GOING SOLO TO EDC LAS VEGAS 2023 - LESSONS LEARNED

*If you or a friend is going to EDC Las Vegas solo, then be sure to read the list of our 8 recommendations at the bottom of the Blog. Ok, let's go!

The Big Question  

Could you go to an EDC Las Vegas solo - assuming none of your friends are going and you decide that you will not depend on meetups in order to avoid being alone in the rave? 

You also choose to not ditch your hotel on the Vegas Strip in favor of staying in Camp EDC.

No, you are doing all 3 days of EDC completely on your own. This is the ultimate in becoming an Olympic raver and what will be necessary to do Tomorrowland solo - without a shred of fear or anxiety. Unless you are in a relationship or will be coordinating a group to Tomorrowland, then going solo is a very real possibility so you better be ready to level up your rave game.  

Many would probably agree that it would be easier to backpack through Europe solo for 2 weeks then it would be to go to EDC Las Vegas by yourself (and not staying in Camp EDC like I said).

Because let's face it - if you are alone - you are going to think about your entire life; the past, the present, and the future - not exactly the most comfortable experience while you are tuned into your favorite artist(s) performing their insane EDC Set. And yes of course, you will connect with people around you - granted when you learn this key element of raving - if the people and vibe around you suck - then move, do not hesitate no matter how packed. Go to where people are dancing, 100% always. The energy is love and positivity.

The internal battle of this journey is the dying need to see your favorite artists versus traversing the psychological experience of being "alone" before and after each set. However, you learn something about yourself before and after each set. Inching closer to something very deep about yourself and the rave (note that a mainstream music festival with all genres of music is a totally different experience from a rave festival).

This blog is not a contest.  It is about losing your rave bae and having to "start over" on what the entire experience is about for you when all of it was about the adventure you were on with your ex.  Hundreds upon hundreds of sets with this person - highs that you did not know could exist while dancing under near endless waves of drops, fireworks and confetti.

The music and "your artists" being a separate entity from your psychological relationship with the festival itself - the existential rave around you.

Going to raves alone and experiencing what I call: "phantom limb rave bae syndrome" is a form of absolute hell and it comes with varying degrees based on if you are sober or not; as well as, what artist is performing. For example, if you are at Alison Wonderland then it is going to feel like they are dancing next to you in full technicolor and it's going to be very uncomfortable - in fact, you may have a conversation with yourself for 1 second if you should walk out of the set or fight through it.  

This phantom limb syndrome lasts for at least 4 festivals and it is most visceral when you are watching a set alone and when you walk across the festival alone. The first festival you do alone without your ex (and I do mean alone - no meetups - this is about forcing yourself to grow) will be a panic attack except when your favorite artists are performing AND forcing yourself to go so deep into the rave - close to the front. Wherever the people are freaking out. Get there for your soul. As they say, "dance yourself clean."

Some Context for My Background on this Blog

Besides my ex, I had 3 other friends in the rave community but they lived on the east coast.  This is pre TikTok and pre ravers becoming influencers on Instagram, etc.  

None of my long-term existing friends have an interest in going to these massive festivals, they would be overwhelmed if they did go, they don't even listen to EDM, or even if they wanted to go with me - their partner or spouse would never let them go.  No one is going to say: "Yes! Go to your first rave with DJ and have the time of your life and become addicted to raves/festivals while I stay at home."

During the pandemic, like so many, I went through a breakup. In November 2020, it was over and she moved back to California from Las Vegas. I was totally isolated during that pandemic winter. My family was petrified of the virus so I couldn't go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Well, we, or rather I - now had so many festival tickets and shows (all pre-paid) for 2020 that I was freaking out to say the least; trips that included Red Rocks to see Galantis and Amsterdam to see Armin Van Buuren's 'This is Me' historic concert.  Therefore, to add insult to injury, I would end up taking a massive loss on most of those 2nd tickets. It was terrible but not nearly as scary as going to the raves alone.  

To avoid going to EDC LV 2021 alone, I asked my dear rave friend, Mickey, if I could take him. His husband, my old college buddy, was in law school but Mickey didn't want him to feel left out so we had to get it cleared first through Lee.  He said "it's ok, have fun." I already had a 2nd VIP ticket and the hotel was paid for so it was just a matter of buying him a flight out to Vegas from D.C. which he ended up paying me back for which was very nice. My crisis of going "alone" was averted and we had the best EDC post-pandemic.

However, the other festivals I could not escape going to alone. This is where I learned a lot about myself and how much I truly loved this music.

However, going to Escape Halloween alone was a nightmare but I forgot about it once I was in the crowd. I don't recommend doing Escape solo - it's very hard for obvious reasons.  As for Countdown NYE, it was terrible being at NOS alone at midnight - I will never forget it. But once again, I made it through and once TIËSTO's intro started all was right in the World.  

In hindsight, I should have sought out and discovered the amazing group House of PLUR and/or other meetup groups but I was focused on learning to do things on my own. I was on a solo quest and had to be uncomfortable in order to learn that I was stronger than I knew.  

Most people are very honest to say what they can and cannot do "on their own".  I'll never forget when I met this guy in line for the EDC Las Vegas ferris wheel and he said he was at EDC totally alone. I remember looking at him like he was an astronaut on the moon. I was in awe and I told him how much I admired him for doing it. He was like...it is weird not going to lie but I'm also feeling better about it now. What a great moment.

Thus, by the time I had gone to dozens of concerts, to Amsterdam for Armin's show, and a number of festivals, I was ready to take on EDC solo for the first time but leading up to it - I was petrified and didn't think I could. The festival is about celebrating life with your best friends.

EDC Las Vegas Solo - The Ultimate Test and Adventure

(Tomorrowland solo is an ultimate test, but one that can be easily done - once you've done EDC Las Vegas solo. You could roll up to Tomorrowland solo for sure - but you are going to be intimidated so bring a flag I guess.)

If someone asked me that question at the top of the blog, when I first started going to Insomniac Events like Beyond Wonderland and EDC Las Vegas (to name two), then I would have said maybe I could do Beyond Wonderland solo, but no way could I go to EDC Las Vegas solo while staying at a hotel alone on the Vegas Strip.  Staying in Camp EDC solo, sure, you would relax and meet lots of people - some would even invite you to sets or tell you to look out for their Totem lol.

In 2023, pretty much the unthinkable happened, my friend dropped out of going to EDC within 3 weeks of it.  I had two choices:  1) scramble to find a Shiftpod in Camp EDC and avoid being alone in the hotel on the Vegas Strip or 2) stick to the original plan and go to EDC totally solo because the ultimate test was now before me. The one thing I never wanted to do.  

Important to note, I did find a Shiftpod to join via a friend of a friend who I knew.  But in the moment of confirming "yes", I paused and told myself to put the fear aside for 5 minutes.  

Despite the concept of going to EDC solo itself, the stay on the Vegas Strip solo, the elevator rides solo, the walk to the car solo, the drive to EDC solo (I chose to drive again instead of the shuttle), and the walk up to the gates solo were ALL going to make me ASCEND.  I know - so dramatic but if you put yourself in each of these "moments", it is intimidating. Festivals are about celebrating life with your best friends against a backdrop of the best music on Earth.

Keep in mind, by the time EDC arrived, because of Ravers Naturals I had come to know dozens of amazing ravers who had done reviews of my festival aromatherapy collection.  I knew probably 24 people going to EDC but that does not mean meeting up logistically will work and not everyone has the same list.

Therefore, this EDC Las Vegas would be a mission within myself and one last level up in the evolution of my relationship with the music and the sets of my favorite artists. It would also include artists who I was finally getting to see for the first time.

For me, my rave odyssey has always been about seeing everyone - across all genres of EDM. It is a deep study and a euphoric set of experiences to hear things and mixes that I had no idea are possible despite being a human encyclopedia of electronic dance music.  For some context, I have had a desire to produce but until earlier this year I could not pin point what type of "my sound" it would be.  I had gone to school in 2019 earning a 6-month certification in EDM production with Ableton Live at Beat Lab Academy in L.A.

Back to the story - my anxiety leading up to EDC was present until the moment I looked out the window of my room at The Virgin Hotel and Casino during that Thursday sunset. Only then did I smile in peace knowing that it was meant to be and that an adventure lay before me.

This was going to be the culmination of a redemption from a journey that started with so much pain, self-doubt, and loneliness over the 2 years before.  A pain or hole that only slowly dissolved and was filled in from experiencing each set, festival, and concert that I traversed solo.

The reality is you become so focused on the music and then later on you get so used to sending festivals and concerts solo that you really take enjoyment in looking around and seeing how happy people are - and how in turn it makes you happy.  You feel more connected to the overall energy. As a result, people will really respond to your positive energy and the confidence that you exude from being so present and in the moment - your love for the music and hopefully everything around you. Simply put, you are part of the music, the music is part of you, and you are glowing and you don't even know it except when people stop to tell you. You are not the same person and the World sees it and feels it.

There is a very real fact that during these music festivals you are part of a tribe who are the happiest people on planet Earth. These massive groups of people coming together in peace and harmony is a ritualistic phenomenon that is so ingrained in us that it dates back to the beginning of time. People today yearn for ritual.

Final Thoughts on EDC Solo

This EDC Las Vegas 2023 would change everything for me or rather cement for me what is truly possible when you go with the flow even when you are on your own and surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people. It is a different type of experience. Teaching you to have more gratitude when you are surrounded by your friends or when you meet kind people; to celebrate and be more in the moment. It was taken away from us in 2020 and half of 2021 so celebrate with every fiber of your soul.

I could share about the magical moments behind my story like meeting Jesse Kardon aka Subtronics on Day 3 with not a single person around except Sonya 'Level Up' and dusk at the EDC Maverick Helicopter pad, the 9 Episodes that I shot for "EDM Trivia" during the Opening Ceremony at Cosmic Meadow, saying "Hi" to Pasquale Rotella who I am always running into, or being on the EDC LIVE Stream of TIËSTO's set from the rail but that is not what the Blog is about.  

These memories are all chronicled on Ravers Naturals Instagram account.  My EDC Las Vegas recap Instagram Reel is there also to check out.  It is the best festival video edit that I've ever created; festival influencer Brandi Mercer is the Cover of the Reel.

So instead of sharing those stories, I will share my EDC pro raver tips. Hopefully, you will find at least one helpful.  

Here is my list of 8 recommendations should you find yourself going to Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas solo (and not staying in Camp EDC).

Splurge on Yourself

1.) If you can make it work, I recommend upgrading to a VIP ticket. The viewing areas, upgraded restrooms, dedicated merch tent, and the lack of lines for food and beverage makes it so comfortable for taking breaks from being deep in GA at Kinetic Field and bassPOD.  I recommend renting a locker because it is such a luxury to have warm clothes, your merch, excess rave kandi, gum, and anything else that will weigh you down stashed in a locker.

Buy a clear backpack for all of this stuff and put your Sojourner hydration pack inside it for your entrance. Also, bring your ear buds or Apple AirPods for the walk back to the car or to use while you wait for your shuttle. You will thank me on this tip.

Rave Ninja Mode

2.) When you are solo - you can weave through the thickest of crowds at any stage. It is like an out of body experience of freedom. You are a rave ninja. Fly across the entire festival in 2 minutes as you run in the video game that is EDC Las Vegas. A euphoric feeling and with no one following you - the entire festival morphs to slow motion as you ascend through this Top 5 Festival on Planet Earth.

Therefore, do not be intimidated by how packed you think it is.  At Kinetic Field, one way to save time is to walk along the outside edge of the crowd to the front and then walk in. Because everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder, you will see that it creates natural rows and when you turn side ways you can slide all the way to the center in under 3 minutes. However, it is a euphoric feeling walking under the Kinetic Field arch and moving through the crowd - it's work (take your backpack off) but the reward is so worth it - as you crest the top of the hill where it is most packed - and then start walking down the slope to front - to the rail. As for leaving, hop on the back of a train and let it do all the work for you and celebrate everything.

The very front is a bubble unto itself and like no other.  I love it so much.  When you are solo - your ability to move through the crowd is unparalleled.  This freedom and the people who you meet are the best part of being solo.

Cosmic Meadow Bleachers

3.) Rest your feet and mind by forcing yourself to watch at least half of a set from the Cosmic Meadow bleachers. I had never sat on the bleachers in all my prior EDC's.  The magic that is this view will move you deeply. You are back "home". Everything is right. This stillness and watching a set up there will be a memory that you never forget. The rest of your EDC moments may blur together but the Cosmic Meadow bleachers will not.  So soak it in.

Watching Kaivon's set from up there was a new high that I had been missing out on. I recommend sitting high enough so your panoramic view is not impeded by the racetrack safety fence.

Your Quantum Valley Exploration Quest

4.) This is more of a music and experience recommendation than a reference to my EDC 2023.

If you do not listen to progressive trance or psytrance, then you should make an effort to get outside your comfort zone and make a point to see a first time set from this famous genre of EDM at the QuantumValley stage.  EDM originates from trance. If you don't believe me, go listen to Slander tell Armin Van Buuren on his radio show A State of Trance (ASOT 1037 episode). Slander credits their career and the beginning of their music production to Armin - listen to the interview yourself. Scott Land said, "After we saw you at The Palladium in Los Angeles, we decided to start making music from your inspiration."  

I recommend listening to the Quantum Valley lineup on your way to Las Vegas and pick out one or two artists that surprise you. I am a huge 'A State of Trance' raver and, in my opinion, all EDM roads will eventually lead you to this genre in your rave odyssey so you might as well dip your toe in the trance water now and discover new dopamine hits to your dome cap.

Eat Clean

5) Try to eat vegan or vegetarian while inside the festival. The cleaner food does wonders for your energy, digestive system, and vibes - believe it or not. I am not vegan but I discovered this long time ago and I've made it one of my rave habits. I also recommend any Acai bowl. Mind blowing to eat one during a set that is considered a "break set".  

Bring Gifts for New Friends

6.) Bring small gifts to give people. It helps break the ice if you are next to a group that are cool and you'd like to say "hi" and join in their positive energy. For me, I enjoy giving out small squishies that come individually wrapped in plastic that you can find on Amazon. Some people will pass but the one's that say "yes" will be so grateful and you'll hit it off.  Ravers who say "yes"to your squishie gift are the special ones.

Also, ask everyone around you if anyone would like gum. It is a great feeling when people say "yes". You will get addicted to offering people gum around you even when they don't want or need it. You are now in and part of the entire rave around you. Sure, you can turn to anyone and PLUR kandi but typically some kind of interaction precedes it. Gifting gum and small duckies does not.

Take the Shuttle for Day 1 and Day 2 then Splurge for Day 3

7.) I decided to drive into EDC each day since it was not a bad experience for my EDC 2022.  However, this ended up being a big mistake for 2023.  Getting out of the parking lot(s) was a complete nightmare and fiasco.  I had to leave on Day 2 an hour and half early to avoid the pain I went through the night before after Day 1.  Based on the lot I was forced to park in (the dirt lots next to the drag racing strip), I could tell it was going to be even worse than Day 1's exit.

I was perfectly fine leaving early but I was not happy about it on the walk back.  

I was not happy with how the shuttles were operated in 2021 because they did not have enough of them nor did they start at 7pm on time.  Despite being sad about missing the Opening Ceremonies (they used to be all 3 days), I will take the shuttle for now on if I am not camping.

However, I have always splurged by flying into EDC for Day 3 with Maverick Helicopters; probably is why I had never camped before. I've gifted this experience to 3 people and it was also their very first helicopter ride; making the adventure even more epic.

I don't spend money on clothes, shoes, watches, or stuff - save for experiences. Therefore, it is a gift to myself and if you are going solo then it is one of the few opportunities you may have to take the helicopter for Day 3 and roundtrip.

The chopper ride into and out of EDC Las Vegas is one of the most euphoric feelings. You are walking on air to your favorite thing on Earth. For me, I play DJ on the helicopter ride but I'll save Maverick's for anotherBlog.  

The Rail is Calling You

8.) I obviously don't know how you like to enjoy watching a set geographically speaking at each stage (maybe you just follow your friends or whoever is carrying the totem) but for myself within the last year I have become addicted to the rail or being right behind whoever is on the rail.

Since, in theory, you are by yourself, enjoy this rare privilege of only having to look after yourself. Being at the very front is not for everyone, so check it out and see if you enjoy it. It will be totally different experience each time with the artist's biggest fans - 3 deep from the rail.  

I had the time of my life up there. I'll never forget the rave kandi cuff that was gifted to me after Armin Van Buuren and their note that "I've had this for 4 years." PLUR.

THE END

Are you still with me?  If you made it this far, then you are a really awesome person, raver, and/or festival goer. I hope this Blog was entertaining or you were able to take something away from it. If you did, please sign up for our semi-monthly newsletter by going to the Home Page again and there will be a pop-up to enter your email address to subscribe.

Thank you for supporting small business and spreading the word about Ravers Naturals at the festival and in your content on Instagram and TikTok. I'm grateful.

See you at the next festival and remember....

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