Panthermonium Festival 2020: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Sophia Medina / Staff Writer

This year, festival goers will be experiencing two incredible live performances during FIU’s Panthermonium. FIU’s very own DJ Silence Of and popular dance music artist Steve Aoki will both perform during the virtual event, which is set to take place Oct. 4. 

The performance will be taking place on Looped, a streaming platform which bills itself as “the ultimate virtual venue.”

Although the annual event will be changing platforms for the first time, it doesn’t mean there will be any less excitement than it’s previous shows. 

According to homecoming Director Natalia Betancourt, they have some new things in store for this year, making it unlike prior events.

“This Panthermonium is the most unique one we’ve ever had–the artists, the platform, everything is very different,” Betancourt said. “This year we have a VIP opportunity where students are able to meet Steve Aoki through a face-to-face call, we will also have a Q&A where students share with us questions for him to answer.”

Panthermonium veterans may notice this year’s lineup is unlike previous events, often featuring Hip-Hop artists such as Lil Yachty and Waka Flocka who were headlining the 2019 event.  

According to Betancourt, this was done on purpose. 

“We’ve always had hip hop and rap artists. We’ve had EDM, but that happened way before many of the students at FIU arrived. When choosing him I thought, you know what, I want to bring someone new. Steve Aoki was our first option.”

Steve Aoki was chosen from what was initially a long list of artists. When COVID-19 made its landfall, the list began to grow shorter due to artist availability while many of the favored options for headliners were declining virtual performances.

As the list was dramatically decreasing, Aoki seemed to be the only one who stuck around out of the bunch. This was another reason why he was chosen to perform for Panthermonium.

“Steve Aoki was always that one person that was staying on the list,” Betancourt said.

Aoki, along with opener DJ Silence Of, is expected to dominate the virtual dancefloor during this Panthermonium. 

To liven up the experience while staying at home, here are some tips Panthers can follow to have a remarkable time.  

Make Some Space For Dancing 

Festival attendees are encouraged to set up the live stream in a space where they can have room to dance. The worst thing for virtual party-goers to do is stay in bed or crowd themselves in a condensed place. These kinds of environments can lead to an unenergetic experience, which can lead to an unexciting time. 

Setting up the live stream in the biggest room in the house can give the family enough space to join in on all the fun. No Panther should have to celebrate the start to homecoming week alone. 

Add LED Lights

Setting up some LED Lights is one simple step that can transform the live stream concert experience into a stay-at-home rave. 

Dancing in a sea of colored lights is sure to help create a party atmosphere, similar to the experience of Panthermonium when it was held at the Ricardo Silva Stadium. Attendees interested in purchasing these lights can do so on Amazon; many are cost efficient and using your student prime can guarantee their arrival before the event takes place. 

“Dress Out” and Accessorize

The FIU community should dress all out as if they are attending an in-person event. This can help to energize viewers by giving them the impression of being at a live concert. 

Students and alumni can wear accessories such as bandanas, face gems, hats, sneakers, boots, glow stick necklaces, and futuristic goggles. 

The best clothing to wear is shorts, leggings, T-shirts, DJ merch, FIU apparel, and tank tops, the signature attire for music festivals. Although considered to be the most comfortable clothing, they are also the easiest to accessorize. This is why they are known to be the perfect festival attire. 

For anyone who might still want to take their Panthermonium look to the next level, facepaint, make up, and creating out-of-this-world hair-dos are the perfect for spicing up festival attire. 

Invite Some Friends Over (Safely)

COVID-19 isn’t over yet, but it’s still possible for friends to join in on the fun. Students can invite their friends to their home for some Panthermonium social distancing while wearing masks. In case allowing them into the house is uncomfortable and risky, then attendees can host a dance party outside with a laptop or projector. This will prevent guests from entering the household and can prevent others from getting sick.   

Another option viewers can take to spend the concert with their friends is by holding a zoom party. Virtual attendees won’t have to worry about getting sick while simultaneously enjoying the concert with others. 

Connect Some Speakers and Turn Up The Music

Relying on computer speakers can be the biggest mistake anyone can make. The sound isn’t overpowering and the quality isn’t great. Panthermonium attendees should connect an external speaker and crank up the music to the highest volume possible. This will help to create a real concert experience; no music event is complete without some loud music. 

Panthermonium will take place on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 7:15 pm on Looped. Students and alumni can get their free tickets by reserving for the live stream with their official FIU email.

To be a part of the new Panthermonium VIP experience, students must follow the official FIU Homecoming Instagram and participate in the challenges posted on the page. The winners will be able to meet Steve Aoki and discuss anything running through their minds. 

Students itching to ask the dance music producer a question can do so on the FIU Homecoming Instagram story. The Homecoming Council recommends that they leave their name and year for recognition if their question is chosen.