Coachella security guards reveal the 4 major things they wish festivalgoers would stop doing

• Insider asked on-duty security guards at Coachella what festivalgoers should stop doing.
• Many said fans need to respect the rules, especially when it comes to barriers and forbidden items.

Coachella may have a reputation as a well-oiled machine, but all music festivals deal with rule-breakers and rowdy behavior — just ask security.

Insider's music team was on the ground for weekend one of the famous event in Indio, California.

We asked on-duty security guards about the worst behavior they've seen from fans. Keep reading to see the four most common answers we received. (All but one asked to use pseudonyms chosen by Insider, for fear of professional retribution, but Insider has confirmed their identities.)

1. 'They think they know everything'

Steve, who signed on to work at Coachella this year for his first-ever security gig, said he was stunned by how brazen some fans are. (He asked for his last name to not be published for fear of professional retribution.)

"They think they know everything. We know, you don't," he told Insider. "If you're not allowed in a section, it's for a reason."

Brad, a Marine who was also new to the job, agreed with Steve's sentiment.

"They don't listen," he said. "I'm not allowed to touch anybody, so if I tell them to do something, like if they can't go through somewhere, they just go anyways."

According to Brad, the owner of one of the private security companies hired by Coachella is ex-military and "gives a lot of volunteer spots to service members." The majority of employees that Insider interviewed were active members of the United States Marine Corps and working security for the first time.

2. 'They lie about having stuff and try to pretend it's not there'

Like most music festivals, Coachella provides a list of forbidden items on the website's Rules page. There is also a link to the list on the website's FAQ page, under the section, "What can I bring?"

"It's so obvious and they still lie," first-time security guard Brianna told Insider. "We can see it!"

"And then they get mad and they try to convince us to let them in," she continued. "But we could really get in trouble. We could go to jail for that."

Some forbidden objects may seem innocuous, like umbrellas, flashlights, stuffed animals, and Sharpies. Others are more obvious, like weapons, outside beverages, and drugs.

Coachella's website also specifies that "any item deemed inappropriate by festival security" can be confiscated.

"We're just very, very disappointed that these people constantly bring these items," Caleb, who said he's been doing this job for "multiple years," told Insider.

"We tell them and let them know every time, 'You guys cannot bring alcohol or drugs or other things like that,'" he said. "We're trying to keep you safe. And if you're not following the rules, what makes you think other people will follow the rules?"

Jordan, a first-time security guard standing nearby, also chimed in: "They don't take our authority. Sometimes they just try to blow past. They don't care what we say, like, 'You gotta pour that out,' they'll still try to go."

3. People try to hop barriers — or even bribe security to give them access to restricted areas

"I was at the front of the stage and one guy tried to hop the fucking bar and I had to stop him," Hunter, a Marine who said he volunteered because he thought Coachella would be "cool," told Insider.

"It's definitely harder than I expected," he said of the job, adding, "They're chill if they don't know the song. But if they know it, they start fucking bouncing around. It's chaos."

Another Marine named Elijah said one fan even tried offering him $100 to look the other way, so the fan could hop the barrier into a VIP section.

As Elijah was speaking, another festivalgoer overheard his comment and interjected: "That's what we're trying to do too. How much?" Her friend added: "I'll give you $200."

4. Some male attendees try to intimidate or 'schmooze' female staff members

"What bothers me? When my female security guard friend, when guys try to bother the fuck out of her because she's a female," Elijah said. "When she's working a gate, they'll try to like, use male aggression to try to get through."

He said that some fans seem to think a woman will be easier to "take advantage of," in terms of finding a way to break the rules.

"Friday was my first day. After Sunday, I'm retiring. It's not worth it," he added.

Follow along with Insider's Coachella coverage here.