First timer! Help/ tips/ advice

[JayP1983]

Seems like the best part of this festival is actually when the bands have finished!! Bring it on

[sloseph]

yeah you won't have any problems finding stuff to do at any point, the biggest problem is trying to not have a breakdown on Sunday morning because you've hardly slept

[big__phil]

For all the great bands, comedians, DJs, circus acts etc, don't be blinded by a dense itinerary. By all means, see the bands you really want to, but there is so much to see around site, it would be a massive shame not to take it all in.

One of my biggest regrets is spending too long sat around at camp, which is fine for most other festivals where you can't take your own booze into the arena, but there really is no excuse at Glastonbury.

You never know, you might even stumble across the secret piano bar...

[Heather90]

4 hours ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

There ain't no arena. 

I really wish I could follow Jay round and watch his? reactions. You are in for a treat! 

Also I'm really not into dance music but it is well worth having a look around Shangri-la and Block 9, add unfairground to the list. There are hundreds of bars on-site with either bands or more mainstream music until the early hours.

If you are bored you are doing it wrong! Wander round and find something/somewhere else more to your taste

[Duncan Doughnuts]

Always have your wristband put on your least dominant hand (the non wiping one)!

[Chris Lfc]

It's my first time aswell!

[stuartbert two hats]

12 hours ago, ThePope said:

Wednesday: set your tent up then go walking. Aim for cider bus by Pyramid. Have about 5 of them then go and see Biggles Wartime Band at the Bandstand. 

Then go to the Cornish Arms, have a 

pint of Tribute. 

Stone Circle gets busy in the eve for the fireworks, but you can see these from anywhere. 

 

Wake up Thursday, go to the Park. There's a bar up near the top that does the best Bloody Mary and watermelon. Replenish.

 

Repeat the above and make sure you obey the number 1 rule

 

Always pick a band over DJ. 

That's awfully specific advice. I agree with almost none of it, except heading to the cider bus after putting the tent up. Not that I'd have five pints there. Waste of a good festival staying in one place that long.

EDIT: That's not to say most of those activities are bad, I just wouldn't suggest a newbie tries to follow the advice. Go where you like on a Thursday morning!

Edited April 6, 2016 by stuartbert two hats

[timbrass]

The things you will remember in 10 years time are not the big name bands, it will be the obscure random stuff - the "divorce" in the Chapel of Love and Hate, dancing to 80's requests at the Wine Bar at 6am, lying in the sun in the Greenfields listening to two guys in a Yurt playing Steven Stills covers, asking a Policeman "Officer, supposing you wanted to arrest someone for selling drugs, where specifically would you go...", walking through the marketarea in a burqa, introducing random people to each other as if I had known them for years, watching a guy in a canoe paddle past me during the floods......

[JayP1983]

Thanks everyone. Loads of great tips!

[HattersBoy]

55 minutes ago, timbrass said:

"Officer, supposing you wanted to arrest someone for selling drugs, where specifically would you go..."

So made me laugh, gonna try to do this just for the comedy value

[musky]

There's loads going on late at night as has already been mentioned, and definitely don't let the idea of dance music in the SE corner put you off - there is much more to it, some of it hidden. 

Spend time exploring, and if you see something odd take a closer look - it can pay dividends. I've always found it odd that the Crows Nest can remain a mystery to so many when it's clearly visible from the Park.

 

[Kneale]

These first timer threads always make my heart race a little bit

Don't think I've been this excited about anything since I wanted a Mr Frosty for Christmas when I was 7.

 

I hope I'm not building it up too much in my head and my expectations aren't too high!

[mandolin]

19 minutes ago, Kneale said:

 

I hope I'm not building it up too much in my head and my expectations aren't too high!

You're not and they aren't! 

[JayP1983]

So I've just sat and had a look at all the different areas on offer and have been blown away to be honest! So much choice and selection, I don't know where to start !!!

[Harmonic Prospector]

10 minutes ago, JayP1983 said:

So I've just sat and had a look at all the different areas on offer and have been blown away to be honest! So much choice and selection, I don't know where to start !!!

Just walk, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday. Just walk with your eyes open, your head high, talk to anyone and everyone, you will be so surprised how open everybody is to one another. Do all of that and you will find your Glastonbury. 

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

 

Just follow your nose. It's your nose who knows.

 

 

I could have been a third rate advertising 'executive'. Who stole that from me?

 

 

 

[Chimps in Balaclavas]

Take a pic of your lock-up ticket, it helps speed things up at the lock-up if your ticket has gone walkies.

Edited April 8, 2016 by DAVA

[JanieM28]

5 hours ago, JayP1983 said:

So I've just sat and had a look at all the different areas on offer and have been blown away to be honest! So much choice and selection, I don't know where to start !!!

Naughty corner is, indeed, fun, weird and fascinating at night. I'm glad hubby and I wandered around it during the daytime when we first went - I would have found it truly terrifying if I hadn't seen what it looked like before darkness fell. Too scary at night for me. But, then, I'm old!

[Uncle Traveling Matt]

I would suggest waiting until after dark before you go anywhere near the SE corner for the first time, it is visually amazing at night and will give you the biggest impact if you wait till then....

Edited April 8, 2016 by Uncle Traveling Matt

[rumpola]

1. Keep an open mind and a smile on your face.

2. At times you may feel overwhelmed and a little emotional. This is normal, so give it an hour or two then get back amongst it.

3. Use the free lock-ups for anything you don't want to lose.

4. Talk to random strangers. This can lead to all sorts of fun.

5. Long drops are better than thunderboxes.

6. Get to know your camping neighbours. 

7. Bring as much booze as you think you can drink (no glass bottles though).

8. If you enjoy weed, think how much you might need and then double it.

10. The Pyramid stage isn't the centre of the universe. Often, the best entertainment is found in the smaller venues/areas.

11. Realise that life will never be the same again afterwards. 

[Respectfatfrog]

2 hours ago, rumpola said:

11. Realise that life will never be the same again afterwards. 

Most cliché tip but also most true I get annoyed people are not so kind in the real world after glasto

[alframsey]

On 6 April 2016 at 3:13 PM, big__phil said:

For all the great bands, comedians, DJs, circus acts etc, don't be blinded by a dense itinerary. By all means, see the bands you really want to, but there is so much to see around site, it would be a massive shame not to take it all in.

One of my biggest regrets is spending too long sat around at camp, which is fine for most other festivals where you can't take your own booze into the arena, but there really is no excuse at Glastonbury.

You never know, you might even stumble across the secret piano bar...

Yeah I'd agree about sitting at camp too long, last year was the first time I'd done that and I regretted it massively. If you want to sit and her ducked up do it at the flags.

[J1990]

2 hours ago, rumpola said:

3. Use the free lock-ups for anything you don't want to lose.

 

Can I put my dignity in there?

[Wow-wys-buzzing]

I don't think you'll need to plan to go the SE corner, I find that my night always drifts there at some point, same with Arcadia. 

 

[pie_and_a_pint]

4 hours ago, rumpola said:

 

11. Realise that life will never be the same again afterwards. 

This is, of course, the most important piece of advice. Be warned: very few people go to Glastonbury 'just the once'.  I went 'just the once' in 2003 to appease Mr P&P who thought we should go 'just the once', and unfortunately I caught a severe case of Lifetime Obsession. I don't think there's a cure...