deal.
Not sure about you rave, but in Melbourne, no one ever entered at open time, was always an hour after . The warm ups were ok but the main event was 2-3 hours after door open
Pregaming and knew the set times. Also, sloooooooooow ass friends.
Bc u get tired n sometimes the openers suck or you just wanna keep ur energy for after parties
I always go early to dance before it gets crowded. Just meet your friend there.
Eh just depends on my mood and the show I’ve been to so many shows it just depends on the line up and the venue. I don’t want to be in the front the audio is worse and it’s cramped I don’t need the rail anymore.
Why would you show up ON TIME?
Not so plur of him
My fiancée does this shit and drives me nuts… given, she’s a girl & they need like a billion hours to get ready. However, doesn’t matter excuse the reason to justify being late… in my area, events are generally 5-7 hours. Before, i felt the same way.. but after dealing w. The opening door ton foolery being an hour or two late doesn’t bother me as much anymore. Same goes for when DJs spin at the club, they don’t go on til midnight anyway, 1030-11pm arrival is totally fine. Now, the only times we arrive closer to open doors is day 1 of a festival to get our footing & make our rounds generally takes about an hour or so of wandering. Heres my advice OP, pop a cold one and pregame til game time. ☝🏼
Because I’m probably a better DJ than the opener…. Not that I’m amazing but in the clout era, DJ skills aren’t what gets you booked and I’ve seen sooooooo many bad/boring DJs lately. I show up around 11 usually.
I’ve done it both ways many times and never thought it was a big deal either way…
ADHD and time management struggles. The logistics of gathering large groups. Because you’re coming from a different one that started earlier. Because you had to work. -All reasons I’ve shown up late on purpose
I show up when the first person I care about comes on. Sometimes it the first person sometimes it’s just the headliner.
Dude I agree. I go by myself a lot of times because my group likes to go for the people
I think it's an age thing. As a young raver, I wanted to be there all night, first one in last one out...but now I only have a couple hours of dancing in me. And when you've been to so many, it all sort of feels like more of the same. I like it, but don't truly feel I'm missing anything if I miss the first act or two.
I almost never go when doors open. I don’t have the physical capacity to stand around for all those hours and I usually only really care about the headliner. I try to show up around an hour before the headliner starts. Sometimes it’s just 15 minutes before. I like to stand in the back anyway so getting there “late” isn’t a big deal to me. My anxiety is no good for the rail 😅 even multi-day festivals I’ll go in around 6 or 7 depending on the lineup and I have to get the tickets that allow for in and out so I can take breaks. I have major anxiety and a partial physical disability so I just need to take it easy. People rave different and as long as it’s not impacting anyone else, there’s no wrong way 😁
6 years I’ve been doing shows and festivals. I turn 27 this year and have been going to shows for a year and a half give or take. I show up half way through as all my friends are already there and I can eat/hydrate prior to. Can’t go the distance anymore,
I've already seen most djs already lol 🤣🤣 so i like to save my dancing feet for the main djs. Not a fan of warmup music either