Access pass
A pass or process that gets you accessibility services at a festival. Each festival runs its own, so ask early.
The words / 162 terms
Glossary
What people mean when they say it. Search, jump by letter, or link straight to a word. Slang changes by scene and city, so some terms have more than one meaning.
162 terms
ADA platformalso accessible viewing
A raised or reserved viewing area for people with disabilities and their companions. Ask the festival how to book access.
Afterpartyalso after party
An event that runs after the main festival hours, often at a different venue and needing its own ticket.
All-in price
The total with every mandatory fee included. The number you should compare.
Art car
A decorated vehicle with lights and sound, driven around some festivals and camps. Borrowed from desert festival culture.
Art installation
A large sculpture or interactive piece on the grounds. A good place for photos and a break from the music.
B2Balso back to back, b2b
Two DJs sharing one set and taking turns, track by track or in blocks. A b3b has three.
Bag check
Security's inspection of your bag at the gate. Pack to the festival's bag rules to move through quickly.
Bass music
A broad family built around heavy low-end, including dubstep, riddim, trap and drum and bass. The loudest and most physical family.
Big room
Large, simple, anthemic house made for main stages. Long builds into a big, loud drop.
Bootleg
An unofficial remix or mashup of an existing song, often made by a DJ and played at sets rather than released.
BOTS Act
The Better Online Ticket Sales Act, a US law that bans getting around a seller's online security measures and selling tickets obtained that way. Written for venues with seating capacity over 200.
BPM
Beats per minute, how fast a track is. House sits lower than hard dance, but ranges overlap.
Breakdown
A section where the drums drop out and the track thins to a melody or pad. It sits between the main parts and sets up the next build.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen
Sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. The CDC says to use SPF 15 or higher.
Buddy system
Staying paired up with a friend so someone always knows where you are. It also means checking in on each other.
Buildalso buildup, riser
The stretch before a drop where tension climbs, often with rising sound, a snare roll and a filter sweep.
Campgroundalso campsite, camp
The area set aside for sleeping at a festival. Often has toilets, water and sometimes showers.
Camping
Sleeping on site in a tent, car or RV, or in a provided setup. Only some festivals offer it and it often costs extra.
Car camping
Sleeping at or in your vehicle in a designated lot. Cheaper and quicker to set up than a tent.
Carbon monoxidealso CO
An odorless, colorless gas from burning fuel. Never use a grill, lantern or camp stove in a tent, the CDC says.
Cashless
A festival where you pay with a card or a loaded wristband instead of cash. Check how to add money and how to get an unspent balance back.
Chill zonealso chill tent, chill out
A quieter area with seating, shade or lower noise where people can rest. A good place to reset between sets.
Circle pit
A pit where people run in a ring around an open space in the crowd. Stay out if you do not want in.
Clash
When two sets you want to see are on at the same time. The reason people leave one early.
Clashfinder
A planning tool or grid that shows which sets overlap, so you can plan your day. Often shared by fans.
Clear bag policyalso clear bag
A rule that your bag must be see-through and under a set size. Common at venue-based festivals. Check the festival's limits.
Closing setalso closer
The last performance of the night or the whole festival. Often the most emotional, with the biggest crowd.
Consent
A clear yes from the other person before you touch them, hug them or dance close. Silence or a freeze is not a yes.
Curfew
The time music must end by order of the city or the venue. It decides when you have to be out.
DanceSafe
A US nonprofit that works on harm reduction at dance events and makes drug checking kits.
dBA
A-weighted decibels, the measure of sound used for hearing risk. The NIH says long or repeated exposure at 85 dBA or higher can cause hearing loss.
Dehydration
Not having enough water in the body. The CDC says light yellow or clear urine usually means you are drinking enough.
Discoalso nu-disco
Feel-good groove music from the 1970s, now often reworked into modern dance tracks. Plays well at day sets.
DJ set
A performance where the DJ mixes tracks, their own and others', to keep the dance floor moving.
Downtempo
Slower, chilled electronic music for the quiet stages and the comedown. Often played in the afternoon or late at night.
Drop
The moment the build ends and the beat and bass crash back in. The release the crowd is waiting for.
Drug checking
Testing a sample with strips, reagents or lab analysis to learn something about what is in it. DanceSafe says no at-home tool can tell you exactly what is in a drug.
Drum and bassalso DnB, D&B
Fast breakbeats with heavy bass, from the UK in the early 1990s. Ranges from smooth to brutal.
Dubstep
Bass music that started in South London in the early 2000s. Syncopated rhythms, heavy bass and a dark tone.
Dusk to dawn
A festival that runs all night, from the evening to sunrise. Great for the sunrise set, hard on sleep.
Early bird
The first and cheapest batch of tickets, often on sale before the lineup is out.
Early entry
Getting into the campground before the main gates open, often by paying for it.
Earplugs
Small inserts that reduce sound. Foam ones are cheap, and ones made for music keep the sound clearer. Wear them from the first song.
Edit
A reworked version of a track, often a DJ's own, with a new intro, structure or length for the dance floor.
EDM
Electronic dance music. Often used for the big, mainstage sound of the 2010s, and sometimes for the whole field.
Electrolytes
The salts your body loses when you sweat. Sports drinks and electrolyte mixes replace some. NIOSH says to avoid salt tablets.
End Overdose
A nonprofit that gives naloxone training and supplies. Named as an on-site presence at some festivals in our files.
Evacuation
Clearing the site for safety. Follow staff directions, and go to a safe building or vehicle if the weather is the reason.
Face value
The original price of a ticket, before any markup. Selling above face value is how resellers make money.
Fentanyl
A very strong synthetic opioid. The CDC says illegally made fentanyl is often added to other drugs and cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
Fentanyl test stripalso FTS
A strip that shows whether fentanyl and some close relatives are present in a sample. It does not show how much, or what else is in it.
Festival map
The grounds map from the festival, with stages, water, medical and exits. Save a copy offline before you arrive.
Flag
A banner on a pole used as a meeting point or for fun. It can block the view, so many festivals set rules on size or ban them.
Flow arts
Light and prop dancing, such as poi, hoops and staffs. You will see it at camps and in open spaces.
Four on the floor
A steady kick drum on every beat. The backbone of house, techno and trance.
Front of housealso FOH
The sound and lighting desk in the middle of the crowd. Sound is often best near it, and it is a handy meeting spot.
Future bass
Warm, bright bass music with big chords and emotional drops. Developed in the 2010s.
GAalso general admission
The base ticket, open to the main areas of the event. Does not include VIP areas, and often not camping or parking.
GA+also GA plus
A step above general admission. Often a few perks, like a faster entry line or nicer restrooms. Each festival defines it differently, so check what is in it.
Gatesalso doors
The entrance, and the time it opens. Gates usually open at a set time and lines build before.
Glamping
Glamorous camping. A tent, cabin or bed set up for you, often with real beds and power. It usually costs more.
Glow sticks
Bendable tubes that glow for a few hours. Check the rules, since some festivals limit them.
Good Samaritan law
A law that may protect someone who calls for help in an overdose from some legal trouble. The CDC says most states have them. Details differ by state.
Ground Control
A roaming crew of staff and volunteers some festivals use to check on attendees and send them to help. Named in several festival files.
Hard dance
An umbrella for the fastest, hardest styles, such as hardstyle and hard techno. A loud, loyal crowd.
Hard techno
Faster, harder and more distorted techno, with a punishing kick.
Hardstyle
Fast, anthemic dance music with a distinct distorted kick. Started in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy in the late 1990s.
Harm reduction
Giving people accurate information and tools to lower the risk of getting hurt, without judgment. It does not mean encouragement.
Headbanger
A fan who moves hard to heavy bass or hard dance music, often with a lot of head movement. Common at bass and hardstyle sets.
Headlamp
A head-worn light that leaves your hands free. Useful at a campground after dark.
Headliner
The artist at the top of the bill, usually playing the main stage in the last slot of the night.
Heat exhaustion
The body's reaction to losing too much water and salt. Signs include heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea and weakness. Needs medical attention.
Heat Index
How hot it feels when humidity is added to air temperature. The National Weather Service says it assumes shade, and full sun can add up to 15°F.
Heat stroke
The most serious heat illness. The body cannot cool itself. Confusion, slurred speech, fainting or seizures are signs. Call 911.
HeatRisk
A forecast tool from the National Weather Service that gives a heat concern level for a location over the next seven days.
Hotel package
A hotel room sold with the ticket, usually near the venue. Some festivals offer it as the main stay option.
House
Dance music built on a steady four-on-the-floor kick and a groove. It started in Chicago in the 1980s and is the easiest family to start with.
Hydration packalso Camelbak
A small backpack with a water bladder and a tube. Many festivals require the bladder to be empty at the gate and some ban packs entirely.
IDalso track ID
A track whose name you do not know. "ID?" is what people ask each other, or an app. Also short for identification at the gate.
Kandialso candy
Beaded bracelets, necklaces and charms that people make and wear. Raves trade them with strangers as a friendly gift.
Kandi kid
Someone known for their kandi, often wearing arms full of it. The name is friendly and a bit old school.
Kandi trade
Swapping a piece of kandi with someone you just met. You offer your arm, they slide one on, and you do the same back.
Laser
Beams of light used for stage shows. A signature of big dance festivals.
LED glovesalso gloving
Gloves with fingertip lights used to make light shows. Gloving is the art of doing so.
LED wallalso visuals, screens
The giant video screens behind and beside the stage that run animation and live camera. Often made to sync with the set.
Lineupalso line-up
The list of artists playing a festival. A phase one lineup is the first batch announced, and more names are often added later.
Live set
A performance where the artist plays and manipulates their own music on stage with hardware or software, instead of mixing other tracks. Different from a DJ set.
Locker
A paid, lockable box to store things on site. Useful when re-entry is not allowed.
Mainstagealso main stage
The biggest stage at a festival, with the largest production and the biggest names.
Mashup
Two or more songs blended into one. Common at festival sets.
Medical tentalso first aid
The staffed on-site medical station. Know where it is before you need it, and use it for anything that feels wrong.
Meetup spot
A fixed place your group agrees to go if you get split. Pick a landmark that is not a stage, since stages move and phones fail.
Melodic house and technoalso melodic
Emotional, slower-building house and techno with lush melodies. Often played at sunset and sunrise.
Naloxone
A medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. The CDC says it is safe and available over the counter in all 50 states.
Narcan
A brand name of naloxone nasal spray. People often use it as the general word.
Noise-induced hearing lossalso NIHL
Hearing damage from loud sound. The NIH says it is the only completely preventable type of hearing loss.
Official resale
A resale tool run or approved by the festival or its ticket seller. The safe way to buy or sell a second-hand ticket.
Opener
The first artist to play on a stage on a given day. Openers are often local DJs or rising names.
OUTLET
A mental health space with resources, activities and peer support that some festivals run on site.
Parking pass
A paid pass for the festival's lot. Some lots require it in advance and some have no overnight parking.
Payment plan
Splitting a ticket price into installments. Check the total, the due dates and what happens if a payment fails.
Peer support
Trained volunteers or staff who offer calm, non-medical help to someone having a hard time. Some festivals run a dedicated space for it.
Pitalso mosh pit
An open, pushy patch of the crowd where people jump and shove each other, mainly at bass and hard sets. Join by choice and pick people up when they fall.
PLUR
Peace, love, unity, respect. The rave-culture motto, used as a greeting, a sign-off and a reminder to treat people well.
PLUR handshake
A hand gesture that goes with a kandi trade or a greeting. Follow the other person's lead if you do not know the steps.
Poncho
A light rain cover that fits in a bag. Better than an umbrella, which many festivals ban.
Power bankalso portable charger, battery pack
A portable battery for your phone. Take a charged one, since your ticket and your friends are on that phone.
Pregamealso pre-party
A gathering before the festival, at a hotel, a campsite or a nearby bar. A common way to meet your group.
Premium tieralso platinum, ultra VIP
A top ticket level above VIP, usually with the best location and the most extras. Names change by festival.
Presale
A sale before the general on-sale, often for people on an email list or with a code.
Progressivealso prog
Long, gradually evolving house and trance with layered builds. Built more around the long climb than a single drop.
Prohibited items
The list of what you cannot bring in. Read it for each festival. Rules change between years.
Pyro
Fire and fireworks effects on stage. Loud and hot up close.
Quiet camp
A part of the campground with noise limits, for people who want to sleep.
Railalso barricade, front rail
The barrier at the front of the stage. Being on the rail means you are as close as it gets. It is a shared spot, not a prize.
Rave
A dance party built around electronic music, usually all night. People also use it as a verb, as in "we raved all weekend".
Raver
Someone who goes to raves and dance festivals. Some people wear the label with pride and some find it dated.
Re-entryalso in and out, ins and outs
Whether you can leave the festival and come back in. Many festivals do not allow it, which changes your plan for food and hotel breaks.
Reagent test
A kit that shows a color change on a sample. It can raise a red flag but cannot confirm what a drug is or that it is pure.
Recovery position
Lying a person on their side so they will not choke if they vomit. The CDC lists it as a step for suspected overdose.
Refund
Getting your money back for a ticket. Terms vary a lot, so read them before you buy.
Resale
Selling a ticket you cannot use. Use the festival's own resale or transfer tool, which checks the ticket is real.
RFID wristbandalso RFID
A wristband with a chip. Scanned at the gate and sometimes at bars and shops.
Riddim
A stripped-down, repetitive, heavy style of dubstep. Short loops, big bass hits and lots of headbanging.
Rideshare zone
The marked pickup and drop-off area for Uber, Lyft and taxis. It can be a long walk from the exits.
RV camping
Staying in a recreational vehicle in a designated area. Sometimes with power or water hookups, depending on the festival.
Scalper
A person who buys tickets in bulk to resell at a higher price. Many use bots, which the BOTS Act addresses.
Service feealso fees
A charge added by the ticket seller on top of the ticket price. Since 2025 the FTC has required sellers to show the total price, fees included, up front.
Set
One performance by a DJ or artist, usually 45 minutes to two hours or more. People often say "I caught their set".
Set time
When a given artist plays on a given stage. Festivals publish a set time schedule a few days or weeks before the event.
Shuttle
A bus run by the festival or a partner between the venue and parking, a hotel or a station. Check the last departure.
Single-day pass
A ticket for one day instead of the full run. Sometimes the weekend pass is cheaper than two single days.
Sober spacealso sober raver
A place or community for people who do not drink or use at festivals. Some festivals host one.
Sold out
No tickets are left from the seller. Resale may still have some.
Sound camp
A camp that runs its own music and often hosts DJs. A big part of camping festival culture.
Sound system
The speakers, amps and subs that fill a stage with sound. Bigger systems hit harder from far away and louder up close.
Special guest
An unannounced artist who joins a set or plays a surprise one. Usually kept secret until it happens.
Stage
One of the performance areas at a festival. Each stage usually has its own sound and name.
Subalso subwoofer
The speakers that handle the lowest frequencies. You feel them in your chest more than you hear them.
Sunrise set
A set timed to end the night as the sun comes up. A highlight at dusk to dawn festivals.
Tech house
House with techno's tighter, more minimal edge. Common at club and late-night sets.
Techno
Hypnotic, repetitive dance music built on drum machines and synths, usually darker than house. It builds slowly over long sets.
Tent camping
Setting up your own tent in a festival field. The classic camping festival setup.
Thirty-minute rule
The National Weather Service advice to stay in a safe building or vehicle until 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Ticket transfer
Moving a ticket to another person in the seller's system so their name is on it. Some sellers charge a fee.
Tier pricingalso phases
Tickets sold in phases where the price goes up as each phase sells out. Called Tier 1, Tier 2 and so on at some festivals.
Timetablealso schedule, set times
The grid of who plays where and when. Usually released in the weeks before the festival and sometimes changed on the day.
Tinnitus
Ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears or head. After loud music it may fade, or it can stay.
Top-up
Adding money to a cashless wristband or card. Look at the fees and the refund rules for unspent money.
Totem
A pole topped with a figure, flag or sign that a group carries so friends can spot them in the crowd. Many festivals limit or ban them.
Trance
Euphoric, melodic dance music with long builds and big emotional releases. Started in Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Trap
In EDM, bass music that borrows hip-hop beats and 808 bass. Different from the rap subgenre of the same name.
Unreleasedalso dubplate
A track the artist plays that has not been released. The crowd cannot look it up, which is half the fun.
VIP
A premium tier with extras such as better views, a separate area, shorter lines and cleaner restrooms. What is included varies a lot.
Wall of death
A move where the crowd splits in two and runs together on the drop. It happens at some heavy sets and is optional.
Water stationalso refill station
A place to refill your bottle, free or paid. Find it on your first lap.
Weather holdalso weather delay
A pause in the event for dangerous weather such as lightning or high wind. Sometimes becomes an evacuation.
Weekend passalso full pass, 3-day
A ticket for all days of the festival.
Will call
The desk where you pick up tickets or wristbands you bought in advance. Bring ID and the card or order number.
Wristband
The band you wear on your wrist to get in. At many festivals it is your ticket, your ID check and sometimes your payment.
Wristband exchange
The line where you trade your ticket for a wristband. Often a bottleneck on day one, so arrive early.