EDC Vegas 2015: A How-To Guide For An Amazing Week Under the Electric Sky

Dylan Arndt - June 7, 2015

Wow, it’s already that time of year again… EDC Las Vegas!! It doesn’t feel too long ago that I was dancing under the electric sky to some of my favorite DJs of all time and boy, do I wish I was going again this year. As a first-timer at the 2014 EDC Las Vegas, held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I learned a lot of to-dos and not-to-dos and I would like to share them with you all.

1. Stay Hydrated

Despite the event being held in the dark of night, dancing all night is a good work out and extremely exhausting. Not only that, if you plan on taking the party to the next level and consuming a bit of alcohol, it is especially important to keep you palette damp. Insomniac sells commemorative bottles at the festival that are a nice souvenir to take home, but more importantly they will keep you stocked on water. Or… better yet, bring a camelbak! Located conveniently on your back, you don’t even need to use your hands to ensure you won’t faint from dancing too hard and sweating out all your moisture. And one final note about staying hydrated: Insomniac provides you with free water fill up stations all around the fair grounds… Free water all night long! They don’t even take that long to get water either, walk right up, they fill up whatever container you might have in your possession, and you’re on your way.

2. Don’t Choose The Most Obvious Meeting Spot

With an audience of over 100,000 people per night, it is extremely easy to lose your friends. The best advice I can give is to simply not lose them, but that’s not always the easiest thing. You might turn around for a second and lose your buddy in the sea of ravers. But fear not, choosing a unique meeting spot is the best thing you can do. I remember last year, me and the friend I went with thought it would be a good idea to use the big flower in the middle of the festival as ours, and it turned out everyone else had the same idea. Although, it could have been worse, at least I was surrounded by others who had lost their friends, we all had something in common. But if you don’t want to end up like me, meet by the trash can in the far back corner four steps to the right of the basscon stage, or wherever else you think might be… unique.

3. Party in Moderation

Las Vegas is teaming with events over EDC Weekend and it’s likely that you’ll want to hit up 1, 2, or even 6 of them. Just be careful. Remember that you came to Las Vegas for Electric Daisy Carnival, thats what you need to rest up for. Don’t get me wrong, definitely check out a nightclub event or a pool party, but just be prepared… those long nights til 5 am can be exhausting, especially if you spent all day in the pool with the beaming sun and 4 pina coladas. One is not going to hurt you, in fact, I would for sure recommend checking out at LEAST one, I just want you to have the best possible EDC experience and rest is the way to do so.

4. The Shuttles Are Great, But Be Prepared to Wait

My only qualm with my first EDC experience was the fact that I had to wait until 9am to get on a bus back to my hotel. I was falling asleep standing up and there was nothing I could do about it. Yes, the shuttle is worth every penny spent, but keep in mind that everyone who has a shuttle pass is going to be getting on a bus, and lets just say a lot of people buy them. The first night, we left at sunrise and had to wait, but the other two nights we left at 3am or 4am and got on immediately. So here’s my suggestion: Get the shuttle pass, it’s better than waiting in the parking traffic. But if you’re favorite DJ is playing the sunrise set, just be prepared to wait a bit, bring water, energy drinks, a lot of friend, anything to keep yourself awake in line. It’s tough, but Dash Berlin just might be worth the pain. Or if there is no one playing after 3 or 4 that you’re absolutely DYING to see, head out early and beat the rush.

5. Have Fun With Your Wardrobe

I wore a panda hat for the first time at EDC. I know it might sound cliche or stereotypical, but I just really wanted to wear it and that’s what its all about right? EDC is a place to express your creativity and to inspire others to be comfortable in their own skin. There are so many wacky costumes at the Motor Speedway that you feel out of place if you’re not wearing something crazy. Not saying you’ll be rejected for wearing a t-shirt and shorts, but really take this opportunity to be expressive, be creative, be different. EDC only comes once a year and I promise you that it is the only place on the planet that has a wardrobe as eclectic, zany, and beautiful. Contribute to that beauty.

6. Stray From The Main Stage Every Once And A While

Kinetic Field has all of the big name, world famous DJs that we have all come to know and love. Last year it hosted the likes of Hardwell, Armin van Buuren, Steve Angello, Alesso, Axwell ^ Ingrosso, Krewella, W&W, Deorro and many more. These guys are so worth seeing and put on absolutely incredible productions and performances, but there are other artists and stages out there that deserve your attention. Catch the guys you absolutely have to at Kinetic Field, but believe me, you’ll regret not checking out what the other stages have to offer. I discovered my love for Hardstyle at the Basscon stage last year, I got to witness one of my favorite producers of all time, Seven Lions, at the BassPod stage, I even got to witness a roof literally raise at the Circuit Grounds. Kinetic Field is beautiful, loud, and makes you want to surrender yourself to the absolute transcendence that the stage provides, but don’t make it your only destination… there is so much more out there just calling your name.

7. Above and Beyond

Do I have to say more? Watch… no, experience these masters of not only trance, but music. These guys are musical geniuses and master puppeteers of emotion. I had the most emotional experience of my life at the figurative hands of music last year when Above and Beyond took to the stage to play their acoustic remix of “Sun and Moon”. The song rang out through the audience, soaring over our heads and resonating throughout everyone’s bodies. On the screen they flashed words, telling us all to remember the moments that our lives hold: marriages, births, deaths of loved ones, a child’s first steps, spending time with your friends. And as these words are shown, in the background we hear “You were the sun and moon to me. I’ll never get over you, you’ll never get over me.” And I did just what they asked. My life flashed before my eyes and the experience was beyond surreal. I was completely enraptured. Yes. See Above and Beyond. See them. Okay?

8. Create An Experience You Will Remember

You can choose to follow my advice or you can not, either way make EDC something that you will forever remember and always hold dear. The worst thing you can do is ruin your experience by making bad choices and ending up with a broken arm. Just know that it is impossible to have the perfect experience, there will be things that don’t turn out as planned. You may not make it to Eric Prydz because Calvin Harris was playing at the same time, you may have forgotten to bring your favorite piece of khandi, you may even have lost your friend, but always remember that Calvin Harris played your favorite song of all time, that you’ll acquire a new favorite piece of khandi because it reminds you of your first EDC, and that you will eventually find that friend, and make new ones in the process. Make this trip your own, and don’t let anything stop it from being memorable.

In case you have forgotten, here is the line-up for EDC Las Vegas with the recently announced phase 2 artists included. Plan ahead so you don’t miss any of your favorite DJs, the line-up time-slots should be revealed any day now:

And finally, if you were thinking of hitting up any of the awesome nightclub shows or pool parties, here is a complete EDC Week lineup of all EDM events going on in Las Vegas!

Monday, June 15
Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Borgeous

Tuesday, June 16
EDMbiz Conference and Expo (Day One)
OMNIA at Caesars Palace – Afrojack
Drais Yacht Club ft. 3LAU

Wednesday, June 17
EDMbiz Conference and Expo (Day Two)
Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino – Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
LIGHT Nightclub at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino – A-Trak & Baauer
Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Audien
Surrender Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas – Flosstradamus
TAO Beach Dayclub at The Venetian Las Vegas – Treo
WET REPUBLIC Ultra Pool Wet At Night at MGM Grand – Showtek

Thursday, June 18
EDMbiz Conference and Expo (Day Three)
Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Alesso
Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino – Fatboy Slim & Duke Dumont
Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas – Major Lazer
Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas – DJ Snake
Foxtail Pool Club at SLS Las Vegas – Borgore presents Buygore
Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino – Hardwell
LiFE Nightclub at SLS Las Vegas – Erick Morillo
LIGHT Nightclub at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino – Carl Cox
Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Benny Benassi
Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Porter Robinson
OMNIA at Caesars Palace – Nicky Romero and Tchami
REHAB at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Bassrush Pool Party
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Bassrush Concert
TAO Beach Dayclub at The Venetian Las Vegas – Firebeatz
TAO Nightclub at The Venetian Las Vegas – Cedric Gervais
Tryst Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas – Lil Jon
WET REPUBLIC Ultra Pool at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino – Above & Beyond
WET REPUBLIC Ultra Pool Wet At Night at MGM Grand – Krewella
XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas – Avicii