I Asked 20 Ravers At The World's Biggest Rave What They Do For A Living In The "Real" World, And I Did Not Expect These Answers

Note: Some names and identifying details have been altered for anonymity. 

"I used to be in the metal scene, and that's already a community that looks out for its own. That's even truer for the EDM scene. People aren't snooty. They're super welcoming, and won't hesitate to help when they can.

I haven't been to EDC since its first year in Las Vegas in 2011. I'm here with my girlfriend after a friend of ours gifted us with tickets at the last minute — we just found out yesterday we were coming. Kind of feels like a homecoming in a way."

"A lot of us are here to just spread love. Are there drugs? Sure. But that's not an exclusive thing to EDC or raves. Raves are community."

"This is the only place I feel like I can be myself. Honestly, this was the event that helped me come out of my shell. I used to be so much more reserved. There's an openness and acceptance that's really strong here. This feels like home.

I try to pass on that feeling to everyone I meet, and carry it into my life outside of here, especially to my students I work with."

"When I come here, I don't feel like there are limitations to what I can do. I can just be as, you know, creatively open and progressive as I want to be. And the audience is really receptive to that. I'm inspired every year by this place.

Even tonight, I don't have much of a set plan at all. I have a folder with 100 tracks put in, and I don't know where I'm going. I know the first track I'm playing, and after that, I have no idea. I'll be truly DJing. Tonight, I want to go with what I'm feeling. And I'm curious where that's gonna lead me.

I mean, just look out at that view. It's insane. It's midnight, and the speedway is just glowing with hundreds of thousands of people. So, if you can't be inspired by this, then I don't know, you might be dead inside."

"We're twins who love to rave! It feels like people outside the scene think we only come here to do drugs. In reality, we also come here because it's a place we can be ourselves. We can dress however we want, and people are open to it.

It's a special place. It can be a little expensive, but you just have to experience it once to understand why we'll be back next year. And the year after that!"

"I still remember when Pasquale, the founder of Insomniac and EDC, used to stand outside my high school in Hollywood and pass out fliers for his warehouse raves. This was back in the '90s when I was a student. 

Things have changed a lot since then. I grew up on techno, though more into head-banging now. I'm also a rave mom now, but only because of my age — I look out for my rave kids, but I also teach them to take care of their own needs. That's a part of who I am.

Before this year, I used to be a social worker. I was making over $70,000 a year. I almost died from COVID, and that taught me money isn't what I want out of life. I want to be here, and I want to experience everything."

"I've been sober raving for four years now. I actually really recommend every raver try it at least once, and see how it changes the experience for them. 

For a huge chunk of last night, I was outside by the exit passing out fliers for future Insomniac events. Promoting is a huge part of my life, and how I met my rave family. I've been on the Insomniac street team for a few years now, and I'm now planning to move out to Nevada in the next few years and do this full-time."

"I feel lucky to be here. I'm a video editor for a YouTuber, they're here on the guest list, and I'm tagging along. Everyone is so chill here. And friendly. I mean, I came for the free Ring Pops, and now we're chilling in your tent.

This is my first rave, and it won't be the last. Life's only going up from here."

"I just want people to know that we're not being irresponsible out here. It feels like people mostly have each other's back, minus the few exceptions. This is my first time here, and I've never felt so celebrated." —Anthony

"And even if people are taking drugs while they're here, it's not like people are out of control or walking around zombies. I haven't seen that at all. We handle our shit.

Also, it's cool for me to be here and see what I already do on a much larger scale. I operate the tech for a small show in downtown Las Vegas. It's inspiring to see how massive my job can get." —Javi

"The scene has changed a lot, and so has EDC. There's definitely been a huge drop in common decency among the crowd since it's so packed now. And there are a lot more frats and sororities present than just a few years ago.

If anything, it's made us both kinder and more passionate about keeping the old rave spirit burning. EDC's going to keep changing. But its history doesn't have to."

"We've all been in the rave scene for over a decade, with the exception of Chelsea. It's her third EDC. She's our rave baby. 

The general public had this weird, distorted image of ravers, and it wasn't even that long ago. To outsiders, we were drug-obsessed, selfish, deadbeat assholes. That's so not true! We respect the space and each other. We offer water, even tampons, to each other. We look out for one another.

And we also work hard so we can be here — I mean, we're all from DC. All of us have high-responsibility jobs. We also like to have fun."

"I'm here from Texas. EDC feels like a getaway, in the best way. I've been raving for six years now, and have been an energy healer since 2018. I'm sure people have their stereotypes of what we're like, but I don't see those. Or pay attention to them."

"We don't all do drugs."

[Sees a "Legalize Cocaine" flag right behind us.] 

"Except for that guy."