The pre-game ritual has become as essential to live music as the show itself. For decades, fans have created their own traditions to prepare for concerts—ways to shift energy, connect with friends, and step into the experience ahead. Hannah Ritchie and Kait Tomkosky discovered something different back in 2018, a practice that would eventually reshape how hundreds of people approach show nights. What started as their personal ritual has grown into The Conscious Pre-Game, offering music fans an alternative that prioritizes connection, presence, and a touch of magic.

The duo didn’t set out to build a business. They stumbled onto cacao while searching for something that would let them keep attending shows without the muddled feeling that came with their previous pre-game habits. What they found changed everything. A ceremonial-grade drink that left them feeling playful, giggly, and free. That discovery in the jam band scene sparked a journey that would eventually put them on tour with their favorite band and allow them to lead ceremonies for communities across the country.

Finding Their Path Through Cacao

Hannah and Kait’s relationship with cacao started as a practical solution. They wanted to step back from certain party habits but had no interest in abandoning the music scene that meant so much to them. Some friends had stopped going to shows entirely to avoid the temptation, but that path didn’t feel right. They needed something different.

Cacao showed up as that alternative. The first time they used it before a show, the night felt more vibrant, more connected, and more present. They started experimenting with it outside of concerts, using it during personal moments when they needed clarity or wanted to celebrate milestones. The plant medicine became a tool for manifestation, emotional processing, and marking life’s transitions.

The business emerged without a formal plan. One night, while camping in Vail, CO, for a Trey Anastasio Band show, they sat around a campfire talking about their dream of combining meditation with the music scene. It seemed abstract and impractical then. But they kept following what felt authentic, kept sharing their cacao ritual with curious friends, and the path revealed itself organically. Looking back, they recognize the importance of following joy even when the destination isn’t clear.

The Conscious Pre-Game

The Conscious Pre-Game creates space for people to connect with themselves and their community before live music. Each ceremony involves drinking ceremonial-grade cacao together, followed by guided meditation and group connection. The format is casual and accessible, designed for people who may have never tried anything like this before.

Hannah and Kait lead these sessions primarily within the Goose community—a jam band fanbase they know intimately because they come from that world themselves. This shared foundation matters. When everyone in the circle already has a common thread of loving the same music and lifestyle, the connections deepen faster. Participants can show up as their authentic selves without pretense.

The ceremonies unfold differently for each person. Some people arrive seeking a quiet moment to calm pre-show anxiety. Others use the space to meet fellow fans and build friendships that extend through tours and festivals. A few gain unexpected clarity about situations in their lives. The flexibility allows each participant to take what they need from the experience.

The impact reached the bands themselves. Hannah and Kait have led private ceremonies for touring musicians, creating a rare moment of stillness amid the chaos of constant travel and performance. Sometimes a band member reconnects with themselves during that pause. Other times, the group checks in with each other’s well-being. And occasionally, the ceremony simply grounds everyone’s energy before they take the stage.

I have been lucky enough to experience two Conscious Pre-Games with Hannah and Kait before Goose shows. I can speak to the connected, euphoric, and magical feeling described here. My first cacao experience was at my second Goose show at Red Rocks, where I was new to the community. The experience left me with a sense of belonging, a profound feeling of excitement, a new consciousness practice for my daily life, and a distinct connection with Goose and the music that was played. The experience left me in awe of the magical properties of cacao, community, and the power of vulnerability. I am so grateful to Hannah and Kait for curating such a meaningful experience and an alternative way to enjoy something I already love so much. 

From Hotel Rooms to Festival Stages

Certain moments crystallize why a project matters. For Hannah and Kait, that moment arrived at Viva El Gonzo, the inaugural festival thrown by Goose, in Mexico this year. They walked onto the festival grounds and saw “The Conscious Pre-Game” listed on the official wellness schedule. Something they used to do alone in hotel rooms had become a recognized part of the festival experience.

Over 100 people attended that ceremony. Hannah and Kait held back tears as the crowd gathered. Then the members of Goose walked in and sat down next to them for the ceremony. The full circle of that experience—serving as a bridge between fans and the band they all love—captured exactly what they’d been building.

The growth has been organic and sometimes surprising. They’ve created a life they never predicted, following a ritual that felt right even when it seemed weird. That journey has become part of their message: follow what feels authentic, even if you can’t see where it leads. Trust that life can exceed your expectations.

Their offerings have expanded to include virtual group sessions and upcoming one-on-one consultations. They’re hosting an incredible three-day conscious weekend as a virtual retreat from November 14th to 16th, 2025.  The weekend experience includes cacao ceremonies, breathwork, yoga, and a guest speaker. This event is open to the public, as are the virtual cacao ceremonies. Hannah and Kait described the experience as “  a virtual retreat-like experience and an opportunity to dive into the ritual that we do in our conscious pre-games even deeper!” It is not to be missed. 

The online ceremonies provide a deeper dive into cacao as a daily practice for manifestation, emotional processing, and marking life transitions. Participants connect via Zoom from their own homes, building relationships that carry over into the show space when they eventually meet in person. Starting in 2026, the individual sessions will offer personalized rituals tailored to whatever someone is moving through—confusion, loss, integration, milestone moments.

Final Thoughts

Hannah and Kait didn’t plan to build a business around drinking ceremonial cacao before concerts. They just followed what felt right, even when it seemed different or impractical. That willingness to trust their instincts—to believe life could surprise them—opened doors to a life they couldn’t have dreamt possible. 

The Conscious Pre-Game offers something the music scene has been missing: a way to prepare for shows that honors excitement and intention. Cacao provides an alternative to substances that numb or disconnect, creating a pathway to feeling more present, more playful, more alive. For anyone curious about showing up differently to the experiences they love, Hannah and Kait’s work stands as proof that trusting your instincts and following your authenticity can lead to life-changing endeavors for yourself and all those around you. 

About Elisa Edelstein
Elisa is a curious and versatile writer, carving her niche in the health and wellness industry since 2015. Her lens is rooted in real world experience as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder and extended out of the gym and on to the page as a writer where she is able to combine her passions for empowering others, promoting wellness, and the power of the written word.