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Festival season is almost upon us. Eager groups of friends have gathered conspiratorially around laptops for tickets, while piles of tents, wellies, face paints and sleeping bags have begun slowly to amass in the corners of hallways and living rooms across the country. The steady, growing ascent to the crescendo of the mosh pit, the glittering stages and the colourful lights cast across euphoric crowds is tangible at this time of year. But the glamour of festival life simply cannot be without the pragmatism of a good packing list. 

Before we take a deep dive into festival must-haves, a brief note on festival must-nots. According to Glastonbury Festival, anything made of glass can be dangerous and is likely to be confiscated (including mirrors and perfume bottles). It also suggests avoiding non-biodegradable body glitter. Non-biodegradable glitter is a damaging source of microplastic and can be dangerous, clogging pipes, hurting animals and even entering the human body. Another environmental no-go is the use of disposable wipes, and yes, even biodegradable wipes! They release greenhouse gases when they decompose, so making them less desirable than their manufacturers might care to admit. The Glastonbury organisers suggest a washcloth and a bar of soap – a much more eco-friendly alternative.

Your packing list needn’t be a chore to compose. Think of it like a more pragmatic, waterproof edit of your daily life…

All the Gear

The least glamorous but most important part of your list is your camping gear. Invest in a good quality tent that gives you a little slice of solace to return to when you need a break or a nap. Equally, a sleeping bag (and a roll mat or blow-up mattress) that keeps you warm will be your best friend when temperatures drop and the dancing stops. 

No matter the thought and consideration you’ve put into your festival attire, you’ll feel the benefit of even the least aesthetic rain jacket or a waterproof layer. It’s difficult to dry soggy clothes, especially denim, so make sure your favourite cut-offs are covered and dry for the return of the sunshine. 

Prepare to lose any style of footwear beyond a sturdy wellington boot as you trudge through the churned up mud at any festival this year. The beauty of the festival outfit is that it is only elevated by the cool, casual effect of muddy wellies. Think Kate Moss wearing a gold lurex mini dress and battered hunter wellies: the very pinnacle of festival chic. 

Clean Bandit

Beyond the Glastonbury-recommended soap and washcloth, there are some great hacks that keep you (almost) squeaky clean for the duration of a festival. The very first step starts at home. Your last shower should be the best shower you’ve ever had, but more than just savouring each drop of water, make sure you use an exfoliator to remove dead skin to give yourself a headstart. You should also give your hair a thorough wash, using lots of conditioner to ensure it looks its best before you forego any further care and attention for the next couple of days. 

In the absence of a shower, dry shampoo and rinse-free cleansers should be your go-tos. Shower gels that don’t require water actually remove grease and grime instead of just masking them, so you can be as clean as they make you feel.

Supporting Artists

Festival season just isn’t the same without just a few of everyday life’s creature comforts. Make sure you invest in a high-quality portable phone charger to avoid expensive mobile charging at festival charging points. This way, you can rest assured you can contact friends and family and have enough battery life for all those Instagram stories. 

For an eco-friendly spin on festival living, bring a reusable water bottle or coffee cup to cut down on waste and remind you to keep hydrated. 

Of course, you can’t expect to have the most restful nights at any festival, but there are ways to increase your chances of getting some quality sleep. Using earplugs and an eye mask will help you to summon a semblance of calm for a few hours a night, leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy the music and the atmosphere in the morning. 

By Amira Hashish

My creative studio Rapport thrives on working with global design, home, lifestyle and travel brands to shape their narrative through compelling stories and experiences. We work with everyone from Soho Home to SUITCASE Magazine to bring their stories to life. Event production and hosting is at the heart of our process. My background in journalism means I approach the production of an event rather similarly to working on an editorial piece. I encourage clients and collaborators to think of their events as key storytelling opportunities. They provide an opportunity to convey who you are to your audience in an engaging way. From the tablescape to the guestlist, here are some tips for creating a very special occasion that will live on beyond the big night. 

Identify The Story

I always like to start by sitting down with a brand and identifying what story they are hoping to convey through an event. Think about how you would like your guests to feel and what key messages you want them to take away from the experience. Also consider the demographic of your audience and what they enjoy. This applies to those who attend the event as well as everyone who is going to be consuming the content that comes out of it. The brand message should be woven in subtly through the narrative of the occasion. Forcing your agenda or logo is a definite no-go but creating a moment that feels truly exciting and special will naturally result in people spreading the word and create a synergy between you, the experience and those who are part of it.

Choose a Venue That Gels

If your brand or business was a space, what kind of aesthetic and ambience would it have? The moment guests arrive at your event it should feel as if they are stepping into your home base. The style and personality should be reflective of your story. Consider every detail down to the scent. For an event Rapport hosted with Diptyque, guests were taken on a scent profiling journey. The evening was split between three rooms and for different spaces and segments of the event – from the cocktail reception to a talk and a sit down dinner – there was an accompanying room scent. Lighting will also play a big role in conjuring the atmosphere. Consider whether the venue allows for the mood to change throughout and whether there is the opportunity for natural light or candlelight. 

Decide on Format & Flow

Consider whether the event will comprise varying stages. For example a talk, drinks reception and sit down dinner. Or whether you would like to keep things casual with standing-style canapés and chat. At Rapport we are particular fans of intimate suppers with a fun group of guests who enjoy sharing stories and getting to know one another. We like adding layers to the evening too. 

Soho House asked Rapport to arrange an event celebrating incredible women for International Women’s Day. We paired up fashion designer Stine Goya and UK MD of Diptyque Amanda Morgan. I spoke to them about the art of running super successful businesses in front of other inspiring women. We kept it cosy and comfortable with guests seated on vintage armchairs at the private events space in High Road House, Chiswick. Then it moved into a cocktail session in a neighbouring room before we revealed the candlelit supper table. The flow felt relaxed and gave everyone who attended the chance to warm up and connect with each other. Think about breaking tradition. Go beyond a welcome speech to immerse guests with your brand message in a way that feels engaging and relevant. Browse the IWD event here.

Curate The Invites & Guestlist

This comes back to your audience and your story. Gather a group of people who will have common interests and who are likely to have a fun time at your event. If you are hopeful that they will spread the word about your brand to their friends and followers think about who is likely to be interested in their experiences and whether there is a synergy between your audiences. Go for a quality over quantity approach. Inviting someone because they have a huge social media base isn’t necessarily effective. A true tastemaker whose small following is super engaged can be powerful for broadening out your message to the right circles. 

At Rapport we always personally invite guests who are friends of our creative studio. A generic ‘save the date’ invite is not our style. We tailor-make thoughtfully designed invites with an enclosed note about what the guest can expect from the event and why we would love them to attend. The seating plan is also super important and it should never be about status. ‘What do you care about?’ is a way more important question than ‘what do you do?’. We spend a long time figuring out who will enjoy each other’s company most. Ultimately we really want people to have a fabulous time. Seeing those moments of connection come to life is particularly thrilling.

Create a Thoughtful Tablescape

The right tablescape will give your event the wow factor and create a statement opportunity for capturing content. The big piece of advice here would be to factor in all the little details that will give the design as much substance as style. Weave in thoughtful touches that bring your story to life. 

At a Rapport event for Visit California and SUITCASE Magazine we were working with a theme of ‘California Creativity and Diversity,’ celebrating the destination and its commitment to hospitality. We hosted the event at the newly opened Short Stories Hotel in West Hollywood and every inch of the table was created to subtly nod to the theme. We sourced napkins made from vintage clothing fabric in a local flea market and hunted down matchbooks from old California restaurants that were the epitome of chic in their heyday. We collaborated with florist Christina Pack of Wild at Heart to line the table with beautiful blooms that tie in with the scheme. Guests were also greeted with our signature Rapport candles and bespoke notes on their table setting. It sparked discussion amongst people as well as working wonderfully for photos. Browse the California event here.

Capture Quality Content

The event should live on long after it takes place. It can provide a great point of reference for your brand and help tell its story in circles that extend far beyond the one that comes together at the occasion. Hiring a really strong photographer and a videographer is super important. Ask to see examples of events they have shot before. The best photographers and videographers will be as skilled at capturing the table as they are those little moments between guests that convey the atmosphere. At Rapport we have a pool of picture and video collaborators who we know and trust. Commission a strong set of imagery and a social media reel that you can share with your audience.  

Pick The Right Partners

Whether you are keen to enlist a drinks sponsor or considering gifting at your event, make sure that the partners you work with align with your brand. Again, there is an opportunity to reach new audiences via collaboration but this will only prove fruitful if there is a synergy between the people you are keen to reach. When Rapport hosted a dinner in celebration of Chelsea Flower Show for Babylonstoren wine at The Kensington Hotel we brought together a collective of brands from our network who could relate to each other’s stories. Browse the event here.

To enquire more about Rapport’s events services contact info@clubrapport.com. Visit www.clubrapport.com for details.