Tom’s 100% Unofficial Festival Survival Guide!
Written by: Tom Wilson Banner Photos by: Charlyn Cameron & Dalton Collis | Thursday 4th December 2025
Get Your Money’s Worth This Summer!
It’s that time again, where we put ourselves into debt to get sunburnt while only seeing half the bands we were excited for due to timetable clashes. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but I have developed some tips and tricks to make sure you don’t end up staggering around looking for your phone with one shoe on. As it says in the banner, this is my list, so views express herein do not necessarily represent Sense Music Mediaaah you get the picture. Let’s get into it!
DON’T GET MOSHED OUT OF YOUR SHOES
Now is not the time for thongs, or expensive shoes you don’t want ruined. Converse high-tops are the gold standard for summer festivals. Double-knot those bad boys, and your foot will come off before your shoes do.
CARGO SHORTS AREN’T JUST FOR DADS
A durable pair of shorts will do wonders, particularly if they have zipper pockets. During any kind of mosh pit, I zip up my wallet, phone, keys and other valuables in my cargo pockets, so if the crowd falls over I’m not going to be worried about losing my shit … my valuables, anyway.
USE YOUR PHONE IN THE PIT AT YOUR OWN RISK
Next time you’re in the pit and feel like capturing a memory, ask yourself, “How annoyed am I going to be if my phone gets knocked out of my hand in the middle of this pit and I never find it again?” Use your eyes and ears and enjoy the moment. Plus you’ll need the battery for after the headliner and you’re trying to find your friends.
PRE-GAME (FOOD, NOT BOOZE)
If you’ve got ten minutes to get from one stage to another, you’re probably not in the mood to wait 45 minutes for nachos, so you’ll need to take matters into your own hands. Festivals like Good Things are cool with you bringing in stuff like sandwiches, or just buy a bunch of sushi and smash it in the line before you go in.
CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
Festival toilets are disgusting, and mosh pits aren’t much better. A small bottle of hand sanitiser is a lifesaver when you finally succumb to hunger and line up for an overpriced kebab. It also helps for when the drunk guy in the pit insists on shaking your hand even though you’re doing your best to ignore him.
ZIP IT
Put your phone in a zip lock bag in your pocket. It helps when you get covered in water/spilled beer/rain. Speaking of rain…
PONCHOS ARE AMAZING
A disposable poncho fits perfectly in a cargo pocket and can seriously improve your mood if the heavens open halfway through the day. Or just get wet. Lucky for you, skin’s waterproof.
RALLY UP!
Festivals are big places with A LOT of people. Picking a SPECIFIC rally spot in case you get separated can save you a lot of time, which is ALWAYS better spent watching sick bands. Example: “I’ll meet you at the front right-hand corner of the sound tent when this band finishes.” Anything that is a bit more specific than “Come find me at the main stage before TOOL.”
HYDRATION
Make sure that you keep yourself adequately hydrated throughout the day. Yes, we know there is water in booze. No, that’s not what we’re talking about. Why would you even think that? For shame!
FIRST AID
Make sure you scout out the First Aid tent as soon as you arrive. If you're feeling faint inside the mosh pit, don't hesitate to go there to sit down, get a drink and a Panadol if need be, clean up, put on some sunscreen and get back out to hear the music. You paid good money for your ticket – make the most of it!
SECURITY ARE THERE FOR YOU!
Good Things organisers want you to be safe, and so do the security. Speaking as someone who has worked security at events, it’s a LONG day, so please treat them with respect. Each event has a dedicated text line for punters to report anti-social or unsafe behaviour. Use it and never be afraid to ask for help!
What did I miss? Jump on our socials and let us know! See you in the pit!
