Two for Tuesday: Technology and Festivals

From holograms of deceased artists, to being able to share memories instantly online, technology has changed the way we enjoy festivals. Today, the smart phone is a must accessory at any fest. As an avid music festival goer and social media addict, I love capturing memories and sharing them online. I’m proud to be one of the 66 percent of concert goers who takes pictures at concerts on their smart phones. On this 80-degree, sunshiny Two for Tuesday (note the official first day of summer is just around the corner), I’m highlighting two festivals going on this weekend.

Spring Awakening Music Festival

For the second year, Spring Awakening Music Festival (SAMF) returns to Soldier Field for three days. The electronic dance music (EDM) fest is brought to life by many of the same men who founded North Coast Music Festival (which takes place during Labor Day weekend at Union Park). Last year, I had an amazing time capturing memories at the fest with my smart phone (except for having to lock my phone away on Saturday while a sudden rainstorm hit halfway through the three-time Grammy winner Skrillex’s mesmerizing set). Capturing images and video is great, but let me tell you that putting my phone away was completely worth it because it let me be in the moment. But then again, I also enjoy flipping through my old Facebook photos to remember how much of a great time I had. This year, four stages will feature an array or well-known EDM artists including headliners, Moby DJ, R3hab, Calvin Harris and Bassnectar, along with 75 other artists and DJs. Over 75,000 attendees will fill the area where some of the greatest athletes ever took the field – at the home of the Chicago Bears – bearing down to the music beats!

Bonnaroo

I’ve been to my fair share of concerts and festivals in Chicago, including, North Coast Music Festival, Lollapalooza and Wavefront (just to name a few),but this year I have planned to miss Spring Awakening Music Festival and venture off to Manchester, Tennessee for Bonnaroo! After hearing so many stories from other people about their experiences at the four-day fest, I decided I HAD to go. I hear it’s not quite like the rest, and I can’t even grasp what kind of experience I’ll have. To prepare, I’ve read plenty of articles and asked people what I should bring/ expect. I think it may be uncomfortable to be away from home and be able to go back to my comfy bed to sleep, but I’m coming prepared for the festival—aka I’ve packed bug spray and lots of it. Yes, as a city girl on a 700 acre camp site, that is a MUST (not to mention I’m super paranoid about bugs that are on or around me). Aside from that, I haven’t been this excited for a short trip in a while – this is a fest that will be very different from the rest. Paul McCartney, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Billy Idol, Of Monsters and Men, Empire of the Sun, Pretty Lights, Daniel Tosh, Wolfgang Gartner, Matt & Kim, and The XX (plus many more) are some of the artists I’m looking forward to seeing. I just hope it doesn’t rain for those performances (if it does, I hope it’s like the Skrillex experience I had at SAMF last year—which was a blast anyway). I’d like to capture everything with my smart phone to share with all my Facebook friends and family. As a social media enthusiast, I love contributing to the about 23% of people who send Facebook updates or tweets from a live event. Go ahead, find me online to see all the live action in Tennessee (or maybe don’t find me online, that’s a bit creepy). Anyhow, Roo, here I come!

Will you be there?

Cover Photo Source: Tor Jørund Pedersen via Flickr
Photo Source 1: swimfinfanvia Flickr
Photo Source 2: stab at sleep via Flickr

Nicole Hernandez is the social media manager at SJG. She’s a Chicagoan who graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in Public Relations & Advertising and minor in Journalism. Nicole is known to her peers as being online all the time –  while on her spare time you can find her taking footage on her phone while she’s rocking out at music festivals. She’s also training to be the new water girl at Chicago Bulls games (in her dreams).