Living the Broke College Life? Here’s How You Can Still Afford Festivals

We get it, the college life is rough. You are on a budget, eating ramen noodles for dinner, and drinking bottom shelf alcohol every weekend. So, in what universe can you afford to go to your favorite music festivals without spending your last dollars and cents? We have a few tips and tricks to help you out so you don’t have to resort to jumping fences.

Volunteer or Work

Many festivals look for volunteers and workers to help out with ground control, box offices, and more in exchange for a free ticket, discounted ticket or even get compensated for it. EDC Las Vegas offers paying positions and Upstream Music Festival offers discounted tickets. Look up “volunteer or career” on the web page of your favorite festival, and you will most likely find information on how to get that gig. You have to do the work but the exchange is pretty sweet.

First Aid

You can work or volunteer as First Aid at many festivals, shows, and events. An example would be the USC Conscious Crew. If you enjoy taking care of your fellow festival goers and want to enjoy being at the event, this is the perfect task for you. We love seeing the members Conscious Crew, they are the ones that make our community a better and safer place.

Save Up

This is an obvious one that many people still do not do. If you really want to experience a festival that is out of your budget. Pull out small amounts from your paycheck every month and dedicate it to your festival fund. It’s never too early to start saving for the ticket, hotel, and transportation prices do not fluctuate too much within a year.

Work for a Vendor

If you are part of a food or merchandising company, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they are planning on being one of the vendors at the festival. If you are a vendor, entering the festival is free and most likely, you will get a free pass as well.

Be a Promoter

There is always a need for promoters in music. If you are willing to put in the work, then you will get that free ticket. Whether it is promoting for a club or for the festival itself, ask if free tickets are one of the perks of working.

Buy Pre-Sale Tickets

If you know you want to attend a certain festival, getting tickets on presale is the way to go. Prices can be $50 to even $100 plus dollars cheaper than regular prices. Companies will give you a heads up on when the presale will start. Keep a lookout on social media and set your alarm clocks. Along with that, buy everything ASAP, from hotels to flights. Even if you can’t attend the show anymore, you can easily sell the ticket.

Do Your Research

We are in 2017, there are so many music festivals floating around. If you do your research, you will find that there are festivals with similar lineups that are way less expensive just because it is brand new or in a less populated area. Also, check with local news sources (such as DMNW), we will always keep you updated on new shows and festivals. To see a list of festivals, peek this list HERE.

Intern Living

A lot of us have been interns at some point in our lives, probably during our time in college. If you are interning for a music company, don’t be afraid to ask! People will hold back sometimes but there are always extra tickets floating around especially in a huge entertainment company. Why not get a free ticket out of your internship!

Work for a Publication

DMNW out in full force at Shambhala

If you love journalism and music, there are many publications that look for new writers to join the team. Festivals will often put aside tickets just for press and media. If you are passionate about writing and music, willing to work the whole festival and spend time dedicated to it before and after the show, then this is something you should look into.

Hope One of Your Friends Become a DJ

We all have one or two friends that are trying to make it as a DJ. That’s why as friends, we need to support them 100%. Because who knows, maybe one day they will be hitting the main stage at Ultra and get you on that guest list!

Do you have any tips for saving money on festivals? Let us know in the comments below!