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So Uncle Sam gifted you a huge refund and you spent it on a ticket to Coachella? NICE. After six straight months of grim economic news you’ve more than earned a chance to blow off a little steam. But don’t space out yet. There will be plenty of time for that once My Bloody Valentine starts their set.

Here are some tips to make your Coachella experience rock.

Glowing is for Glowsticks:
Have you been to SoCal before? Uh-huh. And how about the desert? Indio, California is not like San Francisco or even mild-every-day L.A. The weather nerds are saying highs will be in the 90s and Sunday may reach a scorching 97. Not to be your mom, but you’ve GOT to wear sunscreen or you’re going to fry out there. Trust me, nothing will kill the vibe quite like glowing shoulders and a crispy nose. You should also consider comfortable shoes, a shirt with sleeves, and a hat.

Cash Rules Everything Around Me*:
Remember when we were talking about how hot it’s going to be? Yeah. Really hot. And you can’t bring any food or beverages into the festival. No water, no sandwiches, nothing. Plus, they’re going to search you at the gate so don’t try to pull a fast one, wise guy. This means you'll be at the mercy of the price-gouging vendors--and they don’t accept credit cards. Save yourself a whole mess of ATM fees or hospitalization from dehydration and bring cash. Lots of it.

Dude, You’re Not in the Band:
While your drum circle is the stuff of legend back home, your bongos will not be welcome at Coachella. This also goes for your Martin guitar, your didgeridoo, and even your bagpipes. You’ve paid a lot to hear famous musicians perform. Let them earn their keep.

Either You’re In or You’re Out:
This is a big one. Once you’re inside the festival, that’s it for the day. If you leave, you can’t come back till the next day. The doors open at 11am daily and the excitement builds throughout the night. Ask yourself how much you can handle and plan accordingly.

The Things They Carried:
Okay, there are a lot of don’ts on this list, but that’s no reason to despair. Each attendee is allowed one small backpack. Load it up with these necessary items:

Sun block
Sunglasses
Your cell phone (Service is patchy. You’ve been warned.)
Wet wipes (It’s going to be dusty!)
A small beach towel
A digital camera (those with removable lens are not allowed), a film camera, or a disposable camera

When in doubt, consult the official FAQs on the Coachella website. Good luck and don't forget to tell me how Paul McCartney sounded!

Need to book a stay? Here's a list of Palm Springs hotels that still have availability.

*Bonus points for guessing this song reference. No Googling!