Sunburn Festival kicks off the Mumbai edition of their mad musicfest tomorrow, and I’m sure most of you have already gathered your friends, bought your tickets and feel completely sorted. But if you’ve been lazy and haven’t done any of this yet, not to worry. Here’s a list of the five people you should immediately call to make up for your procrastination, and to ensure you still get the most out of this weekend’s madness
1.The Big Fan
Someone who knows anything and everything about the artists playing. The Big Fan will not only help you tweet all the rights songs so you sound super cool, but he’ll also help you decide which ones to dance to (so you don’t waste your energy on the total duds.) These are the people that have extensively studied the complete lineup and schedule, which means you’re free to get hammered and wander around without a clue, only to get pulled in when it matters most. The Big Fan will also most likely volunteer for the role of chief coordinator, unable to contain their excitement and anxiety about missing any of the good songs, so chances are you’ll also get there on time – easily the hardest part of any music festival.
2.The Poser
You know who you are. These are people who have no clue who is playing, why they’re playing, and what it all means. The Poser is just there to look cool and sound like a baller the next day. The first thing they’ll do when they hit the venue is find all the best spots to hang out and be seen – and all the beautiful people worth hitting on. If something exciting is going down, they’ll immediately sniff it out. All you have to do is grab a beer and hang on for the ride.
3.The Photo Bug
Drinking and dancing at the same time is hard enough, which means taking pictures is practically impossible. But you definitely need some evidence to prove to your Instagram and Facebook friends that you not only made it to Sunburn, but that you rocked out as well! Enter the Photo Bug. This is your friend that compulsively documents everything. They’ve figured out all the best ways to pose so it looks like you’re having the time of your life – and they probably have an expensive camera to boot. Just make sure you have final editorial and tagging control and you’re in for a picture perfect night.
4.The Stylista
A hip event needs an even hipper outfit, but we’re not all cut out to make these decisions ourselves. Outsource your wardrobe worries to the Stylista – the one friend who will embark of a full week fashion expedition to find that perfect outfit. Even if they can’t help with your style, you’ll earn major cred points for hanging out with someone who looks like they know what they’re doing. As an added bonus, they’ll probably have zero interest in the music so they won’t be bothering you with annoying questions about the artists. And that’s a good thing, because chances are, you’ll have no clue how to answer them.
5.The Caretaker
No drinking, no smoking or any other bad habits. It’s unclear why they even bother coming out, but mercifully they do. The most important role the Caretaker will play all night is driving you home after the gig, safe and sound. This will include dragging your sorry ass to the car after you pass out from dehydration, and in some cases holding your hair just before you do (you know why). This friend will generally carry useful items like water, pain relievers, and a fully charged mobile phone that you can use, because of course, you forgot to charge yours
Bonus: The Dance Machine
No matter what you think in that alcohol fueled moment, your dance moves probably suck. That’s cool – you’re just there to have fun after all. But make sure you snag the Dance Machine from amongst your friends to bring with you. This is the one who spends hours in front of YouTube learning how to break it down like the pros. Good dancers always draw a crowd, and it’ll sure feel good when you high five them while everyone watches. Just try not to stand too close to them or your awkward hip shaking is just gonna look even more weird.
Now that you’re fully prepared, who are you looking forward to seeing at Sunburn Mumbai?
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Pankaj Ahuja is a superhero who is addicted to playing on his X-box. When he is not working as a Real Estate Consultant, he is busy collecting shoes! He believes that music and movies are the reason he can deal with people around him. In his free time, Pankaj likes to put his bargaining skills to use. Follow his fun updates @panku_ on Twitter.