Tomorrowland 2013 from a Rager's Perspective

So the Tomorrowland Aftermovie was officially released today. I remembered the last two years exactly on this day I was sitting in front of my PC at work thinking "Damn! I need to be there and show them how to rage!" Well this year I actually went, and was part of all the madness. I figured after watching the video, it would be a good opportunity for me to share a few pointers and thoughts for those of you looking to lose your Tomorrowland virginity as well.

If you haven't seen the official 2013 After Movie, click on the link below. It's moving shit just like every year:

My top 15 Recommendations for a Tomorrowland Newb

One: Do Dreamville camping instead of any other accommodation option.  You can setup wherever you want and make new friends!  Hotel people pretty much missed half the fun of the TL experience. How do you guys think I made a train car full of new friends from different countries after losing ALL of the friends I came with?

Came with no friends, left with hook ups in 5 countries

Two: Plan to go for FOUR days of festival. The Dreamville pre party is a rage-a-thon which lasts an entire day. Pretty much come here as soon as you setup your tent.

Three: While are you are at the Dreamville party, grab yourself a drink and keep the plastic cup. You will never get a chance to get another one. Also keep your daily newspapers as memorabilia.  Two of my three copies got destroyed in the rain unfortunately.

Four: BBQ'in or any type of cooking is almost impossible, especially if you are traveling by air. Also who wants to cook when you are hung over. I kept my meals simple, or just bought them at the many dining options available in Dreamville. They actually had pretty good Mexican food believe it or not. Our go to drunk munchies was of course Belgian fries (fries with soaked in ketchup and mayo). 

Five: Rep your country, and rep it hard. Except if you are from Cali, then the Republic of California is your actual country.

Rep your country each and everyday 

Six: When europeans yell "hey.." respond by saying "ho!" It means you are really raging hard to a set with the crowd. Infact, I started a few of my own without even knowing the significance of it.

Seven: They didn't show much of the thunderstorm which pretty much took over day two of the festival. Rain boots and ponchos could be essential since it rains a lot in Boom. Spend a little extra and get yourself a tent that doesn't flood. Also be mindful of where you setup your tent. Some areas at camp are prone to flooding.

Eight: Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, the home town boys ruled the entire weekend. I m not sure where that closing set came from, or if they got outside help on putting it together. It was an epic set that you would expect a Tiesto or Guetta of 2011 to close with. From the Dreamville party to the festival, they made it known that they were the hometown favorites.

Nine: Most of the focus was on the main stage in the video, but there is more to it! Just remember that the main stage 1/15th of the fun you could be having somewhere else. The best rage honestly was discovering a random stage hidden underneath a bridge or just simply following the music with a few friends. (Yes there is a stage underneath a bridge and another one in between a food stand).

Ten: Samsung Galaxy Secret forest was a great place to meet your friends. It's located almost in the direct center of the festival, and also away from the crowded areas.

Eleven: Guys on guy's shoulders. It's perfectly common in Europe. Call it a bro bonding experience.

So many places to get drinks from, theres no reason not to (Elise Loeb)

Twelve: Don't expect to bring a random ratchet with you to The Church of Love. That is what your tent is for. Besides you don't want to catch an STD while you are in Europe.

Thirteen: Since tokens are used throughout the festival and Dreamville, I found it easier to get wasted on that high quality European beer such as Desperados (6% + tequilla) or double fisting Maes Pils which are 3-4 tokens max. While mixed drinks start at 6 tokens, they aren't very strong and run out fast.

Fourteen: Buy a booze bag! It comes with a collectible bag, and a Tomorrowland phone book. Also tokens to get your schwaste started.

Fifteen: Lastly if you are thinking about going, your only realistic shot of getting a ticket is through the Global Journey travel package which gets released before all the other tiers of tickets. General public tickets sell out in 1-2 seconds, so your odds of getting one are slim to none.

Final Thoughts

It's hard to compare Tomorrowland to any of the other fests I have been to in the US, simply because there is nothing like it. I would say hands down it's the best organized festival out there strictly for EDM. Only Coachella can go head to head as far as size and organization, but still it's not an EDM only festival. Tomorrowland's venue is almost twice the size of Coachella. EDC Vegas still is the best EDM festival in the US, but it is about 1/8 the size of Tomorrowland.

We will have to see how TomorrowWorld turns out, but one thing for sure is that you can not duplicate the international rage like you can at TL. Imagine everyone there feeling like they have won the lottery (because it's impossible to get tickets) then raging balls to the walls daily. Also at the sametime people respect one another's cultures and also do their part in taking care of one another. I m glad I embarked on this journey and can't wait to do so again in 2015. To do this right, you do have to plan a year ahead. So I will start my planning again next year. If you guys have any questions feel free to send me a message or email. Those going next year, rage extra hard for me at the 10^th Anniversary!

There are more countries then the olympics here! (Elise Loeb)

The Light: Modern Day Ibiza Nightclub in Vegas

Vegas, please welcome Ibiza into the building. For the first time, Vegas has built a mega club that compares to the best in the world such as Pacha, Amnesia and maybe even Space Ibiza (nobody can really touch Privilege quite yet). I got in at a decent time with my friend Elise, and we lost some causalities to the pool during the day. Or else we would've had another epic ratio day. Fortunately our friend, and VP of customer development at the Light, Norman knows that scenario all too well.

Unlike the scene the night before at the MGM, the Light does in fact have a moving line and at the same time it is kept spread out and organized. It was very clear as to where the ticket holders, guest-list and table service clients should line up. We walked up to the very first person at the ropes, and he was able to quickly point us to Norman right away.  Within minutes we found him, and exchanged a few pleasantries along with a token of appreciation and IN we go.

As soon as we walked in, we heard the loud bass thumping from the dance floor. We already knew the sound system was on point in comparison to Hakkasan. There was only one room, so they didn't need to noise proof the main room with worries of sound leaks into other places. As we turned the corner and finally saw the dance floor, we saw an arena full of madness. There were Cirque the Soleil performers dangling from the ceilings, and rage all around. Surprisingly it was spread out rage, so there was plenty of empty room for us to cruise all the way to the front of the stage. DJ Stellar started the night out with some epic tech house to get the dance floor moving in the right direction.

DJ Stellar throwing down the tech house

We decided to cruise around, and this place is absolutely huge. The best way to describe the stage, is a club with a built in rave sized HD stage. HD as in being wider then your normal stage. This allows room for a wider dance floor, thus way more room to rage and dance. The best part is that this place comes with a second level balcony just as spacious as walkways of the first level. The bathrooms for both male and females are on both floors!  These bathrooms were in the perfect location, the corners of the club, where one with common sense would think to put them. The bars were built along the entire back wall, and there are plenty of waiters and waitresses ready to serve you with minimum wait and maximum service.

Bottle popping time, and with tons of Light

As the night progressed from the opening DJ to the next, the production value went up by a notch progressively until the ultimate build up. Following Stellar, Sebastian Drums threw together a high energy progressive house set which got the liquor flowing. My connect Kirk whos in with the security got us into the VIP section for a better of the stage, and more room to rage without bumping into anyone. I would say, I m surprised by the amount of Dom Perignon Magnums ordered at a consistent rate at these center aisle tables. I had a chance to go over the price list for the tables at the Light beforehand, and it is along the lines of XS and other clubs in Vegas. Unlike Hakkasan where there is a clear inflation of prices, and unfilled tables. 

The Light - Way too much going on at any given time

Every few minutes the dance floor was flooded by confetti, with an act behind stage, a gymnast doing tricks from the ceiling and even a go go would pop up out of no where start dancing. It was a complete sensory overload. The last time I had a feeling like this within a night club was most definitely in Ibiza. By the time Thomas Gold the main DJ came on, the entire club turned into a set for main stage DJ at EDC.  After the night was over, I believe I found my new favorite club in Ibiza, wait Vegas. Which fortunately is only a few hours away. I will most definitely be coming back for years to come.  For all of your Light Nightclub reservations inquiries, please contact Norman Ly at 702.688.9115 and tell him I sent you.

Hakkasan: Does 100 Million Turn into Vegas Rage?

One of the most hyped clubs since last year has been the Hakkasan. When I was at WMC this year in Miami, I saw cab after cab advertising for this place. After a month goes by, I heard many reviews both positive and negative and I thought the only way to find out is to go see it for myself. On this particular trip, I will be doing a preview and comparison between two of the newest mega nightclubs that Vegas has built to cater to the EDM crowd.  My other review will be on the Light at Mandalay Bay.

Located at the MGM Grand, the prime real estate serves as a convenient spot for the South end strip dwellers. Most of the younger crowd ends up staying at hotels around this area to be close to all the clubs without spending a fortune on cabs.  I didn't get checked into my hotel at the Platinum (by Ballys) until 9:30 and somehow I had enough to get changed in my Vegas bests (tie, vest and the whole 9 yards) and still make it to the club by 10:45.  I had a fairly good ratio of females with me and I had already texted my long time host which worked at Wet Republic, Thomas to get me us in.

Ratios. Don't leave home without them in Vegas. RK and Anatasia from EDME

As I approached the club, it was a zoo surrounding the place. Also the guestlist line wrapped around the building and into the hallway where the stores are. Finding Thomas was almost impossible, especially when he caters to mostly the higher end clientele and was probably busy seating one of his 25K min tables that he sold on that particular night. Thomas directed me to someone else that worked the ropes at the front, and he was able to get our group of ladies in smoothly. The process after getting past the ropes didn't last more then 5 mins after the bouncers checked your credentials for entry.

I physically set foot in the club at about 11:15 PM, and the dance floor was still not crowded. I managed to get a quick tour of the entire place and found a few sweet spots where the bass hit very well. Surprisingly the sound on the dance floor itself is not as loud as the second level. Another thing I notice is that the crowd tends to flow from the right side of the dance floor. If you are entering the dance floor, you would probably have an easier time staying on the left without being bumped into.  By midnight, all bets are off for free movement on the dancefloor.

11:15 is about the only time when there is room on the floor

One of the gripes I read a lot on the other reviews was that there are too many stairs. I did not find this to be an issue at all. If you are comparing the stairs that are at Marquee, these are just baby steps. There is also an elevator that takes you to two places, the exit or the downstairs hip hop room. The guys working the elevator specifically tell you where they are going, so make sure you take the right one.

So finally I decided I had enough with getting bumped into with the sub-standard opening EDM acts, and I went to the hip hop room with Chris, a promoter from Light that I met that night. We took the elevator down and I heard nothing but ratchet music and tons of smoke. People were definitely getting their party on. In the hip hop room there is actual dance space, and it seemed the crowd was able to have more fun. I spent a good 45 minutes down here before it was almost time for main act to come on at the main stage.

Dada Life as the main DJs at Hakkasan

When Dada Life finally came on, it seems like the lighting and volume increased and the production value went up. By production, I mean more confetti then ever before. Dada played a very expected set. It wasn't one I haven't heard before from other festivals and clubs. I think the problem with signing resident DJs that play every other week is that they tend to lose interest in changing it up for the crowd. It's probably more of a problem in Vegas now days then anywhere else.

Dada Life - Ending the Night by Kicking out the Epic

The night came and went. I can't say that it was let down. I also can't say it was mind blowing.  I think the owners really focused on keeping the restaurant element of Hakkasan and left out a few essentials that can probably help put this place over the top. The over crowding issue tends to occur at clubs converted from restaurants. I.e. Tao nightclub is almost unbearable on most nights with a full house. Hakkasan does have a few places for you to take a breather, only if you know where to look. I would definitely come back.

PS. I met my favorite dayclub hostess, Danny at Wet Republic. That, on its own made my night. For all your Hakkasan needs, contact Thomas Gorman at 702.340.6498. 

Hyde Beach - Over the top Prices, but Still Keeping Things Classy

For every WMC, I try to plan a venue with that’s considered the latest and greatest hotspot. Last year it was the Arkadia pool, this year it had to be Hyde Beach at the SLS Hotel which had its very first year of WMC pool parties.

The Afrojack "Kings of Ace" pool party brought a slew of dutch electro artists to the lineup including a few tech house acts as well. Knowing that drink prices are expensive in Miami at the top notch places, we came prepared with flasked sunscreen bottles of vodka to sneak in. The only problem was that all of us were wearing string bags, which for some god awful reason this particular place does not allow. In fact my whole time here, it felt like SLS just wanted to find ridiculous ways to make their patrons less welcomed and up their douche factor by making up rules on the fly.

The crew at Hyde Beach, special thanks Baha Hallaby

So after scrambling around, Mike, myself, Gio, Chirag and our lovely rager Canadia lady friends were on our way in. I manage to get at least one screen bottle snuck in through the single pocket of my board shorts. Michelle, one of our Canadia friends brought some of her north of the border magic and managed to sneak in a bag of chips in a full sized grocery bags. If we knew better, we would've had her help us start a picnic in there.

Mike wasn't able to sneak much in, so he ends up ordering the very first drink at the bar. Needless to say, his reaction to the bill was all I needed to hear. $52 for two Vodka redbulls. Wow! I thought LIV Nightclub was outrageous, but these guys take it to the top for a day party.

The weather was highly unstable, so there was the occasional rain that would come and go. Michelle, Liv (our other lovely Candia friend) and I found some comfortable refuge in the euro style salted and heated side pool. This isn't the main pool facing the stage, but one off the side for relaxation and fun in the sun. Even though the drink prices were outrageous, Hyde Beach was the only close to Vegas pool experience I got during my entire WMC. I never got in the water again the rest of my trip at any other pool parties.

As the day wore on, the DJs came after one another. The ones left over to rage in the rain were the true WMC enthusiasts that came to support their artists. I was there during R3hab's set, and I believe I missed Afrojack by an hour. This is a typical dilemma that happens during a week of pool and night club raging. I just had to leave at a decent time so I can get to my next party. Maybe next year I will plan an entire day around Hyde Beach because this venue delivers, with ridiculous prices and all.