Vans Warped Tour 101
First time heading to the Vans Warped Tour? Don’t worry, I’m an old pro. I went to Warped for my first time when I was 13 years old! Not to date myself… but that was a while ago! When I was a teenager, it was the highlight of my summer. My friends and I counted down until our date every year and it was definitely one of the highlights of our year. To this day, it still makes me nostalgic & I love the fact that you can go and see a ton of your favorite and new bands all in one place – for the price of one ticket!
Maybe it’s your first year going, or maybe you’re just looking for some tips to make it the best day ever. Here are some of my tips to help get you ready & get you through Warped! Just remember, be safe, have fun & don’t forget to ROCK OUT!
Where to get tickets
First off… you need tickets. Hopefully you’ve saved a little cash. If you’re saving up or looking for tips to save, check out my DIY Concert Piggy Bank. General Admission tickets cost about $48, which seems like a lot of money, but think about all of the bands you get to see in one day! If you buy your tickets in advance, they’re even cheaper. Be careful of scams on Craigslist — aka ticket scalpers & be sure to shop around before buying. Some sites are cheaper than others & some have limited time discounts. A few of my favorite sites for finding concert tickets:
What to do before
Next up, it’s time to make a game plan. A few things you need to do:
- Who are you going with? Figure out a friend or a few friends who are going. If you don’t have any friends that are going, come join my private Facebook group. There are tons of people from around the world who are always looking for new concert buddies: The Revenge Posse.
- Figure out how you’re getting there. Who’s driving? Do you have someone who could drop you off an pick you up? If you’re driving, is there parking nearby and how much does it cost? You can also download the Uber AppΒ and use my code “erin320” for a $10 credit!
- How much money do you need to bring? Plan to bring a little extra money for water and food if you’re not going to pack it. Also, if you plan on buying merch, take into consideration how much it could cost.
- If you bought your tickets online, be sure to print them out and keep them in a safe place.
What to do the NIGHT before
- Download the Vans Warped Tour App & figure out which bands you might want to check out!
- Make a list of the bands you want to see. You won’t be able to find out the set times until the day of, but at least you’ll have your priorities set.
- Pack your bag up (scroll down to “what to bring”).
- Check the weather – that way you’ll know what to wear & if you need to bring any extra supplies.
- Also, don’t forget to check out my post about Surviving a General Admission Concert!
What to wear
Have you checked out my blog post about What to Wear to a Concert? Here are the important things to consider:
- Wear comfortable shoes. I wouldn’t recommend breaking in your new pair of sneakers or wearing heels/open toed shoes.
- If it’s going to be hot out, wear layers. Shorts and a t-shirt or tank top. Maybe a casual dress. Bring a jacket and throw it into your bag.
- If you’re like me and don’t like getting sunburnt, wear/bring a hat. You’re going to be under the sun for a long time, a hat will save your face.
- A comfortable cross body bag or small backpack. You don’t want to bring a bag that’s a hassle or hard to carry. But it’s important to have something that you can keep your supplies and potential souvenirs in.
- Sunglasses – don’t forget these!
Leopard Print Shoes – Steve Madden
What to bring
- If you’re packing a bag, I recommend bringing water & a snack (or lunch) to save money. Make sure the water bottle is sealed though!
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Your camera
- A sharpie (just in case you run into someone and want an autograph) and for writing down set times.
- Cell Phone
- External Battery/Charger for your phone (like this one from Ban.do)
- Cash $$$
- Your ID & a debit card for backup
- If it’s going to be raining, consider a jacket or a poncho, maybe even an umbrella.
- Earplugs (optional)
- Hair ties
- Write down important cell phone numbers on a piece of paper or card and keep it in your wallet, just in case your phone dies.
A few DO’s
- Be considerate of the people around you.
- Make new friends.
- Keep an eye out for signing times.
- Give blood! You can sign up with Music Saves LivesΒ – the first 100 fans that redeem their voucher for giving blood get a backstage wristband!
- Bring 3 canned food goods, a $5 donation or a used cell phone – donations are made to Feed Out Children Now — you can get in early with an Express Entry wristband.
- Bring a parent! They get in free!
- Check out some new bands you’ve never heard.
- Check out all of the different merch booths and vendors.
- Take lots of pictures!
- Have fun!
A few DONT’s
- Leave alcohol, chains, fancy cameras, illegal substances, recording devices, weapons and valuables at home.
- Be aggressive & shove past people to get up front. If you want to get up close, be patient or wait until the time is right.
- Make fun of people: whether it’s the way they look, they way they’re dress or the music they’re listening to, be nice.
- Get upset if someone pushes you/runs into you in the crowd.
- Drink Alcohol – especially if you’re under age. No sneaky sneaks.
- Leave your friends behind.
- Forget to eat, drink water & reapply sunscreen!
- Let a negative experience or interaction ruin your day!
Want to win a FREE ticket to Warped Tour!? Comment your favorite band below in the comments & why you want to win. Bonus entries: head over to my InstagramΒ to enter again. EXTRA bonus entry: sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date! EXTRA EXTRA bonus entry: join the Revenge Posse & enter in the dedicated thread!
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