The Nicest Thing a Stranger Ever Did for Me at a Rave Was…

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the people in our lives; but what about those who have touched us for only a fleeting moment or two? While these people remain nameless, they have not been forgotten. Here, Headliners share with us the nicest thing a stranger has done for them at a rave. Whether you’ve been that person lending a helping hand or benefitted from these anonymous angels, we can all agree these random acts of kindness help strengthen our community.

Jessamyn Pentecost
Audio on the Bay 2014

I met this couple at Audio on the Bay, and we ended up meeting at EDC Las Vegas. When discussing future events we could meet up at again, they asked about Beyond Wonderland Bay Area, and I told them I was recently laid off and couldn’t afford the trip up from San Diego and the ticket. They said if I bought my ticket they’d pay for my flight up and could stay with them. I was floored by their generosity and ended up taking them up on that offer. They are now my Bay Area rave family.

Amy Shieh
Pop the Dream 2014

My best friend and I got to the venue 40 minutes after our group of friends. The line to get onto the main floor was about a two-hour wait. We found our group of friends at the front of the line, but there was no way we could join them because there was a metal fence separating the people in line, and security guards were strolling alongside it. Just as we were giving up and saying goodbye to our friends and preparing ourselves to never see them again for the rest of the night, a random guy lifted me up while checking over his shoulders to make sure security wasn’t looking, put me over the fence, and placed me in line with my friends; he also did the same for my other friend as well. Because of him, I got to experience Pop the Dream with my friends, and I can easily say it’s my favorite rave experience so far.

Angelo Manolakis
Beyond Wonderland 2013

I dropped my phone heading to the bathroom. Dude pushed through the crowd and got elbowed in the face just to give me my cell phone back. That’s PLUR.

Michael Griffin
Sugar 2010

One night, I was having a really bad experience. I had made some bad decisions that resulted in me laying on the floor of the smoking area, shaking and seizing uncontrollably. One person grabbed a bottle of water, picked me up and set me on a bench, and talked to me and consoled me, making sure I was sipping water and breathing. They sat with me while I shook uncontrollably, trying to regain control of my body.

At that moment, my best friend and love of my life walked by and stopped briefly to ask if I was OK. Being strong and stupid, I replied, “I’m fine,” and they nodded their heads in agreement and left inside to enjoy the rave. It was at that moment—when I needed them but was not brave enough to say it, but was visibly damaged—that I realized something amazing. This culture brings together so many people. A perfect stranger was willing to watch out for me and make sure I had a good time, while the people I thought cared, didn’t. It was truly a one-of-a-kind revelation.

I ended up being OK, and I’ve since made it my mission to make sure that if I ever find a chance to brighten somebody’s day and improve it like that person did for me, I will without a second thought. This community has helped me find myself and build myself into the person I strive to be, and I don’t want to imagine where I would be without it. Without that person, I wouldn’t be the person I am today by any semblance.

Michael Chronley
Coachella 2011

I was a newcomer back then, and during Boyz Noise’s set I was having a really rough time getting my bearings as people kept crowding inside and making the Sahara Tent extremely hot. Some tall Asian guy behind me put his hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s going to be OK, dude. We’re going to have a great time.” It doesn’t sound like much, but real human connections like that are super rare outside of shows.

Anthony Vu
Tomorrowland 2013

While everyone was huddled for cover Saturday night during the torrential thunderstorm, a random guy saw me shivering badly and saved me from near-hypothermia by waiting in the crazy downpour for several minutes to buy me a huge bowl of hot ravioli to keep my body warm. After handing me the food, he walked away, expecting nothing in return. It was the most PLUR thing I’ve ever experienced.

Stacy Palomino
EDC Las Vegas 2014

This was my first rave, and I was so happy and excited for the experience; but I wasn’t prepared to face the consequences that my reckless behavior would cause the first night. I had too much to drink, couldn’t handle my alcohol, and got separated from my friends. I was walking in circles from 9pm until 3am, getting really overwhelmed and stressed out.

I unconsciously walked up to a group of people and asked a girl for help. A guy named Mark immediately told me to drink some water and sit down. The group members then asked me if I knew my friend’s number and what hotel I was staying at. They fed me and kept me hydrated and kept telling me everything was going to be OK and that they were going to take me back home if I couldn’t find my friends. They missed their favorite DJ’s sets to stay with me and continue helping me.

As the night went on, I felt really anxious about finding my group, so Mark agreed to leave EDC early and take me back to my hotel. He let me sleep on his lap on the bus and bought me breakfast. He then gets his car, drops me off at my hotel, gives me a big hug, and we agree to meet the next day. EDC day two comes around, but I can’t reach Mark on the phone and never found him or his friends. Despite not meeting up again, I’ll never forget what those people did for me, how safe they made me feel, and how grateful I am to meet them. That night, I understood what PLUR meant and what these festivals are all about. It goes without saying I hope I find them again at EDC 2015.

Grant Gilmore
OMFG NYE 2013

I was already having a rough night, and then as I’m taking photos of one of the stages and crowd with my phone, someone steals it straight out of my hands. It was the worst feeling ever, because I had a ton of photos that were now lost. I didn’t know what to do, and my anxiety was on full blast, so I just started walking around trying to calm myself down.

Earlier that night, I had visited EDM fashion company Little Black Diamond’s vendor booth. The owner, Adrienne, was working the booth and chatted with me, and we traded kandi at the end of the conversation. I came back across the booth while I was still pretty shaken up and immediately went over. It was the perfect timing, because just as my anxiety attack was about to kick in to full gear, she offered me a chair in the chill-out area and gave me water.

Being able to chat with her and her boyfriend about raving got my mind off of everything that was bad and helped get me out of a panic. I was amazed by their generosity, and it was one of the moments where I realized that there are some really nice and amazing people that go to events. I cannot thank them enough for that, and since then, we have gone to events together quite often.

Tara Kay
Coachella 2014

I apparently looked like I was dying in the Sahara Tent, because Paris Hilton gave me her bottle of water. Never thought I’d actually say that Paris Hilton saved my ass.

Christina La Pham
Hard Day of the Dead 2014

My boyfriend and I have been raving for about a year now, and we have brought a lot of friends into the scene. I always make kandi to bring in to share with people that I meet. We had met two guys during RL Grime’s set. It was their first rave, so I had given them their first kandi and rave names, something I like to do to initiate people into the culture. We invited them to tag along with us for the rest of the night.

The two guys went off to get water, and when they returned, they had bought us each our own waters and ice cream. They told us it was their thank-you gift for us allowing them to be part of our family. They told me that I had made their first rave special and that I would always be their rave momma. That was hands-down the nicest thing anyone has told me at a rave, because it showed me how I could impact other people’s lives and welcome them into the world of raving.

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