With music festivals such as Glastonbury or Reading, one thing you'll notice as you walk around is a colourful wristband on everyone's wrist.
It is used as a security measure so that members of security can instantly recognise whether you should be there or not.
It allows them to distinguish those which may have sneaked in somehow without paying and then take the appropriate action to remove them from the premises.
On the first time of entering the main arena, you will have to swap your ticket for a festival wristband.
This then becomes your wearable ticket and proof of purchase, which makes it very important that the wristband is not taken off or lost during the weekend as it could result in being escorted off the premises.
If you happen to damage it to the point where it may fall off your wrist, you should visit the main office and ask for a replacement.
The last thing you want is it to fall off whilst in a crowd and you end up losing the one thing that proves that you have paid to attend the event.
Event organisers can also use festival wristbands to help distinguish between certain categories where necessary.
For example, most music events offer day tickets as well as weekend tickets for those that may wish to attend only for one day to see a certain band.
Using different colours or styles of wristband, allows the security staff to distinguish between those who are allowed to stay overnight and those who must leave at the end of the evening.
They can also be used to separate customers in other ways such as those who are over eighteen and can be served alcoholic beverages.
Another use is to give VIP members a different wristband so event staff know who should be allowed access to certain areas.
One of the great things about using festival wristbands is that people often view them as souvenirs from their time at the music event.
Many will choose to keep them as a reminder, whilst some will display them in their bedrooms to show off to friends.
Some will also become so attached to them that even after the festival has finished, they will choose to continue to wear them for fashion or sentimental reasons.
All of this acts as free advertising for the festival and will help to encourage people to attend the following year.