Fun Game to Pass the Time at Summer Music Festivals

Hi kids!

I'm going to take a brief break from the top 100. Instead, on the eve of the Sasquatch! music festival, I'm going to give you all a fun game to play when you make the trek to one of the many summer music festivals! No matter how good the festival, there is always dead time. Here's a fun way to pass that time!

I call this Hipster Stereotypes! It's pretty easy to play. Here's what you need:

1. A list of all the bands that are playing the festival you are at
2. A passing to thorough knowledge of at least some of the bands, and what type of people they attract as fans.
3. The gift of sight* (glasses/contacts/Lasik ok)

Here's how to play!
1. Walk around (or just sit in a high-traffic area).
2. Notice what people are wearing.
3. Try to guess what band/attraction each person is here to see.
4. Try to find a person for each band on the schedule (or at least, each band you are aware of).

* For a greater challenge, try using your other senses instead! For example, smelling people (most effective if Phish is playing), or, for the more bold, tasting people (make sure to take some crackers or a nice sorbet as a palette cleanser between tastings!).

Here are some handy-dandy categories to get you started, culled from my past experiences:

Band T-Shirts (Easy)

These are the people wearing t-shirts of the actual bands in the festival. Come on, guys. Not only are you making this too easy, but you are violating the concert t-shirt etiquette.

Band T-Shirts (Medium)

These people are wearing t-shirts of bands that are related other bands on the schedule. Some of these are easier than others. There are also sub-categories in this category:

• The old band
  
  • For example, the guy wearing a Mission to Burma shirt is likely here to see Pavement
• The side project/previous band
  
  • Someone wearing a Carissa's Wierd t-shirt is more than likely here to see Ben Bridwell in Band of Horses
• The related/similar band
• That guy wearing a Belle and Sebastian shirt? Probably going to be at the Camera Obscura show.

Band T-Shirts (Ironic)

These fall into one of the following sub-categories:

• Nostalgia - Popular band from before the wearer was born - probably the 80s. Example: Duran Duran.
• Completely Different Genre - probably country or soft jazz. Example: Brooks and Dunn, Kenny G.
• Mainstream Artist That Is Not Headlining - major artists that aren't hip (or headlining). Example: Maroon 5.
• Bands whose t-shirts no one should ever wear - Example: Nickelback.

Band T-Shirts (Hard)

These can either be obscure bands that you haven't heard of, or bands that don't seem to fit. It can be hard to determine whether or not people wearing these band t-shirts are being ironic or not. For example: My Chemical Romance shirts. Who are you here to see? I can't figure it out!

Anything Glowing or Blinking

These people are likely here to go to the rave tent, listen to techno, and probably take drugs.

Animal Costumes

Most likely, these people will be at a Flaming Lips concert. They might also take drugs.

Plaid Button-down Shirts with Pocket Protector

Almost certainly there to see They Might Be Giants (or Devo).

Douchebags

These (dudes) are here to see the headliner and whoever the late night act is. I suggest avoiding these folk.

The Mountain Man/Hippie Chick

These would be the easiest to identify by smell (or taste, i suppose). Odds are, they are here to see Phish, Devandra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, or maybe Blitzen Trapper.



See! Isn't stereotyping fun! I'll keep my eyes out for these (and more!) over the weekend. If I'm lucky, I'll try and post some pictures.