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Pro Tips: 5 Things to Avoid When Using the Totem Compass
The Totem Compass is designed with simplicity in mind.
If you’ve ever been to a music festival, you know that while they are magical, immersive playgrounds to explore, they can also be crowded, stressful and intense at times.
Therefore, it was very important for us to create a festival compass that is as easy to use as possible. The Totem Compass offers the path of least resistance to safety, freedom and (of course) finding your way back to friends and loved ones.
That said, there are a few things to avoid when you’re out there using the Totem. Keeping these in mind will help ensure that your experience is as smooth as butter.
Note: this blog is designed for those who already have a basic understanding of how to use the Totem Compass.
So without further ado: welcome to Totem Pro Tips. One thing to note: you will still be able to find your friends with your Totem Compass if you disregard the following advice. That said, by following these 5 things to avoid while using your Totem, you will undoubtedly save time finding them 🫶
Totem Pro Tips recommends avoiding:
- Using your Totem next to large structures
- Holding your Totem next to your phone while navigating
- Being too delicate with your Totem’s Touch Crystal
- Using Vibe Mode on your Totem Compass All Day Long
- Checking battery level while the Totem is plugged in
1) Using your Totem next to large structures
The Totem Compass uses satellites to determine its location on Earth before communicating with another Totem. In order to get the most precise satellite connection possible, go outside with a clear view of the horizon and sky overhead.
When you are within or around large structures, they can obstruct the satellites in the sky overhead. This means that your Totem may lose satellite connection, and the distance at which your Totem finds your friends may be less precise.
It's important to note that this is typically not a problem, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding peers you Bond with even if they do end up partially covered by large structures – it happens to the best of us!
That said, with festivals like EDC Orlando reporting record-breaking attendance numbers in history, you'll want every bit of precision you can get in super dense crowds.
Be sure to move away from big structures and stay in open spaces, particularly if you know that your friends are looking for you (or if you are using SOS Mode on your Totem Compass). It will save your friends some time in the search, and they will be very grateful. ♥️
2) Holding your Totem next to your phone while navigating
The Totem Compass harnesses the Earth's magnetic fields to determine what direction "North" is. This information, combined with satellite positioning, allows it to point the pretty lights toward your friends.
But there are many things that also emit small magnetic fields—like other electronics!
If you hold your phone (or another electronic device) within a few inches of the Totem, it can cause your Bond Lights to drift slightly.
Don't worry! Doing this doesn't cause any permanent effects, and your Totem will automatically correct itself once you move the phone away.
This is something to keep in mind while you are navigating to a friend, and can be especially helpful when you are weaving through a dense crowd and having to say “excuse me” to dozens of people!
However, smartphones and other electronics have no impact on your location positioning, so rest assured that your friends will still be able to find you if your Totem is in your pocket or bag alongside other devices.
3) Being too delicate with your Totem’s Touch Crystal
The Touch Crystal (that pretty glowing crystal on the front of the Totem Compass) isn't a typical button that you press.
It uses a capacitive sensor to tell when your finger is touching the Crystal, just like your smartphone, or any other device that uses a touch screen.
The Touch Crystal senses the flesh on your finger—not downward pressure. To get the best results, make sure you press the fleshy part of your fingerpad onto the Crystal's surface.
Take extra care to use your entire fingerpad when you Bond with other Totems. And coach your friends to do that same—especially those that have less experience using the Totem Compass.
Tell your friends, tell your family – no delicate fingertips or fingernails!
4) Using Vibe Mode on your Totem Compass All Day Long
If you're taking your Totem Compass out for an all-day adventure, you will want to extend that battery life as long as possible.
If you want to get the best battery life with your festival compass, then try to resist the temptation to Vibe all day! Totem Compass Vibe Mode looks AMAZING at night, but your battery is the only person who will notice it during the mid-day sun.
Totem Pros preserve their Vibes for sundown shenanigans. 😘
5) Checking battery level while your Totem is plugged in
The Totem Compass shows a Battery Level Indicator when you turn it on. The Halo (ring of light around your Totem) fills to show you exactly how much charge it currently has.
A half-filled Halo on power-up indicates a half-charged battery.
The Totem Battery Level is only accurate when your Totem is NOT currently plugged into a power source.
If it's currently plugged in, the Totem might be a little... overly optimistic about its charge level. 😇
Be sure to unplug your Totem before checking the Battery Level Indicator.
(P.S. — a Totem typically takes around 45 minutes to charge from 0 to 100) 😘
Totem Pros are changing the game
As simple as the Totem Compass is to learn, helpful people like YOU are instrumental in educating festival-goers worldwide about these easy tips to get the best experience possible out of these rave totems.
The Totem mission is to make live events safer, more immersive, and more beautiful for everyone.
People like you, who are spending their prep time looking for festival tips and tricks… we salute you.
We hope to run into you out there at your next event. 🫶
