Sand in My Boots: Festival Tips

Over the past decade, I’ve been to and photographed festivals in Panama City, Pensacola, Mobile, and Gulf Shores. I've noticed a few things that may make your festival experience a little bit better.

Sand in My Boots Fest is less than a week away in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Most of these tips apply to any festival but some are tailored specifically to the SIMB's beach site.

And we’re gonna get into some things that seem a little negative but just bear with me. If you can avoid some of these things, the rest of the weekend will be even better.

Alright let’s get into it. And start with a big one. 

If you are going to let the liquor talk, know when to make it shut up! I’m not saying this as a grumpy old man. Have fun. But it hurts me when I see people so far gone they miss the festival. It’s hot, it’s a long day and a invariably a few people pass out, get carried out and miss the band they've been waiting to see for weeks. Don’t miss the show. Go easy on the alcohol.

Next up, drugs. If it’s illegal or not permitted inside, DON'T BRING IT! It's not worth it. Police are everywhere and I can’t speak about this particular fest because I don’t know the details, but in the past at other festivals there have been plain clothes officers inside. I’ve seen people arrested at bag check and I’ve seen people carried out in cuffs from inside. Alabama cops ain't playin'. Same thing as before, don’t screw up your whole weekend.

Okay here, I’m gonna sound like your mom but wear sunscreen. Every fest, on the second and third day there are lobster people walking around in pain. Mostly guys but not all. It just makes the festival a lot less fun.

Next, ear protection. I’m a concert photographer and I’m right up against the speakers for a lot of the weekend so maybe I’m more conscious of this one. But just the nature of the festival means it’s gonna be loud wherever you are, especially if you make it close to the rail. So consider some ear protection. But more importantly, this is an all age festival so if you bring young ones, PLEASE make them wear ear protection. The hearing damage can be permanent!

The positive to the volume is you can hear from waaaay back so if you want to get away from the packed crowd and drift to the back or even to the food area, you can still enjoy the show. One of my favorite festival memories is of the Foo Fighters playing on Pensacola Beach. I dropped to the back, dug myself a little sand chair, kicked back next to the Gulf and listened to Best of You. Magical.

Now let's get controversial. Boots!? I’ve seen a few festival fit videos and most talk about boots. I know, it’s the name of the festival, but personally, just me, I would not wear boots to walk all day on the beach. There’s a boardwalk between but it’s still a hike from stage to stage. And walking on Gulf Coast sand is tough under the best of circumstances but in boots all day, my feet would be gone. Plus, if you’ve got good boots, sand and salt water are terrible for them. Just my two cents. You do you. 😀

Here's another big one. There’re gonna be lines. There’s going to be a lot of people.  This thing is sold out. So just have fun, even when it’s hard. It’s gonna be hot and you’ll be tired and some will be a little tipsy and you’re gonna be bumping into and sometimes pressed up against other people. LET THINGS SLIDE! Somebody bumps into you. No problem dude. High five and move on. Leave the egos in the truck and bring in your patience because they will also drag you out in an instant for fighting.

There’s a specific clear bag policy like most events now and there’s a complete list of what you can bring in and what you can’t on the festival site. Too much to go over in detail here but check it out BEFORE you head to the gates.

Next, make a plan. Sand in My Boots is a little smaller than Hangout Fest was and there’s very little overlap between acts so you can catch most everybody. But, decide who you really want to see and plan, meals, bathroom breaks and other acts around the ones who are most important to you so you don’t miss them.

That's it. The "negative" and technical stuff is out of the way so here’s the good news. All of that was because I want you to love and enjoy music festivals as much as I do. I love the entire atmosphere with good music, friends, food, and the beach. It’s a beautiful, weekend long escape from reality.

I’m usually “working” the fest, photographing the artists and fans so my experience is a little different but I still love it. Andy and I will be at Sand in My Boots with Scene Pensacola so if you see us, say hey. I’ll be taking tons of fan photos so grab me and I’ll photograph you or your group, boots or not. Then we’ll post a bunch of those photos when we get back so watch out for them.

Any questions or anything I missed, let me know. See you at the beach.

In case you missed it: Day 1 Preview, Day 2 Preview and Day 3 Preview.