In the city of Los Angeles the two most memorable moments in the month of April are tax day and Coachella. And although the first is extremely important, we find it a rather less than interesting topic to discuss. Don’t you agree?

THE HISTORY OF COACHELLA

The inaugural Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was held on October 9-10, 1999. It featured Beck, Rage Against the Machine, and Jurassic 5 (to name a few). Tickets were $50, and every ticket came with free parking and a free bottle of water upon entrance. About 17,000 tickets were sold the first day and about 20,000 tickets were sold for the second. The programming of artists was based on artistry as opposed to radio play, and thus the festival earned its’ reputation as the “anti-Woodstock.” Now the festival occurs over the course of two weekends in the month of April. Last year, the festival sold 198,000 ticket and grossed $84 million.

THE MAP

THE SUPPLIES

Hand Sanitizer: Through the grit and grime of the day you need to be able to keep your hands clean. After all, the last thing you want to do is return home Monday morning with a cold.
Vitamin C: On that note, we definitely recommend bringing some vitamin C packets with you to combat 3 days of festival-ing.
Sunscreen: The heat and sun in Palm Springs is no joke. Bring your SPF 30, 40, 75 and lather up. Nobody wants to have to deal with a sunburn at a music festival - trust us.
Snacks: Food at Coachella can be quite pricy. Bring a few of your favorite bars to eat in between meals. Your body and wallet will thank you.
Earplugs - Depending on where you stand, the sound can be very loud and damaging to your ears. Get a pair of earplugs that are made specifically for concerts.
Tissue Papers: For lavatory reasons...we’ll leave it at that.
Extra Battery Life: Your phone is your most valuable possession to staying connected to your group. Don’t lose battery.

THE TIPS

Stay hydrated at all times. We’re not kidding around.
Upon your arrival choose a meeting spot for you and your friends in case someone gets separated without means to communicate.
The early bird doesn’t always get the worm! The earlier you arrive often means less wait time upon entrance or being able to maximize the most out of your ticket. But there are some perks to arriving later in the day! Leaving the festival each night is quite possibly one of the most difficult parts of attending the festival all together. The later you arrive the closer your car is parked towards the exit. The closer your car is to the exit, the quicker you can leave. Just some things to think about…
Bring a sweater or jacket! The temperature in the desert is known to drop suddenly at night. Be prepared and bring a jacket or cardigan that fits easily in your bag.
To avoid traffic the best time to leave for the festival is early Friday morning and the best time to return home is Monday afternoon.

And most importantly...

THE PLAYLIST

Media Design & Marketing (MDM) is an advertising agency focused on providing clients immediate results and long-term branding. We equip companies with the right mix of broadcast and digital solutions.

Featured