MY TRUTH ABOUT THE UNPROFESSIONAL EXPERINCE I HAD WORKING WITH THE FESTIVAL BABES - THE TEA

I remember the first time The Festival Babes popped up on my Instagram feed. A women-led brand made for women in the EDM and festival space sounded like something I’d genuinely want to be part of. It felt empowering, maybe even too good to be true, but I was open-minded. I’ve learned not to judge too quickly, so I gave it a shot. I thought maybe this community could be a way to inspire others, raise the voices of women in the scene, and bring something meaningful to the culture we love.

I reached out with genuine interest. On September 18, 2024, I emailed their general inbox with the following message:

“Hi, I was wondering if there are any requirements for joining The Festival Babes? My name is Monica Brice, I’m 31, based in the DMV, and I’ve been raving for over 10 years. I work with mainstream DJs, celebrities, brands, and more. I’d love to help contribute and connect. I support the PLUR and the female-driven mission behind The Festival Babes and would love to help promote the brand and movement.”

Kat, the founder, replied to me the next day, saying:

“Hi Monica, thank you so much for your interest and for your email. We are excited that you are wanting to apply to be a part of The Festival Babes! What are your social media links and where are you based?”

I also received a follow-up from Maureen with the application link. A few weeks later, on October 16, 2024, I officially received my welcome email:

“Welcome to The Festival Babes! Welcome to your new festival family! We are so excited you're here.”

The email shared their mission and positioned themselves as the fastest-growing network of influencers, content creators, and ravers. It claimed they were constantly seeking creators like me to collaborate with events, shows, brands, artists, and festivals nationwide. I was proud to be accepted and even added “Festival Babe” to my social media bio.

Unfortunately, that excitement didn’t last. I reached out repeatedly to be involved in events especially local ones, like Project Glow but never heard nothing back from anyone on their team. No follow-up, no direction, just silence. Despite their claim of offering opportunities, I was repeatedly ignored, and I started noticing the same thing happening to others.

It became clear that the “opportunity” was really just a status label, and a title that was thrown to me without substance. They brag about having a large team, but they don’t engage with or offer real chances to the very creators they claim to empower. That was disappointing, and honestly, unprofessional.

Eventually, I decided to leave the team. I removed their name from my bio and stopped reaching out. What bothered me most wasn’t just the lack of follow-up; it was the false hope. The letdown. The illusion of community when there was no real connection or support.

It’s frustrating to see how much respect they’ve gained in the industry while being so misleading behind the scenes. Maybe one day I’ll build my own women-led team and do it right with transparency, accountability, and actual opportunities. No woman coming up in this scene deserves to be reduced to just a number or a badge for a company to show off.

What I went through with The Festival Babes is a reminder to all creators: just because a brand looks good on social media doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Be mindful of who you align with and know your worth.