[this is a 2019 post updated for 2024 and then again for 2026]
Each year I forget something. So I’m going to write a list of stuff.
Most of my stuff also has to travel to places like Seoul and other cities before it gets to Herrang, so it has to be multi-use.
I’m usually in Herrang for two weeks, and I assume I’ll be staying somewhere where I’ll need to bring sheets and towels.
Before I leave on a long trip….
- back up laptop files in triplicate, one online, one on hard drive, one in a third format
- notify bank of countries and dates of travel
- cash in Swedish kr (budget $AU50 a day + private accommodation rent + deposit for a bike)
- cash in other local currencies for trip
Electrical stuff
I colour-code my cables (esp the phone/headphones/kindle ones) because I get too tired to handle confusion. I label all my gear with my name.
- laptop
- power cord for laptop
- laptop-to-sound-desk cable + adaptors for desk (these will be supplied, but you’re a pro, so act like it)
- 2x power converter with usb plug point (Au -> Eu) (one for accomodation, one for actually DJing)
- sound card
- thingy that turns a cable port into a bluetooth port on the plane
- headphones
- headphone charging cable
- headphone input cable
- phone charger
- phone charging cable
- kindle
- kindle charging cable
Clothes
Summer in Herrang can really vary. It’s often very wet at the beginning of July, then gets drier and much warmer later in the month. Nights can be colder (ie wear a sweater), the rain can be torrential, but the warm days can feel really warm. With climate change, it’s getting even warmer and not as cold. So you need clothes for all the seasons.
Fashion? It changes every year. Sometimes people go hard on vintage, sometimes it’s more about street wear. There’s a slight difference between staff and campers. Campers tend to focus on workshops and/or nice clothes for parties, with some casual/sexy clothes for daytime lolling about. But if you’re on staff or volunteering for a week, you’ll need stuff that suits your job (eg cleaning crew get dirty, cooks get splattered). Staff also tend to dress casually, but put on lovely outfits for special parties. ‘Lovely’ is a matter of personal taste (a ballgown? an animal costume? a three piece suit? Whatever your vibe, Herrang welcomes it).
- raincoat (if you don’t bring it and end up needing it, you’ll cry.)
- jeans or cold weather trousers x1
- hoody x2 (you’ll need to wash each one at the end of the week you wear it) OR thick cardigan or jacket for cold weather
- short legged pyjama bottoms (good for traveling and warm weather sleeping) + top
- long legged pyjama bottoms/tracksuit pants/leggings (good for travelling and cooler weather sleeping) + top
- sulu/sarong (the perfect emergency sheet, dressing gown, cover-up, scarf)
- hot weather cotton dress
- clothes for parties
- a nice dress or fancy outfit for slow drag night
- fancy dress costume if there’s a themed party
- Your usual party/social dancing clothes. Anything goes. Like, for real, anything goes. Except blackface. Don’t be a jerk. And do wash and change clothes after workshops, you grot!
- clothes for workshops (allow for 5 days of workshops):
- Solo jazz and eXperience classes: bring workout gear. You will SWEAT. So bring your good sports bra, leggings/shorts/bike pants, tshirts. If you’re taking the eXperience track and you care about fashion, think hip hop/street dance style. Save your nice dresses and trousers for the parties.
- Lindy hop and shag workshops: as per usual, but again, you will sweat, and people work hard.
- Tap workshops: everyone is too busy thinking about rhythm to care about what anyone is wearing. Tap dancers are notoriously poorly dressed. But be ready for sore feet.
- Performance and show: air steps are in your future, and you’ll be working hard. Be ready to sweat, to tip upside down, to manhandle each other.
- Balboa: um… normal balboa workshop clothes? Shoes are important.
- swimming costume
- 12 x pairs socks
- 12 x underwear
- sports bras
- fancy bras
- belt(s)
Allow for a laundry that washes with hot water (and shrinks clothes) and tumble dries aggressively.
Linens and stuff
- 2 x towels (so you can wash one while the other is in use, or use one for the beach and one for the shower
- 2 x queen sized sheets (can be used as top and bottom sheets when one is in the wash)
- 2x pillow cases
Random things
- umbrella. This won’t help in Herrang, but it’s useful for other cities on your trip
- EAR PLUGS. These are essential. For sleeping, for stress management, or for managing loud bands.
- Hard ball for rolling out muscles
- sunglasses
- sun hat
- any glasses you usually wear, and then a spare pair too, because things go missing.
- small padlock and key for a locker or whatever – this is useful for DJs or people in general accommodation
- travel washing line
- laundry detergent. You can use shampoo instead, but it’s worth having on hand for your hand washing. You can buy this in the village, but it can be expensive
- travel cup for coffees and teas
- tea bags or special teas and drinks
- special food or drinks (eg spices, instant noodles) that will make you feel at home in Sweden, land of no-flavours
- presents for friends (from your home town, or your travels)
- Knitting or crocheting. If you do either, there’s a growing interest in little handcraft groups (which welcome non-dancing locals), and you can find info about meet-ups in camp. All genders/ages welcome.
Shoes
- thongs (or flip flops for non-Australians), for use in the communal showers, or in wet weather or just generally shlepping around
- sandals for warm weather
- 2 x sueded (or ‘fast’) dance shoes (these get used night and day, so just one pair will never dry out, and will get grooooss)
- 1 x sticky (or ‘slow’) dance shoes
- tap shoes
Medications and bathroom stuff
- paracetemol
- pain killer with codeine
- anti-inflamatories
- 2 x cold and flu tablets
- prescription medications (enough for the entire trip + extra)
- if you get a feeling you’ll be unlucky this trip, bring some anti-spew and anti-poo medications too
- Bring copies of all your prescriptions, and letters from your doctor explaining what you take and why. Things like codeine are controlled drugs in many countries.
- vitamin E cream
- general moisturiser
- 2 x deoderant (you will run out)
- very strong mosquito spray
- sunscreen
- pads, tampons, moon cup (whichever you use)
- toothpaste and toothbrush and dental floss
- shampoo and conditioner
- soap
- nail file, nail scissors, tweezers, nail varnish, etc
- mirror for doing makeup, grooming, etc. Competition for these can be fierce.
Other things that people like to bring
- make up and perfume
- make up remover
- jewelry (don’t bring anything valuable! Shit gets lost or stolen)
- alcohol from duty free
- random costume things
- musical instrument
- promotional postcards for promoting events