Music Festival Etiquette Trends for 2023.

There is an unwritten code of behaviour for festival-goers which is well understood by regular ticket buyers. This code of etiquette is mostly common sense but for new festival-goers and those who have not been to an event in a number of years there are some trending changes for 2023.

Any large multi-day music festival can be the equivalent of a small town and this means a wide range of personality types reflecting the wider population. The behaviour of individuals will also represent that usually found in any concentration of people and this can impact on what happens on a festival site. It's important that festival-goers try and follow the accepted etiquette expected and understand trending changes.

Common Sense Etiquette That Always Prevails.

• Courtesy and Being Polite.Good manners can really help to seed a positive atmosphere and make it easier to make new friends at the same time. Adhere to queuing for food, drink and toilets.
• Enjoy the Music and Show. Event goers are there to see and enjoy the live performances so visitors should avoid talking and shouting with their friends and avoid spending the whole performance stuck behind their mobile phone. The audience should be enjoying the live performance not filming it.
• Alcohol and Drugs. Visitors should know their limits and try to consume alcohol in moderation and avoid narcotics of unknown origin so that they can at least enjoy the live performances.

Environment and Sustainability.
Anything relating to looking after the environment and embracing the festival sustainability are hot topics in 2023. Initiatives like taking rubbish home at the end of the event and following organiser's directions regarding on-site waste disposal and recycling should be priorities for festival-goers. More consideration about transport choices can help reduce the event’s overall carbon footprint along with using reusable water bottles and avoiding single use plastics will fit in with the organisers sustainability policies.

Health and Safety.
Awareness of health and safety issues is increasing and organisers are implementing stricter controls to make sure their events are safe environments. Respect for personal space and boundaries have been popular topics in the media recently and organisers are creating more safe spaces for women and vulnerable people for example.

Inclusivity.
Festival organisers are moving towards DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) workplaces and these principles should apply to anyone on a site at any time. This can mean creating a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds and an increase in accessibility options for people with disabilities plus featuring more diverse performers and artists in line-ups.

Mindfulness and Self-care.
Awareness of mental health issues has become more topical since the coronavirus pandemic and organisers are providing more on-site facilities and advice for festival-goers. The key is for visitors to be more self-aware so they can take care of themselves both physically and mentally. Aside from on-site facilities like yoga, meditation and quiet spaces organisers will select vendors who can provide more healthy food and drink options.

For festival organisers planning their events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Photo by Jonathan Borba via Pexels

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