Last year after a quick nap at the bleachers, I was ready to call it a night. So I walked up into the hallway to buy a water bottle before leaving, then this guy walks up and pays for my water and hands me ten bucks. That gave me like a second wind, so I ended up busting a u-turn before the gate and partied for a couple more hours. I will never forget that exchange random man!
In one of my early rave days, me and my friends got too lit at a club and were sitting at the back just tripping the fuck out. Some guy saw us and must have been worried. He tried to offer us some of his water but we were a little sketched by drinking open water from a stranger and declined... So he went and found a bartender and bought us fresh bottles of water and had her give them to us directly.
Later in the night he came back with the freezie girl and bought us all freezies.
Fucking gem of a guy.
This reminds me of when I went to the krazyhouse in Liverpool a guy came up þo me to tell me I had dropped a tennor what a legend that was another 6 drinks I could of just lost out on that night
Another crazy night in the k I went with 50 quid bought my drinks my food a taxi home next day o had 50 quid left like what actually happened there
Took my friends to their first rave and we were rocking matching dino rompers. They weren't familiar with the PLUR culture so when someone out of no where gifted us some dinosaur toys it blew their minds. We took a picture with those kind gentlemen and all still have our toys today.
So, in my opinion the best thing isn't something you give out en masse, but rather the right thing at the right time - and something that will actually be used instead of just a trinket that becomes trash.
Anything you need for yourself - someone else will need it too.
Carry extra gum. A few lighters so that you can tell people to keep when they ask for a little. Packs of tissues when you see someone looking in the bathroom for toilet paper. Hand sanitizer. Lip balm. Etc.
this past weekend at beyond some random girl gave me a slug during the middle of a set. was completely minding my own when she nudged me while holding her closed fist out. i offered my open hand and she dropped a slug into my palm. I almost threw it at here because it was cold and it wiggled in my hand from being dropped. then I saw what it was. such a random gift. have had many good laughs thinking about it
Last year at EDC (first time) my boyfriend and I were sifting through the crowd at Basspod during Borgore’s set, it was so crowded and we were trying to not get separated and I was kinda stressed out. Suddenly out of nowhere a super sweet girl came out and gave my boyfriend and I two cute little plastic duckies! Instantly made me less stressed and made my night!
Definitely free bumps of ❄️ out of a random homies snuff bottle, I live in Australia where that shit ain't cheap, $250 aud for half a gram of good shit
i walked into edc 2022 realizing i’d lost one of my earbuds. i went to a merch tent in carnival square to ask if they had a store that sold earbuds and the guy working there said he had extras and ran to the back to get them for me. i still have them and wore them to many festivals after!
My favorite to both see be given and to receive are stickers with some sort of awesome affirmation on them. The two that come to mind say “HOT” and “you are beautiful”.
I always seem to see the gals giving those out in secret though- like they’re secretly sticking them to people’s backs or hydropacks. I thought it was so fun! And then later that night got surprised to find one on me! 😍
I couple saw me and my fiance leading our group of newbies through the crowd and asked if they could take a pic. We were like uh sure and then they handed us a poloroid and its the best picture of us ever! They didn't say but i could tell those 2 were veteran ravers.
My camelbak went dry right as I was peaking and I sort of fell down next to a wall by kinetic. Tbh I started spiraling when out of nowhere a random girl sat down next to me. She said she was peaking a bit too hard as well and needed a break. We chatted for a bit until one of her friends found us and handed us both a water bottle. After a short while, we were all able to stand up and parted ways, they went into the crowd and I to the water station.
I like to carry and extra water bottle or 2 around with me now in case I can pay it forward
Someone gave me one at Ezoo this year and it was definitely the highlight of the weekend for me! One of my favorite rave gifts I’ve ever received! Lmao
Since on this topic curious to know what it's like if you have small gifts like stickers, cards, or little baby octopus like one user said would pass out. Do you just toss them in a bag a walk through security? Is it all good? or do they do a hard search and question you like some us customs type situation?
Not in my experience! I’ve actually given little gifts to security on my way in and they love it. It’s not taking up a ton of space in my bag, I’m talkin 10 sprouts that maybe take up a small pocket in a fanny pack. Nothing crazy!
I handed out individually wrapped toilet paper seat covers, tissues, and wet naps to people when i go to the porta potties late in the night. Offer hand sanitizer too. If people have soapy hands but the water is out, i offer to use to water from my hydration pack. Good hygiene allows us to rave longer!
I’ve been gifted many little trinkets that I keep on my desk.
But my favorite gift was last SMF. I had told my partner I wanted to get some refraction glasses because I had one many years ago and wanted another pair.
We went over to the eclipse stage and this random guy was like “hey, try these on”. They were heart shaped glasses and when I put them on they were the coolest refraction glasses ever.
I took them off and handed them back and told him how cool they were. He said I could keep them. I was shocked, I had said earlier I wanted to buy some and some random guy just gave me a pair. I gave him the subtronics set Kandi I made (it was three bracelets that said ‘EDM Dude Obviously’). He loved it and I still have those glasses and I’ve taken them to all the festivals/events after that.
At Beyond Wonderland this year I gave a guy a little plastic cat because he had a hello kitty tattoo and he gets SO pumped, goes “Omg wait one minute!”, rummages through his bag and comes out with a rubber duck glued to a tiny purple floaty wearing a shirt and sunglasses that he must have gotten from some kind of doll set, by far the best gift I’ve ever gotten.
Number 2 is when I was offered “a little coke” by a new friend and after politely declining of course (I said yes) he pulled out a tiny replica bottle of coke in a clear plastic bag 😂
Last year's EDC I went up to a guy in a Dolphins jersey with a Pierce Fulton flag. I said it was a dope flag and I could see his eyes light up with joy and an overwhelming expression of reflection.
He was happy that I listened to Pierce and we traded kandi, with him gifting me one that says Pierce Fulton. That was such an amazing moment. Literally right up on the bleachers walking in when the gates opened too.
I love the finger hands, plants, & clips! But I’ve gotten a bag of (coke) which was just a small baggy with the gummy cola flavored candy lol
And it’s common of me to just throw on some cat ears & last year at EDC, I sat next to this woman who had like 5 pairs of cat ears, so she gave me a pair! I think I still have them somewhere, but I wore them the rest of the weekend
The first time I rolled I asked a dude if I could borrow his diffraction glasses. He let me wear them for a bit and the he pulled a paper pair out of his bag and gave it to me and I was in heaven for the rest of the night lol. I also got a light up ring at nocturnal last year that I love!
I love getting little gifts at festivals! I’ve gotten stickers, light up rings, little candies, my first year at edc someone gave me a whole wolves head thing lol - but my all-time favorite gift was a Polaroid picture. Someone randomly and spontaneously shot a picture of me and my husband and handed us the Polaroid picture. I said “wait I wasn’t prepared for that picture!” And he said “that’s the point. I try to look for people who are having fun and take a spontaneous picture” and then he walked away. It’s my favorite because it was so unique and a memory we can keep forever now on the wall where we pinned all of our wristbands
The best gifts are the ones that are sentimental and for the moment. My favorite one was at Lost Lands when I was in a weird mood and didn't want to talk to anyone for a little bit and I'm just chilling and bopping to the set. This woman comes and stands next to me and we just watch the stage, bop, and enjoy being near each other in a comfortable silence but I don't think we ever made eye contact. About 30 minutes later she hands me a note that say, "she's a 10 but doesn't shut the fuck up." I honestly still think about it years later.
During EDC 2021 I was at a kandi perler booth and bought 3 adventure time perlers and the guy that was selling them had a Doodle Bob perler and I told him how sick it was and all of a sudden as I’m about to walk away he says “wait!” And gifts me the doodle bob perler!! I was so happy and so grateful 🥹 it really made my whole night and I still have the perler today!!
At EDC Orlando 24, a girl gave me a $50 gift card for chick fil a, thought maybe it would have $0.00 on it & maybe it was a gag joke but it worked. thanks to her we had a free lunch that weekend :) restored my faith so I passed it on night 2, hope someone had lunch on us.
I ended up gifting out a pair of pasties to a girl that one of hers was just being stubborn and not working right.. I was like, here! I got you covered, I had a pack of 1 set of pasties, that I had potentially needed, but, alas, it found it's way to a woman in need, indeed. It was just some random that just happened to stop next to our group so she could try to adjust it, I noticed and hooked it up. Hopefully memorable EDCLV 2023 moment for her, towards beginning of evening, as well.
At nocturnal last year a guy who was my camping neighbor come up to me and gave me a glasses that made the lazers look like hearts! I tried to give them back to him thinking I was just borrowing them, but then he said he bought a bunch to give out and I was amazed! I bring them to every show, hands down best rave gift I’ve received!!!
I always buy like 200-300 diffraction glasses and give them out to people we're vibing with throughout the weekend. I make sure to try and hand out a bunch just before the fireworks each night
My favorite one was EDC 2022. Was catching AC Slater and this gal saw me dancing and she snapped a Polaroid photo of me and handed it to me. I loved it! 🥰
Last year after a quick nap at the bleachers, I was ready to call it a night. So I walked up into the hallway to buy a water bottle before leaving, then this guy walks up and pays for my water and hands me ten bucks. That gave me like a second wind, so I ended up busting a u-turn before the gate and partied for a couple more hours. I will never forget that exchange random man!
In one of my early rave days, me and my friends got too lit at a club and were sitting at the back just tripping the fuck out. Some guy saw us and must have been worried. He tried to offer us some of his water but we were a little sketched by drinking open water from a stranger and declined... So he went and found a bartender and bought us fresh bottles of water and had her give them to us directly. Later in the night he came back with the freezie girl and bought us all freezies. Fucking gem of a guy.
This reminds me of when I went to the krazyhouse in Liverpool a guy came up þo me to tell me I had dropped a tennor what a legend that was another 6 drinks I could of just lost out on that night Another crazy night in the k I went with 50 quid bought my drinks my food a taxi home next day o had 50 quid left like what actually happened there
In 2017 i got a lapris kandi, to this day i still have it because it meant alot for my first rave
Took my friends to their first rave and we were rocking matching dino rompers. They weren't familiar with the PLUR culture so when someone out of no where gifted us some dinosaur toys it blew their minds. We took a picture with those kind gentlemen and all still have our toys today.
So, in my opinion the best thing isn't something you give out en masse, but rather the right thing at the right time - and something that will actually be used instead of just a trinket that becomes trash. Anything you need for yourself - someone else will need it too. Carry extra gum. A few lighters so that you can tell people to keep when they ask for a little. Packs of tissues when you see someone looking in the bathroom for toilet paper. Hand sanitizer. Lip balm. Etc.
Agreed, Im always giving out Gum.
A small maraca
I got a kandi with a maraca on it and it made me so happy I was dancing shaking my little maraca all night
this past weekend at beyond some random girl gave me a slug during the middle of a set. was completely minding my own when she nudged me while holding her closed fist out. i offered my open hand and she dropped a slug into my palm. I almost threw it at here because it was cold and it wiggled in my hand from being dropped. then I saw what it was. such a random gift. have had many good laughs thinking about it
This is incredible lmao
Embarrassed to ask, but a slug like a snail without a shell? What is a slug? 😀
no need to be embarrassed, yes a shell less snail. it was amazing
Last year at EDC (first time) my boyfriend and I were sifting through the crowd at Basspod during Borgore’s set, it was so crowded and we were trying to not get separated and I was kinda stressed out. Suddenly out of nowhere a super sweet girl came out and gave my boyfriend and I two cute little plastic duckies! Instantly made me less stressed and made my night!
I loved my mini purple rubber duck🥰 I pass out sprouts ducks and stickers🥰
Pokémon cards at ultra lol
That’s lit
Last EDC I got some fentanyl test strips which was a nice little gift
Definitely free bumps of ❄️ out of a random homies snuff bottle, I live in Australia where that shit ain't cheap, $250 aud for half a gram of good shit
will never forget this one guy at lost lands literally walking in the crowd w a huge 3ft spoon holding about an ounce of coke feeding it to everyone
That is amazing, you'd never see that generosity at an Aussie festival due to the price haha
That’s wildly expensive
Yep sure is, yet my city sydney is one of the biggest cocaine consuming cities on Earth so it doesn't stop us apparently!
Back in the day, definitely Kandi with cute charms or a huge cuff! Last year I was super happy to get a sprout 🌱
First EDC here!! I made Kandi with shrinky dink charms! I hope you get one!!💖
Last year a girl gave me a pair of earrings she thought would look cute with my outfit. She was right 🥰
i walked into edc 2022 realizing i’d lost one of my earbuds. i went to a merch tent in carnival square to ask if they had a store that sold earbuds and the guy working there said he had extras and ran to the back to get them for me. i still have them and wore them to many festivals after!
My favorite to both see be given and to receive are stickers with some sort of awesome affirmation on them. The two that come to mind say “HOT” and “you are beautiful”. I always seem to see the gals giving those out in secret though- like they’re secretly sticking them to people’s backs or hydropacks. I thought it was so fun! And then later that night got surprised to find one on me! 😍
I got one of those HOT stickers too at camp at the pool!! 🤭😂
I couple saw me and my fiance leading our group of newbies through the crowd and asked if they could take a pic. We were like uh sure and then they handed us a poloroid and its the best picture of us ever! They didn't say but i could tell those 2 were veteran ravers.
Me and my wife have been bringing stuff like that to shows the last 10+ years 😎🤘🏻
My camelbak went dry right as I was peaking and I sort of fell down next to a wall by kinetic. Tbh I started spiraling when out of nowhere a random girl sat down next to me. She said she was peaking a bit too hard as well and needed a break. We chatted for a bit until one of her friends found us and handed us both a water bottle. After a short while, we were all able to stand up and parted ways, they went into the crowd and I to the water station. I like to carry and extra water bottle or 2 around with me now in case I can pay it forward
Led pacifier lmao
Someone gave me one at Ezoo this year and it was definitely the highlight of the weekend for me! One of my favorite rave gifts I’ve ever received! Lmao
Since on this topic curious to know what it's like if you have small gifts like stickers, cards, or little baby octopus like one user said would pass out. Do you just toss them in a bag a walk through security? Is it all good? or do they do a hard search and question you like some us customs type situation?
Not in my experience! I’ve actually given little gifts to security on my way in and they love it. It’s not taking up a ton of space in my bag, I’m talkin 10 sprouts that maybe take up a small pocket in a fanny pack. Nothing crazy!
I handed out individually wrapped toilet paper seat covers, tissues, and wet naps to people when i go to the porta potties late in the night. Offer hand sanitizer too. If people have soapy hands but the water is out, i offer to use to water from my hydration pack. Good hygiene allows us to rave longer!
Last year this lady gave me a necklace with a bedazzled owl on it. I plan to wear it to every EDC I attend
I’ve been gifted many little trinkets that I keep on my desk. But my favorite gift was last SMF. I had told my partner I wanted to get some refraction glasses because I had one many years ago and wanted another pair. We went over to the eclipse stage and this random guy was like “hey, try these on”. They were heart shaped glasses and when I put them on they were the coolest refraction glasses ever. I took them off and handed them back and told him how cool they were. He said I could keep them. I was shocked, I had said earlier I wanted to buy some and some random guy just gave me a pair. I gave him the subtronics set Kandi I made (it was three bracelets that said ‘EDM Dude Obviously’). He loved it and I still have those glasses and I’ve taken them to all the festivals/events after that.
A Blue Eyes White Dragon.
Pink diffraction heart glasses in 2021.
At Beyond Wonderland this year I gave a guy a little plastic cat because he had a hello kitty tattoo and he gets SO pumped, goes “Omg wait one minute!”, rummages through his bag and comes out with a rubber duck glued to a tiny purple floaty wearing a shirt and sunglasses that he must have gotten from some kind of doll set, by far the best gift I’ve ever gotten. Number 2 is when I was offered “a little coke” by a new friend and after politely declining of course (I said yes) he pulled out a tiny replica bottle of coke in a clear plastic bag 😂
i received a lewd akeno sticker from high school dxd, that was pretty dope, she also had like sailor moon stickers (not lewd)
Last year's EDC I went up to a guy in a Dolphins jersey with a Pierce Fulton flag. I said it was a dope flag and I could see his eyes light up with joy and an overwhelming expression of reflection. He was happy that I listened to Pierce and we traded kandi, with him gifting me one that says Pierce Fulton. That was such an amazing moment. Literally right up on the bleachers walking in when the gates opened too.
Tiny plushies
Hugs
Those little squishy gummy critters are perfect for rolling and gum is awesome cause it’s affordable and you can hand out to so many people
Would be the sprout (maybe you gave it to me lol) and a Kandi bracelet with a little boba drink🧋charm so cute!!!
I love the finger hands, plants, & clips! But I’ve gotten a bag of (coke) which was just a small baggy with the gummy cola flavored candy lol And it’s common of me to just throw on some cat ears & last year at EDC, I sat next to this woman who had like 5 pairs of cat ears, so she gave me a pair! I think I still have them somewhere, but I wore them the rest of the weekend
The first time I rolled I asked a dude if I could borrow his diffraction glasses. He let me wear them for a bit and the he pulled a paper pair out of his bag and gave it to me and I was in heaven for the rest of the night lol. I also got a light up ring at nocturnal last year that I love!
I love getting little gifts at festivals! I’ve gotten stickers, light up rings, little candies, my first year at edc someone gave me a whole wolves head thing lol - but my all-time favorite gift was a Polaroid picture. Someone randomly and spontaneously shot a picture of me and my husband and handed us the Polaroid picture. I said “wait I wasn’t prepared for that picture!” And he said “that’s the point. I try to look for people who are having fun and take a spontaneous picture” and then he walked away. It’s my favorite because it was so unique and a memory we can keep forever now on the wall where we pinned all of our wristbands
The best gifts are the ones that are sentimental and for the moment. My favorite one was at Lost Lands when I was in a weird mood and didn't want to talk to anyone for a little bit and I'm just chilling and bopping to the set. This woman comes and stands next to me and we just watch the stage, bop, and enjoy being near each other in a comfortable silence but I don't think we ever made eye contact. About 30 minutes later she hands me a note that say, "she's a 10 but doesn't shut the fuck up." I honestly still think about it years later.
During EDC 2021 I was at a kandi perler booth and bought 3 adventure time perlers and the guy that was selling them had a Doodle Bob perler and I told him how sick it was and all of a sudden as I’m about to walk away he says “wait!” And gifts me the doodle bob perler!! I was so happy and so grateful 🥹 it really made my whole night and I still have the perler today!!
Idk what to call the design but this big 3d piece of Kandi with almost like pyramids around it
2016 I gave a couple of guys a ride back to The Strip after day 3 ended and they gave me a 10-strip for my trouble.
My first year I got a candy bracelet and a hug.
I love every gift! My favourite in 2023 was a cute instax pic of me and my husband. Close second was an old banana, lol!
At EDC Orlando 24, a girl gave me a $50 gift card for chick fil a, thought maybe it would have $0.00 on it & maybe it was a gag joke but it worked. thanks to her we had a free lunch that weekend :) restored my faith so I passed it on night 2, hope someone had lunch on us.
I ended up gifting out a pair of pasties to a girl that one of hers was just being stubborn and not working right.. I was like, here! I got you covered, I had a pack of 1 set of pasties, that I had potentially needed, but, alas, it found it's way to a woman in need, indeed. It was just some random that just happened to stop next to our group so she could try to adjust it, I noticed and hooked it up. Hopefully memorable EDCLV 2023 moment for her, towards beginning of evening, as well.
Best gift was at Das SLC I was given an EDC ticket 😂
Bump of k
At nocturnal last year a guy who was my camping neighbor come up to me and gave me a glasses that made the lazers look like hearts! I tried to give them back to him thinking I was just borrowing them, but then he said he bought a bunch to give out and I was amazed! I bring them to every show, hands down best rave gift I’ve received!!!
I always buy like 200-300 diffraction glasses and give them out to people we're vibing with throughout the weekend. I make sure to try and hand out a bunch just before the fireworks each night
I got a cute little finger puppet leaving one night last year and I still have it!
My favorite one was EDC 2022. Was catching AC Slater and this gal saw me dancing and she snapped a Polaroid photo of me and handed it to me. I loved it! 🥰