For an introvert, large gatherings can feel overwhelming. So, why in the world would someone who doesn’t like crowds even consider going to an EDM show? Especially when you see lists like the 11 people you don’t want to meet at a rave and these 6 annoying ‘old-school’ raver folks. Suddenly you would rather re-arrange your pantry than have to expend your precious social energy on seeing one of your favorite artists perform. Before we dive into all of the reasons why you should leave your cabinets and go to the show, let’s take a look at what makes it so easy for our extroverted counterparts to jump right into the thick of it.
Extroverts tend to enjoy human interactions and be enthusiastic, talkative, assertive, and gregarious. Extroverts are energized and thrive off being around other people. They take pleasure in activities that involve a lot of social interaction. Festivals, raves, concerts, and gatherings of all kinds are a dream for this type of person. Advertisers and promoters know this and use images featuring seas of smiling, sweaty, energetic people losing their minds to appeal to the (slightly) larger extroverted demographic.
But wait, there is so much more to a live EDM show that even an ‘innie’ can appreciate and get excited for. Let’s take a look at some reasons why an introvert might look forward to hitting the clubs this weekend.
Selective Socialization
What this means is in order to really make the most of a night, an introvert might be especially picky as to who’s on the decks. Since it requires energy to participate in these things, they will want to make sure they’re getting the best bass for their buck.
Extroverts take note: Trust your friends’ judgement. When it comes to everything from weekend nights out to your lineup plans this festival season, take their suggestions seriously as they have likely already scoped the best acts to catch.
Get out there: Start Small
So, innie ravers, you’re thinking about buying a ticket to a festival this season? For an introvert, if you don’t know what to expect, it can feel overwhelming to be suddenly surrounded by thousands of people. Remember, we come together and share with each other as lovers of music and dance. Club headliners and venue shows may not seem like much but these events are essentially mini-raves complete with music and dancing.
[pullquote align=”right”]An introvert is likely to enjoy time spent alone and find less reward in time spent with large groups of people, though they may enjoy interactions with close friends.–Wikipedia[/pullquote]
Attending a few of these before the bigger events will give you more confidence and help you feel more at ease as crowd sizes increase. The small venue or club is a great place to begin to understand what to expect at the larger events.
The biggest difference here is time. You get the entire show in a matter of hours instead of the exhausting all day and multi-day affairs. Additionally, you don’t even have to stay for the whole show! You can selectively focus your energy and only show up for the artist you really want to see. It’s good to start small if you’re just beginning to step out of your comfort zone. We want your first rave to be enjoyable, not overwhelming. With friends or alone, take a look who’s headlining at the clubs in your city this weekend and get your mini-rave on!
What are your perks of being an introvert into EDM? Tell us in the comments below!
Coming next week! Part 2: Larger Venues & City Festivals
Important things happen in Pacific Northwest nightlife, and DMNW will send you alerts!
