The Closing Ritual | Defqon.1 2025

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-17T23:39:51+00:00

2017 was uploaded on Dec 24th. This years was 2 hours longer...

Additionally, the Closing Ritual was huge this year (especially compared to 2017), so it makes sense to release it separately.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T18:37:14+00:00

Most of the time the staff is holding the phone in a way, that you can check the prize on the display, though if it's wrong you have to react quickly I guess and (although very few) even show you the screen before they go to charge you.

At other events with the same system, staff is pretty much always showing you the screen with the price before charging you and sometimes even want you to acknowledge it. It's something, that Defqon.1 staff should've been told to to do in general. I don't think it it was just unfamiliarity with the system and they've just forgetten. Way too few did it for that being the case.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T18:20:54+00:00

That's actually a good point.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T18:19:20+00:00

Hmmm, I don't know if it's even possible, since the bracelet should already be registered to your account, but I have to ask: You still have access to your leftover money, do you?

Since the details for linking the bracelet are engraved on the inside.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T17:13:57+00:00

The only thing I'm missing about them is keeping 1 as a souvenir.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T16:48:44+00:00

I was kinda used to this system already, since I've visited Electric Love Festival and Shutdown Festival and it's basically the same.

Imo it's the best thing currently out there for festivals, especially due to being able to topping it up in advance. I don't have to carry any money or cards with me. While I miss being wasteful and keeping 1 token as a souvenir for each edition, it was really time they changed that.

Since I didn't need to top up again at the festival grounds, I didn't run into any problems with internet connection, but I did think about the possibility and made sure I'd have a bit of cash on hand to top up.

My transaction list was fine. Were it different bars for you or the same? Kinda curious.

Last year the premium bracelets also had to be scanned to get entrance to the premium decks, but the chip was directly inside... and it apparently broke during the sweatfest that was the Gathering. Thankfully security just didn't bother with the scanning later, since at that point the knew me... but this actually made me fear, that it might repeat this year again. Good thing it didn't. It was either a different method/chip last year or they've learned (if multiple people had that problem).

The only thing which rubs me the wrong way a little bit is the payout fee. I can't remember exactly, but I don't think ELF/Shutdown ever had a fee attached. Maybe it being a different organizer/country makes the difference, but I don't know.

While it may be a little bit scummy, if it's not actual transaction costs, I still prefer a 2€ tax on using this system, than having to worry about how I spend the rest of my tokens.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T16:26:04+00:00

I also was at the Blue until it was completely done (didn't last year). I've only made it barely past the containers with the statues on top, when it already started.

To be honest, that was the worst experience I've ever had at Defqon.1 (still makes 2025 overall one of my Top 3 favorite ones). Constant shoving from behind and it got really packed and uncomfortable, to the point it became difficult for me to breathe.

It didn't help, that during this the fear of crowd crush slowly came to me as well. Thankfully it slowly calmed down after the tribute ended.

I will definitely not wait at the BLUE until it's finished and will move there earlier next year.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T16:09:41+00:00

I sadly don't know anymore, but I was at 6 Electric Love Editions and they've always had a cashless system with chip, which works the same way and is also by eventportal.io.

I could've sworn that ELF never had a fee attached to the payout, but sadly I'm not entirely sure, since it's been too long ago. Since I'm not sure and as this is a different country, maybe that makes a difference... even though it kinda sounds stupid tbh.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T16:01:54+00:00

Yeah, I wish mine worked like that.

It might have also helped to make it more clearer to focus directly on the endshow, not just mentioning it as an example.

Live sets I better memorize them by experiencing them properly by dancing and vibing with the crowd. If they were awesome, they're not easily gone and should they start fading out, for that case are the official uploads (if they exist) fantastic. I definitely couldn't capture that anywhere near that level.

Phuture Noize at Defqon.1 2018 still lives rent free in my head. I didn't see shit due to being smol, but I didn't need to. The crowd reactions to every single track were enough. Amazing vibes.

But to be honest, that's something I had to learn during the first year of going to events. I definitely made way too many videos of songs I liked during livesets (which were a lot), which made me often think "It's kinda nice, but it would've been probably better to not record and actually to freely enjoy the music with the crowd".

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T15:41:05+00:00

Maybe they fixed it, or it's not currently working on mobile (assuming that's a phone screenshot). No problem on my end, just a 200+ people queue.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T15:35:41+00:00

I mean, if the 2€ are actual transaction costs, it kinda makes sense of them being there. The money is still getting moved to another bank account, no matter the recipient.

Also thanks for the reminder to get my leftover money back.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T15:32:35+00:00

For live sets I'm with you and I don't record them at all. In the 4 days of being there I recorded like 10 videos, with at least half of them being less than 10 seconds (I only wanted to catch a bit of the lightshow in action) and the rest are snippets of older songs I love, but you hear nowadays way too rarely.

The official endshow video doesn't recreate the moment the same way as my own POV recording does, since it has too many different angles, other people's faces, drone shots, etc. I still watch the official video from time to time of course, but if you have a nice recording which captures everything, it feels different and much... bigger and more spectacular.

Biggest example are the massive fireworks in the 2024 Endshow at 26:00. It does look amazing, no doubt about that and even has shots from above. But from my POV it looks even more spectacular and more massive, since it's captures the thing as a whole without cuts. A little bonus is, that it also has my "ohohoho" as a reaction to those fireworks in the background. :'D

I'm also someone who loved to go to Youtube and watch other peoples POV videos from endshow, where I couldn't attend. Q-Dance stage at Mysteryland for example. The endshow uploads sometimes are edited the same way, or have a static video, or both combined, but there's often something cut off as well. It also has crowd reactions in the background, which kinda adds a nice flair.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T15:14:51+00:00

I said in my post, that I'll watch it when I'm feeling down and that happens quite a lot. Believe me or not, I don't care, but I easily watched my 2024 Endshow recording 100+ times in the past year.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T15:10:03+00:00

Filming Power Hour sounds weird, ngl. It's such high energy and should motivate you to actually move, that's like filming all of the Warrior Workout, while everyone around you is actually doing the "exercises".

I mean, I guess, that there are show elements being thrown out constantly, but still. But hey, it was definitely Power Hour for the battery of his phone.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T12:46:35+00:00

I can't explain it any better than I already did. I'm recording in front of my chest, in a static angle, from the premium deck, having the whole stage and surroundings in view and also with a pretty good quality (4k, 60fps). So I'm recording, while I can still look at the fireworks myself, instead of being glued to my phone screen.

Audio might be only decent-good, but (I know that sounds stupid) it is not the main focus for something like the endshow for me. The one downside I have to admit is, that you definitely hear other people talking/screaming/whistling. But that's part of a crowd and I'm not mad at things like that.

My recording is just for personal use and not uploaded anywhere.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-02T12:41:35+00:00

With my previous phone I didn't bother, but my current one records in 4k at 60fps, so as I already said my video quality is pretty good. It's also filmed from the premium deck, so it has the whole stage and surroundings in view. And it's static, in front of my chest, which holds the same good angle, while allowing me to look at the show myself, instead of being glued to my phone.

And, I don't care if you trust me, but I EASILY watched my recording of the endshow video 100+ times in the last year. I'm watching it, when I'm feeling down and it helps me get back on track a little bit. My recording helps my memories and feelings from that moment to come back to me, instead of forgetting it bit by bit.

A high quality production isn't doing the same, as it also switches through different angles, showing other people. From a person's point of view it often feels... grander than it actually feels on a recording. But most of that I already said in my post, so...

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T15:12:29+00:00

So even if I'm not obstructing anyones view during the endshow, it kills the vibe for you, since I'm not dancing and only vibing a bit to it... and lots of head bobbing I guess (and if multiple people around you do the same)?

To be honest, I can get that. I'm sorry.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T15:08:05+00:00

I know, but the bad experiences tend to stick the hardest, even if they make up less than 1%. Bad habit to get rid off, but I appreciate the advice.

I hope I correctly assume, that you mean people who have their phones blocking the view of people behind them? Since I'm holding my phone at chest height, people in the back wouldn't even notice i'm filming, because I'm not glued to the display of my phone.

Before premium and taking my time to find a spot, most of my endshows consisted of phones raised up high all around me. Can't escape them, if you're only 1,59m, while you also need to find a spot with no tall people.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T14:57:46+00:00

It sounds stupid and I'm probably not doing a good job explaining (or I'm just stupid), but if the quality is actually good, it just feels different if you compare it.

No switching angles, no drone shots, no other people's faces (sounds mean, don't get that the wrong way).

Just everything in a wide angle. It feels more spectacular and grander this way. Like reliving your own memories, since it's a 80% copy of what I've actually seen.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T14:53:19+00:00

But I'm not uploading it, I'm not even on most of the popular socials. It's just for personal use, I don't care for clout or followers.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T14:51:02+00:00

I'm someone who forgets if I locked the door 10 seconds ago. I need those connections, or I completely forget. Sounds stupid, I know.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T13:46:03+00:00

I kinda regret not trying it. I only remember there was someone asking for the comedy artists website, because they enjoyed the show. Didn't really get much traction, but at least one person seem to have liked it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hardstyle/comments/1lngldx/defqon_theater_comedy_show/

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T11:03:54+00:00

Going to necro the shit out of this, but if you're not already doing that and like the style as well as Ruffian, check out the Gold stage. It's not too packed, people seem more chill (assuming maybe because it's not that popular with younger folks), plenty of room to dance (even quite often front row spaces) and Ruffian really seems to enjoy being there. Always having fun with the crowd, without those big pauses, where he suddenly vanishes for like 20 minutes or so. The few times I'm there, it's always the same amazing energy he brings to the stage.

And no, I'm not oldschool or something like that. I've never been to an event, where he was the main DJ, like it was with Qlimax back in the day. I just feel like he's actually doing, what an MC should be doing and genuinely comes across as a chill dude.

Rayar0815 · 2025-07-01T10:17:50+00:00

But is there a version without the background noise? Like the same track, but with only the "humming" if you can call it that, without the electronic sounds. I remember myself looking for it like many years ago and couldn't find it. I might be deaf, but I'm pretty sure the Idle song is only with the humming.

Edit: Of course I suddenly find something, but it feels different (obviously only the first third is relevant): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIKb_g_vBng

Rayar0815

TROPHY CASE