Before the Event

Where do you go to find new items?

I go to secondhand and resale platforms such as Poshmark, Depop, eBay, and Etsy for clothing and accessories. For small, easy-to-lose items like sunglasses, hair clips, face gems, etc., I use Amazon. Everything else I get at a craft store or drugstore.

How far in advance do you begin looking for new items?

When I bought the tickets, it was probably six months before the event, and after buying them, I had the idea in the back of my mind that I was going, so I needed to start planning what I was going to bring. 

Around three weeks before the event, I stumbled into a stationery store in the West Village and found these little rainbow stickers, which I thought would be cute to buy and distribute at the event. It was really only a week in advance when I started buying everything else, like sunscreen, fans, hair clips, and such. I talked to my group about what everyone would need to feel comfortable, which helped finalize what I needed to purchase.

How does your group influence your pre-event spending habits?

While my outfit was not influenced by friends, the actual event itself definitely was. My friend was originally going to the event and told me about it. Honestly, it's funny how once my sister and her friend Vanessa mentioned it, I started seeing Ladyland ads everywhere on my social media channels. It's like, after you learn about something from a friend, it suddenly becomes a part of your world.

I've never really done anything like this before, and I'd especially never heard of a queer-centric music festival until this year. Vanessa, in particular, is very plugged into the queer nightlife scene, especially on Twitter. Whenever she finds something interesting, she'll send it to me, and we usually go together. She probably found out about the festival from Instagram or Twitter.

During the Event

What specific aspects of the venue or the festival contributed to your overall experience?

The atmosphere at the festival was phenomenal. From the moment we arrived, the venue felt like a safe haven. The organizers did an incredible job of creating a welcoming environment for everyone, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. 

 

One whole wall was lined with pop-up shops, and another with food tents. It seemed like there were more brands than just sponsors, which I really appreciated. 

The thoughtful design of the space, with plenty of areas to relax and socialize, made it easy to strike up conversations and make friends with strangers. Festival staff were friendly and attentive, and security was top-notch—I never felt remotely unsafe.

After the Event

Which brands or sponsors from the event are you more likely to follow or purchase from after the event, and why?

Liquid Death – their water tasted really refreshing and kept me hydrated. I loved how even though the festival was sponsored by a water company, they also had a free hydration station in the back. I love that Liquid Death is able to sponsor a festival while still providing free water to those who need it.

I would say the HeadCount booth was the one that surprised me the most. They were just registering people to vote; they weren't even selling anything. They had fun little games you could play and gave out fans to anyone who registered to vote for the first time with them, which I really loved. I appreciate the music festival not necessarily taking a political stance, but encouraging everyone to vote.