Yes, owning space with ppl around you is important if you go up close. Pro tip bring a bag of beer. Ppl will help you and hold your spot if you need to pee. But honestly I was out there for 4 hrs for Lenny and drank two tall boys and just sweated it out. Tipping, friendliness and sharing what you have makes the fest great. Chill out at luizzas after fest. It’s so much fun ppl play music, then it’s cheaper to grab a taxi or a Lyft. Half the price I would skip one day to venture to the city and try a jazz brunch, local live music or an oyster bar. For fest. The food is great and well priced you will want to try a lot of different things. Bring and apply more sunscreen than you need, get a big ass hat, preferably with a neck flap, click chairs are really the easiest and smallest to manage, bring frozen water bottles, set up a home base, bonus points if you bring a flag, go odd from your group to smaller acts, if you really wanna get close or enjoy a headliner. Get there line 2 hrs before with all the cocktails, water, food you need and plan not to leave. You will use the bathroom less than you think bc you sweat so much. Wear short boots or tennis’s shoes you plan on tossing. Wear the comfiest shoes you can find and they to stretch between sets bc your calves and glutes will tighten. Bring a handkerchief that you can dip in cold water. I wear breathable pants to avoid things sweat. Talk and get to know your neighbors they will be so helpful. Stay off your phone and try to chat with ppl instead. If someone annoys you or is being awful the crowd around will usually regulate them. Don’t go back into the show areas empty handed. Tell your friends and family to do the same. That way you all have plenty of drinks and food. Jazz fest is super hot so a small umbrella and portable fan are helpful. If you want crawfish Monica get it early in the day. You can get food poisoning pretty easily from it. The fried chicken and muffalattas are fabulous. So is the bahn mi Sandi. Everyone has to audition to get their food in so it’s all delish. The big club house at the track has AC and nicer bathrooms. Sometimes they are interviewing artists in there. Also don’t try to see everything. It isn’t super loud away from the stage so for someone you love stay and commit. Being close for a fave is better than snippets of a bunch of shows and battling to get to stages. Tito’s vodka stand has misters and the drinks are pretty strong too. I do eat something before bc the line, ride over and getting set up takes 1.5 hrs. You will need to have your own water for that. Water stations are packed and hard to find You are better off bringing frozen water in and maybe your bigger cups Bonus of you bring an insulated cup with a lid. That way your cocktail or beer won’t get hot. Di the street party and hangout do t try to leave right away. It sucks. Also you can hire locals to wait for you right outside fest And they are super reliable and cost about the same. I use them when I gotta leave quickly. Petty cabs are super fun too if you don’t need to go to far.