Festival totem

A flower totem in front of a sign totem at Electric Forest

Festival totems (sometimes known as doof sticks, rave totems, or rage sticks) are decorative objects, signs, toys, or symbols prominently displayed on poles by attendees at various music festivals and cultural events worldwide. Often seen in the crowds and campsites at large outdoor festivals, festival totems serve various purposes, ranging from artistic expression to utilitarian practical navigation and communication in large crowds. Typically, totems are DIY projects created by festival attendees, which are made from a variety of crafting materials and updated to reference current events, memes, music, or a festival, but have also recently become available to purchase online from totem creation companies.

A crowd at Woodstock; visible far center is a sign-on-a-stick totem (displaying "LOVE YOUR ANIMAL FRIENDS DONT EAT THEM") and an object-on-a-stick totem

Modern usage

The first totem use at a music festival is unconfirmed, with some attributing it to Woodstock in 1969.^[1] At contemporary music and arts festivals, totems are commonly used by groups of attendees to locate one another in crowded environments.^[2][3] Festivals such as Burning Man, Electric Daisy Carnival, Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, Electric Forest, and Tomorrowland have become known for their vibrant displays of totems and flags, which often feature unique handmade designs, humorous messages, current memes, or references to popular culture or the festival.^[1][4] A festival totem generally utilizes an object rather than a flag so that it can be easily seen fully in any wind conditions, and provide opportunity for 3D creativity. Most commonly referred to as a "totem" by festival attendees, the staffs also may be called "rage sticks" or "doof sticks" depending on the type of festival attended and the country of the festival.^[5][6]

Artists themselves have also encouraged the use of totems at their shows and may post how-to guides or videos for fans to learn how to add to the festival show experience.^[7] The popularity and restrictions on festival totems and flags have led to the appearance of custom manufacturers online.^[8]

Totems and flags in the crowd at Tomorrowland Festival

Festival totems today may be utilized for a variety of purposes:

• Group Locator: a festival totem's main purpose is generally to make it easy to identify the location of friends in the crowd.^{[9][10][11][12][13][3]}
• Camp Locator: a festival totem may be placed at a campsite, like a flagpole might, to identify a camp location in large fields.^[9][11]
• Identity Expression/Statements: a festival totem may make a personal or political statement, as it is hoisted up for thousands to see in person at the festival, on live streams, and in video recorded performances.^{[9][10][12][14][3]}
• Artist/Crowd Communication: a festival totem may have a message an attendee hopes a performing artist will read, or words meant to attract or solicit conversations from other festival attendees in the crowd.^[9][14][13]
• Safety and Security: a festival totem may be utilized by safety and security staff at festivals, especially during night, to attempt to locate a person in need or causing a disruption.^[9][11][13]

Historical comparisons and nomenclature

Examples of Egyptian vexilloids

The concept of using "totems" and related staffs to indicate locations was prevalent in ancient armies before festival use. Festival totem carriers today use totems for group identification, which NAVA writers have analogized to vexilloids due to similar practical purposes.^[9] Throughout history, armies employed vexilloids as military standards, serving both practical and symbolic purposes; and in warfare, warriors would carry staffs, flags, and banners adorned with distinctive designs to distinguish allies from foes during battle.^[15] The first vexilloids were thought to originally be staffs topped by animal parts, like a skull. The staffs served as a designation for leaders of groups, such as military units, and were also used as a visible sign to rally around or point to a direction of attack.^[16] A specific example is the Romans using a vexillum, a military standard of the ancient Roman army carried by a vexillarius that attached a square cloth on a staff for similar purposes.

A Native American totem pole

The "totem" name may have come from the comparison to Native American totem poles^[17]—festival totems are not as culturally or religiously significant as a totem pole, but similarly display artist creations, recent events, and stand tall to locate certain areas.^[18][19]

Design and materials

Festival totems can be crafted from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, foam, extendable poles, and fabric.^[20] The top of the totem may be a sign, a cutout image, a stuffed animal, or another object. Some festival totems are simple and utilitarian, such as poles attaching premade flags or signs, while others are intricate works of original art featuring LEDs, holographic materials, or kinetic elements that move with the wind or respond to music.^[21] Festival totems are usually distinct from flags on poles at festivals as totems generally contain an object and not loose cloth; however, both may be called a "totem" while being utilized in a festival crowd. Festival-goers frequently utilize memes, inside jokes, and other current event references to display on the totem.^[22]

A festival totem constructed of a simple extendable pole and a goose stuffed animal

Etiquette and regulations

Despite their practical benefits, totems have sparked debate within the festival community. With the primary function of festival totems serving as beacons to find groups in large crowds at shows to find friends at a distance, this leads to festival totems blocking the view of stages during shows.^[23] Festival attendees have opined that totems should not obstruct the view of others or interfere with the festival experience for fellow attendees and follow the PLUR rave community guidelines.^[24][25] Other attendees and publications note that festival totems supplement the festival experience and add artistic value to the festival while providing a crucial utilitarian purpose of finding friends in disorienting crowds at night.^[26]

Some organizers and attendees have raised concerns about safety and the potential for totems to block views of stages or performances.^[27] As a result, many festivals have implemented guidelines or restrictions regarding the size, material, height, and usage of totems.^[28][29]

References

1. Atencio, Travis (2017-05-12). "The Secret History of Rave Totems [Pictures]". Rave Jungle. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
2. "Let's Talk About Totems • MUSICFESTNEWS". MUSICFESTNEWS. 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
3. Rahme, Madeline (2020). More Than Music: The Lived Experiences of Communities Developed Through Music Festivals (Thesis).^{[page needed]}
4. Fellezs, Colin-James (2018-04-01). "A Coachella Community: The Institutionalization of Music Festival Culture". Sociology Theses & Senior Projects.
5. Howard, Sam; Howard, Samantha (2017-12-26). "We Asked People to Explain Their Doof Sticks". Vice. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
6. khrisd. "A Quick Guide to Making the Most of Your Festival Totem". Complex. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
7. Marshmello (2019-09-11). How To: Create Your Own Festival Totem. Retrieved 2024-07-05 – via YouTube.
8. "Hello Totem". HelloTotem. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
9. Hughes, Dalton (December 2023). "Flags and Totems at Music Festivals: A Modern Twist on Ancient Vexilloids". Vexillum: Research and Information from the North American Vexillological Association. 24 (December 2023): 12–15.
10. McCullough, Erin (2024-07-05). "'Roo totems: mark your spot and find your friends". Tullahoma News. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
11. "Totem Carriers: The Real Heroes of Beyond Bay 2015". www.insomniac.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
12. Joel, Bissell; Frick, Melissa (2023-06-27). "Totems show creativity of Electric Forest attendees". mlive. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
13. Mall, Andrew (February 2020). "Introduction: Festivals and Musical Life". Journal of the Society for American Music. 14 (1): 2–9. doi:10.1017/S1752196319000518. ISSN 1752-1963.
14. Gundle, Stephen; Castelli, Clino T. (2006), Gundle, Stephen; Castelli, Clino T. (eds.), "Exotic Enticements", The Glamour System, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 87–98, doi:10.1057/9780230510456_5, ISBN 978-0-230-51045-6, retrieved 2024-07-19
15. Slater, Stephen (2007). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Flags and Heraldry: An International History of Heraldry and Its Contemporary Uses Together with the Definitive Guide to National Flags, Banners, Standards and Ensigns. Hermes House. ISBN 978-1-84681-266-8.
16. Smith, Whitney (1975). Flags Through the Ages and Across the World. McGraw-Hill. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-07-059093-9.
17. Garber, David (2014-07-07). "I Went Totem Hunting at Electric Forest". Vice. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
18. "::: American Indians of the Pacific Northwest Collection :::". content.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
19. Westhoff, Ben (April 23, 2015). "The Secret History of Totems | Insomniac". www.insomniac.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
20. Lowenstein, Scott (2017-04-25). "Rick Totem Final Report Part 1". Aesthetics of Design. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
21. "How to Make a Rave Totem". EDM World Magazine♫♥. 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
22. iHeartRaves. "How to Make a Rave Totem for Festival Season". iHeartRaves. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
23. GIlmore, Grant (2023-09-19). "It's Time We Had a Talk About Totems at Festivals | EDM Identity". edmidentity.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
24. Emma Kapotes (2019-08-07). The Great Festival Flag & Totem Etiquette Debate | Rave Culture Podcast #17. Retrieved 2024-07-05 – via YouTube.
25. Frazier, Cameron (2016-04-07). "Rave 101: The Do's and Don'ts of the Totem". Dance Music NW. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
26. McCullough, Erin (June 18, 2024). "Totems: a creative way to find your friends at festivals". WKRN News.
27. Kupka, Heather. "Festival Totems: Creative Expression or Experience Hindrance?". Relentless Beats. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
28. "General Festival Guidelines – Insomniac". www.insomniac.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
29. "North Coast Music FestivalFAQ". North Coast Music Festival. Retrieved 2024-07-05.