I’m pretty sure the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival is something that almost every fest head, artist, fashionista or all around awesome individual wants to attend at some point in their life. For myself I have countlessly tweeted or posted to facebook for the past four years from the comfort of my couch, spliff in hand, and live stream video on until 4am EST. This movement better known as Couchella, watching the festival from home and not actually being there provided me with torture every year in passing and the FOMO only got worse. Well I am pleased to say I have finally danced in the desert and attended my very first Coachella!

The experience in itself was different for me than a normal first-timer. I landed my first ever experience at the legendary Coachella because of my part time job, aka the best job ever! Wait? A job that takes you to Coachella? Can I have your job? I know what you’re thinking, and like I said, yes, it is the best job EVER! I work as a tour guide for AWAKE TOURS, an Australian based company that specializes in music festival and extreme event tours! It is probably one of the coolest things I got going for me in this industry. I get the pleasure of creating life long friendships and memories with groups of people that live to travel and love music just as much as myself. I really don’t know how to explain how much my group of 30 Aussies made this experience what it was. Here are some key words to sum it up: AMAZING, MEMORABLE, OFF YA F*CKIN FACE! I have some of the best memories with them from LA, Palm Springs, Vegas and back!

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As far as being at the actual festival, looking back on it, I appreciate the west coast vibes a lot more. At first I was shocked at how this festival is as the media covers it, very fashion forward. At most festivals, showers, personal hygiene, and zero fucks is usually what comes to mind as we dance and embrace music together. At Coachella looking like a model in your designer clothes, hats and sunnies might be the driving force behind the festival besides its killer eclectic line-up.I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t plan out all my outfits and buy new trendy items to wear, come on it’s Coachella, of course I’m gonna stunt on em! It really is what makes Coachella so different from the rest. That and it’s fucking beautiful!

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What I do appreciate about the festival is there is a place for everyone at all their stages. My favorite stage hands down was Do-Lab! My only advice is “Just Do-Lab,” you’ll figure it out. I think the most unique stage Coachella offers is the Yuma tent, basically a large building they’ve transformed into an indoor nightclub full of techno and deep house music, yup, HEAVEN. No other festival I’ve been to has a massive indoor club as a stage. Besides these two stages I found myself running around through the fields back and forth from the main stages and the Sahara tent which offers mind blowing laser beams which in a nut shell is just, madness!

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Coachella Cons: 21+ overcrowded drinking areas where you must stay and consume your drink. You can’t roam free around the festival with your liquor, you must finish it and then leave to go to the stage. Understandable (I guess) because its an all ages festival, but at the same time there are many other festivals that are all ages and you can drink where you please.

Tips: Bring eyedrops, bandana for your mouth and nose, and a jacket at night, the sand storms in the desert can be pretty unbearable!

Lastly, one of the best things about the festival is all the interactive art installations that are provided for the attendees. Take a look at the pictures and you’ll see what I mean! Our 2015 Coachella Tour is SOLD OUT but you can check out more of our future tours at www.AwakeTours.com! Be sure to check out my You Tube with Dino Cam Adventures from Coachella as well!