The author, Emily Rapp, decided to attend the Coachella festival solo and off her phone, inspired by Pinterest's phone-free initiative. She attended the festival without a phone and used a digital camera and good vibes instead of a mobile map or lineup. The author experienced a learning curve and found it easier to be present and enjoy the performers without a device. Despite the lack of distraction, she found it more engaging and less stressed. Despite this, she said it felt freeing and more relaxed than expected, with no phone presence and more frequent brand activations. The article discusses the successful experiment and subsequent learning curve.