Short, practical notes from a Week 1 ACL attendee — quick tips for anyone heading into Week 2.
- Skip printouts/screenshots of the full schedule — use the Festiverse app. It sends reminders for your sets and alerts for pop-up moments (food sampling, surprise DJ sets, etc.).
- T‑Mobile gave out chairs to customers. If you want one, go early Friday and show your magenta pass (a screenshot is fine — don’t call it a screenshot). They also had limited free lockers for members.
- To access the T‑Mobile side stage you have to go to the Club Magenta area, get your regular T‑Mobile band, and play the machine in line for a chance to win the gold wristband.
- The DoorDash lounge left of the Beatbox stage applies a $10 credit to Dash Pass wristbands that can be used at food spots. You must show proof of membership; their restroom ran out of A/C on the last day.
- Beatbox activation was solid — A/C, bathrooms, shade. They also had side-stage opportunities worth checking out if there’s a band you want to catch.
- Amex activation (right of the stage) allowed limited side-stage access for a couple bands per day — platinum cardholders + one guest with an early token claim. Free coffee cans and promo items were handed out.
- Amex experience (left of the stage) wasn’t platinum‑only: freebies included a zippable fanny/sling for platinum members, a photo-op booth, free Coke, chargers, and a magnet-darts game with small prizes.
- Only some bars sold ice; the bar left of the T‑Mobile stage did. Bring an insulated container and use hydra stations for ice/water — cold water helps a lot.
- Shade matters — most stages have shady spots. Find shady spots for midday and move back to your chair/dance spot as the sun sets for the late acts.
- Reapply sunscreen frequently — lots of sunburns observed.
Source: Reddit recap by u/Puzzled-Ad-4115 in r/aclfestival.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/aclfestival/comments/1nzq0yo/w1_takeaways/