I Camped 8 Days for Billie Eilish — And I Still Don’t Stink

From Beatlemania to Taylor Swift's fanbase, passionate followers have always been around, and they will continue to be go to extreme lengths to watch their favorite performer.

Billie Eilish fans are not much different, with hundreds setting up camp outside the O2 Arena , London , hoping to reach the front to watch the Bad Guy producer perform.

The former Glastonbury The headliner is currently in the UK. The "Hit Me Hard and Soft" Tour, which gave five stars on London ’s opening night.

Three performances remaining her six-night residency At the location, we chatted with the loyal supporters who made the O2 their base for the week.

"We don't smell," two fans immediately stated from within the line, having waited since July 7, even though they didn't possess tickets for the first or second nights.

We're moving on to night three, which falls on the 13th," said Ams. "We'll be staying overnight for a total of eight days for our program.

Maintaining cleanliness during a week-long campout—something every festival attendee understands—is one of the toughest obstacles, yet without proper amenities, fans of Billie have been forced to think outside the box.

Ames and her friend Alice were camping "off-site" as the O2 issued a statement informing fans that tents within the site and the "surrounding area" were prohibited.

We have an Airbnb," Ams said. "We're returning there to take a shower. We don't smell bad—we take showers—every day, even twice a day.

Supporters have established a modest gathering of tents near the O2 (though not excessively distant), with reports indicating that security personnel have been performing well-being inspections.

Even though they weren't truly watching Billie that evening, it didn't imply the couple was inside their tents, missing out on the vibe. Ams stated she "completed all of night one" alongside those who were waiting and even "organized everyone" after a hectic dash toward the front.

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It was somewhat chaotic," she remarked. "I needed to get everyone organized within 30 minutes, and we were located far from the main campus.

The O2 announcement stated that any fan-imposed queueing system would 'not be recognized,' and they planned to distribute bracelets once the venue opened.

I'll run over at midnight" "I'm heading out at midnight" "I'll dash over at midnight" "I plan to go quickly at midnight" "I will hurry over at midnight" "My intention is to rush over at midnight" "At midnight, I am going to run over" "I intend to move swiftly at midnight" "The time when I will speedily come is midnight" "I shall make my way over at midnight

Other supporters were not as intense as Ams and Alice—who also brought along a friend who had been camping since July 4—and restricted their stay to 24 hours.

We won't be staying here all night," said a girl at the campground. "It seems the line starts opening at midnight since it's still considered the same day as the concert.

Her strategy was to "race" to the O2 at midnight and remain there until the venue opened at 5:30 p.m., as Billie wasn't scheduled to take the stage until 8:20 p.m.

Is it necessary to camp for Billie Eilish?

A music expert named Danni Scott shares her thoughts on whether you need to stay for performances - or if you're able to show up at entrances.

The trend of camping for performances has been increasing in appeal, especially with Generation Z and the emerging Generation Alpha (currently approximately 14 years old).

Although motivated by the wish to lead, elements such as the possibility of a video going viral and gaining influence also come into consideration. The title of "I stayed for eight days" grants you credibility among fans, labeling you as an extremely devoted supporter. Picture those intense emotions from teenagers or early twenties magnified by the demands of social media—we would have done the same.

Even though some people online may imply otherwise, you genuinely don’t have to stay overnight unless you're extremely determined to be near the front. This is especially true for Billie’s show, as her performance area is centered, making all attendees feel much nearer to her compared to a typical concert.

Spending long periods waiting in line, particularly under hot conditions, increases your chances of becoming dehydrated. Attempting to position yourself near the front could, in severe situations, lead to fainting and force you to abandon the event altogether.

You can enjoy yourself just as much from behind while standing, moving around with your friends and having more space to dance as you would at the very front. Indeed, being shorter might limit your sightline, but you aren’t meant to stay in one place all night—just shift positions whenever needed.

Some fans' insistence on standing right at the front may negatively affect the experience of others. At concerts, situations change, and there's no reason to defend your spot simply because you've been waiting for five days—that's your decision. Similarly, if you arrive late, avoid pushing people aside as you rush toward the stage. Fans must rediscover how to share space with one another, regardless of whether you're someone who has waited all day or only arrived minutes before the show starts.

A fan traveled from Sicily, Italy, along with his father after he missed her European tour dates. The two had been waiting in line since 8:30 am and were fairly close to the entrance.

It wasn't too late," the young person remarked, "Perhaps we could have gotten here five minutes sooner, but only that.

He observed that certain entrances had already been opened to allow gatekeepers inside, something they had almost managed to miss following when some females overtook them during the scramble.

A different woman, who woke up at 4:30 am and reached the location by 7 am, said: “When we came today, there were still individuals with blankets, sleeping bags, chairs, and other items. I believe they have been coming and going all day.”

"I suppose they're highly committed and leading the way," she replied when questioned whether campers felt "envious" that her more laid-back method produced unexpectedly positive outcomes.

It became very warm, with certain sections being quite poor.

Numerous worries have emerged regarding underage supporters setting up camp outside concerts, particularly since London has faced a period of intense heat this week.

Dehydration combined with dancing to popular tracks such as "Guess" could pose a serious threat to both security personnel and attendees, with the possibility of fainting during the performance being very real.

"We spent roughly four hours outdoors, moving in and out of the shaded areas," said a man whose companion had brought along a fan.

Some sections were pretty terrible and extremely hot," he added. "We ended up going out to get some water.

Additionally, many people waiting in line were young women between the ages of seventeen and twenty, lacking any form of protection; however, most said they felt secure because being together provided a sense of safety.

"It might appear much more dangerous, but being among a large group of people actually makes it quite safe," said Sophie.

When we can wait in line later during the evening, since lines begin at midnight, the security personnel remain throughout the night, and we're located just beside them.

Although the main reason for lining up is the strong desire to be near the artist in person, fans emphasized that there was also a sense of community involved.

As neighborhood community centers shut down throughout the nation, teens are spending more time online than at any previous period.

Waiting in line at the O2 Arena might be the sole opportunity for young music enthusiasts to form connections with fellow fans beyond their school environment.

I have the Instagram accounts of many individuals," said a girl. "There are also people we've encountered at various concerts and different tour events.

There is a strong feeling of belonging since we've all experienced the night together and have grown nearer.

Billie will wrap up her performances in London on July 17, followed by four shows at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena, then she'll travel to Dublin towards the end of the month.

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