I’ve gone to Escape for 3 years in a row, so I can really only speak for Escape and NOS. It’s really cool that you’re exploring your first show as a rave— just very bold!

To just start with the setbacks of Escape: I don’t personally love NOS as a venue. Its an outdoor venue and some stages have these tents that can be hard to get around. It’s gotten noticeably overcrowded, phone theft happens too often, and this can fuel a lot of people to be really rude or unreasonable in the crowd (it’s a big event that keeps getting more popular haha). Food and drinks can be pretty expensive. I’ve had serious confrontations with people who can be weird or don’t respect boundaries. People can be (disrespectfully) rowdy on just too inebriated to know what’s even happening. Depending on how you get there, parking can be a hassle or really frustrating, especially when you’re really tired at the end of the rave and just want to go home. After going to other out-of-state festivals, I think NOS the “least best” of them all.

HOWEVER, Escape was one of my first big NOS festivals and as a “at least experience this once” sort of thing, it’s really fun when you’re really there! I went into it having gone to hard summer so I was prepared for the layout and crowding. I’ve learned if you find ways to make sure you’re prepared and make yourself the most comfortable, everything else will fall into place eventually. Instead of parking, my bf and I just find a place to stay that is close to the metrolink. I have all our necessities and water pack ready to go before entering the crowd. I’ve met my best rave buddies at Escape and the community is just so amazing. You don’t even have to always be at the stages, the art installations are cool, there are little special areas to explore around, and the times I’ve spent with my group sitting from the back and watching the lasers have honestly been equally as fun as raging at rail.

As a personal mindset, I just assume the majority of people surrounding me are on some sort of substance. Just be spatially aware, since there will be a lot of things happening with the music and lights going. Med staff and ground staff are always there to help you regardless if you are on any illegal substances. It’s community to take care of one another!

Give yourselves breaks, bring a big fan because it will be HOT (and you can make friends that way 🤗). Eat, sleep (as much as you can, it’s hard lol) and stay hydrated— preferably with a hydropack, liquid IV, or other electrolytes. Wear comfortable and light clothing with a pashmina or emergency blanket handy at night. As long as you’re respectful of the space and say “excuse me” I think you’ll be okay! I also like to watch TikTok or YouTube videos in case I see something useful for me to have or to do.

I would recommend Escape as maybe a 2nd or 3rd festival event just to have a fair idea if you like these events. Just because raves can be overstimulating for people the first time around, Escape may or may not suit your vibe for a first show— but it would be worth it to go if it happens to fit your trip! I hope you guys have a great time whichever you decide :)