One of the things we often mention here at EDM Maniac is how music has the power to unify the world. Music is a universal language after all.
However, there is not one single musician, concert, festival, or musical entity of any kind that has unified the world like the Olympics.
Even in such times wrought with dismay, the entire world gathers together to watch the best athletes on the planet battle it out for the gold. Whether it’s watching the games on TV with your friends and family, or traveling to Rio to watch live with other people from around the world, the Olympics have a power to unify that goes even deeper than music.
Think about it. Just like you are getting together with your friends to watch the games, your favorite DJs, actors, authors, are all among the people getting together to watch the games too. Many of the top DJs are from all over Europe and other parts of the world, and just because they may live in America they sure as hell haven’t forgot where they’re from.
That may sound counterintuitive at first, uniting based on ones homeland which they may not share with anyone currently in their lives. But in reality it makes sense because people aren’t uniting based on their homelands. Their homelands are the ones competing. They’re uniting through the pride they feel in being a human being who was born in place that is represented in the Olympics.
Now take into account that almost every country on Earth competes on some level, and people are essentially taking pride in the fact that their human…which is an example the rave scene needs to be following.
Not a single country on Earth is denied from competing as long as they have athletes who qualify and they follow the rules.
If I’m not mistaken, that sounds a lot like festival culture.
No one will ever be turned away from a festival as long as they have a ticket and they follow the rules. Sure the idea of “qualifying” is removed from the equation except in regards to age, but following the rules involves more than just obeying the strictures listed on the events website. It involves being respectful of your fellow humans and of yourself. If you don’t follow those rules, the festival will not provide the same kind of joy an transformation compared to the people who do.
In a recent survey taken by Eventbrite, almost half of the people interviewed said they would rather attend a smaller festival, and I think the main reason for that is because a lot of people aren’t following the unwritten rules of festivals.
People assume that with less people, it’s more likely that everyone will be respectful of one another, allowing everyone to have the best time possible. Although it may be more likely by sheer numbers, if all the thousands of people at the bigger festivals were completely respectful then they would be just like what people think smaller festivals are.
No one’s winning a gold medal for being the best raver or being at the front rail the longest, yet people feel the need to push and shove and in many other ways disregard the people around them.
Of course everyone there wants to maximize their experience, but sometimes that means working with the people around you. Even after Michael Phelps would beat Ryan Lochte in a solo race, the two of them come together for the team relay and take the gold together.
Festivals and rave culture exist because of everyone there, not just one person, and everyone there deserves to have as much fun as everyone else. A true festie understands this and will feel good about contributing to that common spirit even if they had to take some losses along the way.
In a few days the Olympics will come to an end, but it’s important to remember that the real values of they Olympics only fade if we as humans allow them too. The best part is, because raves and festivals are becoming so big ravers have an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that those values are still very much alive.
After all, EDM is so big now that several artists including Kaskade, Bassnectar, and Skrillex have had their music played at the games, and even KYGO is performing at the closing ceremony. There may not be a rave that compares to the Olympics, but the culture is prominent enough that if it starts to really emulate the same values, it can have a real effect on the world.
So the next time you’re at a rave, think about the bigger picture. Think about how you as an individual can help create an environment of respect just like the Olympics. If thousands of these athletes can come together and respectfully compete, then it should be easy for a bunch of ravers to come together and respectfully party.
