Kandi Ideas

Kandi Gamification: Kandi Bracelet Ideas to help you Trade more Often

If you’ve been reading Peach and Eli Unite the Kingdoms, you are going to notice a running theme—raves make me feel like a character in a video game. If the rave fits we put together are not just our wildest character skin fantasies, I don’t know what it. It is a place where I acquire new skills, side quest, and take care of my basic bodily needs in the same way I take care of my Sims—with utter neglect.

I love being a video game character, and if you haven’t been reading Peach and Eli feel free to sink deeper into my imaginary world with me.

Now, you came here for kandi ideas and I promise I have them!

Why Kandi Trading is Important:

I love trading kandi. Some of my most meaningful material goods are kandi I received from raves. Meaningful interactions that resulted in a simple trade stick with me forever. I am extremely sentimental. I remember the origin of every bracelet I receive, every “baby” I am gifted, and each beautiful rave moment I have shared. My little coin purse of “babies” holds all the cute duckies, dolls, and miniatures I have acquired and danced with. It is a fun party trick for a pregame or postgame to introduce them all with their little stories.

Kandi is a cultural experience at raves. It is the living, breathing embodiment of PLURR. If you are here because you’ve never traded before and want to or you are nervous to trade, please let this encourage you to do it! Socially, I have always been very shy. My first rave I was too scared to approach anyone. Luckily, I had an amazing guide. He pushed me to get out of my shell and put myself out there. It was beyond worth it. The first bracelet I received was a “Rave Baby” bracelet with a little baby carriage charm. I kept it for over a year before trading it to my younger sister when I took her to her first rave.

All kandi is fun, and any bracelet you trade is worth it! However, my favorite and most memorable kandi was given to me for a specific reason. The “Baby Raver” bracelet at my first rave, a “Kixx” bracelet traded to me as I was first learning to cut shapes and clumsily doing it at the rave anyway, and a rainbow bracelet gifted to me in as trade when I approached a dancer who’s flow state truly connected me back to my body when I needed it most.

These moments inspired Kandi Gamification.

Kandi Gamification: A New Way to Trade

In video games, you earn achievements. I like to think of these bracelets as those achievements. I choose something to look for at the rave—something positive, something I hope to embody, something PLURR.

My encouragement is to choose something meaningful to you. This will allow you to trade more often, because you are looking for specific characteristics or actions. It will give you an excuse to approach someone if you’d be otherwise too nervous. It helps me get out of my shell! Maybe it will help you too.

Kandi Ideas: Actions to look for

PLURR:

One of the easiest options is to make PLURR bracelets. The best way to keep it alive is to spread it around. You can even separate out the words and gift them as appropriate: Peace, Love, Unity, Respect, Responsibility.

Examples:

• See a raver go out their way to help another raver who is feeling sick and needs water.

• Notice someone continuously help people up in the mosh pit, check in with the walls, or hold up items that fly from pockets.

• Have someone offer you a fanning when you need it most.

PLURR bracelets are versatile and can help newbies too. It’s a great bracelet for someone who is new to raving.

Other Ideas:

• Make My Kitty PLURR - I had one like this I got from a multipack on Etsy (highly recommend)

• PLURRGASM - The bracelet I was coincidentally traded when giving away the Make My Kitty PLURR one (fated rave moments)

• Spread PLURR

Baby Raver:

If you are a veteran raver, this is a great bracelet to keep on hand. My favorite full circle moment was when a man approached me and sweetly asked me to trade kandi with his girlfriend. It was her first rave and she was nervous to ask anyone. He told me she didn’t have any to trade back, but he really wanted her to have the experience.

My heart warmed at the question. I was transported back to EDC 2016 when my boyfriend did the exact same thing for me when I received my first kandi.

Ideas:

• Rave Baby

• Baby’s First Rave

• Baby bottle charms

• Baby Raver

Birthday:

Now, I recommend doing this if you are going to the rave for your own birthday. It is a top-tier experience!

I actually have not done this with bracelets yet, but I do come to every rave with birthday buttons. When attended Dreamstate 2024 I overheard a group singing happy birthday to their friend after the song I quietly handed him a birthday button. The excitement was overwhelming. He gifted me back a “Happy Transgiving” bracelet I keep with me at all raves.

Another clutch moment was when I met Emorfik at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center after his set when he was here in Vegas for his birthday. I gave him a birthday button too.

Ideas:

• Happy Birthday bracelets

• Zodiac sign bracelets (I got these charms from Amazon that I love)

• Birthday hat, present, or balloon charms

DJ Specific:

Above & Beyond’s set at EDC 2016 was the set that solidified for me that I would be raving for the rest of my life. They are still heavily influential to my life and when I see others with Above & Beyond jerseys or merch I like approaching them with a bracelet. I made these for Dreamstate when they were there in 2024.

Ideas:

• DJ names

• Specific song IDs

• DJ symbols or charms

Festival Specific:

This one is simple but always appreciated! Here are some of my favorites.

Skills and Actions:

This is the most nuanced and specific category—and one of my favorites.

For EDC 2025, I am making “Kicky Dance” bracelets. After seeing Subfocus last year, I have eaten, slept, and breathed drum & bass. I’ve taught myself how to skank (DnB step), and I’m actually getting better!

I love dancing and jumping around and at EDC 2024 I unlocked what I call “Kicky Dance”. It was like I connected to the stage at Wasteland and learned how to just be in my body. I wasn’t very good at it to be completely fair, but everyone was really encouraging, helped with tips, and danced with me.

Later that weekend at Neon Garden, I was in the back dancing with some serious shufflers. One of them was chatting with me and told me he loved that I just gave it my all. He said that was the best way to get better, just sink in and move without thinking too much. It was amazing advice. Then he gifted me a bracelet that said “Kixx.”

I want to spread moments like that this year. When I see someone in their moment, kicky dancing away I want to give them what that man gave me—validation, reassurance, and inspiration to keep going.

My long time rave partner likes looking for people in flow state. This can mean a flow artist giving it their all, a dancer dancing like no one is watching, or someone giving an incredible lightshow. His bracelets say “Flow State” on them.

I like bracelets like these because they come with a little story or icebreaker. Since these correspond with meaningful compliments, I am always excited to approach people with them!

Ideas:

• Kicky Dance - Especially if you too like kicky dancing, great to gift after dancing with a stranger

• Flow State - Great for flow artists and anyone who appreciates when you are fully locked into the moment

• Handmade with Love - Our rave fam’s craftiest member handmakes most of her outfits and she gifts these to fellow DIY ravers

Honorable mentions:

Pregnant at the rave? One couple did the cutest thing. They had a sign for you to come up and guess the gender of their baby. I still have a cute pink kandi I wear hoping they had a little girl.

Doing a theme with you rave family? Make bracelets for that theme. This year we are doing Powerpuff Girls and Carebears and will have bracelets for those.

Feel passionate about a show, character, or anything pop culture related? Make it into a bracelet. You’ll be surprised how many people love the same things you do!

Final Thoughts

Kandi trading is one of the most magical parts of rave culture. It turns small moments into lasting memories, bringing people together through shared experiences and meaningful exchanges. By gamifying your kandi, you create an intentional way to connect with others, share PLURR, and step out of your comfort zone.

Whether you’re a first-time kandi trader or a seasoned veteran, I hope these ideas inspire you to make and trade bracelets that tell a story. The best part? You never know what moment will become a core memory.

Do you have any kandi bracelet themes you love to trade? Drop your ideas in the comments—I’d love to hear them!