What is PLUR and how this guideline can help people navigate through any music event
- DIG 4552
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
By Angelo Ortega
As festival season kicks off, the anticipation rises, and the search begins for outfits, accommodation, and other necessities for a great experience.
While fun times are generally expected, a lack of preparation or awareness could lead to bad experiences that can be easily avoided.
For decades, American raves, or underground dance parties, have developed DJ Frankie Bones’ PLUR(R), or Peace, Love, Unity, Respect (and now, Responsibility), as a guideline to uphold and curate a positive, wellbeing community on the dancefloor. In more modern times, PLUR has adopted into festival-sized events and even lifestyles.
Despite what the haters think, understanding the value of PLUR can help individuals ease into any environment with better judgment.
Bringing Peace
There’s no doubt people carry baggage to some extent. Whether it’s work or life-related stress, these shared experiences are an escape to raves or festivals.
Leaving the problems at home, the bare minimum is avoiding conflict and drama with strangers or even friends around. It’s about coming as you are and influencing the atmosphere that encourages a carefree environment through good vibes and harmony.
Consider it when there are thousands anticipating the headlining act. Any experience can quickly turn sour by instigating problems or aggressively shoving through the dense crowd. Everyone is there to catch the same performance, and lighten up the mood by dancing through the crowd with smiles and saying, “Excuse me.”
Bringing peace within yourself and to the crowd can pave the way to creating a memorable experience.
Spreading Love
Remember to spread love when it’s possible. Promoting peace in the environment is connected to radiating positive energy with random acts of kindness or befriending strangers.
Oftentimes, people will pass trinkets, such as sprouts, or kandi, colorful beaded bracelets, as a gift of generosity and community. Sometimes it links to a particular moment during a set or the energy one brings. Regardless, they’re indicators from friends and random individuals that spread love throughout the environment.
When receiving (or giving Kandi), the PLUR handshake is a tradition, signaled in this order:
A Peace sign, signaling peace
A half-heart sign, signaling love
Touching hands palm-to-palm, signaling unity
Holding hands, signaling respect
Kandi exchange
These gifts may look silly or childish from a general perspective, but the gift of receiving or giving is an unexpected joyful moment, that strengthens bonds between people.
Embracing Unity
Whether it’s a massive festival like Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) or an underground rave at a hidden location, the music binds everyone together.
Similar to peace, everyone is there for the same experience. While we all come from different walks of life, the dancefloor is a shared experience that has no room for hate.
Unity signals community, having no judgment against others, and being there for those who might need it. For instance, maybe adopt a solo raver who’s looking for a group to party with.
I remember at III Points 2022, Miami’s music, arts, and technology festival in Wynwood, my group ran into a guy who served us at restaurant weeks prior and ended up adopting him for the rest of the festival. He later became one of my closest friends, who I traveled the country with for other music festivals.
Upholding Respect
Arguably the most important trait that’s directly connected to the three other traits. It’s about accepting (and sometimes correcting) personalities and behaviors that could be very different from what one’s used to.
From unique outfits to personal space, respect covers a variety of elements at any festival or rave. For example, attendees have the opportunity to express themselves as they please (excluding hate, highly controversial, or first-responder outfits), which helps them feel comfortable in the environment.
Accepting others also means that it gives people, a place of belonging. Having the freedom to express through dancing or dressing up, is an effective way for individuals to actively shine in a safe space.
It’s also why traditional media outlets and outsiders, will frown upon these events. It stimulates unconventional patterns when in reality, it’s generally a safe environment to be yourself.
Be Responsible
With the rise of raves and the freedom to express, it’s critical to note that it can be just as easy to get carried away with bad decisions, such as drug misuse or dehydration. Being responsible has risen into PLUR values over time to have some limitations under freedom.
In these situations, individuals could require medical attention, leaving friends and surrounding people to take rapid steps for prevention. While it may be comforting to know that the community is there for others and harm reduction items are readily available, it’s critical to have self-awareness and good judgment when entering these spaces.
Essentially, everyone is there to have a good time but don’t let your experience be the reason people have to stray from having fun.
Final thoughts
Whether it’s a camping or city music festival, clubbing event, or rave, PLUR(R) is a positive, inclusive culture that builds community through music with friends and strangers.
The corny attitude or stigmas tied to PLUR(R), doesn’t explain the true value that can help newcomers and even veteran ravers navigate their next event.
So, when you’re heading off to EDC, Club Space Miami, or some grungy warehouse, remember to be mindful and positive with those and the environment… and maybe clip a sprout onto someone’s hat
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