A Guide to “Raw Dogging” Music Festivals

Yes, we know—”raw dogging” sounds like something your mom would wash your mouth out with soap for saying. But before you clutch your pearls, this internet-born trend simply refers to doing things without digital assistance or comfort items. Originally describing flights taken without entertainment, snacks, or distractions—just you, your thoughts, and the pressurized cabin air—this trend has evolved into a broader philosophy of experiencing life completely unfiltered.

All jokes aside, people are discovering the raw, sometimes uncomfortable, but ultimately liberating experience of being fully present without their usual digital crutches. From raw dogging workouts without music to raw dogging travel or social events without the safety net of endless scrolling, the concept is just as relevant to music festivals.

Here, the ultimate raw dog experience could mean ditching your phone entirely and immersing yourself completely in the chaos, music, and human connection that festivals offer. While it might sound terrifying to the chronically online, raw dogging a festival could be the most authentic way to experience these events—no filters, no distractions, just pure, unmediated festival magic.

In an era where our smartphones are practically extensions of ourselves, the mere thought of attending a music festival without one might induce feelings of anxiety for some. However, with a festival world full of possibility and stimulation to the senses, let’s consider what it could look like to attend a festival phone-free, even for the most fervent phone addicts.

The Cons of Digital Dependency

We’ve all heard that being on the phone constantly can take you out of the moment, and emerging scientific studies are now showing the power of social media in exacerbating mental conditions like anxiety and depression. Social media at festivals has run rampant, with media outlets that revel in critiquing the toxic influencer culture of mega festivals. Beyond all of these reasons to put your phone down, let’s consider other ways that going phone-free could make you feel free at a music festival.

Let’s first consider how phones can dampen the festival experience, even when you think you might need it.

1. Festivals often take place in remote places where there’s not great service, or where there’s so many people that the network gets congested. It can be frustrating when you can’t use them even for the basic purpose of calling or texting.
2. Charging your cell phone can be a challenge without the abundance of outlets at many festivals. Finding a phone charging station takes time out of other activities, and carrying a portable battery adds extra weight to your pack.
3. Carrying your phone is just another thing that can be lost or stolen, causing some to constantly worry about where your phone is and whether it is safe.
4. Phones can be incredibly ineffective for finding your friends at a festival. “Where at the main stage, middle of the crowd!,” says your friend on a call, “What?! I can’t hear you!!,” you respond. Or your friend texts you to meet them at the food vendor, but you didn’t read their message until an hour later, because you were dancing your butt off in the crowd.

Practical Tips for a SmartPhone-Free Festival

But what if you need your phone in case of an emergency? What if you need to be able to contact family members or find friends? Here are some smart-phone free remedies:

1. Consider getting a cheap flip phone (yes, like from the early 2000s), and just stick your SIM card or eSIM in it for the weekend. That way, no sweat if you lose it, and it stops you from being distracted by social media when you could be living in the present. Or, consider turning off your data and keeping your phone tucked away until you have to text or call someone.
2. To help you find your friends at a festival, consider making a totem, investing in a crowd compass or something similar, or set designated meet times and places before separating from your friends.
3. If you love to take videos and photos for memories, consider investing in a digital or polaroid camera and designate one person in your group at a time to be the photographer. You could even make a game or a side quest out of photo taking.
4. If you notice any anxiety or feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out) by not posting online, consider practicing some mindfulness or breathing techniques, or find the next exciting thing or interaction to grab your attention. Turn that FOMO into JOMO (joy of missing out). Or, try some natural herbal remedies to help you feel grounded and ease your anxiety.
5. Many festivals now offer phone apps with schedules, maps, and artist or workshop descriptions. Instead, consider printing out this information beforehand and highlighting the activities you want to attend, or foregoing schedules all together and going with the flow.
6. There’s no right or wrong way to practice raw dogging. You can do it for a few hours, or just for one day of a multi-day festival.

The Freedom that Comes Without Social Media

I’ve found that if I leave my phone locked in my car during an event, I don’t even feel the urge to pull it out to take videos for my Instagram story. It’s so freeing, and helps me enjoy the music and festivities more. Afterall, I came to the festival to have a good time, not to watch my favorite DJ set through my phone screen.

Without the constant urge to document every moment for online consumption, I find myself truly present. And as someone who has suffered from anxiety, I find that by temporarily living phone-free, or at least social media-free, has helped reduce my anxiety.

Without the shackles of a smartphone, I am able to dance freely, unencumbered by the need to capture the perfect Instagram story. I strike up more conversations with strangers, forging connections that transcend the digital realm. I allow myself to get lost in the music, uninhibited by the pressure to capture the “perfect” reel for my story.

The notion of forgoing our phones may seem daunting at first. After all, these devices have become indispensable tools in our daily lives, serving as portals to the world beyond our immediate surroundings. Yet, by relinquishing them, even temporarily, we reclaim something invaluable: our presence.

Of course, the phone-free approach isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s totally fine. Festival culture thrives on acceptance and the understanding that we all connect with music and community in our own unique ways—as long as we don’t harm anyone in the process.

So, the next time you find yourself at a music festival, consider the radical idea of leaving your phone behind. Embrace the freedom of living in the moment, of experiencing the magic of live music with all your senses engaged. Who knows? You might be surprised by how much more vivid everything feels when you’re not viewing it through a screen.