The best nights are the ones where you never think about your stuff. You’re not digging through a bag, hunting for a charger or working out how to get home at 4am. This checklist sticks to what fits in your pockets or a small bag, plus a few things to sort out before you leave the house.
The non-negotiables
- ID. Most venues check it at the door, even if you look old enough. Bring the physical card, not a photo of it.
- Your ticket, saved offline. Signal inside clubs and on festival sites is often terrible. Screenshot the QR code or add it to your phone’s wallet before you go.
- A charged phone and a small power bank. Your phone is your ticket, your map and your ride home. A slim power bank and a short cable take up almost no space.
- A card and some cash. Some bars and cloakrooms are card only. Some stalls are cash only. Carry a little of both.
- Keys. Obvious, until you’re locked out at sunrise.
Earplugs
If you add one thing to your routine, make it this. The World Health Organization says over 1 billion people aged 12 to 35 risk losing their hearing from prolonged exposure to loud music and other loud recreational sounds, and it advises wearing earplugs at noisy venues.
Its global standard for venues and events recommends a maximum average sound level of 100 decibels, quiet zones where people can rest their ears, and hearing protection made available to the crowd. Plenty of nights don’t follow it, so bring your own.
Foam earplugs work, but they muffle everything. Reusable high-fidelity earplugs, the kind made for musicians, lower the volume more evenly, so the music still sounds like music. Keep a pair on your keyring and they’ll come every time.
Ringing ears after a night out means the volume was too much for too long. If it doesn’t fade after a day or two, get your hearing checked.
Water and staying cool
Dancing in a packed room is hard work, and you sweat more than you notice. Sip water regularly through the night instead of drinking a lot at once, and take breaks somewhere cooler. Many venues and festivals let you bring an empty refillable bottle, but check first, because some don’t.
Comfort
- Shoes you’ve already worn in. New shoes and a six-hour set don’t mix.
- A layer for later. Inside is hot. Outside at 3am usually isn’t.
- Small extras. Lip balm, gum, a hair tie, tissues or a few wet wipes. All of it fits in one pocket.
- The bag policy. Many venues and festivals limit bag sizes or only allow clear bags. Check the event page before you pack.
Getting home
Plan this before you leave, not at the end of the night when your phone is on 3% and every ride costs double.
- Save the transit route, or book a ride ahead if you can.
- Pick a meeting spot with your friends in case you get split up and phones stop working.
- Keep enough battery, or that power bank, for the trip home.
Looking after each other
When you arrive, find out where the medical or welfare tent is. If a friend feels unwell, gets very hot or confused, or can’t stand up, get the medical team or security straight away and stay with them until help arrives.
DanceSafe has more safety information written for people who go out.
Set up the morning before you leave
Future you will be grateful. Put a glass of water by the bed, leave out something easy for breakfast, and plug in anything you’ll need tomorrow. If you have a bedtime routine, set it out before you go so it’s waiting at the end of the night.
The checklist
- ID
- Ticket saved offline
- Phone, power bank and a short cable
- A card and some cash
- Keys
- Earplugs
- Refillable bottle, if the venue allows it
- Worn-in shoes and a layer for later
- Lip balm, gum, hair tie, tissues
- A plan for getting home
- A meeting spot with your friends
Sources
- World Health Organization, WHO releases new standard to tackle rising threat of hearing loss, March 2022
- World Health Organization, Global standard for safe listening venues and events, 2022