• At any rave, keep a close eye on your drink.martini image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Raves, all-night parties where guests dance to electronic music, have been a fixture of the dance scene since the 1980s. Many raves are held in warehouses, barns or fields, rather than at licensed nightclub spaces. Rave culture can be very drug-centric and raves are often exhausting. To enjoy them safely and legally, prospective ravers should keep a few simple tips in mind.
  
  

Drink Lots of Clean Water

• Raving is a sweaty experience, where music is played fast and the crowd dances close. Dehydration is a constant danger, especially over the many hours of an all-night rave. This is especially true at outdoor festivals, where the summer heat may add to the risk. Always have bottled water with you on the dance floor and be sure to drink at least one gallon of water each day over the course of a festival. This water should be clean and from a sealed container to avoid contamination by the many drugs that could circulate at a rave.
  
  

Know the Exits

• Before you start to dance, look around the rave site and note where all the exits are. In the event that you start to feel ill or unsafe, move calmly and steadily towards one of them.
  
  

Use the Buddy System

• Go to raves with a friend that you trust and watch out for each other. Women especially should take a friend when leaving the dance floor to go to a chill-out area or outside. This reduces the risk of sexual assault. A sober friend is critical if you are planning to drink alcohol or become intoxicated. If you are alone and being hassled, head over to the nearest group of people.
  
  

Wear Comfortable Shoes

• Dancing all night puts a serious strain on your feet. Raves are not a time to wear high heels. Comfortable footwear with thick and stable soles will make the evening much more enjoyable.
  
  

Make a Group Plan

• Raves can be dark and chaotic, and it's easy to lose people. If you come in a group, set out meeting points and agree on whether to try to stick together or not. Get a sense of whether the others in your group plan to leave early or become intoxicated.
  
  

Bring Supplies

• Lights, glowsticks, and colorful costumes are key parts of any rave. They also make you more recognizable to your friends, and may help you find your way through the darkness at an outdoor rave.
  
  

Protect Your Ears

• Rave sound systems are often dangerously loud. Bring several pairs of earplugs and find a good spot where you can hear the music clearly without being pained by it.
  
  

Avoid Taking Drugs

• Although drugs are a central part of the rave scene, they can also be quite dangerous. Aside from being illegal, being under the influence of drugs may open you up to sexual assault by other party goers, overdose, or taking a dose that has been altered with other chemicals. The energy to keep dancing does not have to come from illegal drugs. It can be kept up by arriving well rested and drinking some caffeinated beverages.
  
  

Keep a Positive Attitude

• Rave culture values openness to new experiences, respect for other's choices and an enjoyment of all kinds of dancing. Keeping those things in your mind while at any rave will help make a memorable night.