10 tips on navigating an outdoor festival

1. Always download the app for the event. This will keep you up to date on all of the different shows, rules and any changes the venue makes. I also recommend using the app to pre plan you day or evening. This will give you more time to enjoy the other things happening at the festival.

2. Have your tickets ready prior to arriving at the entrance. The internet is not always available. So I usually take my electronic tickets and take a screenshot with my cell phone. That way the tickets are saved in my phones photos. Your phones photo gallery will always work if the internet doesn't. Another suggestion would be to print your tickets prior to the event.

3. Bag chairs are amazing to bring for many different reasons. Make sure to bring one with a built in cup holder. This helps to prevent your expensive drinks from being kicked over by fellow concert goers. I also tend to arrive early so I can set my chair up as close to the stage as I can get. I try to set my chair in a row next to others with chairs. This helps to form a line so people can't get into your area. You'll be thankful for this line of chairs as the evening progresses and the crowd fills in. This leaves you with room to dance and move about while others are packed in.

4. Here are a few necessities I usually bring. Portable phone chargers. You don't want to miss the show while standing at a charging station. Sunglasses, I tend to bring a cheap pair due to taking them off when the evening rolls around. I don't want to misplace or break them. Sunscreen is better to have then not to have. Especially if you are there all weekend. No one likes being sunburned. I tend to put some squares of toilet paper in my pockets just in case. As the evening goes on the restrooms tend to run out of it. It's always good to have hand sanitizer or small wet wipes. Glow sticks work well for lighting up a porta potty at night and they are easy and fun to carry.

5. Bring cash, some vendors don't accept cards. Fellas you don't want to disappoint your lovely lady when the vendor says we only accept cash. Also sometimes there is transportation from the parking lot to the venue and vise versa. You'll want to be able to tip the driver or pay them as some only accept cash.

6. Be patriotic! The singers almost always show love to the girl or guy with the American flag attire on. Also flying the American flag near the stage will almost always get you some kind of love from the band. #americanpride

7. There are a few places you never want to pass up at the festival. The local radio station booths are a must! They usually have some type of contest for backstage passes or times to check back for meet and greets. They also usually have free stuff their giving away. Another place to hang out by is the RV's where the performers are staying. You never know who might be walking by. You may just get lucky enough to score an autograph or a selfie from one of your favorite singers.

8. Prior to the show starting it's a good idea to find out where the restrooms are. I always like to find at least 2 different locations for the restrooms. Just in case the line is really long at one. It's nice to have options. Trust me there's nothing worse than searching for the restrooms when you really need to use it. Then locating it only to find the line is a mile long. Save yourself the trouble and you'll also have more time to enjoy the show.

9. Let's talk comfort. Ladies leave the heels and the rompers at home. Lots of walking, grass, unlevel ground and heels are not a good combination. Opt for the sexy flats or the boots instead. The romper is a bad choice because you have to take the whole outfit down to use the restroom. What happens when there is a zipper down the backside? Sometimes you can get it down but it's always more difficult to get the zipper back up. You don't want to come out of the porta potty undone and have to look for someone to help you zip it back up. Also if you wear the short dress wear the shorts underneath. Gentlemen don't forget your hat or shades.

10. Can't say it enough, read the rules prior to attending the event. A lot of venues these days won't allow you to bring in bags or purses that aren't see through. The last music festival I attended I saw a lot of people giving up their bags due to not reading the rules. They chose to give up their bags due to not wanting to walk back to their vehicles and wait in line again.