We are just five days away from the fourth annual Governors Ball, a (semi) new festival that’s held on NYC’s Randall’s Island. Are you headed to the fest? Do you wish you were? Keep an eye out all week because Allston Pudding will be providing previews, tips, and tricks for all things Gov Ball.
Allston Pudding wants to help make sure that YOU have the very best weekend possible. I’m not an expert by any means but I have been around the block at Randall’s Island before, so this is my 2¢.
Check out a list of do’s and don’ts below ranging from food, to what to bring, what to do after, and more!
WHERE TO STAY
Hopefully you’ve already figured this out, but just in case…
Do: Don’t have a friend you can crash with? Avoid obnoxious hotel prices and rent an Airbnb. Never Airbnb’d before? No worries, it’s easy! Scope out a place on the site that’s within the price range and neighborhood of your choice and submit an offer to the host (you can even see reviews of the hosts, similar to couch surfing reviews). Voilà! You now have an apartment to yourself that feels just like home.
Don’t: Show up on your friend’s doorstep pouty-faced and unannounced.
HOW TO START YOUR DAY
Do: EAT BREAKFAST! Hopefully you’ve had a decent night’s sleep (but Questlove is DJing at Brooklyn Bowl Thursday night so….) and you’re bright eyed and bushy tailed. First, you should smile because you’re going to a kickass festival. Second, put a healthy breakfast in your stomach because food is fuel. Sure, have a mimosa (read as: PBR) with it but do the smart thing and eat because you will be on your feet for most of the day and you want to be feeling good from the get-go.
Don’t: Wake and bake. It’ll make you sleepy.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR DAY
Do: Download the Gov Ball app because it’s helpful and free. Mark down all of the sets that you’re interested in and the app provides a simple set up for you to view potential scheduling conflicts so you can make snap decisions as you go. When picking sets make sure you’re paying attention to stages because while Randall’s Island is compact, it still takes at least 10-15 minutes to get from one side of the grounds to the other.
Festivals pose great opportunities to see bands you might never see live otherwise. Keeping this in mind, don’t wait to get to the festival until 5 p.m. just because that’s the first band of the day you’re familiar with. Go early. See someone you’ve never heard of or only know of vaguely. Check out the free activities around the festival grounds, take your turn at the GIF photobooth, and take some time to sit on the hill with the giant “GOV BALL” letters and take it all in.
Don’t: Say, “I’ll wing it.”
WHAT TO BRING
Do: YOUR ID AND TICKET. Sunglasses. Comfy shoes. A small backpack. Eargplugs. Above all else, bring a reusable water bottle. Governors Ball does a fantastic job of setting up multiple free water refill stations with volunteers all day long. Granola bars can be your best friends all weekend as a snack between sets if you don’t have time to get a full meal.
Don’t: Be the guy with a Camelbak full of rum. I ran into him last year, he offered me a shot (a large swallow off of his pack) and I took it but I quickly remembered that germs are a thing and you could potentially be refused entry at the gate. Is it worth it?
WHAT TO WEAR
Do: Wear comfy shoes. Your best bets are going to be lightweight sneakers (or TOMS if you don’t want to wear socks) or sandals with a backstrap. The forecast says our weekend should be sunny and in the 70’s, so shorts are a safe bet. Wear fabrics that breathe and lean towards lighter colors unless you enjoy sweating. On that note, please…PLEASE WEAR DEODORANT.
Don’t: Go shirtless or wear a bra and call it a shirt. It’s not that hot out.
HOW TO GET THERE
Do: Walk across one of the several footbridges: RFK Bridge from Manhattan/125th street, RFK Bridge from Queens, or RFK Bridge from the Bronx. There are plenty of signs so you won’t get lost. Plus, I’ve always found walking on bridges very relaxing.
Don’t: Waste money on the ferry and shuttle passes.
WHAT TO EAT
Do: Try something new. You honestly cannot go wrong with the lineup of vendors at this festival. I just scrolled through the list and I am salivating a little more than I’m comfortable disclosing. My picks: Asia Dog, Luke’s Lobster, and Korilla BBQ.
Don’t: Limit yourself to a chicken tenders and fries. Granted the chicken tenders and fries here are going to be way better than your average chicken tenders and fries but come on, like, break outside of the chicken tenders and fries mentality. If I see you walking around eating chicken tenders, I’ll smack ‘em out of your hands.
WHAT TO DO AFTER
Do: GO TO AN AFTER SHOW. THEY ARE SICK. I’m partial to the 1-800 Dinosaur show but I don’t even care which one you go to, just go to one! You’re going to have a good time. Oh, you’re tired? Shut up. Check out the full listings here.
Don’t: Drink alone.
Stay tuned to Allston Pudding for more Governors Ball 2014 coverage.