How to make your best festival that little bit better... (Global Gathering)

Member Name: marnie_moo

Product:	Global Gathering
Date:	31/07/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everyone is so friendly, great lineup

Disadvantages: Very expensive

Global Gathering is the best festival I've ever been to. At other festivals I've seen fights, been followed round by strange people and generally had a lot of experiences that put me off going to festivals again.
Global Gathering changed all that though, everyone I spoke to was friendly and lovely, the music was brilliant and generally I had an amazing time.

I don't want to bore you with the same details and information you can glean from the Global Gathering website, so I will tell you my personal experience and give you the advice that will make your GG just that little bit better:

- Get by the "No Alcohol" by making mixes of vodka in carton of fruit juice and just close them up so they look sealed. Also you can make vodka jellies and these get by security fine as well

- Use a flag, paint your tent, do something to make yours stand out as finding it in the dark when drunk can be a nightmare

- Always carry a wind up torch, you can even get ones with wind up radios and phone chargers attached, they cost under a fiver and will be useful in countless situations

- Be careful what you put in the front pocket of your bag, while you're raving away someone might be pinching all your stuff!

- If you're freezing cold and rain has soaked all your warm jumpers, don't pay £40 for a hoodie, get a foil blanket instead, costs £2 and will warm you up just as much

- Closest to the entrance is not neccesarily the best place to camp, have a look what's around you, you don't want to set up then be listening to the dodgems all night

- Use Metcheck to check the weather before, but be aware their preditions will only be accurate within the last few days before the event

- Bring wellies regardless of the weather report, as even a little bit of rain makes the campsite muddy, more so with people walking all through it

- Get enough money to last the entire festival as queues and charges for the cash point are massive, also hide a spare 20 of it in random locations like inside your bra or a sock so that you always have some if you lose the rest

- Buy a lanyard as GG don't release set times for stuff previous to the festival

- Take a bit of food before you go as all the food they sell there is greasy, stodgy and expensive (think nearly £10 for a small pizza!)

- Wear something colourful so you're easy to pick out from a crowd for your friends, will also make a talking point for people to come and befriend you

- Check websites like Liftshare to see if anyone is travelling to Stratford from your area- it will save you loads on travelling costs

Summary: Learn how to economise and you and your bank balance will love it