Crowds are the absolute worst at music festivals. What’s more annoying than being stuck in a crowd of screaming, drunk people? Being stuck in a crowd of screaming, drunk people while waiting in line to purchase something. Usually, lines are so long because people have to fuss with wallets or purses to find their credit cards or cash, then you have to swipe and sign or get change for your bills, and it’s just a time-consuming, tedious process that most festival goers must go through if they want some food or drinks. However, C3 Presents, Lollapalooza‘s promoters, want to revolutionize the festival experience with a new initiative.
Referred to as Lolla Cash, the initiative involves implementing a chip within the Lollapalooza wristbands that can be used to purchase food and drinks from vendors. Lolla attendees simply have to register a credit card with their wristbands to take part in the Lolla Cash program. If all goes accordingly, it should help expedite the process at vendor stands while also ensuring attendees won’t lose their wallets along the way. The wristbands use radio frequency identification (RFID) similar to how Ventra cards work, and considering how rough the CTA’s new system launch was, there are bound to be bumps in the road for Lollapalooza this year. The wristbands will also store purchase information in case a clear signal can’t be made at the moment of purchase to ensure transactions go through properly.
Lolla Cash represents the festival’s full embrace of new technology that could find use amongst other major music festivals like South by Southwest, Electronic Daisy Carnival, Bonnaroo, and more. Disney launched a similar initiative last year, My Magic+, that allowed visitors to use their bracelets to make purchases, access their hotel rooms, fast entry into amusement and water parks, and more. It’s only a matter of time before we go completely cashless in all areas of our lives.
For now, tell us what you think about Lolla Cash, and if you’re going, will you actively use it?
[via Adweek]