Are you going to the Big Day Out? Click here to send us your Big Day Out 2010 photos to be featured online.
Big Day Out, the biggest event on the music calendar, is finally here.
We've compiled a handy guide of useful tips to help you survive the mammoth day:
Sunscreen
Arm yourself with a factor 30+ waterproof sunscreen before you set off, and don't be shy about reapplying it during the day. Not only will it protect you from the rays, but you'll have another layer of protection between you and other sweaty crowd members.
Rehydrate
Drink plenty of water. Take a small bottle with you (a big one will only be cumbersome and weigh you down) and refill it at the water stations during the day.
Dress appropriately
The powers that be usually smile upon the Big Day Out and provide amazing weather. By all means dress fashionably, but if you want to enter moshpits, jandals may not be the best choice. And don't wear white clothing or your favourite top – they'll be a magnet for beer stains and rips.
Cash
Take plenty of spare cash with you, but don't flaunt it like a millionaire. Keep it safe. There are Eftpos machines at the event, but so are the queues waiting to use them. You'll need money for drinks, snacks and your bus ride home – so spend wisely.
Plan
Plan your day out. Print off a copy of the timetable and map before you head off to the event. Get your bearings and plan what you do and don't want to see. That way you won't get flustered and potentially miss your favourite artist playing because you got lost.
Bus services will be running to and from the event most of the day, knowing what times the first and last bus run should mean no $80 taxi bills.
Meeting points
Before you set off, have a set place to meet friends if you get lost. But if you do happen to stray from the flock, don't worry, you're bound to run in to someone you know soon enough. And don't rely on cellphone coverage, it's notoriously patchy at the event
Travel light
Be sensible and don't travel to the event laden with a massive backpack and everything bar the kitchen sink. Take a small bag with you and don't pack it with heavy objects. Less is definitely more.
While the big day out is mainly about the music, a lot of fun can be had from people watching. You will always see someone dressed in some gaudy outfit, people covered head-to-toe in tattoos, groups dressed as cartoon characters and just the odd-balls who come out of the woodwork for the day.
The good-all-round line up will mean a day spent migrating from stage to stage, so prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised when nothing goes wrong.
Above all, have fun.
THE BIG DAY OUT 2010
Friday January 15th, 2010
Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland
Gates open 11am
Big Day Out map and timetable [PDF]
* Are you heading to the Big Day Out at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium? If so, we want to hear from you.
We'd like you to send us your photos from this year's event so we can feature them online.
Please include your name with your photos and - if it's not clear - what the photo is of.
Click here to send us your Big Day Out 2010 photos.
