After a long pandemic hiatus, music festivals have made a triumphant return, and fans are certainly taking advantage. An estimated 750,000 people attended the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2022.

Those high numbers inevitably include many first-time festival attendees, who dont always know how to navigate the experience. And plenty of seasoned festival-goers have taken note of their missteps.

Below, music festival experts share the most common mistakes that attendees make and their advice for avoiding these errors.

Burning Out On Day One

So many festival-goers rookies and vets can get caught up in the sensory overload that is music festivals and end up going all in on the first day, said Skip Blankley, founder of Festival Survival Guide . Music festivals are a marathon, not a sprint, and getting caught up in the excitement of the music, dancing, friends, and positive vibes you find in abundance at music festivals can leave people feeling quite drained after the first day, and find the remaining days less enjoyable due to lack of energy, or just feeling super hungover.

He recommended treating the first day of a music festival the same way you would your first day at school or college. Take the time to get your bearings, establish your crew, familiarize yourself with the landscape and check out the amenities and concessions.

If you start to feel overwhelmed at all, take time to retreat and take a breather. Be mindful about how youre feeling and whats going on around you to avoid going too hard on the first day and getting burned out.

Youre excited and its understandable, said Vito Valentinetti, co-founder and editor-and-chief of Music Festival Wizard . Youve been waiting a year (or in some cases, three years) for this festival and the natural tendency is to indulge in everything at once. Pace yourself and have fun. You dont want the next day to be low energy.

Relying Too Much On Technology

Dont assume your phone will work perfectly throughout a music festival. These spaces often have poor service and few battery charging stations. Major festivals like Coachella also have a history of phone theft .

Thus, its important to make back-up plans in case your group gets separated and not everyone can get in touch.

Back in the old days of 2015, our group would designate a central meeting area in case anyone got separated or people were bouncing out to other shows, Valentinetti said. Because cell phones can still be lost, have no battery, or service is down, this low-tech method still works best for meetups.

Not Hydrating Enough

People are often out on their feet, dancing and moving around in the sun for many hours, said Joey Sutera, head of live entertainment at SEERS . While having fun, drinking alcohol or even if youre sober, its easy to forget to consistently drink water. Especially if you are a fan who loves to be up against the rails or in the thick of the crowd, it will be harder to leave and get to a water station or vendor section.

He implored festival-goers to carry extra water, a hydration pack and even electrolyte tabs to stay healthy and avoid passing out. The exact amount of water a person needs can vary, but it generally ranges from two to four liters and increases with physical activity and time in hot temperatures. Pay attention to sneaky signs of dehydration like dry mouth, muscle spasms and headaches as well.

I cant tell you how many times I have seen someone pulled out of the crowd on a gurney, or dazed under a canopy while their friends try to fan them and force water down their throat, Blankley said. Staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to not only stay safe, but also keep your body in motion all weekend long. Hydration is not just about water, but electrolytes as well. Being outside in the heat and dancing all weekend long means your body sweating out all of those essential minerals you need to function at your best.

Forgetting Earplugs

Just as you wear sunscreen at the beach to protect your skin, you should also try to wear earplugs at concerts to protect your hearing. Theyre especially useful in music festival settings where youll be exposed to a variety of shows with different energy and volume levels.

As anyone (including myself) who has tinnitus will tell you, bring a pair of earplugs, Valentinetti said. And bring a backup pair in case something happens to them. Earplugs have come a long way and there are plenty of affordable options (Earpeace, Eargasm) that block out high volumes with little effect on the fidelity of the music.