Survey Says: Today's Music Festivals Are For Squares

Note: the "festivals" described below don't really include some of the major ones in the U.S. ... that have't become over-commercialized and outrzagously prices/difficult to get tickets... just ... read below and see what I mean...

April 10, 2013
By Nathan Reese
With music-festival season in full effect, we decided to get to the bottom of what actually goes down amidst the chaos of Coachella, the bars of South by, and the tent cities of Bonnaroo. Using data from the kind folks at Poshly, which we partnered with for a festival-centric beauty giveaway, we got answers to those burning questions festivalsgoers need to know: What festivals do fans like best? Are people actually hooking up? And, perhaps most interestingly, are you guys all on drugs?!

As it turns out, the results didn't always pan out as we expected. Lollapalooza was the most desired festival to attend, with 36% of those polled saying they wanted to head to Chicago. This was followed closely by Coachella (30%), with SXSW (16%) and Bonnaroo (13%) neck in neck. Pitchfork, also in Chicago, ended up dead last with 5% — a big surprise, considering the lineup this year is so awesome.

When asked if they would "ever hook up with a cute stranger?" 80% of those polled said they hadn't, 14% said "just once," and 6% said "all the time!" Maybe it's just us, but from the amount of sloppy make-out sessions we've witnessed in Austin alone, that number seems drastically low. (It could be because just 39% of respondents said that they don't drink at music festivals.) When asked about drugs, the stats were similarly tame, with 79% saying that they keep it sober at music festivals, 12% smoking pot, 1% dabbling with cocaine and hallucinogens, 3% using Ecstasy, and the remaining 4% mixing a "hodgepodge of substances" (be careful out there, you guys!). Woodstock, apparently, Lollapalooza is not.

So, what do folks actually do at music festivals? Well, "the music" is still the biggest reason people attend, followed by "kicking back and relaxing." That's pretty heartening to hear, considering what seems like the current emphasis on parties and celebrities over the last few years. (Although, in a different category, 26% said that "celeb spotting gives me a jolt.") If anything can be gleaned from Poshly's survey, it may be that music festivalgoers put music first, and leave their vices to other venues. So, tell us: Do you fit in with these demographics? What's your favorite way to experience a music festival?

and comments...such as...

Since when does going to a festival for the music and not to hook up with some random make you a square? That's stupid and makes it sound like the people who are there for the bands, as opposed to the celebrity/drug culture, are boring.

 

I always had this feeling, especially while reading the Free People Blog, that girls want to go to these festivals so other girls compliment their outfits. If you are there just for the music or to relax why do you need hair chalk, body paint, a hula hoop and a crown of flowers?

I remember taking a road-trip to Nashville for "Nashville Stages" festival back in like 2001. One of the rules of our group was that we had to stay sober, it just made it easier for everyone too keep track of each other and it wouldn't turn into a crazy drunken mess. I can see why if traveling in a big group, you would chose to stay sober.

...and that was the end of the comments on that original piece...hope you enjoyed!

http://www.refinery29.com/2013/04/45396/music-festival-drug-sex-survey-2013