Firefly Music Festival is Going Cashless This Year!
No cash…no problem?
Firefly Music Festival is the latest to hop on the cashless bandwagon. A subtle mention of the festival’s new on-site payment rule was included in the information pamphlet that arrives with admission bracelets. The understated notice at the bottom of a page reads: “Firefly Will Be A Cashless Festival” and lists this year’s accepted forms of payment. Those who are comfortable carrying plastic can rely on Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, JCB or Unionpay cards to pay for their weekend. If you prefer not to carry a credit card around, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Wallet are also acceptable.
There is little mention of Firefly’s cash-free endeavor anywhere else. Currently, the FAQ section of the festival’s website lists both cash and a credit/debit card under “Required Items.” Considering it is easy to overlook the blurb of text in the mailed pamphlet, it would seem like a good idea to make fans more aware of the new policy by utilizing the website and social media accounts. It is possible to foresee a couple of potential issues, which organizers have likely considered.
I have met plenty of foreign festival-goers at Firefly in years past. Foreign transaction fees are no fun and can make the trip more expensive for non-Americans. Then there is the challenge of keeping a phone charged all weekend long for those who opt to use the tap-and-go smartphone wallet method. Firefly does have multiple charging stations and most people have car chargers these days, but who wants to rush to their car or wait on a charging station line when their phone suddenly shuts down in the middle of a show? Keep those phones super-charged this year, everyone!
There is also the issue of tipping bartenders. Usually there are tip jars on each bar, and they are always full of dollar bills. Of course, just because food and drinks can’t be purchased with cash doesn’t mean that no one will have any. But, it would seem that the new policy could lessen the likelihood of bartenders being tipped for their service. Tip your bartender, music fans! You can put it on the card!
The worst-case scenario would be a technology malfunction. Many of us have experienced a festival in the midst of an equipment failure, and it can get a bit hectic. In the past, bracelet-scanning equipment has gone down at Firefly, resulting in a longer than desirable wait to enter the main festival grounds. Overheated, day-drunk attendees don’t exactly want to wait. Luckily, the festival has always been able to solve technical problems without much drama. Drink enough water and have patience!
After a little digging, we did discover a brief conversation on the subject of cash vs. no cash on the Firefly message boards. According to a moderator:
“There are several options for those that are all about the cash, still.
1. Prepaid cards you can pick up at the store – use the cash you were going to use on your card and buy one.
2. FTF fees can be avoided by using certain types of credit cards that wave those fees. Also, by using the above option.
3. It looked like they were going to be using contactless ways of payment via Apple wallet and Samsung wallet. If you’re worried about carrying round your cards, this is a good option.”
The moderator’s suggestion to pick up a prepaid card at a store would help solve some of the aforementioned issues. Should everything go as planned, a cashless festival could result in quicker food and beverage lines. The new concept also eradicates the need to use any on-site ATMs, which usually come with the consequence of high fees. Firefly is not the first festival to go cash-free, so they do have the benefit of studying the successes and challenges faced by their predecessors.
Disseminating information about such important changes is essential. This weekend is Boston Calling Music Festival, and some may be surprised to find out that the entirety of the festival grounds will be smoke-free this year. The list of prohibited items on the event’s website reads: “The following items are prohibited: Cigarettes, Cigars, Lighters or Tabacco of any kind – Boston Calling is a No Smoking Festival. Due to the composition of some of the fields, cigarettes will not be permitted on site and will be confiscated.”
News of the no-smoking rule at Boston Calling doesn’t seem to have spread far enough. This would definitely be a good piece of information for the festival to feature prominently. Cigarettes aren’t cheap, and it would be no surprise to see an unknowing festival-goer react rather unfavorably to having his or her pack taken away. Regular smokers would probably like to prepare for long days without a nicotine fix.
Rules are rules and the choice to attend a festival is our own. That being said, fans dedicate time, energy and money to supporting the festivals they love and deserve all the heads-up they can get. Perhaps the best thing festival-goers can do is read any information pamphlets and FAQ sections top to bottom and front to back. Even if you’ve attended the festival in the past, things can change from year to year. Always be prepared fans.
We hope all goes smoothly and that both festivals do well with their new changes! What do you think about festivals going cashless? Smokeless?