Here’s What 6 Headliners Look Like When They’re Not at Festivals

We all journey down different paths in our daily lives. Some of us work in the ER; others are auto technicians, television sales representatives and K9 military officers, to name a few. When we venture to a festival, however, we remove our costumes and transform into truer versions of ourselves, meeting in a world that allows us to leave all our worries (and boring-ass clothes) behind.

Insomniac celebrates #TransformationTuesday by asking six unique Headliners to discuss their lives inside and outside the festival.

Headliner: Brittany M.

Age: 20
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
Occupation: Military police/K9
How long have you been raving? 3 years
Should you hide your raver side at work?
You should never hide your raver side, even at work. One of my bosses was a raver back in the day, when it was still an underground scene. Be proud of who you are and what you do, and spread the PLUR! You never know—you might just run into other ravers!

Headliner: Chris K.

Age: 37
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Occupation: Trader Joe’s crew member
How long have you been raving? 4 years
Should you hide your raver side at work?
You don’t need to hide your raver side at work. I like people to treat me the way I treat them, regardless of where I am. Everyone deserves to experience PLUR, including in the workplace. Peace, Love, Unity and Respect go a long way in my book!

Headliner: Emely R.

Age: 22
Hometown: Moreno Valley
Occupation: Sales representative for DirecTV
How long have you been raving? 3 years
Should you hide your raver side at work?
My company is very business-oriented, so I can’t necessarily show my raver side at work. Many of my business partners dedicate their lives to this job, which is why they tend to frown upon others who they feel aren’t as serious. I’m good at what I do, though, so you can say I’m the “legally blonde” of my company!

Headliner: Len O.

Age: 38
Hometown: Fairfield, CA
Occupation: Registered nurse, standards compliance
How long have you been raving? 19 years
Should you hide your raver side at work?
As an ambassador of our culture, we have the opportunity to shape and shift the current perspective. We also have the responsibility, as professionals, to produce the best work for our employers—all while maintaining an outward appearance of maturity and integrity. I choose to reconcile both identities by carrying my positive experiences into the workplace, sharing the lifestyle I love by embodying what PLUR truly means. Sometimes that’s through my interactions; other times, it’s through my colorful and sometimes whimsical style choices. Do my coworkers know I rave? Sure they do, and they’ve got a deeper understanding and appreciation for what makes me, ME!

Headliner: Naley X.

Age: 29
Hometown: Saint Paul, MN
Occupation: Emergency room registration financial specialist
How long have you been raving? 3 years
Should you hide your raver side at work?
You should never fully hide this side of your life at work. I think it’s good to show some sort of indication that you embrace this culture, regardless of the industry you’re in. I have a rave brother who wears a meaningful kandi to work everyday. From that, I have learned to do the same from time to time, which feels amazing.

Headliner: Kimiko N.

Age: 26
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Occupation: Toyota technician
How long have you been raving? 3 years
Should you hide your raver side at work?
Raving is something I love, so I would never hide it from anyone. Most of my coworkers wish they could be raving with me. Some of them used to rave back in the day, and I was even able to meet up with some of them at EDC. The music is what connects us, keeps us close, and gives us something to look forward to after work.

If you would like the chance to celebrate #TransformationTuesday with Insomniac, please email your best transformation photos to [email protected] by Tuesday, August 8, 2017.