What to Bring to an Indoor Rave: What I Learned at Shrine Expo Hall
I spent most of Crankdat’s set on a bench by the restrooms at the back of Shrine Expo Hall.
Not because the set was bad. It was because about twenty minutes after I squeezed into the middle of the crowd, I physically couldn’t stay there anymore.
And the most embarrassing part? I run a rave brand, and our very first product was a rave fan. Mine was sitting at home.
Raving got a lot easier
There have been way more DJ headlining shows lately. I live in LA, and let’s just say DJ tickets have taken over my credit card statement.
Accurate.
I used to mostly do big outdoor festivals. Drive hours to get there, start getting ready in the afternoon, go all out for one or two nights, then spend the next few days recovering.
Now I can grab dinner, head out without rushing, dance for three hours, and go home when I’m tired. Raving feels like a normal night out instead of a whole event. And for friends who are curious about EDM but not ready for a full festival, a one-night show with a DJ who’s blowing up right now is a much easier way in.
20 minutes into Crankdat, I was done
I don’t go to indoor shows much, but in late August, my friend and I went to see Crankdat at Shrine Expo Hall. We made our way right into the middle of the crowd.
It was packed. And hot. Like, really hot. The air wasn’t moving at all, and every breath felt warm.
My stomach started turning. I couldn’t breathe comfortably. And I got irritated, really irritated, at nothing in particular. The music was right there, and I couldn’t enjoy a single second of it. That bad mood stuck with me for the rest of the night.
So I pushed my way out, walked all the way to the back, and found a bench by the restrooms.
Away from the crowd, I felt a little better, but the air was still heavy and stuffy. Every time I thought about going back in, I pictured that wall of heat and stayed put.
Not far from me, someone was half-slumped against a pillar, unable to stand on their own. Their friends were with them, and eventually security walked them out. I’d skipped drinking that night because I already wasn’t feeling great. If I had been drinking, I’m pretty sure that would’ve been me.
The crowd at Shrine Expo Hall that night. See the fans? I was not one of them.
Why indoor shows get so hot
I always figured outdoor festivals were the hot ones. No AC, huge crowds. Indoors would be easier, right? There’s air conditioning.
I was wrong. Indoors, you’ve got thousands of people jumping, sweating, and breathing in the same room, and when the crowd is packed tight, the air can only circulate so fast. Add a few drinks and hours of dancing, and it feels way hotter than it actually is. And because the heat has nowhere to go, it’s much harder to cool down than outside. That’s when it hits you. You get dizzy, nauseous, can’t catch your breath. Drinks hit harder. And you get cranky for no reason.
As you probably know, at many clubs and venues, if security sees you sitting on the floor or throwing up, they’ll walk you out. Don’t let it get that far. If you or a friend start feeling off, step out of the crowd early, get some air, and drink some water.
What I bring to indoor shows now
1. A fan with wrist strap. If the air isn’t moving, move it yourself. Get one with a wrist strap, so when you need your hands free for a drink, you don’t have to figure out where to stash your fan.
2. A bag that follows the rules. Check the venue’s bag policy before you go. A lot of venues don’t allow large bags, so a small bag or fanny pack is usually the safe bet.
3. Sunglasses, but not too dark. Shades are part of the look for a lot of us, but indoor shows and clubs are already dark. Go too dark and you’ll be stumbling around blind. Go for a lighter tint.
4. Cash. Some parking lots near venues only take cash, and so do the hot dog carts outside the door.
Rave gear isn’t just for festivals
Lesson learned. Festival, club, random weeknight show, doesn’t matter. My fan comes with me now.
That’s really what Funxtuff is about. I’m a raver first, and I started the brand to make the stuff people like me actually need on the dance floor. Our UV-reactive rave fans with wrist straps are where we started, and there’s more on the way. If you’ve got a show coming up, grab your fan here.
See you on the dance floor.
