Hints and Tips

This is a page for our hints and tips, you may find 'em useful, you may not, but what the hell. These are random tips from various members of the crew, in no particular order.

At the bottom is a list of hints and tips sent in by you guys. If you want to send any hints and tips in for us to use on this page, email them to me at:chris@leedsfesty.net
"On the day of the festival we usually get up pretty early to load the car. Basically all the crew makes their own way there, mostly by car, and the site normally opens at 10:30am on the First day, the day before the festival starts. Try and get there as early as possible to avoid queues and to get the best pogs for your tents."
"Pick a spot on the site away from the walkways, toilets, burger stands and water taps, but quite close to a wooded or hedged area for latenight/early morning toilet visits. Im not gonna tell you where we pitch our camp, because we dont want it nicking, so use your imaginations and get a good spot."
"Take some thick tape, the sort you see round holes in the road, to tape off your campsite so that you dont get unwanted visitors walking all over your tents when you are asleep or in the arena. Some people say that this cuts off the community spirit within the campsite, but everyone does it and it has no adverse effects on the friendliness factor"
"Dont take loads of bottles of pop or water, just take one big bottle of water and fill it up at the water stations as and when necessary. We took loads of bottles of cheap pop when we first went, and we ended up chucking all but one of them away the day we went home."
"Dont take loads of food. Take enough for something every morning and night, but we advise you take cash and buy your food in the day. This is because you will be down in the arena, a hefty walk from the campsite which you dont want to be doing everytime you are hungry. You can take nothing into the arena, food or drink, so to avoid walking miles and missing bands take as much cash as you can afford and buy what you need."
"Dont waste energy collecting firewood. You can on the first day 'cos there is nothing much to do, but after that go buy it from the arena. It was about £6 so it doesn't break the bank between the crew. Everyone does different things for fires, they are very personal things, but this is our prefered method. Ooh, and dont buy any on the last night because people burn their tents and for some strange reason their underwear. The plastic, synthetic stench will keep burning long into the night."
"To keep all of your tackle away from theiving hands, put everything in your tent and use a padlock to keep people out. Fair enough, if someone wants to get into your tent they will, but a padlock will be enough of a deterent to keep you safe from petty thieves. There aren't that many bad apples at the festival, but like anywhere in everyday life, you should be on your guard and keep an eye out for your mates."
Readers Tips
Tip submitted by: Ryan Walsh (walshie)
From: Manchester
: Beer (lots of it) but not as much carling as i brought. You get so sick of it cos it is the sponsor beer and only the beer you can buy onsite.

: SUNCREAM (I looked a right burnt tit on day three) (although not normally required ;o)- Matt)

: loadsa money so you can go to Sainsbury's

: Dont camp near any Mancunions. (Im from Manchester and so are my boys, some are dicks, some are not. We must have been neighbours from hell in the chilled out atmosphere. Every morning when one of us would go for a piss we would chant MANCHESTER NA NA NA.)
Tip submitted by: Assmaster
From: Leeds Crew Festival Forums
look at the hints and tips and all the stuff on this great web site, and take plenty of money and sum spare clothes u'll need them.
and hav fun, its hard not to...
Tip submitted by: Tinker (harcore forum warrior)
From: Leeds Crew Festival Forums
yea again look at the tips thing on here, most is mentioned................dont take valuables! erm if u do take sticky labels and stick em on everything u own and write "my stuff, nick or touch this and u die!!" lolol, or mebbe not!
2 pairs of shoes, case ya loose one and have to go on with one shoe all weekend, trust me - it sux!!! altho i found mine!!
Tip submitted by: Wayne
From: Email
Some advice. Do not under any circumstances camp on the really steap hill on the yellow site. My mate was a good 3 stone heavier than me and continually rolled onto me.

Oh and also...
If someone you know is having sex in the tent next to you interupting your beauty sleep quickly burst into the tent with a camera and photo them before they have time to react. Then threaten said people with photo saying that if they don't stop making that squelching noise right now that you will have the photo developed and put photocopies of it all over the pub
Tip submitted by: Lena
From: York
Here`s one we found very useful. Pack at least two tops for everyday and a pair of shorts/trousers for each day. If you`re gonna be jumping around alot and stuff then by the end of the day you`re gonna feel like shit so putting on a clean load the next day will feel very nice. it`s extra stuff to carry but it is very useful.
Tip submitted by: Andy Crossan
From: Via email.
"Never take 48 penguin chocolate biscuits, or 48 kit kats! Coz they just won't get eat in. Isn't that right STAN????!!!!!!
Tip submitted by: AndyJ5000@aol.com
From: Via email.
Food - preferably tins that require no cooking e.g. rice pudding, beans, just spoon it and love it for breakfast and at night. No washing required.
Have a big shit before you go. If you need one there, you will discover some ill sights looking for a usable bog so go early in the weekend.
enjoy.
Tip submitted by: Gareth Price
From: Via email.
Having been to all the Leeds Carling weekends, and not died yet, just thought I'd add my own tips....

1. Take a big water bottle. Water is your friend. It re-hydrates you, cools you down, and will allow you to drink more. A water bottle avoids trudging to the taps (or worse, camping by them) first thing in the morning, especially if you're a 'festival tart' (ie you like a wash) like me.)

2. A hat. Something that you can stick in your pocket and won't be too bothered about if it gets lost/nicked. Keeps you dry, and if last year was anything to go by, keeps your head from getting painfully burnt (after my hat got nicked).

3. Take it easy. Remember, you've got three days to get through- this is a marathon, not a sprint. And even on the last night, you're gonna have to pack tomorrow.

Oh, and I'd just thought I'd add in my little bit about rioting. Over the last three years, its gone, in my opinion, from youthful high-jinx on the last night, to something far more sinister (riot police on the
site!?!). Just keep it calm!

Cheers. If you see me, wave.
Tip submitted by: marsherbraidy
From: Via email.
Do not camp next to big smelly scots.they are not ur friend,and if they are your friend then then u should definately not camp near them,as they may decide to cling on to you for ever and be ur mate!dont fall into hole where ppl have urinated its jst not good,and never go to the porta loos on the road to sainsburys after french ppl,they kno how to shit big time,
MOST IMPORTANTLY dont shout BOLLOX! shout MULLET and POTNOODLE or if ur really drunk try HEAR SAY!!! they are bound to get the camp site goin as we proved last year,
and dont eat from the van of death,despite its appealing name. x x
Tip submitted by: Peter Stephenson
From: Via email.
1)Usually get to the main enterance as close to the opening time as possible. Lots of people will have the same idea but you will get a campsite that isn't, well... shit.

2) When picking a campsite, find a water supply nearby and camp away from it. Water + Ground = Mud and no sleep. This also go's for not camping at the bottom of a hill. If there is rain on your weekend of fun, it all flows to the bottom of the hill and your not sleeping, your swimming.

3) Don't camp near NE walls. They are used to shit behind and on the last night, it is likely that they'll be pushed over by some stupid B*****d.

4) After camping, make friends with the locals around your campsite. You never know when you might have to borrow something from these people. You will also come out with some kick ass friends at the end.
5) take lots of clothes, at least two tops for everyday and at least on pair of trousers/shorts for each day.

6) For some reason, last year i saw people with sk8eboards. Don't bother, there is not a solid piece of concrete around.

7) If you are on this site, reading this, take note. Use as much of the advice that this site has to offer for the next and possibly last Leeds Festival. Have a bitchin' time and hope to see some of you there!

Peace Out!!
Tip submitted by: Black-Out (hardcore forum member)
From: Via email.

Black_out here...
just thought i'd add a few of my own.

Spare clothes: put some clothes in a water-tight bag..when it's time to go home home, u'll be mingin'...some fresh, clean, dry clothes, will make u feel a lot better

Re-sealable bags: u can use these instead of a water-tight plastic box...their uses are endless, and most importantly...they're space efficient

Toiletries: being clean, always helps to lift ur mood (in other words, ur hangover!) yet u don't have the luxury of a shower/bath, in the middle of a field...a toothbrush, deodorant, an' baby-wipes are a God- send...an' if ur a real ponce (like moi), a small mirror is also a nice accessary to have..i've managed to get this liquid soap stuff, where u don't need to use water!

Disposable lighters: u can get a bag 'em off the market, for a quid or summit..they always come in handy...the most annoying thing, is that the only lighter u bring with u gets lost...or, packs in, when ur half way through skinnin' up....it's always good to have spares for emergency

Groundsheet: if u've got enough room, a groundsheet definately comes in handy..lets face it, it will rain...an' u don't wanna be gettin' a wet arse when ur sitin' round ur campfire..

gaffer tape: always useful, for patchin' stuff up...rock-burns in ur tent etc...

String: very handy...if u've got a groundsheet, u can use them together, to link up ur tents...i had loadsa ppl in my tent last year, an' it was a bit cramped..linkin' ur tents together doubles ur space

Newspaper: when u go to buy ur booze, buy a newspaper...not only can u keep up with current events, but u can also use it to help start ur fire..

Blade: some sorta blade, i.e a hatchet, knife, hacksaw, also comes in handy when on the hunt for firewood

Tip submitted by: Paul Mallinson
From: Via email.
Basically us dudes back in Otley recomend a 'Gezebo'.
You may think its a pricey thing to b taken but its worth it 4sure.
It'll protect u from rain or ......shine (if ur that sort of a person). And food fights!!!!

Enjoy and remember be safe be cained be happy. Bring on the fest!!!

Sparks and mouse.
Tip submitted by: J Benito
From: Via email.
1. Take a cheap guitar, lady magnet.
2. If your watching a heavy band watch your back coz
somebody is likely to land on your head
3. Pro-plus is a must, they sell it at Sainsburys
4. Dont buy drugs off people who are going from tent
to tent shouting "Pills, Hash, Trips" they're out to
rob ya.
5. Dont wear your new trainers, buy some cheap ones
before you go as shoes and trainers will be
ruined/lost almost guaranteed.

Have a great time, see ya there.

Ben
Tip submitted by: MOSHMAN, Newcastle
From: Via email.
1st- make sure u go and that ur not going on holiday, and if ur parents try and make u like they made me 2 years ago when all my other friends were going and they said that i could go back early for it but instead they lied and we nearly died in a car- then just cry, scream, say ur favorite band are playing, a girl (or boy) u really like is goin or even pretend to go on holiday but at the last minute suprise everyone by running away to leeds.
2nd- when u travel their it may be an idea to get a train unless u live in leeds in which it would be quite ridiculous. This is because i don't like cars and its far quicker by train. On the way back it may be better to get in a car coz u really can't be bothered to walk to the train. but watch out for ur sensible friend whose driving- He's had NO SLEEP, 25 pills and has only had his licence for 1 month TOP TIP- keep him awake with red bulls, stopping every other lay-by and the ocassional prod. give him driving advice he'll listen to u coz he's sensible and so are u. this can also make the drive back more interesting, the chance of dieing will pump u full of adrenoline.
QUICK TIPS
a) shout bollox or anything else in ur annoying accent and recieve more points on ur twa-to-meter
b) bring ciggarettes. Even if u don't smoke still bring a big supply because the last nite, when the shops are shut, prices go up to £6 a pack. Worst news is that their silk cut and annoying. If u buy your packs for £2 each then u can maybe sell them. Sell anything, make profits, stimulate the economy, people will buy anything.