The sun is out, Chance the Rapper is performing and you're dressed as an electric neon Stevie Nicks. Yes, that's right – festival months are here. Cause the glitter and shredded jorts!
While music festivals are a great chance to see all your favorite acts in one place, while sipping on overpriced water, they're also the perfect venue to meet like-minded singles.
In fact, based on new research from UK events and ticketing agent, Skiddle, one out of 10 people now meet their other halves at a festival. One in 20 of us have even gotten married at a festival (can I have Drake officiate my festival wedding? Because that might be great.)
It is sensible that festivals will be a good place to satisfy your future significant other. I for just one can't count how often I have been on a first date coupled with some form of the next conversation:
Them: “What kind of music are you into?”
Me: “Have you heard about (insert artist)?”
Them: “No, have you ever heard of (insert artist)?”
Me: “No, have you heard of (insert artist)?”
Them: “Nope.”
Me: “Do you like music?”
Them: “I mean, I suppose music is alright?”
Me: (insert visible eye-roll and audible sigh of frustration)
If you meet someone at a festival, you're pretty much guaranteed not to have a conversation like that. You've both paid your admission and dedicated to visiting a couple of exactly the same artists and bands. There is a pretty good possibility you a minimum of have a few things in keeping right off the bat. Plus, breaking the ice is quite simple. Just question them what their favorite act continues to be so far!
Plus, there are festival people and non-festival people. As somebody who is somewhat introverted and is not enthused about sketchy bathroom situations, I did previously think I had been not at all a festival person, but after attending my first large festival (together with 100,000 other people), I can say that I most definitely am a festival person. There is something really exhilarating about finding yourself in a venue where so much great music is appropriate at your fingertips. Even though you do not have the identical style of artists, you're more likely to meet someone in a festival that shares your sense of joie the vivre.
Also, the face area of festivals is changing. The drugged-out, muddy, jamborees of yore happen to be substituted for events that are a lot more inclusive and family friendly. (Forty-three percent of people surveyed by Skiddle have a friend who has taken the youngster to a festival, while 39 percent of participants said they knew someone who has visited a festival using their parents!)
But if strategically bumping into that cute Drake fan (and hoping they'll go as a sign you are interested) isn't actually your jam, the good thing is that dating apps tend to be burning at festivals (I mean, believe to pass through the time while you are waiting for the next show to start than swiping right or left?)
Last spring, Tinder reported that that the app usage ricocheted as much as 300 percent in Palm Springs and Idio for Weekend One of Coachella, compared to the weekend before. As Twitter user @SteeloBrim said, “Coachella is just Tinder and Spotify's love child.” Indeed.
Not only are you going to be in close proximity with other music fans, but festivals tend to bring people together from different geographic areas, exposing you to people you might not have met inside your hometown.
So, what's the best way to meet people in a big festival? Well, for starters, you need to be yourself, relax enjoy yourself. “When you’re in a music festival, it’s likely that everyone come in an excellent mood and open to meeting others,” said Megan Weks, international dating and relationship expert. “It’s a low anxiety spot to make new connections.”
Instead of entering the festival using the aim of finding someone, consume everything around you while staying open to new conversations and people.
But, as always, be secure. Just because you're at a festival, does not mean your usual dating precautions is going the window. If you're considering meeting up with someone you've met on a dating app, enable your friends know where you're going with whom. Don't feel pressured to drink or consume anything you're not confident with and, by all means, do not accept drinks from anyone you do not know.
Lastly, don't allow yourself become glued for your phone. While dating apps will definitely assist you to meet more and more people in a festival, your phone really should not be your primary focus. Check it intentionally – for instance, among shows – which means you don't miss the main event: everything that's happening everywhere.