Rave Totem Do’s and Don’t / Totem Etiquette
Introduction
The totem is an important part of any rave or festival. It’s a way to express yourself, and show off your creativity and artistic talent. It can also be used as a marker or identifier for your group, which can make it easier to find each other when trying to meet up after partying all night long. Here are some tips on what makes the best totems and what NOT to do.
Make sure your pole material is permitted inside festival grounds. Some events restrict certain pole types.
Before you leave your house, make sure you check the festival website to ensure that your pole is permitted. Some festivals have specific restrictions on what kinds of poles are allowed and how tall they can be. The last thing you want is for security to confiscate your beloved totem and destroy it because of a simple mistake on your part.
Use an extendable pole – allows for easy packing, lightweight and maximum height.
First off, you need to make sure that you have a proper extendable pole. You know what they say: the best mountaineers are those who don’t carry rocks. And we all agree that festival goers should be able to pack light and move quickly through crowded areas without getting tangled up in their own gear. If you’re looking for a compact and portable pole, you should consider Hello Totem’s Powerstick. It’s a telescopic pole which extends up to 6 feet! When collapsed it’s only 1.5 feet and can fit in your backpack.
If an extendable pole isn’t an option, make sure your pole is tall enough to keep your totem out of people’s way and not block their view.
The pole you use to hold up your totem is a key part of rave totem etiquette, but it's also one of the most often overlooked. If an extendable pole isn’t an option, make sure your pole is tall enough to keep your totem out of peoples way and not block their view. It shouldn't be too short or too heavy, either; otherwise it'll put people in danger when they bump into it while dancing or if you drop it.
Be mindful of how large your design is. If it’s too big, you may obstruct a lot of the stage, which is annoying for people around you. If you’re looking for something eye-catching but won’t obstruct the stage, Hello Totem may be the solution for you.
Hello Totem’s Hologram totem is a holographic disc which projects 3D-like graphics while mounted on a telescopic powerstick. The hologram works by a spinning fan with LED lights which create an image when spun at a fast speed. Fortunately, this mechanism allows the totem to be essentially invisible from the back-side. So you can use your totem to look for your friends, but after that, once you face the stage, the totem looks transparent from the back. Super cool feature!
If your totem is super huge, we recommend standing closer to the back, preferably behind the sound booth. Be considerate of other rave-goers!
Use lots of colors and lights – anyone can make a simple black and white sign. Make something your own and it’ll be easier to be recognized.
Be creative! Make your totem unique, stand out, and be memorable. It doesn't have to be anything fancy (or even readable), but it should be something that makes it easy for people to recognize you at a rave. In fact, if you do make a totem that stands out from the crowd in a positive way, someone might just take notice of what you're wearing and approach you with questions about where they can get one of their own!
Lights are a great way to be spotted at night, just be sure you have extra batteries, and don’t forget that adds extra weight.
Rave totems are an essential way to be seen at night, but you don't want to burden yourself with too much weight.
MEMES MEMES MEMES – we all love a good meme and will generally lead to a good laugh
Be creative. There are tons of memes out there, but it's up to you to take them and make them your own. The best ones are always the ones that are a little bit different from everyone else's.
Make something specific to you or your crew – having something relatable is a great way to be spotted, and makes for an easy story when people ask you about your totem.
Make it easy to identify. Is there a recognizable symbol that can help people find their way around? If so, consider adding some color or making it stand out in some other way so that it's clear it belongs to your group. You'll also want it visible enough so that if someone is on the ground looking up at them from far away, they'll be able to read the sign without difficulty.
Make sure it's easy for everyone who plans on carrying them: People will inevitably have different preferences as far as size goes as well as how much weight they'd prefer not carry throughout the weekend (or weeklong event). If possible, try putting together mockups beforehand using whatever materials are available in order figure out how big or small would work best for each person's needs before cutting down costs by purchasing materials based on those dimensions alone! PVC pipes are tall and light but they’re not collapsible. No one wants to have to bring duct tape to an event.
Have fun with it – totems are a great way to express yourself and can make for a great time at festivals.
Totems are a great way to express yourself and can make for a great time at festivals. You can use them to help find your crew or friends, or even just to help you find the tent you're staying in!
Conclusion
Relax, have fun and enjoy yourself! A totem is a great way to express yourself and can make for a great time at festivals. Don’t be afraid to get creative and if it takes you some time to make an awesome totem – take your time! As long as you put in the effort it will pay off in the end.