10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your TDv Experience

Traditionally, Easter Weekend is a highlight of the clubbing calendar. This year, like last, we won’t have the opportunity. Or will we?

Building on the success of J2v, LWE brings you Tobacco Dock Virtual. Taking place on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd April 2021, the two-day partython will feature over 40 leading artists from the house, techno and bass spectrums. We’re teaming with industry leaders, including Beatport, Relentless, Mixmag, Rinse FM, RTRN 2 Jungle, Hospitality, UKF, Keep Hush and Mr Afterparty, to beam an immersive virtual event directly into your living room, where we will continue to blur the lines between the physical and the digital.

Here’s 10 ways to maximise your TDv experience as we prepare to dance into the future.

1. HANG OUT WITH YOUR MATES

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of human interaction. We’re social creatures. In the absence of being to party for real, Easter weekend at TDv provides the perfect opportunity to assemble the squad and meet up virtually, no matter where they are. Get your boyfriend, girlfriend, brother, sister, mum, dad, nan and flatmate involved too! Not only will you be able to meet up and chat as you would do in reality, but you’ll be sharing a unique experience together - something we’ve all been missing.

2. INTERACT WITH PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Whether it’s complimenting a stranger’s outfit in the toilets or chatting nonsense in the smoking area, a rave never went by where you wouldn’t be making new friends - even if that friendship only lasted the duration of the event. TDv will replicate that social aspect, only on a much grander scale. The world will literally be your oyster as participants engage from every timezone on the planet. Maybe your new best friend will be a party animal from Argentina, a sober raver from Japan or a night owl from Down Under? TDv allows for the LWE community to go truly global.

3. SEE YOUR FAVOURITE DJs LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Just like we do at all our Tobacco Dock events, we’ve gone big with our line-ups for TDv. The colossal line-up on Good Friday sees heavyweights such as Adam Beyer, Hot Since 82, Nastia, Sasha, Enzo Siragusa and Imogen cater to fans of house and techno. Meanwhile, the following day is overseen by Wilkinson, Flava D, Metrik and the indomitable Chase & Status for the drum & bass crowd. No matter your taste, there’s something here for everybody.

You may have followed your favourite artists all around the world and caught them at desert raves, muddy fields or the world’s leading clubs, but have you ever seen a digital avatar of them? That’s definitely one to tick off the book - a real bragging right for a diehard fan. 

4. EXPLORE THE VENUE’S MULTIPLE ROOMS

Ever blindly fumbled your way through a packed Car Park or lost your crew’s assembly point in The Great Gallery? Guilty! We reckon there’s corners of Tobacco Dock that are uncharted to even us. TDv will be fully immersive. So what are you waiting for - go explore. Intrepid clubbers go forth with a sense of adventure and see what new nooks and crannies you can discover. Have you been to the newly revamped Terrace yet? Would you know where to go to meet under the clock? Can you find the merch stand? Here’s an opportunity to find out all the things you’ve been missing so far. Clue: there’s more to Tobacco Dock Virtual than you’d think.

5. DISCOVER NEW MUSIC

We’ve now had 12 months off. During that time, producers have kept busy in the studio, using their time to make music instead of play it. Meanwhile, labels have continued with their release schedules. The result? DJs are currently sitting on an insurmountable quantity of unheard music. The last time this happened was probably back in the analogue era. With so much new music at their disposal, we’re likely to hear very diverse sets from each performer and little repetition. What gems will our superstars have lined-up? Expect to hear some absolute weapons. We want to listen to it all.

6. PLAY GAMES

For TDv, we’re assimilating gaming into the virtual experience. Instead of an easter egg hunt, imagine hunting for different parts of music with the goal of building an entire track. Could the next Daft Punk or Jean-Michel Jarre be amongst us? Oh, and there might even be a cameo from a familiar bespectacled friend. Can you find him?

7. GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR AVATAR

Whether it’s ghoulish fancy dress at our Halloween events or just the individualism of our crowd throughout the rest of the year, we’re continually impressed by the creativity of our attendees. This individualism can continue in TDv. Deck your avatar out in clobber in any way you desire. All black everything? Bodysuit with shorts? Acid smiley T-shirt and bucket hat? Neon purple hair? You do you. There’s even the option to upgrade to extras and official merch by completing tasks and redeeming rewards. Experimentation is very much encouraged.

8. WIN PRIZES

We’re feeling generous, so expect the opportunity to bag some cool prizes, whether it’s official merch or a hamper full of goodies. Some of the bounty up for grabs is exclusive, limited edition or just plain money-can’t-buy. Who knows, your avatar might just win you a meet and greet with your favourite DJ or some VIP tickets for an already sold out show? See, we told you they’d be worth it.

9. ONLINE LEARNING

For TDv we’re adding an educational element. If like us, you have electronic music running through your veins, we think you’ll find this part especially interesting. Working alongside our collaborator Take Note, we invite attendees to watch a series of documentaries and interviews ahead of the music broadcast and then join in with the discussion. Across the weekend you can learn about headliners Skream and Chase & Status and hear from rising talents, including Mollie Collins and ALISHA. 

10. DANCE

Oh, baby. The big one. How we’ve missed it. We’ve spent actual hours, days, weeks longing for the dancefloor. Now it’s in touching sight… but still out of reach. TDv provides the antidote. All that pent up energy you’ve been saving - get ready to give it a big release. Push the sofa back against the wall, take the china down from the mantelpiece, make a clearing in the middle of the front room and turn the surround sound up. Now download your free ticket, log in, dance your little heart and cut some rug. Literally.