"Rave" to me is in a sketchy area. In a big, dark warehouse with minimal lights and neon. Hard to find. Maybe 100 or so people
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
1. Electronic music 2. Everyone is accepted 3. You can be yourself and free your mind 4. If someone is gloving, shuffling or hooping
A bunch of people listening to EDM and sharing human connection
A collection of people who all enjoy the same music and know how to have a good time.
A collective of people gathering for the sole purpose of enjoying electronic music. The smaller the better. Too big and it becomes a festival, but that line has been blurred for a while.
A community where you're free to be yourself and have the best time, with amazing electronic music and lots of lights!!
A concert specializing in EDM music that isn't sanitized and commercialized by mainstream music interests. I.e. Electric Daisy Carnival is a rave because it's very commercial and mainstream within the EDM community, but even that mainstage lineup would never survive something like a Coachella.
A concert type event that primarily features dance music and stylistic light production
A concert type event that primarily features dance music and stylistic light production
A concert where they play any form of electronic music.
a concert with electronic music and rave culture (kandi, costumes, etc.)
A cultural melting pot of different groups who share a common interest, their love for electronic dance music.
A dance party
a festival
A gathering of EDM enthusiasts numbering 20 or more.
A gathering of electronica fans dancing and sharing PLUR
A gathering of fans of electronic music promoting PLUR and watching over one another.
A gathering of like minded people having a great time to various electronic music.
A gathering of people dancing to edm
A gathering of people in a place with loose rules to listen to electronic music
A gathering of people to listen to EDM
A gathering of people who all like the same music and all want each other to have a good time.
A gathering of people who generally enjoy electronic music that draws and welcomes every walk of life.
A gathering of people who want too experience good vibes and build connections.
A gathering of people with similar taste in music celebrating that fact.
A good fucking time
A group of people listening to EDM being mixed live by a DJ.
A large crowd dancing to electronic music
A live electronic music event taking place in the night
A location that has DJs playing edm music. Everyone is open minded and welcoming.
a long ass dancing session
a music event that plays edm
A none commercialized electronic music concert
A party
A party centered around Electronic Dance music. A place to "let your hair down" and truly be yourself without the worry of others caring. A community
a party that plays electronic music and is not located in a nightclub or house.
A party with less rules than normal
A place defined by electronic music and good vibes
A place that plays EDM
A place to escape and be happy
A place to spread love and be one with the music
A place where (mostly) electronic music brings people together in a way that all are free to express themselves as they choose and are still accepted by the community with open arms
A place where edm is being played at
A place where edm is being played at
A place where electronic music is being played.
A place where everyone is equal and the music is focal.
"A place where people can get lost in the music. A place where people can be themselves and be free. It's a liberating feeling to be at a rave.
"
A place where people gather to listen to electronic music.
A place where you are dancing to any form of EDM with a group of people starting at small parties and leading up to festivals. Usually with open culture policy (Drugs in the open, everyone judgement free)
A place with good music, good vibes and good people
A place with lights and shit. Good music, good vibes
A place with plur vibes and a feeling of alternative reality
A place you can listen to good music and have fun with friends and strangers
A primarily EDM music festival
A rave is an organized dance party at a nightclub, outdoor festival, warehouse, or other private property typically featuring performances by DJs, playing a seamless flow of electronic dance music.
A rave is mostly a rave based on how people dress and the hipster-ness of the environment. Like, if it's too much of a clubby yuppie thing that's a no!
a recontextualized space in the Temporary Autonomous Zone spirit with a sound system playing electronic music
A shelter
A show
a show with higher production quality than a club
A social dance party, mostly focused on the music.
A space to express yourself freely to electronic music with human connection and shared experience
A thing of the past - raves don't exist anymore, they are all festivals now :)
A time and place where everyone comes for the good music and good vibes.
A type of dance (like homecoming, or prom) where people can get together and listen to EDM, and be themselves without fear of judgement.
A type of dance (like homecoming, or prom) where people can get together and listen to EDM, and be themselves without fear of judgement.
A warehouse or open space event with EDM and drugs
Afterhours electronic shows at venues that typically don't serve alcohol.
All electronic artists
All illegal everything
Almost nonexistent.  A festival/concert atomoshphere for a lot less money.
An "old-schooler" like me would say a rave was a place where you can truly just be yourself, escape from the societal trappings of the world and lose your ego. I think those type events still exists but even they wouldnt call themsevles raves anymore. Raves are just now synymous with "loud dance music with drugs and getting "LIT".
An EDM concert filled with love and good vibes from strangers
An EDM event that isn’t at a club/bar.
An edm music festival
An edm oriented party with an intense light show that isn’t a club set
An electronic concert
An electronic music event where me and my friends can boogie
An electronic music show - specifically one taking place in a dark, compact venue/wharehouse
An electronic show
An electronic show that has 2+ DJs perform
An event focused on electronic music
An event where a DJ spins electronic music for a crowd of enthusiasts
An event with edm as the advertised music
An event with EDM music playing, people making friends with strangers, general "PLUR" vibe
An event with no permits that serves alcohol until they close, usually with the location provided the day of the event via hotline.
An illegal party
An illegal party held someplace where we're trespassing.
An underground electronic music event
Any EDM concert
Any EDM event where the crowd gets really moving
Any edm type music not in a club
any electronic music event larger than a nightclub
Any event with electronic music
Any musical gathering that plays EDM.
Any place that place that plays edm music that isn't an artist specific show.
Any show that feature mostly EDM
Any show where you can rage to some edm!!
Any show with good vibes and edm
Any size party with a DJ playing EDM with some sort of visual show (lighting, screens, etc.)
Anyplace playing EDM
anything edm.
Anything planned by Insomniac, LED, Hard or other similar companies.
Anything with EDM
Anything with edm that has more than one or two artists performing and is catered to a larger crowd
Anywhere drugs and music are widely enjoyed
ANYWHERE GOOD MUSIC, QUALITY PRODUCTION & GOOD PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO FORM POSITIVE VIBES AND AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
Anywhere that's playing primarily EDM
Anywhere the culture is present
Anywhere with good people and electronic music.
Anywhere with good vibes and electronic music playing.
Anywhere with people and dance music
Anywhere you dance with a bunch of other people
Aside from having electronic dance music, I'd define a rave more by the crowd than the location. A group of people of different backgrounds coming together to have a good time and spreading positive energy screams "rave" to me more than fancy light setups. Kandi is definitely a plus, and PLUR all the way. Also a venue that allows for flow arts and doesn't restrict what you wear (within reason). Its hard for me to consider something a "rave" if it's at a bar with rules against flow toys or certain types of clothing.
At this point,  an electronic show
Atmoshpehere.. People out for a good time in the ravey kind of way.
Being free
Being Free
berlin
Big Bass
big gathering with like minded people there for a good time not front, beef or pickup people
Big party/concert goes till late with edm music
BIG ROOM!!!
Bunch of strangers getting out of the house and dancing to some good fuckin electronic beats
By the music and vibes
By the music, atmosphere, and drugs
Combination of EDM artists, aesthetic environment, and right atmosphere and people.
Communal Appreciation of Electronic Music
Community
Community driven
Counter-culture, free spirited. No judgement, sick music, good crowds.
Crazy electronic show with a lot of open drug use
Crazy party with loud music and lots of drugs.
Crowd + edm
Dance floor(s), dj(s), vibes, good music, good people
Dance music with good energy and people there just go enjoy themselves and feel free from judgement
dancing
Dancing lazer mollies
Dancing the night away in a random warehouse
Dark room, crazy lights, good music and good vibes
dedicated planned music and dance event
Definitions are overrated
Depends. Either underground for specific definition or anything that focuses specifically on electronic music for a broad definition.
djs and drugs
Drugs and dance music and weird outfits
drugs and music
Drugs and music
Drugs Music Dancing
Drum and bass and drugs and mates
Easily to vibe dance party
Ecstatic lights loud music drugs good vibes
edm
EDM
edm and dancing not in a club.
EDM and good vibes
Edm and lasers are involved
EDM and PLUR vibes, expressing yourself through music and meeting a bunch of awesome people
Edm artist not at a club.
EDM blasting, visuals, lights PLUR vibes
EDM concert
Edm concert
Edm event
EDM event with multiple artists
Edm festival of warehouse party
EDM fueled party
EDM is a must, lasers, lights, people just letting go, and PLUR
Edm music
Edm music being played, stage with lights and lasers, people dressed up in colorful fun outfits and good vibes/PLUR
EDM music blasting,people dancing,no judging,respecting others, neon lasers/lights, and maybe drugs
Edm Music event with 4 or more artists performing
Edm music played to an audience
EDM music that’s held at a concert venue, I don’t consider festivals as raves
Edm music with a lot of people
Edm music with people
Edm music. Lights. People dancing
EDM only concert
EDM with an intense lightshow
Edm, dancing, bright lights, fun crowd
Edm, plur people and freedom of expression
EDM-focused event
eee--deee-emmm
Electric music concert
Electronic Music
electronic music and dancing
Electronic music and dancing
Electronic music and good vibes
Electronic music being played, very little to no rules, a community that collectively agrees on peace and respect, dancing, drugs, freedom
Electronic music event
electronic music event
Electronic music event
Electronic music event
Electronic music event with at least mostly like-minded individuals.  Fun being had!
Electronic music event with one or more DJs, focus is on the music
Electronic music event with production and audience geared towards a PLUR environment.
Electronic music event with production and audience geared towards a PLUR environment.
Electronic music festival
Electronic Music Festival/Shows
Electronic music focused gathering without a meatmarket/pick-up vibe; crowd is friendly and welcoming and passionate about the music being played.
Electronic music party  with drugs and weird shit
Electronic music with an intense visual presentation
Electronic music with lights, lasers, and drug fueled people looking and acting like freaks
Electronic music, and dressing up
Electronic music, dancing and PLUR
Electronic music, freedom, area that lacks judgmental people, drugs
Electronic music, good vibes, huge setting
Electronic music, heavy dancing, love
electronic music, no dress code, no bar/club scene
Electronic music, quality production, and good vibes
Electronic music.
Electronic music/lightshow
Event where a DJ is playing music for people to dance to
Event with DJs playing electronic music to a crowd of dancing people (often under the influence of drugs)
Event with electronic music, loose security
Event with live EDM artists, stage and light productions, place of love and acceptance
Events with EDM music
Feeding your inner spirit with music and dance
Festival
Full of people having a good time and dancing and rolling until the sun comes up
Gathering of like minded people there to enjoy the art, music, culture and each other. Specically involving EDM.
getting geeked with all my dolphin homies
Good ass music & good ass friends at a cool location
Good community of people, good music
Good edm music, not in a boujee club
Good music good people. The PLUR mentality
Good music good vibes
Good music, good people, good times
Good music, good vibes in crowd
Good music. Good people.
Good music/great people/amazing visuals
Good question! I guess the minimum requirements are DJs, drug use of some kind, and a slightly seedy location. But on a venn diagram of meanings, rave would overlap with concert, show, and party.
Good question. I'd say a "rave" is an electronic music concert where the music is loud, the vibes are great, and everybody is themselves
Good vibes, great music, no drama
Happy vibes with a great show
Has EDM artists basically. Kids on drugs helps haha
having a good time with friends and good music
I believe the word has evolved to include things like dance music festivals such as  EDC.
I define a rave by the culture. "raving" in my eyes isn't so much about live music, it's about developing connections with people on a deeper level.the music helps bring us together
I don't
I don't because people get way to defensive about what it is/isn't. I just visit r/aves to check on upcoming shows
I don't? Is EDM playing? Ok.
I personally wouldn’t refer to festivals as raves, although that seems to be the norm. Raves are a specific thing, raves happen in warehouses and other small venues. Raves are a unique experience. A festival is a festival and a rave is a rave. Although, ravers go to festivals, not everyone who goes to a festival is a raver. Etc.
I suppose times have changed and i’m too young to witness or describes what “raves” used to be. Considering i’ve only been to festivals and some club type places like the Belasco Theater and the Hollywood Palladium, it’d be tough to describe. A group gathering of people who enjoy the same genre of music?
I think "rave" has kind of become it's own genre. Any edm show with multiple prominent artists is a rave to me
I would define a rave as a gathering of a group of people in a warehouse or discrete area, something on a more "underground" scale, with DJs, no real security and the freedom to do what you want. With the crackdown on these type of events, raves are also considered festivals and concerts/shows at concert venues and clubs.
"I'd say it's when you lose yourself in the music and lights so much that you don't even really hear the music anymore. You just melt into the whole mix.
That, or also when you're headbanging to some bass-shiet so hard you actually sprain your neck amirite?"
If it is advertised as one
If the lineup is 75%+ DJ’s, or any show that is specifically for a DJ
If there are totems, glitter and kandi, it’s a rave.
if there's music w/ a shit ton of lights and edm playing
Illegal
Illegal party
Illegal/unofficial event often in a warehouse
Indoor massive that features multiple artists and stages
Is there Lasers and a DJ
It’s a place where EDM music is presented with proper visuals and and free form dance. More importantly above all, atleast for me as I used to rave more in my earlier days, it is about the culture and the vibe. It’s become watered down, but dig deep enough you will still find the roots and cultural aspects in those who have deep love for it as well as the music. The music, the outfits, the visual aspects (lightshows with gloves, glow sticks, poi, Lazers from the venue)  , friendliness, non judging attitude, ability to talk to whoever ( don’t find this as much ) and with all that everyone comes ready to just leave it on the dance floor for a night before reality settles back in.
It’s just a feeling.
It's a rave if people look like they're at a rave
It's a vibe thing for me, independent of location/size of the party. There are even a couple club shows I've been to that I would classify as a rave, just since the vibes were so positive and 'ravey'
I've gotten pickier on this as time's gone on - it's got to have some element of the underground to it, whether it be the promotion, the production, the artists or just the general vibe of the show
Just an event with electronic music playing, including club shows and festivals like edc. I’m not autistic enough to try to correct people who use the word rave loosely into educating them that raves are underground warehouse/desert parties. Words change in meaning over time.
Large gathering of people with electronic dance music playing.
Large group of people listening to electronic music
Large-scale with lots of production/artists i.e. festivals. I know that's technically not the definition but I think the usage of the word has shifted at least in my age range/demographic
laser light shows
Lasers and bass
Lasers and hype music I guess?
lasers, edm music, plur
Life
Light show with dope ass music
Lights
Lights lasers dance and a loving community
Lights w/ booty
Lineup with multiple djs and a good light show
Little to no emphasis on over-the-top lightshows, superstar DJs, popular tracks, "concert" or "rap-show" mentality. Just people getting lost in time & loving the music.
Live electronic music preformance
Live music experiences outside of commercialized festivals and outside the scope of commercialized forms of EDM.
Loud EDM music, flashing lights, a couple lasers
Loud electronic music and an impromptu culture of acceptance
Loud music and light shows
Loud music and people dancing like no one is watching.
Love
Low key, warehouse, sketch location
massive
Massive "EDM" event with a huge production buget
Massive edm events (like Bassrush Massive)
Minimal to 0 corporate sponsorship, secret location, hard to find but not exclusive or inaccessible for everyone, no vip
Multiple DJs play for a long period of time (often 8hours)
Multiple djs with lots of neon lights
Multiple stages, underground vibe
music
music + freedom & lack of an overbearing authority
Music and audience
Music and drugs
Music event involving electronic music at a non-club venue
Music festival
Music festival
Music Festival with good vibes
music gathering with an electronic DJ that's not at a club
Music, art, drugs
Music, dancing, dressing up, drugs, and a bigger venue than a club.
Night time, electronic music, drugs, a DJ and a crowd
No bottle service, no dress code. Everyone is there for the music, not to be seen.
No experience with old school Illegal Warehouse Raves so I'd just define it as a lot of people dancing to electronic music on a dancefloor in a big open room/area.
no idea. Have fun. Go crazy. Take drugs. Discover new music. Make friends.
No need to precisely define it. It's like porn; you know it when you see it.
No security EDM show
Not a festival
Not a festival
Not commercialized, wharehouse or outdoor, underground
not sure if I know exactly
Not sure to be honest
Not the events that are typically posted on r/aves that's for sure.. they are just concerts for people who like electronic music
On some shit
Party based around EDM music.
party in a warehouse or outdoors with edm djs playing live music
Party that plays edm music
Party with electronic music and at least a few dozen people
Party with electronic music, good vibes, drug culture.
Party with music lights freedom
People coming together, generally at night, to enjoy and/or dance to "dance music", with ample freedom for expression (clothes, dance moves, drugs, etc).  Bonus points for a solid lighting rig, fog machine, or lasers.
People dancing who dgaf
People from all over coming together to share love and interest in electronic music.
People getting together and celebrating electronic dance music.
People loosing themselves in the music and with each other through dancing. A shared tribal experience.
Place to get loose and listen to the best tracks from the best producers/DJs
Plur
PLUR, lights and dance music
RAFE HARDCORE MAN :D
Random warehouse in DTLA
Raves mean different things to different people.  Personally, it's all about the environment.  And obviously the music.  But from my experiences, the closest thing to a "true" rave experience is more of a warehouse/small venue event.  Festival "raves" are almost a different thing altogether.  I don't think there will ever be a definite definition.
Secret location and not playing pop edm
Shit load of people just vibing out to a DJ in an enclosed location.
small venue
Smaller than a festival
"socially, I use it as a gathering of more than a few hundred people to listen to some form of GOOD dance music.

My personal definition is a gathering of people at a somewhat underground venue with some real house, techno, or trance. No edm, not really a party, most people are there for the music, and most people are actually dancing."
Someplace I can throw mad trap arms
Somewhere electronic music is playing
Somewhere I can get out of my comfort zone and get lost in some good (electronic) music for hours
Somewhere were you get to be yourself, dance your heart out, meet some awesome people, and just have a great time!
Standing room only to allow dancing varying in scope from tiny dingy club all the way to massive fest. As long as the intent is love for the music and love for each other.
Supposedly a warehouse thing
TAZ w/ speaker
techno/house at a warehouse
The definition has obviously shifted to what it use to be. As of this survey, I would say the definition of a rave is basically a concert with edm music.
The music
The music not the place or people
Underground dance music event
underground dance party
Underground edm
Underground EDM event.
Underground electronic music event with loose rules.
Underground musical dance party
Underground sounds, lax or no security, often less than 2000 people.
Underground warehouse
Unpermited party with electronic music
Usually someplace with many stages and space to roam around.
Usually someplace with many stages and space to roam around.
Vibes
Warehouse setting; no big corporations/promoters involved; word-of-mouth attendance; BYOB
When I think of “rave” I think of a B&L party, not a festival or Zedd concert that has high end production.
Where people come together with a mutual understanding that they are there to enjoy the music and atmosphere that they create
Womp womp music with lotsa lights
Wubz
you know it when you see it. people standing still = not a rave. everyone grooving = rave
your previous question kinda self- defines. my definition of a rave would be an edm-fueled dance party that isnt selling tickets on eventbrite. festivals, clubs.. are festivals and clubs. raves are a bit more off the grid and gritty in my opinion.
You're either raving or behaving.
🤷🏽‍♂️