The Complex Guide to Surviving the Roots Picnic

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It's the first weekend in June, meaning Philly's favorite group of Renaissance men, The Roots, kick off summer with their annual music festival. The ante has been upped for the fifth-annual Roots Picnic, where, for the first time ever, the festival will last two days. With acts such as Kid Cudi, Wale, and De La Soul headlining, expect a weekend to remember. Stakes is high, after all.

Because they're trying something new this year, and because we want you to enjoy it to the fullest, Complex is providing you with a few simple rules to make it through both days of this celebration. Adhering to this advice will help you get the most out of the experience, so, without further interruption, on to the next movement.

Remember: It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Written by Julian Kimble (@JRK316).

Follow @ComplexGuide.

No Ticket? No Problem

So, you didn’t buy a ticket and you don’t have a hookup, eh? Don’t worry, because it’s a given that plenty of people will be scalping tickets outside. If you’re desperate enough to cheat the concert, go ahead and roll the dice. Then again, you might be lucky enough to have someone bless you with free tickets—just make sure they’re official. Don't expect that, though.

Eat Beforehand

There will be plenty of vendors, but they will bang you over the head with their prices. You should obviously bring money (cash, specifically), but you're better off leaving with all of it still in your pocket. More important, you’ll want something in your stomach to soak up the liquor you’ll most likely imbibe.

Don’t Try To Bring Liquor Inside

Just don’t do it; you’ll get deaded at the entrance. This will force you to either trash it, or take a stroll down either Delaware Avenue or Columbus Boulevard in an attempt to inconspicuously down it, which might not go well. 

Leave the Stash at Home

Look, people will sneak drugs inside, that’s just the reality of every concert and music festival. However, because you aren’t Rihanna, you run the risk of security seizing your stash, or possibly worse. Keep in mind that there will be plenty of, um, “entrepreneurs” on the prowl, because a two day concert is a dealer’s paradise.

Get There at a Reasonable Hour

It’s cool to be fashionably late, but don’t get too out of pocket. The big acts are going to perform later, but you run the risk of missing the dope small acts. More important, the longer you wait, the harder you might have to battle to get to the front row—if that’s your thing. 

Find a Good Spot to Post Up

If you don’t get a seat in the bleachers, don’t worry—just mill around until you find a good place to chill. This will be clutch for the wait between acts, and trust us, there will be at least one lengthy wait. Also, don't bring a chair; you'll only end up looking like a clown. Not because chairs are wack, but because they aren't allowed.

Dress for the Weather

This is extremely important, because the show’s going down rain or shine—and it isn’t always sunny in Philadelphia. Fortunately, the forecast for Philly this weekend in the mid to upper 70s, but there’s a 30 percent chance of showers today. Dress appropriately, and don’t stray too far from the tents.

Don’t Be a Fanboy

Live for the moment and bring a camera, because you never know who—or what—you might see. However, don’t embarrass yourself if you see a random celeb or an artist. They might look like stars—but only on camera.

Let Your Phone Chill

Go H.A.M on Instagram all you want, but keep in mind that you might kill your battery. Plus, the show is on the stage, not on the Internet. Now, while Twitter can provide you with crucial concert updates, the difference between you and everyone else not at the show is that they’re not at the show.

Pace Yourself

Whether you’re going to one day, or you bossed up and bought that two days pass, the most important thing is to enjoy the music. If you go too hard before or during the show, not only is there a good chance that you’ll be too bodied to enjoy all of the artists (especially your favorite), but you’ll have wasted money and possibly embarrassed yourself. That’s never a good look.