I remember my first Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) back in 2013 with vivid clarity. I was fresh out of college, with that mix of wide-eyed innocence and eagerness to explore the world. The EDM scene beckoned with its vibrant beats, tantalizing lights, and an eclectic community of like-minded souls. And EDC? It was the mecca of this world. I had scraped together just enough to buy the ticket, setting me back around $300. At the time, I remember gulping at the thought of spending such a sum. However, the allure of the festival experience was too strong to resist. Little did I know, as I danced under the neon lights and booming bass, that a decade later, the cost of the same festival would nearly triple.
My 2013 EDC Diary:
1. Tickets: At $300, the ticket wasn’t cheap for my freshly graduated self, but it promised an experience like no other.
2. Food and Drinks: I recall budgeting around $50 per day. The prices inside the festival weren’t exorbitant then. A bottle of water or a soft drink was about $5, and a satisfying meal could be had for around $15.
3. Travel and Stay: Teaming up with a few friends, we drove down in a beat-up sedan, sharing the gas expense. All in all, each of us spent about $40 on fuel. We crashed at a budget motel – nothing fancy, but it was a place to rest our heads. Splitting the costs, it came to around $70 each for our festival stay.
4. Festival Merch and Extras: I had set aside an additional $100 for festival merchandise, a souvenir to commemorate my first EDC.
Total 2013 EDC Experience: Approximately $660
Flash Forward: EDC 2023
1. Tickets: My heart skipped a beat when I saw this year’s ticket price — a staggering $850. The same EDC magic, but at a significantly steeper price.
2. Food and Drinks: The festival’s food and drink prices had soared. A bottle of water now sold for $10, while a meal, even the most basic one, wouldn’t come under $20. Over the festival’s duration, I found myself spending close to $150 just on sustenance.
3. Travel and Stay: Gas prices had skyrocketed, and our shared road trip, once a cost-saving strategy, now saw each of us shelling out almost $80. Accommodation rates had risen too. Even after scouting for deals and splitting the cost, I had to part with about $200.
4. Festival Merch and Extras: EDC merchandise, which once seemed like an affordable memento, now came with inflated price tags. Yet, nostalgia compelled me to allocate around $150 for this.
Total 2023 EDC Experience: A substantial $1,230
It wasn’t just about the money. As the years passed, EDC evolved, incorporating more elaborate stage designs, enhanced production quality, and top-tier line-ups. This evolution, while incredible, came at a cost.
However, the EDM community, known for its resilience and adaptability, found ways to cope. Early bird tickets became gold, local festivals saw increased attendance, and community-driven events, like house parties with local DJs, began to thrive.
My EDC journey, spanning a decade, is a mirror to the broader economic shifts and the changing face of the music festival landscape. Yet, at its heart, the essence remains unchanged. The music, the community, and the shared experiences still resonate deeply, even if our wallets feel a tad lighter. The hope is that as we move forward, we can find a balance — one that ensures both the sustainability of these events and the accessibility for ardent fans.
Worlds By: Abel Hernandez
