How to Tailgate Like a Champ

After 7 years and 30 shows, I am now a professional. So to share my knowledge with those less informed, I give you the following:

What to Bring (in no particular order):

• Tickets
• Water (everyone needs to stay hydrated!)
• Beer (leave the liquor at home kids, you won’t last all day, I promise)
• Case of Soda (trust me, there is a reason)
• Ice
• Coolers
• Food (lots of it!)
• Bug Spray
• Sunscreen
• Baby wipes
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Garbage bags (bring 2, one for garbage, one for empties)
• Camera
• Chairs
• Sunglasses
• Rain gear (just in case)
• Sweatshirt
• Radio (and batteries, if needed)
• Cups (so very important)
• Eye drops
• Cards
• Table

Tips and Tricks:

• Problem: Alcohol is not permitted in the parking lots. You need to transport more beer than your cooler will permit to your tailgating spot (assuming its not right next to your car).
  Solution: Take the case of soda you bought and empty it. Place leftover beer in the soda case, and carry it to your spot carefree.
  Important notes: Obviously you must buy beer in cans for this to work. Coors cans are larger than soda and other beer cans. They will not fit. Plan accordingly
  
  
• Problem: No bathrooms, gross bathrooms, Port-a-potties (this one is for the ladies, obviously boys can pee anywhere)
  Solution #1: Pop a squat in the woods. Don’t want that nasty “splatter” on your legs? Take a cup and cut a hole in the bottom. Then use this as a “funnel”. It will reduce the splatter. Or don’t cut a hole and just use the cup, then dump out.
  Solution #2: If there are no woods, bring along a beach-sized umbrella. Find a wall. Use the umbrella to block yourself. Also helps to bring along 2 friends to block the sides (you can bring beach towels to really cover yourself up.)
  Important notes: Apparently public urination can get you in trouble in some places. Keep this in mind. Wearing a skirt/dress makes things soooooo much easier. Always use the baby wipes to freshen up your hands!
  
  
• Problem: You can bring a water bottle into the show, but they take the top off at the gate. Or you buy a bottle of water inside the show, and they take the top off.
  Solution: Sneak an extra cap in your purse and voila!
  
  
• Problem: It’s raining and your tickets got soaked in your cute little purse
  Solution: Always keep your tickets in a plastic sandwich bag!!!
  
  
• Problem: You need to sneak a camera in (or anything else) down your pants
  Solution: Two pairs of underwear keep things sanitary (put the camera in between the two pairs).
  
  
• Problem: You sat outside in the hot sun all day, had a few drinks, and then ended up puking in the parking lot while your favorite song is being played.
  Solution: DRINK MORE WATER YOU FOOL, YOU WERE SEVERLY DEHYDRATED.

(More to come!!)