← All guides

First Rave Guide: What to Expect and How to Stay Safe

Facts checked against the sources below on .

Quick answer: Bring earplugs, a water bottle, a charged phone and a plan to get home. Stay near your people, be kind on the floor, and check the age rule for your specific event. Everything below is the long version. Rules change by event, so what's listed is as of Oct 2026.

First time? Good. Nobody was born knowing how this works. Here are the questions every newcomer asks.

What actually happens at a rave, club night or festival?

You show up, pass a bag check and an ID check, and walk into a room (or a field) full of speakers and strangers in good moods. Costumes, lights and a lot of bass are normal [1]. Stages run all day or all night. You wander between sets and take breaks whenever you want.

A club night is one room, a few DJs, a late finish. A festival is many stages, many hours and a lot of walking. Pack for the one you're going to. Comfortable sneakers beat sandals or flip-flops, which cause sore feet [2].

What does a DJ set look like?

Early sets warm the room up. Later sets hit harder. The "drop" is the moment a build-up releases into full bass and everyone loses it. You don't need to know the songs. Move however you want.

Check the set times in the event's app or lineup page before you go [1]. Pick two or three artists you actually want to see. Skip the rest and rest.

What is PLUR and how should I act?

PLUR stands for peace, love, unity and respect [3]. In plain terms:

  • Peace: avoid conflict and keep it calm [3].
  • Love: show goodwill to strangers, not only your friends [3].
  • Unity: come together as a community, whatever your differences [3].
  • Respect: treat others the way you'd want to be treated [3].

On the floor, that means no shoving, no filming in someone's face, no trash left behind. Back off if someone needs room. Never pressure anyone to drink or use anything. Don't shout into someone's ear, either [4].

Some people trade beaded bracelets called kandi. If someone offers you one, you can just say thanks and trade one back if you've got it. You don't need any.

How loud is it, and how do I protect my hearing?

Loud. The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss. It puts concerts and similar events in the 94 to 110 dBA range [5].

Damage can be permanent. The hair cells in your inner ear don't grow back [5]. Ringing in your ears (tinnitus) is a warning sign [4][5].

NIOSH says that for every 3 dBA increase in noise, you should cut exposure time in half [6]. So a few hours near the main speakers adds up fast.

What to do:

  1. Wear earplugs. Real ones. Cotton or rolled tissue only cuts about 7 dB, which doesn't prevent damage [4]. Foam works but can distort the sound. Reusable "hi-fi" earplugs lower volume across frequencies so music still sounds full [4].
  2. Stay back from the speakers. DanceSafe says to stay at least 10 feet away, and not to sit in the bass bins without serious protection [4].
  3. Take breaks. Step somewhere quieter now and then [4][7].
  4. Use the shout test. The CDC says if you need to shout to be heard, the sound is too loud and may damage your hearing [7].
  5. Ringing afterward? Wear plugs next time. Starting late still helps if you can hear at all [4]. The CDC notes there's no medical or surgical treatment for noise-induced hearing loss [7].

How do I stay hydrated?

Carry a water bottle. Refill it through the day. Light yellow or clear pee usually means you're drinking enough, and the CDC says to limit drinks high in sugar, sodium, caffeine and alcohol [8].

Many big festivals have free water stations. EDC Las Vegas, for example, marks them with water-droplet symbols on the map and says you can refill a reusable bottle, a hydration pack or an empty drink container bought inside [2]. Hydration packs must be empty on entry at Insomniac events [9]. Check your festival's own rules.

Alcohol is not a way to cool off or rehydrate [2]. Alternate drinks with water. Fraser Health, a Canadian health authority, suggests no more than two drinks in three hours [10]. Sip water steadily. Don't chug.

What are the signs I'm overheating?

The CDC lists muscle cramps, heavy sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, weakness and nausea [8]. Get out of the crowd, find shade, and sip water. Go to the first aid tent if you feel weak, dizzy or sick.

Heat stroke is an emergency. NIOSH lists confusion, slurred speech, seizures and loss of consciousness among the signs. The steps are to call 911, stay with the person, move them somewhere cool and cool them down fast [11]. At a festival, flag down staff or medical right away. EDC's guide says you won't get in trouble for seeking medical help for yourself or a friend [2].

How old do I have to be?

It depends on the event. Always check the event page.

  • EDC Las Vegas: no one under 18 is allowed in, with or without a guardian. VIP and bottle-service guests must be 21 or older. Government ID is required [12].
  • Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Colorado): its FAQ says events there are all ages [13]. Photo ID may be required at any time in the venue, so check your show's listing.
  • Alcohol: at EDC Las Vegas, you must be 21 or older to drink [2].

Venues also set bag size, ID and re-entry rules. Insomniac's general guidelines list no re-entry per day and specific clear-bag sizes, for instance [9]. Read the rules the day before, not at the gate.

How do I get home safe?

Plan this before the first song. The CDC puts it simply: if you plan to drink or use drugs, make plans so that you do not have to drive [14]. Don't let friends drive impaired either [14].

  • Arrive and leave with your group. Insomniac's own advice is to always leave with everyone in your crew [2].
  • Know your ride. Look up shuttles, drop-off and pickup zones before you go. Red Rocks, for example, sends Uber, Lyft and taxis to the Jurassic Lot near Entrance 2 and runs only limited free shuttles after shows [15].
  • Pick a meeting spot that doesn't move. Insomniac's beginner guide notes the big moving landmarks are a bad idea, so choose a fixed place and time [1].
  • Keep your phone charged. Don't rely on it alone, since batteries die and networks overload [10].
  • Book a place to sleep early if you're out of town, because after-parties may leave you without a bed [1].

What should I pack?

  • Earplugs
  • Empty reusable bottle
  • Phone and a small charger
  • ID
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunscreen and a hat for day events. Fraser Health suggests SPF 30 or higher, reapplied about every two hours [10].
  • Any medication you need

Leave the rest. Bags get searched.

One last thing

We built Drop because we kept missing shows we'd have loved. It is the app we built to find shows near you. Your first rave shouldn't start with a sold-out page.

Find your first one. Go with a friend. Keep your earplugs in.

Sources

Accessed 2026-10-18.

  1. Insomniac, "The Beginner's Guide to EDC Las Vegas" (article dated June 10, 2015, so logistics may be outdated). https://www.insomniac.com/magazine/the-beginners-guide-to-edc-las-vegas/
  2. EDC Las Vegas / Insomniac, "Health & Wellness." https://lasvegas.edc.com/guide/health-wellness/
  3. The Paisano (student newspaper), "PLUR." https://www.paisano-online.com/14925/uncategorized/plur/
  4. DanceSafe, "Hearing Protection." https://dancesafe.org/hearing-protection/
  5. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss." https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss
  6. CDC / NIOSH, "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss" (Jan. 30, 2024). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/noise.html
  7. CDC, "Preventing Hearing Loss." https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss/prevention/index.html
  8. CDC, "About Heat and Health." https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/about/index.html
  9. Insomniac, "General Festival Guidelines." https://www.insomniac.com/general-festival-guidelines/
  10. Fraser Health Authority (BC, Canada), "10 safety tips for summer festivals and events." https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/summer-health/10-tips-for-summer-event-safety
  11. CDC / NIOSH, "Heat-related Illnesses." https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/heat-stress/about/illnesses.html
  12. EDC Las Vegas, "FAQ" (2027 edition). https://lasvegas.edc.com/faq/
  13. Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre (City and County of Denver), "FAQ." https://www.redrocksonline.com/plan-your-visit/faq/
  14. CDC, "Impaired Driving" (Jan. 28, 2026). https://www.cdc.gov/impaired-driving/about/index.html
  15. Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, "Getting Here." https://www.redrocksonline.com/plan-your-visit/getting-here/