This time the most exciting week of the year will not be that exciting. Miami is supposed to be the beating heart of Electronic Dance Music. But we have to stay optimistic. Summer is near and it’s just a matter of time before the virus starts weakening. Nothing can stop us to attend every festival that we possibly can. Tomorrowland is one of them, the peak of everyone’s excitement! Let’s hope this event won’t be cancelled. To show COVID-19 a big middle finger, it might be a good reason to share my experiences about my attendances to both events over the past 2 years. One thing is for sure: these events are top-notch. Comparing them is almost a crime, but rules are meant to be broken. Let’s go!
Written by: Mark Benthem
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Ultra Music Festival | Miami, USA
I’ll start with Ultra Music Festival Miami. I attended this festival in March 2018, and I remember it like it was yesterday. Before we entered, a big line was ahead of us. Everything inside me was boiling. After all the stories, after movies and live sets on the internet it’s finally time to see everything with my own eyes. And it didn’t disappoint at all!
Ultra | Brand
One thing is for sure, Americans like to show the world that being in America is amazing. The world sees Ultra as the Champions League of the Dance scene, especially in Miami. The Ultra brand is so strong, that the concept is booming in multiple continents. The organization and the city have been working together for years to provide an amazing combination of city- and event marketing. They did it so well that people put Ultra and Miami together as one and the same. The city breaths Ultra.
Ultra | Event
The things that stood out were the overall look, media and technology. These aspects come back in everything, promotion, production and staging. Ultra gives it all every year, from the mainstage to the spider stage. If I’m being really honest, the mainstage didn’t really wow me until it got darker. But the interaction with the crowd, the lightshow and the total atmosphere were amazing. Being part of the crowd gives you an extraordinary perception of the stage and the music.
“The city breaths Ultra.”
Ultra | Location
And that’s not all. The vibe gives you the feeling that you have to shine. Giving that little extra while dancing, smile more often, sing along and enjoy life. The fact that it’s in downtown Miami and that everything is live recorded by the media gives a feeling like everyone is watching you. We show the world that Ultra is the best place to be in the world at that moment. Everybody knows the history; everybody wants to be a part of it. Ultra is Miami and Miami is Ultra. They are inseparable.
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Tomorrowland | Boom, Belgium
Tomorrowland took place in a small town called Boom, Belgium. It’s just an hour driving from our home. While walking on the streets of Boom, we’re not feeling like that Tomorrowland is just a mile away from us. But everything changed when we heard the music. The tops of the stages were visible and we could feel everyone’s excitement. It was like we arrived to the promised land: Tomorrowland.
Tomorrowland | Bucketlist
There are not that many festivals that sell out as fast as Tomorrowland. The whole world has this event on their bucket list. Which is not that crazy, the festival does everything to draw you in and give you the feeling that you have to be there. Being there is like walking in a dream world. As you walk there you try to take in all the excitement that the environment gives you. There is so much to see.
Tomorrowland | Fairytale
Since I’ve attended Tomorrowland, I believe in fairytales. The number of touchpoints is enormous. Everything fits the concept, from decoration to the dressed staff. All senses got stimulated. For instance: the bridge we crossed to walk to the food area, was filled with smoke what smelled like caramel. You can imagine how bad my hunger was getting… Anyway, another thing that definitely shared a big part in the whole experience: paying cashless! At Tomorrowland you pay with pearls, which serve as credits on your wristband. You order, pay and walk away in seconds, so useful! That gives you more time to dance and have fun.
“Walking past all the stages is as fulfilling as listening to the music at one stage.”
Tomorrowland | Different world
Tomorrowland is known for its unique design of staging. Every year they find a new way to blow your mind. Walking past all the stages is as fulfilling as listening to the music at one stage. The way they design all these stages just a bit different from each other, but still all as one, is just amazing. The experience with the festival has exceeded all expectations. It’s like you ended up in a different world. We came for all the different artists, but we couldn’t stop talking about all the decor.
The American Pride vs. The Fairtale
Like I said before, it’s almost a crime to compare these two festivals. The American Pride vs. The Fairytale. Ultra and Tomorrowland are the best of what this industry has to offer. They are both different in many aspects of perception. I just recommand a big journey and an amazing experience. Save money, wait some time and go.
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One last advice: as for the whole journey, we did everything to focus on the festivals. We arranged a good stay, good food, planned everything out and most important have a lot of fun. And that’s exactly what we will do in Las Vegas, because EDC is waiting for us!
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