What you need for an electronic music festival
An electronic music festival needs more than DJs and speakers. Your shopping list also has to cover safe cable routing, crowd control, lighting, artist areas and the basic supplies that keep bars and entry points moving. Use the planned attendance to scale drinks, wristbands and consumables, then confirm technical quantities with the sound and lighting suppliers. Buy or collect small essentials at least two days before opening; replacing a missing cable or battery on festival day is much harder.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tentsqty 3
- Stage floor
- Beer tablesqty 12
- Tall cocktail tablesqty 8
- Folding chairsqty 40
- Bar stoolsqty 12
- Bar blocksqty 3
- Crowd barriersqty 30
- Dressing room racksqty 4
- Clothes hangersqty 40
Equipment
- DJ table
- DJ mixersqty 2
- DJ media playersqty 2
- Speakersqty 4
- Subwoofersqty 2
- Monitor speakersqty 2
- Mixing console
- Microphonesqty 3
- DI boxesqty 2
- XLR cablesqty 12
- Audio cablesqty 8
- Cable reelsqty 6
- Extension cordsqty 12
- Cable matsqty 20
- Ticket scannersqty 3
- Walkie-talkiesqty 8
- Power banksqty 6
- Megaphonesqty 2
Lighting
- LED spotlightsqty 12
- Moving headsqty 6
- Strobesqty 2
- Light standsqty 4
- String lightsqty 8
- Battery lanternsqty 12
Tableware
- Reusable drinking cupsqty 500
- Wine glassesqty 60
- Platesqty 150
- Cutlery setsqty 150
- Serving traysqty 20
- Serving tongsqty 10
Kitchen
- Refrigeratorsqty 3
- Coolersqty 4
- Ice containersqty 4
- Cutting boardsqty 6
- Paring knivesqty 6
- Small bowlsqty 20
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Kettlesqty 2
- Fire extinguishersqty 6
- First aid kitsqty 2
- Emergency blanketsqty 10
Decorations
- Festival Flagsqty 30
- Stage drapesqty 4
- Balloon archesqty 2
- Tableclothsqty 20
- Postersqty 20
- Directional signsqty 12
- Wristbandsqty 400
- Name stickersqty 300
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 20
- Litter pickersqty 4
- Broomsqty 6
- Floor squeegeesqty 3
- Bucketsqty 6
- Mopsqty 6
- Cleaning cartsqty 2
- Hand soap dispensersqty 8
- Sanitizer pumpsqty 8
- Toilet brushesqty 6
Catering
- Groceries
- Spa Blauw - 240 bottles
- Spa Rood - 120 bottles
- Cola - 48 liters
- Cola Zero - 36 liter
- Orange soda - 24 liters
- Tonic - 12 liters
- Ginger beer - 12 liters
- Iced tea - 24 liters
- Energy drink - 120 cans
- Non-alcoholic beer - 72 bottles
- Pilsner - 360 bottles
- White beer - 72 bottles
- Rosé - 24 bottles
- White wine - 18 bottles
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- Prosecco - 12 bottles
- Gin - 4 bottles
- Vodka - 4 bottles
- Rum - 3 bottles
- Whisky - 2 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea bags - 200 pieces
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Lemons - 5 kilo
- Limes - 4 kilos
- Mint - 10 bunches
- Ice cubes - 80 kilos
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Salt sticks - 8 bags
- Peanuts - 6 bags
- Mixed nuts - 6 bags
- Olives - 6 jars
- Hummus - 12 tubs
- Salsa sauce - 8 jars
- Cucumbers - 20 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 5 kilo
- Carrots - 5 kilos
- Bell peppers - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 6 kilos
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Wraps - 120 pieces
- Mini rolls - 180 pieces
- Young cheese - 5 kilos
- Brie - 3 kilo
- Hummus wrap filling - 5 kilos
- Sliced chicken breast - 4 kilos
- Arugula - 2 kilos
- Lettuce - 10 heads
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Balsamic vinegar - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Garlic powder - 250 grams
- Spice mix - 6 jars
- Coffee cups - 300 pieces
- Stirrers - 300 pieces
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Straws - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 8 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 8 bottles
- Trash bags - 200 pieces
- Pedal bin liners - 100 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 6 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 10 packs
- Sponges - 20 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 20 pairs
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Diet cookies - 6 packs
- Gluten-free wraps - 24 pieces
- Vegan cheese - 2 kilo
- Vegan spread - 2 kilos
Tips
- Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour. Add water separately and keep a reserve for performers, volunteers and security.
- Count wristbands and tickets against the guest list, then add at least 5% spare stock. Pack them by entry point so volunteers are not sorting supplies while the queue is open.
- Measure every cable run before buying or collecting XLR cables, audio cables, extension cords and cable reels. Keep cable mats for every route crossing a walkway, including the run to the DJ table.
- Allow one barrier section for each high-pressure area, such as the stage front, entrance and queue lanes. Check that lighting stands, speakers and subwoofers do not narrow evacuation routes.
- Prepare the artist area before the first performer arrives: dressing room racks, hangers, bar stools and basic refreshments should be in place at least 60 minutes before soundcheck.
Frequently asked questions
- What drinks do I need for an electronic music festival?
- For the first hour, plan two to three drinks per guest, followed by one drink per guest per hour. Include still and sparkling water, soft drinks and separate supplies for artists, volunteers and security.
- How many spare wristbands and tickets should I buy?
- Add at least 5% spare wristbands and tickets to the expected attendance. Keep separate counted packs for each entrance and store the reserve with the event lead.
- How early should I buy festival equipment and supplies?
- Buy consumables and small backup items at least two days before the festival. Confirm rented sound, lighting, toilet and security equipment several weeks ahead, then check all stock on the day before setup.
- How many cables and cable mats do I need for a music festival?
- Measure each route from the DJ table and mixing console to speakers, monitors and lighting positions, then add 10% spare cable length. Use a cable mat on every cable crossing a public walkway.
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