Festival Etiquette Part 3: Me & My 50 Friends

Early Entry Tips to Keep Your Peace in Line

If you’ve been to a show lately, you might’ve witnessed this classic move: someone gets in early, sets up front and center, then waves in not one or two — but dozens of friends as the crowd starts to fill in. Suddenly, it’s “Me & My 50 Friends” squeezing into GA, and the folks who waited hours in line are wondering if showing up early even matters.

Now, let’s be clear — saving a little space for a friend is part of the concert experience. Most of us have done it, and it comes from a good place: wanting to enjoy the show with our people. But when one person becomes the entry pass for an entire crew, it can throw off the energy, especially in tight spaces where every inch counts.

We’ve all seen it. Many of us have been on both sides of it. But lately, it’s gotten a little out of hand — so much so that even artists are stepping in.

Phish, ahead of their 2025 summer tour, released a statement introducing new rules for GA floor access. Their team is asking fans to enter together and discouraging large group holds, all in the name of safety, fairness, and preserving that good vibe.
Read the full announcement here

Dead & Company has a different approach — their First Entry Lottery assigns selected fans a number that becomes their official place in line. No racing. No cutting. Just a chilled-out way to ensure entry is organized and respectful.

This isn’t about policing the crowd — it’s about creating a space where everyone can have a good time, not just the people who know someone up front.

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A Few Friendly Ways to Keep It Fair:

Save space mindfully. Holding a spot for one or two friends? Totally fine. Twenty? That’s a lot of backpacks for one blanket.

Arrive together when you can. It’s the best way to avoid stress and awkward group merges.

Check your band’s entry policy. With more artists introducing assigned numbers or VIP early entry perks, it helps to know the rules before you go.

Read the vibe. If the crowd is packed and people are shoulder to shoulder, that’s probably not the best moment to snake ten friends into the pit.

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Live music brings out the best in us — the connection, the emotion, the collective joy of singing together under the stars. The more we stay aware of each other’s experience, the more beautiful the show becomes for everyone.

So here’s to dancing kindly, showing up with heart, and remembering that a little awareness goes a long way.

Festival Etiquette Series
This 3-part series explores the unspoken (but important) rules of festival & concert life — from crowd behavior to concert kindness. Read all 3 and keep the good vibes alive: https://pinkbearscloset.com/pink-bears-vibe/

Got your own etiquette story? The space invaders, the Chatty Cathies, the entitled ones. What’s yours? Drop it in the comments or DM me on Instagram — I might feature it in a follow-up post.

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Peace, love, and let’s all get in together—
–Pink Bear

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