Surviving and Thriving: Music Festival Tips for the 30-ish Festivalgoers

I’ve always been fascinated by Rio Tantomo—especially when it comes to writing. He’s been a music writer for nearly 15 years. But what amazes me more is his stamina at 37, especially during music festivals.

I've often hung out with him, watching festivals with a mix of excitement and alcohol-fueled energy, like a high school kid obsessed with rock n roll. After a while, though, you usually hear the news:

“Tantomo is unconscious over there.”

Yet somehow, I don't know how, an hour later, he’s back in front of the stage, singing or screaming, depending on how much he’s had to drink after waking up from his "nap". I sometimes think there must be two of him, but that theory’s never been proven.

Tantomo reminds me of a mix between Sisyphus and Dionysus. He keeps chasing the thrill, even if it wears him down (he’s been knocked out more times than I can count). It seems to give him purpose, as he repeats the cycle over and over, like at the Synchronize Festival on October 7-9, 2022.

“Tantomo’s drunk again,” a friend muttered around Maghrib. Three hours later, another friend said, “He’s passed out near the stage.” I laughed.

Not long after, I spotted him singing along at the XYZ stage, looking fresh, no sign of a hangover. He sang The Sastro's “Rasuna” almost perfectly, like it triggered some bittersweet memory, or maybe he was just thinking about where his next drink would come from.

“Tantomo, you fool!” I shouted after the song. He just laughed and flipped me off.

At 37, Tantomo has the energy of a 20-year-old, never complaining about age or soreness. He’s fully committed, even when his liver isn’t. Sometimes I wonder if alcohol is the secret to surviving days of music festivals without aching limbs.

But I let that thought go.

I’m definitely not Tantomo, who’s learned to handle alcohol just like ringing the bell. His body knows exactly what to do after the first sip. Even when he needs a break, it’s not long before he’s back up, ready to go (again).

Tantomo is, in a way, an anomaly.

Most of us over 30, myself included, feel the burn during and after a festival. At events with multiple stages, we spend most of our time walking and standing. Moving from one stage to another, finding food, lining up for the toilet, and catching obscure acts can go on for three days straight. By the end of the festival, we’re sore, tired, and dreading the workday that follows—using our paychecks to buy tickets for the next festival (we, indeed, are Sisyphus).

After talking with friends about how to survive festivals comfortably, here’s what I’ve gathered:

1. Tantomo isn’t normal.

2. Preparation is key.

Why am I writing this? Personal reasons, I am part of the demographic of festival goers aged 30 and over, have experienced post-festival effects several times, and have been severely exhausted after watching two festivals in a span of two weeks.

Especially, considering the demographic of festival goers aged over 30 is quite large. From data released by Synchronize Festival, their largest audience is those aged 25-34 years. The number is more than 45 percent. This data is similar to that released by Eventbrite: the average age of festival goers is 32 years.

Meanwhile, data from YouGov is even more interesting: their respondents aged 30-44 years are the most regular festival goers.

Yes, Preparation is Key

Joseph Sudiro, bass player for Vox and a corporate worker, is one of those who are willing to travel far to watch music festivals. He has been to Fuji Rock in Japan several times, to the festival considered the holy grail of festival goers: Glastonbury in England.

For him, preparation is important. Not only to avoid excessive post-festival effects, but also to be more comfortable when watching. This has started since before leaving for a festival. For example: checking the weather forecast.

In a chat on a small bar three years ago, Joseph told me about his experience watching Fuji Rock. Since he was in Indonesia, he had researched the weather, places to camp, which would ultimately determine what he would bring. To make camping more comfortable, he bought a top-quality tent.

"So buy a good one at the same time, it can be used for other festivals that use a similar concept," said the man who once had a band called Jelly.

In addition, Joseph has several other tips.

"Drink a lot of water. Then wear shoes, don't wear sandals."

According to Joseph, who crowned Glastonbury 2017 as his most memorable festival, catching a cold is common, especially in tropical countries. This can be avoided by taking cold supplements that are widely available everywhere.

"And dont forget to drink alcohol too," he said laughing.

Meanwhile, Benji, a colleague who also loves watching concerts and festivals, has similar advice. To combat muscle aches, patches are the key. However, he also emphasized the importance of light physical exercise every day, so that the muscles are not shocked when they have to work hard on festival days. Benji also emphasized the importance of being selective in watching performers. According to him, knowing who to watch will help us save energy.

"So decide who you want to watch, don't regret it if you miss this or that performance," said Benji.

Fifa Chazali, who also regularly watches festivals, also has tips. According to her, the two-year pandemic has had quite an impact on her physical condition.

"So a month before the music festival, I do light exercise. Also strength training and walking. This really has an effect. My stamina is better and doesn't drop, even after watching three days in a row," said Fifa.

Fifa also gave many useful tips, especially for female viewers. For example, checking the menstrual calendar. This is important for preparing what to bring. Then Fifa also wears a tank top and camisole as an inner, with a cool and sweat-absorbent material. Not only that, Fifa also always brings a power bank, a hat to ward off the wind, and drinks lots of water.

"In addition, also wear makeup as light as possible. The important thing is sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, a little powder, and lots of setting spray so that your face doesn't look dull," said the woman who lives in Bandung, West Java.

Basically, what they mentioned is a general tip for festival goers. I also, more or less, since 2019, always bring a supply of medicine when going to a festival. Supplements to ward off wind, of course. Headache medicine, stomach medicine, and diarrhea medicine, are always in my festival bag.

Pre-festival preparation, as Joseph and Benji said, is also vital. Weather research, what the location conditions are like, and knowing who we are going to watch should be done before leaving.

I have read several times about audiences who wore the wrong costumes when watching a nature festival in Bandung. With the muddy conditions of the location -- especially since the festival is held during the rainy season -- it would be unwise not to bring a raincoat, nor to wear proper footwear.

Being selective about who we want to watch is an important step to save energy. Especially considering the law of the festival which presents many performers on many stages, then we are forced to choose.

Some friends choose guest stars who rarely perform and do not know when they will perform again. That is why I and several friends at Synchronize Festival, for example, HAVE TO watch Dara Puspita who has not performed together for 52 years, and we all will not know when they will perform again in the near future.

While others have different preferences: some like dangdut, some choose guest stars who promise a sensational performance, some want to be intimate, and some are curious about the concept of a reunion. Please choose and select according to your liking.

It's still October. In my notes, there will still be many concerts and festivals until the end of the year. So it's true: preparation is key for those of us who are over 30 years old.

Because we are all not Rio Tantomo.