Experiencing Coachella as a first-timer

My tips and tricks to navigate the music festival scene

ABIGAIL CAVIZO / ASST. A&C EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

The music is pumping vibrations through the ground. The live performance choices feel endless, with seven stages to choose from. 

Celebrities and influencers are at every corner. These are common narratives associated with Coachella.  Arguably the most well known festival in the world of music. However, there are both pros and cons to attending Coachella. In case you have the chance to attend, here’s my list of self-proclaimed “necessary” advice every first-time Coachella-goer needs to know. 

Fashion

While Coachella is meant for music enthusiasts, many can argue that the fashion is the real reason why it’s so iconic. In the age of social media, some joke that Coachella is the Met Gala for influencers. In just three days, influencers use the weekend to produce so much content for their various social media pages. 

It’s fun to dress up for Coachella and even more fun to look at what everyone else showed up in. Traditionally, it’s a Boho-meets-Western look, but nowadays, anything goes. 

When I put together my outfits, I was taking three factors into consideration: comfort, sustainability, and the weather. The days go from earliest 12 p.m. to latest 1 a.m., so finding the line between cute and comfortable is super important, especially for first-timers. I strategically decided what outfits to wear on which day, according to how tired I’d be in each. 

Borrowing clothes from friends is both sustainable and saves money. The trick to surviving the Coachella weather is finding a perfect balance of an outfit that can withstand 90 degrees in the sun but also endure the colder nights.  

The Line-up and Festival Navigation

The 2022 Coachella line-up featured around 150 artists. This number is overwhelming but planning ahead of time will ease your stress. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to see every artist, but by choosing your must sees, you can plan around their performances to enjoy the other perks of the festival. There are art pieces and tents that have different activities for attendees to participate in. 

My favorite tent was the Ray Bans one in which we walked through a maze of mirrors and lights wearing sunglasses that took pictures of our experience from our perspective. 

I was lucky enough to spend my first time at Coachella with my roommate who grew up attending the festival. She played my tour guide, but luckily, the Coachella app proved to be a great resource in regards to navigating the actual festival grounds. The app provided a map for the stages, but also included all the dining, bathrooms, and the separate activities in different tents.

Money

A general admission ticket to Coachella costs around $600 after additional fees, but the ticket is only the beginning expense. Fortunately for me, my roommate lives ten minutes away from the Coachella festival grounds. Other options are to camp (around $100 for a tent camping pass) or book somewhere to stay. To get the best experience for the cheapest amount, act as soon as possible. The closer it is to the weekend, the higher the prices will be. 

For transportation, you can pay for a guaranteed parking pass, risk it with general admission parking, or choose the uber route. Our group went with the first option so that we can arrive and leave at any time without worrying about the unpredictability of Uber prices. The traffic gets bad, so a ten minute uber ride can easily rack up to hundreds. 

For food, I recommend eating a good meal before entering. However, this won’t be enough to sustain you throughout the day. I discovered that food ranged from $12-30 for one meal, depending on the vendor. Look at the list of vendors beforehand to choose what you may want to eat. I made the mistake of spending $15 on something I didn’t enjoy but bought it because the line was short. It’s not worth it when there are so many other options. 

Your Health

Your number one priority should be you. A weekend in the desert packed in a crowd with no air conditioning and little shaded areas can be disastrous. Water is your best friend. Be wary of where all the water stations are and fill up your water bottle between sets as often as you can. 

When we watched Doja Cat, a girl two feet away from us passed out, most likely from dehydration. We made space for a medic to come through, but taking preemptive measures will ensure you don’t have to rely on the crowd’s help. 

Dirt flies around everywhere, especially in the wind. Other essential items to combat the wind’s effects include eye drops, allergy pills, and a bandana. It’s about more than the Coachella look–the bandana also shields you from the dirt storms.

Overall, I would recommend the Coachella experience. If you have the means, the time to plan ahead, and love music and fashion, this weekend is your weekend. By following all of this advice, you’ll be one step closer to a perfect first time at the Coachella Music Festival.