$25 for parking
$1 for poster
$25 for t-shirt
trip report and pictures soon
edit: got it right hurr fool
The Electric Daisy Carnival trip report!
Doors opened at 4pm-4am.
Though the information online said no outside food or beverage, I packed a few goodies along anyways. I brought along a couple granola bars, a couple water bottles, two gatorades, and Mr. Bubbles. I put them in my napsack, packed away smartly, and made my way to the coliseum around 3:30pm. I didn't quite listen to my aunt about the traffic. I heard her say it would take 30 minutes without traffic, so I figured I was on schedule. I didn't quite comprehend the traffic part! I'm a terrible listener. I should have left atleast an hour before I did.
As I neared Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, I hit the line of cars getting off at the same exit as me. My TomTom said that I had only 1 minute and 35 seconds till I reached my destination. That minute turned into about 2 hours! Parking was $25... or I could have been 100 yards closer for $40 parking! What a rip.
Anyways, I picked up my ticket, and I got in line... I cut maybe a thousand people by moving up as far as I could... and the line still stayed as long as ever. At one point, I thought of jumping the fence to get into the carnival. The first area I thought about jumping had some guards standing nearby, so I decided against it... the second area I thought I could jump with the help of the tree above would land me behind some outhouses. It was perfect. So I asked some guys next to me if they would help boost me if I attempted it, and they said sure.
I grabbed onto the fence and tried my way up it. No luck.
My messenger bag began slipping down my side too, and I couldn't quite manage to get over. I ended up with dirty palms from gripping the fence and a little scrape on my way down.
I know what this looks like haha
If only I knew I'd be waiting in line for two more hours, I would have redoubled my efforts on jumping that thing! Jumping over the fence would have saved me from the dreaded line, ensured my bag making it through security, and not missing any of the DJ's. Oh well...
When I rounded the corner of the long fence, I came face to face with another line! It was time for security and bag checks. When I was about 10 people from the front of security, a manager lady told security to quit patting people down or swiping with metal detectors because it was taking too long and the line was getting longer. I had my bag around me hanging behind my back as I got patted down, and the guy patting me down ended up asking me if I had anything in it. I said no, he let me go, and I away I went! No sweat, right?
FINALLY INSIDE.
I called up Phil, and he said he was at the main stage. I made my way over and... WOW, the view was amazing from the top of the stairs. The stage was immense, and there were two carnival rides inside the arena.
Main, Kinetic Stage
Carnival Rides inside Arena
Carnival Rides inside Arena 2
I can't recall which DJ I saw first on stage first. It must have been Eddie Hallowell. Either way, he was good. Pumped up the crowd. Jumped on the table at one point. Awesome. So I made my way to the front searching for Phil, and I was within maybe 3 people of being dead center at the front! Quite amazing how I was easily able to get myself up there so quickly. But I wasn't able to find Phil, so I exited to the left and made my way up to the front all over again, haha. I exited right with no luck once more.
Then Christopher Lawrence came on, who I recognized from Nocturnal Festival the previous year. He was up to his usual antics and put on a good show. At one point during his set I threw a glowstick towards the stage, and I must not have recognized my own strength because it flew much further than I intended. I expected it to land in the front of the crowd while it ended up bouncing off one of his CDJs!! I must say he kept cool and kept on playing with no hestitation.
I decided to take a break from the coliseum, and as I tried to make my way out of there, I had to fight a wave of people going the opposite direction. That was so insane... everyone had to be told to back up because the stadium stairs were being flooded with people. Once out of the stadium I ran around going to random places or whatnot. I can't remember where or why really. There wasn't much rhyme or reason. I remember there were some busses straight out of Across the Universe hanging around opened up to people able to hop inside. There were some huge white tent bubbles where people were able to crash on some bean bags, too. I took advantage of that later that night.
I made my way back to the arena in time for good ol' Benny. As I was running around the stadium seating, a girl out of nowhere gripped me, sat me down and asked my name. I had some time, so I thought I'd chat for a bit. And of course she was rolling, she couldn't keep her hands off me... She told me her name was Serendipity and asked if this was my first rave. I told her it was my second, which I think is about right if I'm counting Nocturnal Festival or whatever... and then she asked if I had a rave name. Wow... no? The subject changed, and I ended up not getting one though. At one point she even asked if I was a cop. I replied that I was only 21... Then she pulled along another guy to chat, and it was time for me to bounce. Well, I couldn't stay forever because Benassi was on in 5 minutes. So bye Rachel... I mean, Serendipity!
A highlight of Benassi's set for me was his Bring the Noise remix by Public Enemy. I didn't particularly like the song before, but now with the amplified stadium speakers, the song really came to life! The build up was amazing... "how low can you go? BASS!" So much detail went unheard before. That song was really meant for a huge crowd to dig.
Then Moby took over. Shaved head and all. Good stuff.
Then Paul Van Dyk. I enjoyed both their stuff much more than I thought I would.
And I never ended up finding you Phil! Sorry. I understand the crazyness on both sides. Cell phone reception was crazy all over the place, too, combined with the loud music... terrible place to try to find people... it's much easier to get lost in the crowd, haha.
Other highlights... hearing some of my favorites getting repped... I just knew I would hear some Daft Punk sometime along the night... and I got one of my favorites, Aerodynamic. Which reminds me! Watch the movie Interstella 5555.
Clip from Interstella 5555
At one point in the night I took a 30 minute nap. I woke up since it was starting to get so effing cold. To warm up I went out and danced some more! Nice incentive for a good time.
I also saw Krafty Kuts late that night/morning. He turned "Smack My Bitch Up" on its head. There was a camera on his every move, and it was nice being able to see him work the tables on screen.
Ah yes, and gifts of the night.
Poster
Shirt
Ticket, glow bracelets, flashlight, and glow earring
Bracelets littered the ground, so there was no point in me buying some myself. The earring I found late that night too, and I thought it was a nice touch. The flashlight came in super handy. I loved it that night. I was able to spot things on the ground, and I was also able to watch my footing. I had to watch out for people laying on the ground receiving light shows... so annoying if you asked me... I don't really mind that you're doing a light show, but do it somewhere else... like not on the dance floor...
Also, not sure where this fits in with the story, but a security guard ended up pushing me for no reason. I was walking into the stadium, and the guy pushed me and kept walking. Some people behind me asked if I was alright. That was so weird. I didn't do anything... maybe it's because he was black and I was white? Haha. Whatever.
When it was all said and done, I crashed in one of the white bubble tents for a couple minutes after buying my poster and shirt. Then I walked to my car and took another nap while traffic cleared out.
Sunday has been my day of rest.
Great event overall.
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