Sonar survival tips

Sonar survival tips

20 June, 2008 | 1.51AM

• Written by: Ben Raven
• Filed under: Music News: sonar 2008

“Sonar is a jungle,” says Ben Raven, and if you’re going to make it home alive you best follow Beatport’s guide to getting the best out of Barcelona during its biggest rave of the year.

Make friends with the underground

Most cab drivers around the world would see an invasion of hammered dance music fans as one of the year’s easiest cash cows.

Sadly, most in Barcelona during Sonar seem to hide away, meaning when you really need that all important taxi back from that beach party that got shut down by the police at 6 AM, your yellow-plated best friend is nowhere to be seen.

When you’re too sizzled to even see a flyer let alone a map of the city’s metro, public transport may seem too frightening a prospect.

But when the options narrow down to choosing which one of your female friends is best suited to sticking her leg out on the road, it’s not a bad choice.

Barcelona’s public transport system is actually pretty good and if you suss it out beforehand you’ll avoid the hell of leaving a party like Sonar by Night on Sunday morning with only one cab driver catering to the thousands of stranded clubbers.

Be Realistic

Yes tonight may have all 347 of your favourite DJs playing in a ten-mile radius of your apartment, but realistically if you stretch yourself too far you’ll end up stranded.

There is sadly such thing as a rave too far and even though your intentions might be superhuman you’ll inevitably ruin a good night by leaving somewhere kicking, only to find yourself stuck trying to get to the next one.

If you’re driving prepare to spend big

Every year lots of people try renting cars during Sonar not realising the pitfalls of driving in Barcelona.

For one thing, parking is almost as expensive as taking Paris Hilton to a date at a diamond conference.

For another, if you can find your way around the city’s one-way system you deserve an award for map reading.

Beware the apartment “back to mine”

The golden rule of after parties is always make sure they happen at someone else’s place.

Barcelona’s apartments are known for their noise-leaking walls and easy to piss off landlords.

Many see it as a convenient bonus if they’re afforded with a great excuse to boot you and your friends out after the first night, so don’t give them an excuse to chuck you out.

Watch out for thieves

Barcelona isn’t just a destination for DJs and clubbers at Sonar.

Thieves have a field day on the incoming raving community and its not just on the streets that you need to be careful.

Picking clubbers bags on the dancefloor or fleecing those who look a little “over refreshed” is a popular past time for the cities scum bag element, so don’t give them chance to ruin your party.

Print out an itinerary

Yes, it may be nerdy but planning out what you want to see and when will save you hours of arguments and missed parties.

You’ll inevitably run out of ideas for what’s on, so carrying a guide is essential and as there is no official guide to what’s happening in the clubs it’s best to come prepared by mining sites like Resident Advisor for listings information.

Work out where stuff is

Sonar is massive and when someone tells you, “Yeah our party’s on the beach” that could mean anywhere along miles and miles of coastline.

Similarly, its clubs are spread out across the city and some are even outside so make sure where you’re going is actually viable, otherwise you’ll end up stranded and cursing those elusive cab drivers.

Beware Sonar By Night

Don’t get us wrong: Sonar by Night is amazing. But when it’s finished taxi’s are often in short supply as thousands of people leave the venue at once.

As it’s miles outside the city, this can lead to bedlam as bedraggled ravers struggle to find a ride home.

We suggest you work out the nearby local transport system beforehand or find an address near the event’s site where you can pre-book a taxi to meet you afterwards.

Don’t go to Anti-Sonar!

Actually lets rephrase that. If you like dusty, dangerous unlicensed events populated by thieves, naff drug dealers and potential murderers go to Anti-Sonar (one person was stabbed to death at last year’s party, so take that as a cautionary tale).

The alternative free party event usually takes place on Sunday morning on waste ground near Sonar’s official night time venue.

But take our hint and find a way home: even a party in your apartment with water, music, food and “local amenities” is a much more rewarding idea.

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