As I'm sure you've heard a million and a half times by now, hoardes of hipster-hippie hybrids descended on the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA over two sweltering weekends under the Mojave desert sun.

Whereas most people wanted to go to the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival for Weekend 1, I decided to take a chance on Weekend 2. Call me a noob, but I felt that closing out the festival would bring its own kind of energy, with the bar set at Weekend 1 becoming only a benchmark to surpass this time around.

In the weeks leading up to my first Coachella, I read up and talked to veteran friends about what to expect... but there are some things in life that nothing can prepare you for. Coachella is one such "thing in life."

However, there are still some ways to blend right in with the pros from the start. The art of mastering Coachella comes with experience, but by the end of Sunday, I seemed to have a good grasp on a few key takeaways to bring back to the real world and share with other newbies, or even veterans looking for extra tips on maximizing their festival experience:

- Listen to random strangers... when it comes to music. The best tip came from a girl who overheard us talking about Knife Party. She said that if we enjoyed them, we MUST check out Booka Shade. Lo and behold, heading from the more popular Sigur Rós set to the less-crowded Gobi Tent led to one of the most awesome memories from the entire weekend.

While the Saturday night headliners drew most of the crowds away, the people who just wanted to dance around and have a good time to some house beats knew where to go. They were all in the Gobi Tent, enjoying German House duo Booka Shade's lively set that got people moving even after the end of yet another day under the desert sun.

The big deal was that they not only knew how to get the crowd going, but their appeal went beyond the average DJ. Booka Shade creates music live, playing with keyboards, synths, live sampling, and percussion/drums onstage. They didn't even have, nor did they need, any over-the-top visual production to accompany their sound. We thank you, random awesome girl, for the heads up... for now I, too, am a Booka Shade fan.

- Pool parties near the actual festival are a must if you have the time for them. Attempt to get on guest lists early and scope out the best ones near where you're staying (unless you're camping). A standout daytime bash was The Do-Over poolside dance party hosted by Desert Gold at Ace Hotel & Swim Club on Sunday, April 21st. The hipster-chic hotel was the venue for pool parties all weekend, in fact. Great music, drinks, good vibes, and dipping in a cool blue pool equaled a perfect way to kick off the day before heading to the festival grounds.

- Be a band scout. Don't write off any band, and go early each day to catch the daytime acts. When one (or more) of the bands makes it big a couple years from now, you want to be that annoying person who can say, "I saw that band back in 2013! You know, before they got all mainstream and stuff...." You can deny it all you want, but you know you want to.

But wait -- here's a thought: Maybe you'll actually find something you love, from a totally different genre than you ever expected. Where else do you get to sample not only the sound, but the vibe and personality of bands from so many different genres, all steps away from one another? Bands bring it for Coachella and each one brings a unique aspect to its performance... from Diplo crowdsurfing in a giant hamster ball during Major Lazer's set, to Wu-Tang's giant black and yellow beach balls being tossed around by the crowd, to raining glowsticks and, well, pretty lights during Pretty Lights' set.

Other highlight moments included the crowd enthusiastically singing along to Alex Clare's lesser-known gem, "Where Is The Heart" (see the Weekend 1 performance here for an idea), and of course his insanely popular hit, "Too Close," as well to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out." These moments made the massive, 90,000-strong crowd feel like an intimate bonding experience for a few minutes at a time.

- Another band tip: For big bands whose marquee songs you want to hear mainly, go towards the tail end of their sets to catch those songs (ie. those that you actually know the words to). Explore smaller bands in the meantime and don't worry about staking out a spot in the first ten rows for more than a couple of your favorite acts. It's not worth missing so many other events going on elsewhere around the festival at that very moment. Bands on the come-up also sometimes try harder because they can have more to prove.

- The Sahara Tent got EDM-lovers jumping, fist-pumping and shuffling, with the help of 3D LED effects to amp up the crowd, thanks to Vello & V Squared Labs. They worked on Moby and Hardwell's sets, to name a few, and invited us to for a behind-the-scenes look at how they control the dramatic lighting and effects.

I was up on the soundstage before I knew it, with a direct view of Hardwell just in time to witness his epic set. It felt like I was in a hi-tech boat amid a sea of ravers below me, as the sun set in the background for the last time at Coachella 2013. Vello also did the lighting inside the Heineken Domes at Coachella both weekends, projecting intricate lightshows on the ceiling of the tents. Until you see what goes into the production, it's easy to take for granted the mind blowing effects during a great music show.

Paul Oakenfold also got the crowd moving during his daytime set with a high-energy, standout performance with great transitions. The Yuma Tent, the newest, air-conditioned addition to the Coachella tent family, featured more EDM indoors with lights, hardwood floors, faux paintings, and DJs like KCRW's Jason Bentley and Mario Cotto spinning into the night.

- The Do LaB not only had great DJs and beats throughout the weekend, but it had misting areas to cool off under, as well as colorful art installations. We even got a peek at what it's like to be onstage, and I must say the view of the crowd, with the iconic ferris wheel in the background, was pretty rad. The Lucent Dossier Experience even performed, to add flair to flair. Now that Coachella is over, the countdown to Lightning in a Bottle is on! Check out the video at the end to get a taste of the Do LaB experience.

- Smaller acts will be much more awesome than the headliners, oftentimes. Whereas the Wu-Tang Clan brought energy and interaction for Weekend 2, yelling "Wu-chella" between sets and even bringing out Redman to perform "Da Rockwilder" during Weekend 1, the much-anticipated Red Hot Chili Peppers' final set of Coachella turned out to be quite anticlimactic, unfortunately. The energy was a bit lacking, and audience enagement on their part was minimal, compared to other acts. Bonus tip: these kinds of overhyped moments still draw crowds and thus make it the perfect time to ride the famous Coachella ferris wheel with minimal lines!

After "Californication," much of the crowd headed for the exits. The lesson here, much as in life in general, is to keep an open mind. Have high hopes and low expectations and you will not be disappointed, but rather pleasantly surprised by what unexpected moments turn out to be the most memorable experiences of your first (or tenth) Coachella.

- Coachella Food Tips: Beer-battered French fries smothered in crab aioli AND crab. There, I said it. Maybe not the best thing to eat in the heat, but it's a must-try once the sun goes down. Spicy Pie is a legendary must-eat as well, and the jalapeño-pepperoni NY-style slices are convenient to eat on the go and pretty filling as well. For those seeking out more gourmet fare, the Taiwanese fried chicken bao from Baohaus is a good investment.

Festival food is pricey, so if you ran out of money but needed some calories to fuel you until you reached an ATM, the free Fruttare fruit pops saved the day. Hopefully they're back next year to cool festival-goers down in the 97-degree weather!

Plan what you want to see using the Coachella 2013 mobile app ahead of time, and have a VERY specific meeting spot so you can scatter to find your own musical interests before reuniting with your friends in time to sing along to "Ho Hey" by the Lumineers together.- Small Steps for Big Gains: Hydrate more than you think you need to. It'll keep your energy up to keep the party going for three days straight.

You'll be surprised by just how many people can have the same exact obscure meeting spot as you and thus foil your plans of easily finding your friends. But it IS possible, especially if you carry some sort or giant inflatable or something on a stick to raise above the crowds. | You may also want to meet at a cell phone charging station, as those came in super handy over the three days.

The H&M Tent lets you create your own GIFs, and even has a refreshing station where you can use dry shampoo and even deodorant... so spare those who ride home with you by visiting this tent at some point. Please?

And now, perhaps the most useful yet underrated tip: bring a bandana! Your lungs will thank you for tying one around your nose and mouth to avoid directly inhaling dust for three days straight.

There you have it -- a slew of festival-maximizing tips that will allow you to thoroughly enjoy your weekend, and a full year to prepare. Most apply toward other music festivals as well, so feel free to use other music festivals until next year's Coachella as an excuse to "practice" these tips!

Need more music festival advice? Feel free to reach out to me.

Reach Tanaya Ghosh here or follow her on Twitter.