Since the pandemic, electronic music and music festivals have witnessed meteoric rises in popularity and engagement. What was once underground or in the minority now seems to have a massive role in the entire music landscape, rivaling pop, hip-hop, country, and other “mainstream” genres.
However, many long-term members of the global rave community have voiced their frustrations surrounding what it has become. From raised prices to gatekeeping to seemingly increased drug use, many strongly dislike the direction that the electronic music scene is heading in.
Even a portion of newer ravers and people trying to get into dance music are being pushed away by some of these factors. To spread awareness of these grievances, we have identified and broken down the most talked about annoying aspects of today’s electronic music circuit.
Sky-High Festival Ticket Costs
One of the most significant topics pervasive throughout the festival scene is how astronomical ticket prices have gotten over the past few years. Typically, the most expensive part of going to a festival is paying for the tickets, which is startling, considering many festival-goers also pay for plane tickets, hotel rooms, and many other big-ticket items to get to the festival gates.
The best tip to avoid this would be to get the early bird tickets as soon as they are available, but that isn’t a perfect solution. It is often challenging to plan that far in advance, and sometimes, schedule complications can arise a few months or weeks before the event. Future attendees either take on the risk of being unable to sell their tickets or bite the bullet and spend $50-150 more on a ticket.
Nowadays, ticketing fees always come with the base price, so one can expect it to rise at least $60 due to shipping, processing, taxes, and other fees. Most festivals can get away with charging a lot for single-day tickets, pressuring people to spend even more and get a full weekend package instead.
It’s a frustrating reality, as you speak to promoters and touring DJs alike, and the consensus these days is that dance music fans are saving money by staying in on local club nights to afford the bigger festivals. But when the bigger festivals start jacking up the prices to unobtainable levels, it does nothing but hurt the larger scene as DJs can no longer afford to tour, promoters cannot host nights, let alone take the risks the scene needs, and the experience overall becomes jade-inducing.
Overpriced Beverages
The outrageous beverage pricing at these events is closely tied to the overarching cost issue. Tales of shelling out $22 for a Beatbox drink at EZOO and encountering $20 tall boys are frequently shared by almost any festival-goer you talk to. A telling sign from a decade ago was bartenders throwing away the cap on plastic water bottles that ravers would buy, forcing them to buy another one when thirsty instead of refilling the one they had. Now, companies like Liquid Death, regardless of how good their water may be, are taking over the market with single-use and overpriced beverages that seem more predatory than ever once you’re inside the gate.
The frustration grows as people question the rationale behind charging the same amount for vastly different drink options. Why should a beer cost the same as a mixed drink? Most festivals seem to exploit their guests financially amidst the chaos of their party atmosphere, which grinds our gears. Can we get a hell yeah?!
The Lack Of Free Water At Shows
I know we touched on this in the section above, but let’s be real and admit that the water situation deserves its section. Regarding festivals, the saying ‘it’s the thought that counts’ applies aptly to offering attendees free water. The true colors of festivals are vividly shown by those who fail to provide free and accessible water stations to their guests.
A significant grievance centers on the availability and pricing of water at dance music clubs and shows. While some venues offer free water, others, including renowned clubs like Club Space, charge for this basic necessity. This practice can be somewhat dangerous, considering people often stay at Club Space through the night and past sunrise.
Electronic music fans have voiced their dissatisfaction with the absence of free tap water, raising questions about how a popular club can neglect to provide such a fundamental amenity. This conversation highlights the importance of ensuring hydration, especially in environments where dancing and physical exertion are constant.
Genre Confusion And Mislabeling
The debate over classifying electronic music genres emerges as another point of contention within the community. Many rave scene veterans are overly upset about the casual misuse of terms like ‘techno’ and ‘electronica’ to describe various electronic music styles, especially when newer generations of club-goers label something ‘Melodic Techno’ that veterans know as the EDM of the new generation (albeit with more black T-shirts and crowded DJ booths).
The confusion intensifies when individuals incorrectly label all electronic music as ‘EDM,’ highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of electronic music categories. On the other hand, these veterans could show more patience towards newcomers mislabeling genres. However, genre labelers have always had a longstanding pretentiousness – ‘What do you mean you haven’t heard of the ‘Nu-Disco-Bushwick-Pocket-Dub’ genre?!’
Festivals and club nights offer the perfect opportunity to educate yourself on different genres. If you think you’re already knowledgeable, take a deep breath before you jump to educate a newer raver. They might want to discover these genres and sounds for themselves. If they’re curious about your thoughts, I’m sure they’ll ask.
Drug Culture Dominance
The prevalence of drug culture within the electronic music and the rave scene draws mixed reactions. While some appreciate the freedom to enjoy shows in their preferred way, others express concern about prioritizing drugs over music.
There have been several experiences of bad encounters with extremely intoxicated or drug-fueled individuals, sparking arguments about the impact of drug use on the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of events.
Even though some may blame this on trendsetters like famous party boy-DJ hybrid John Summit, the real problem might stem from the heavy, experimental bass and overall underground dance music population.
A long-time Tipper fan mentioned that it was sad to see that such a large number of people at his shows can not even process what is happening around them and are more into the visuals than the music itself.
Deteriorating Festival Etiquette
Tons of ravers have voiced a decline in the cherished “Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect” (PLUR) ethos at music festivals, shows, and across electronic music. The values of respect and kindness seem to be overshadowed by a more self-centered attitude.
These people have revealed their disappointment regarding the loss of festival vibes and proper etiquette, with some attributing the decline to the mainstreaming of the scene. Fewer than ever understand personal boundaries, going to festivals with zero intention of making meaningful connections with others and seem to be there more to be seen and take pictures than enjoy the music and make new friends, which his the perfect segway into the next point.
Influencers And Fan Clackers
The rise of self-proclaimed “EDM influencers” on social media platforms adds another annoyance. Old-time ravers and fans new to the space are bothered by those who attend events primarily for content creation, taking up space and distracting from the music.
Additionally, the use of fan clackers is a polarizing topic, with some appreciating the cooling effect and others finding them disruptive to the overall experience. Everyone loves the guy who comes in clutch with a fan when they feel overheated. But if that same guy decides to clack to a dubstep or house beat right next to your ear, it is never an enjoyable experience.
Sound System Discrepancies
Electronic music lovers cannot help but notice the discrepancies in sound systems at various events. People lament the lack of consistency in audio quality, mentioning instances where a stellar lineup is spoiled by subpar proper equipment.
This inconsistency has prompted discussion about the importance of investing in top-notch audio infrastructure to elevate the sonic experience for each venue’s attendees. It is disheartening that most festivals and high-end clubs can make massive amounts of profit yet decide not to put any of it back into boosting the atmosphere for their customers.
Ticket Scalpers
With music festivals, club shows, and underground raves being in more demand than ever, a selection of people see this as an opportunity to take advantage of the system and attendees. Navigating the ticket-buying process for dance music events has become an intimidating task, thanks to the prevalence of ticket scalping.
While ticketing apps and services aim to prevent online scalping, many have figured out ways to beat their defense mechanisms. These scalpers then turn around and resell the tickets for ridiculous prices, knowing that the event will sell out if it has not already.
There needs to be stricter measures and punishments to minimize these practices, ensuring genuine fans have fair and affordable access to festival and event tickets.
As frustrating as they are, scalpers are a step below the worst of all when it comes to music festivals: pickpockets. Walk by a lost and found at any point during a major festival, and you will notice the insane amount of people there. A significant number of them have their phones and wallets stolen.
Lack Of Diversity In Lineups
While the dance music scene is celebrated for its diversity in sound, fans have emphasized concern about the lack of diversity in festival lineups. The dominance of specific sub-genres and the underrepresentation of artists from marginalized communities have recently become focal points.
To name a few sub-genres seen as overrepresented, tech house, big room, and dubstep are easily at the top of the list. This cues the urge for organizers to curate more inclusive and representative lineups that truly reflect the rich tapestry of talent within global electronic music.
Vague Set Times
The ambiguity surrounding set times at festivals and events has emerged as a common source of frustration. Attendees recount instances where schedules are not adhered to, leading to missed opportunities to catch their favorite artists in action.
This collective rave community calls for more transparent and reliable communication regarding set times, emphasizing the importance of a seamless and well-organized event experience. Unfortunately, little change has been made, often resulting in mass confusion and a downgraded view on the specific event at play.
Lack Of Seating Options And Overselling Tickets
Whether you are involved in electronic music or not, nearly everyone has heard about the disastrous Electric Zoo fiasco that took place this past September. With this event’s organizers still trying to cut corners and recoup losses from the pandemic, they have severely paid the price, and so have their attendees.
In one of the worst festival-planning ventures ever, E-Zoo oversold its capacity by thousands. They tried to prevent ticket holders from entering the festival’s last day, and so many of them waited hours in line to get in. Not to mention that the main stage was not even complete by day 1, resulting in the cancellation of Friday and its scheduled lineup.
E-Zoo may be the worst example, but the festival is not alone. Others get away with overcrowding their shows and festivals, creating an unsafe and uncomfortable environment where attendees huddle shoulder-to-shoulder.
Negative Environmental Impact
With environmental consciousness becoming increasingly important, there is rising worry about the ecological impact of large-scale events. A popular grievance is that event organizers are not doing enough and must adopt more sustainable practices, from reducing single-use plastics to implementing eco-friendly transportation options, and that overall, we really need to start rethinking what festival sustainability even means on a grander scale.
This eco-conscious mindset reflects the desire within the dance music community to enjoy events while minimizing their ecological footprint. Two festivals that are the top role models for this ethical and positive behavior are Nashville’s Deep Tropics and Alaska’s Sacred Acre. Both offer incredible experiences and diverse lineups and strongly push eco-friendly efforts, aiming to reduce their carbon emissions to net zero.
Lack Of Event Amenities
It is funny to think that one of the main perks of getting VIP tickets nowadays is that you do not have to wait an hour to go to the bathroom. The absence of essential amenities at various festivals and events has become a brutal reality for attendees.
Ravers have recalled experiences of dealing with inadequate restroom facilities, limited food options, and insufficient medical services. With the latter being the most important, it is sad to see real-life examples of people getting seriously injured or even losing their lives in some instances. The lack of medical services and safety regulations contribute to many of these cases.
