Going solo

01The short version

Going alone is fine. You choose your own set times, you do not wait for anyone, and you get talked into dancing with strangers more than you would think. The catch is that nobody is looking out for you except you, so you need a plan.

Alone does not mean on your own for the whole weekend.

02Where solo works best

Some festivals suit solo travelers better than others. Smaller crowds, an easy way home and a lot of sets you want to see all help. Here are the festivals our files tag as a fit.

Use the compare tool to look at them side by side, or the finder to filter by city and sound.

03Meeting people

• Go to the front of a set you love. People there are into the same thing as you, and they usually talk.
• Trade Kandi. It is the easiest opener in the field. Bring a handful.
• Wear something people can ask about. A bracelet, a hat, a patch.
• Say hi in a line. Nobody expects a conversation in a toilet queue, but they are friendly about it.
• Look for a pre-party or a group chat for the festival, and agree where to meet in person before you go.
• Ask one question, then listen. "Who are you here to see?" works.

You do not have to be friends with everyone. A good set is better with someone to look at when the drop hits. That is all you need.

Read the etiquette guide so you know how the rail, the pit and the kandi trade work.

04A safety plan in six steps

1. 1
   Tell one person the plan

   Where you are staying, your ticket, and when you expect to be home. Send it in a text so it is in writing.

2. 2
   Share your location

   Turn on live location with that person for the weekend. Turn it off when you get home.

3. 3
   Set check-ins

   Agree two times a day. If they do not hear from you, they know what to do next.

4. 4
   Plan the way home before you arrive

   Know your ride, your shuttle or your walk. Do not make that decision at the end of the night.

5. 5
   Know where help is

   Find medical, security and the exits on your first lap. See the festival page for what we recorded.

6. 6
   Keep a charged phone and a backup battery

   A dead phone is the one problem that makes everything else worse.

05On the day

• Watch your drink and your bag. Do not leave either with someone you just met.
• Be careful about who you tell where you are staying.
• Trust your gut. If someone makes you uncomfortable, walk away and go to staff. You do not owe an explanation.
• Eat and drink water on a schedule. When you are alone nobody reminds you.
• Leave when you are done. Your night is yours.

06If something goes wrong

Sources 1234

If someone hurts you or crosses a line, tell staff or security, or call 911. RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800-656-HOPE, which is 800-656-4673. It is free and confidential, and advocates are available around the clock. You can also text HOPE to 64673.

See heat, hydration and sun and harm reduction for the signs to watch for in yourself.

07Getting home

Sources 5

Going home alone is the part to plan hardest. NHTSA says drowsy driving crashes most often happen between midnight and 6 a.m. and in the late afternoon. If you are driving, do not drive when you are wrecked. Book a bed. Getting there and home has more.