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I walked in through the tollbooths and every inch of my body and bags were searched, my underwear and socks pulled out and thrown on the ground, had to empty my pants pockets. If I had anything at all they would have got it. I did have a advil bottle with advil, centrum, vit c and vit B, they kept telling me it was a felony to carry them that way, I kept laughing at them telling them they didn't know what they were talking about. They wouldn't give the bottle back to me unless I left though so I let them keep it. It took about 20 minutes before they let me in. Most ridiculous search I have ever been through, I felt truly violated. They broke my zipper on my backpack. It will be a factor in deciding if I go back to Bonnaroo next year. Had a great time this year but that search really angers me. I have lost respect for the organizers of Bonnaroo. It is a shame the people and music are great but superfly can go f$%# themselves.
Post by counterproduct on Jun 19, 2008 11:53:42 GMT -5
that sucks man....horrible violation. did they actually pull you off the line for the gates and do this or was this just the yellow shirts that searched all the cars? if it was the latter i'm surprised, our guy just said "awesome, you guys got yeungling? your cool go ahead." i guess it depends on who ya get.
It was the yellow shirts, I arrived by bus so I walked in. They had a special line for walkers next to the Handicap access line, this is where they near strip searched me. The more I think about it the more it irritates me. I don't like the thought of giving my money to people that pull this BS. I had an amazing week but am thinking next year I'll try a different fest, one not run by superfly or ac entertainment. The arrogance of them thinking they can get away with this crap really makes me mad. They even questioned "why do you have all this food" about my 3 pounds of Black beans, olive oil and almond butter. Another guy says "probobly going to sell it" I told them "it's 4 days and I need to eat thats why" and they looked at me like I was a criminal. They are getting out of hand. I suspect it is to squeeze every last nickel out of us, so we buy there food, booze and other essentials(like advil which I bought for $4.50 from their general store).
It was the yellow shirts, I arrived by bus so I walked in. They had a special line for walkers next to the Handicap access line, this is where they near strip searched me. The more I think about it the more it irritates me. I don't like the thought of giving my money to people that pull this BS. I had an amazing week but am thinking next year I'll try a different fest, one not run by superfly or ac entertainment. The arrogance of them thinking they can get away with this crap really makes me mad. They even questioned "why do you have all this food" about my 3 pounds of Black beans, olive oil and almond butter. Another guy says "probobly going to sell it" I told them "it's 4 days and I need to eat thats why" and they looked at me like I was a criminal. They are getting out of hand. I suspect it is to squeeze every last nickel out of us, so we buy there food, booze and other essentials(like advil which I bought for $4.50 from their general store).
maybe you just got unlucky with your security guys. i doubt the higher ups at AC entertainment and superfly issued a decree saying people had to be searched the way you did. unless this happened to everyone i think you should stop complaining about such a minor detail, especially if you had nothing to hide and had a great time anyway.
I found security a little intrusive this year as well.
We got searched on our walk up. Instead of taking the road, they made us cut through the security gates over in BFE and we got searched, this is way back where the cars come in through the gates.
In 7 bonnaroos, i have never been searched anywhere but at the centeroo entrance.
Even at the centeroo entrance this year, I felt the searches were over the top. Like the above poster, they tore through my bag, made me clean out my pockets, patted me down, even on my junk and ass. I was very unhappy about the searching this year....
i had no problem clearing out my pockets. all i had in them was my phone, camera, and cigarettes. they did make me open the pack if it was unsealed a few times though. i didn't think that was a big deal though since there are a lot of other ways of hiding something on your body if you need to. i was never patted on my ass or junk. i can remember times where they would just let waves of people in to centeroo without even checking them if the line was getting really backed up.
These two guys and two girls were infornt of me all trying to hide beer between theirs legs. As soon as they got to the yellow shirt, he said, OK GO!!!, he stepped aside and let a bunch of people flow through. The group in front me looked so funny trying to shuffle in there and hold those beers between thier legs.
maybe you just got unlucky with your security guys. i doubt the higher ups at AC entertainment and superfly issued a decree saying people had to be searched the way you did. unless this happened to everyone i think you should stop complaining about such a minor detail, especially if you had nothing to hide and had a great time anyway.
It is the principle. I was violated. And of course the higher ups at superfly "issued the decree" it didn't just happen out of thin air. The fact that i had nothing to hide to makes me even madder. Don't like being treated like a criminal when I'm not one. The arrogance of the security like they can treat us all like teenage dopefiend smugglers really angers me. I do not like having my body and possesions violated and/or taken from me. Not only will I not "stop complaining" but I will be sure to let all I know what they very well may encounter upon entering roo in '09. It is beyond ridiculous that I or anyone else should have defend their food and vitamins and have their underwear searched and thrown to the ground and have their pack damaged. The fact that you seem to think this is ok makes me even more upset. Apparentely bonnaroo has you thinking it is ok to be treated like this, it isn't! I don't like them getting away with this behavior one bit. As far as "getting unlucky with my security" perhaps but that in no way makes it any better, it could easily be you next year. I've pretty much decided I won't be going back next year, I'm already looking around for other fests that don't treat their patrons like criminals.
Post by CincyRooJF on Jun 19, 2008 13:34:27 GMT -5
I can almost guarantee that Superfly did not tell them to do this. Security guards are sometimes like doormen and let the power go to their heads. You got fucked with by some dicks on a power trip and that all there is to it. You were unlucky. I am DEEPLY sorry that this happened to you but sometimes that’s how it goes down.
In all reality you don’t want them to even out the security situation because it will be a lot more strict. There is no secret from anybody that illegal stuff happens at Roo and the more popular Roo gets the more the federal government starts to notice. Security will probably get more strict in the future because Bonnaroo is trying to cover their asses and I don’t blame them.
Post by neighborhooodcreep on Jun 19, 2008 13:44:43 GMT -5
wow i had the opposite from all these stories, i had on a back pack with 5-10 beers at the bottom (which you could clearly see the outlines from the outside of the individual cans) and i would just toss a shirt, bottled water and my bonnaroo book on the top and they would look in the bag and let me go, i went through twice a day/8 times and not once did i feel they even did a decent job of searching me.
Post by cory's beard on Jun 19, 2008 13:45:30 GMT -5
Last year, I was hardly ever searched. They just asked me to empty my pockets and they patted the pockets, of it you had a bag they just wanted to do a quick glance inside and then they passed you on. Then again, I always got into Centeroo at like 9:30am each day. I wonder how the security differ from early in the morning versus afternoon/evening. But even then, it probably depends on your luck of the draw--which security personnel you encounter.
I took the Airport Shuttle into the festival and they did not search anyone on the shuttle's bags going into the festival. Sorry you had it so rough, dude. That sucks.
Post by tentseasurfer on Jun 19, 2008 13:53:33 GMT -5
That situation sucks. I guess I've been more than lucky both years. Our entrance with our car has been super smooth. They had us open our coolers and the glove box and then slide right on through with a "have a great weekend!". As far as Centeroo security, I never once had a problem and since our camp was so close I went in and out MULTIPLE times and probably brought in over 10 15" glow sticks with not so much as a pat down. Good luck with finding another fest that doesn't have one or two security guards who let the power go to their heads. There's always going to be one or two shitty experiences over the course of 4 days. My sister had her bag dumped out and rifled through in our tent Saturday night...but that was by some scumbag thief not security. We'll miss you next year, especially since judging by Robert Plant's statement L.Z. is going to headline ;D
It is the principle. I was violated. And of course the higher ups at superfly "issued the decree" it didn't just happen out of thin air. The fact that i had nothing to hide to makes me even madder. Don't like being treated like a criminal when I'm not one. The arrogance of the security like they can treat us all like teenage dopefiend smugglers really angers me. I do not like having my body and possesions violated and/or taken from me.
by "issued a decree" i meant that the people who run AC entertainment probably did not order security to tear through people's bags and look through their underwear and what not. it was most likely the result of some security guards going overboard, especially since there were so many others who were cool and didn't get carried away when they searched your stuff. your situation just seems like an isolated incident that might've been the result of a security guard's personality moreso than the policy of the management.
The fact that you seem to think this is ok makes me even more upset. Apparentely bonnaroo has you thinking it is ok to be treated like this, it isn't! I don't like them getting away with this behavior one bit. As far as "getting unlucky with my security" perhaps but that in no way makes it any better, it could easily be you next year. I've pretty much decided I won't be going back next year, I'm already looking around for other fests that don't treat their patrons like criminals.
look, i'm sorry you had a bad experience with security, but you're acting like it's the government tapping your phone lines here or something. bonnaroo hasn't made me think that kind of thing is ok. i never once condoned it. it sucks they broke your zipper. my friend's bag was stolen one night from our camp. it turned up later in an information tent, but he still lost his cell phone and cigarettes. IMO that's a little more serious. i just don't think it's fair for you to trash the festival because of that and suggest it's part of some conspiracy by bonnaroo to make you spend money in their general store and at their vendors. if the same thing happened to me i'd be a little annoyed by it, but i wouldn't throw a fit after the festival after admitting i had a good time and then give a negative description to future attendees.
Don't like being treated like a criminal when I'm not one.
Although I had no problems getting searched at all this year (hell, I could have been carrying a machette and AK-47 most of the weekend without anyone noticing) I know what you are talking about when you say you don't like being treated like a criminal when you aren't one.
Nothing sucks more than when cops or anyone else abuse their authority just to show someone who is the boss.
Post by happyhappyjoyjoy on Jun 19, 2008 14:49:08 GMT -5
We didn't have any problems, we flew in. But our camp neighbors were searched. They said that they were very rude, and once they found a carton of cigs, they accused them of trying to sell them. They both smoke the same brand, why wouldn't they buy a carton? Is a carton of cigs really considered some sort of distribution? For as many security that there was, there was not enough supervison of those security people.
I think you should email ac/superfly with your experience. By just refusing to go to 'roo ever again, other people will surely face the same experience. If you email ac/superfly it's hard to say if they will/can do something about it, but at least they have heard your opinion and you've done something to try and improve the situation.
Make it friendly but firm - don't accuse them because that probably won't get you anywhere, but let them know how bad your experience was and how that made you feel about the festival.
Who knows, maybe the people "up top" have no idea this is happening and this will help them hire better people for security, or if they do know about it maybe they didn't realize how it affects 'roo attendees.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Jun 19, 2008 15:29:45 GMT -5
I had one santa claus-looking guy just basically waving the people in through his section. Barely patting them down.
I never had any trouble with the security. You just gotta look at the guys patting down and try and find the younger volunteers and stuff......not the guys that look like they take their job too seriously and have a power trip
I think you should email ac/superfly with your experience. By just refusing to go to 'roo ever again, other people will surely face the same experience. If you email ac/superfly it's hard to say if they will/can do something about it, but at least they have heard your opinion and you've done something to try and improve the situation.
Make it friendly but firm - don't accuse them because that probably won't get you anywhere, but let them know how bad your experience was and how that made you feel about the festival.
Who knows, maybe the people "up top" have no idea this is happening and this will help them hire better people for security, or if they do know about it maybe they didn't realize how it affects 'roo attendees.
Yeah, I did email them. The Head of the security (at least the head of security for that entrance) was involved in my search. He watched over 2 yellow shirts who searched me. Also all the other walkers before me(about a dozen) all got the same treatment, this was not an isolated incident.
by issued a decree i meant that the people who run AC entertainment probably did not order security to tear through people's bags and look through their underwear and what not. it was most likely the result of some security guards going overboard, especially since there were so many others who were cool and didn't get carried away when they searched your stuff. your situation just seems like an isolated incident that might've been the result of a security guard's personality moreso than the policy of the management.
The head of security(for that area?) was involved in my search, he oversaw while the 2 yellow shirts searched me, if it was isolated it was isolated to the whole area this guy oversaw.
look, i'm sorry you had a bad experience with security, but you're acting like it's the government tapping your phone lines here or something. bonnaroo hasn't made me think that kind of thing is ok. i never once condoned it. it sucks they broke your zipper. my friend's bag was stolen one night from our camp. it turned up later in an information tent, but he still lost his cell phone and cigarettes. IMO that's a little more serious. i just don't think it's fair for you to trash the festival because of that and suggest it's part of some conspiracy by bonnaroo to make you spend money in their general store and at their vendors. if the same thing happened to me i'd be a little annoyed by it, but i wouldn't throw a fit after the festival after admitting i had a good time and then give a negative description to future attendees.
At least the goverment doesn't try to search you like this, not when entering a courthouse, heck you don't get searched like this when getting on a plane. Only place I can think of that searches like this happen is Jail. Not sure I'm throwing a fit just making my feelings on the matter heard. I find it odd you think this kind of violation is only minor. I don't think it minor at all. I do not like when authority takes it overboard, not one bit. I do not like it when my body and things are violated, not one bit. I do not like when the vitamins I need to get healthy(I have celiac disease) are taken from me for a week, NOT ONE BIT! I do not consider it a minor annoyance, I consider it a major violation of my rights, which I apparently gave up upon entering bonnaroo grounds. Call it trashing the fest if you want, I call it warning my fellow festival goers.
I think you should email ac/superfly with your experience. By just refusing to go to 'roo ever again, other people will surely face the same experience. If you email ac/superfly it's hard to say if they will/can do something about it, but at least they have heard your opinion and you've done something to try and improve the situation.
Make it friendly but firm - don't accuse them because that probably won't get you anywhere, but let them know how bad your experience was and how that made you feel about the festival.
Who knows, maybe the people "up top" have no idea this is happening and this will help them hire better people for security, or if they do know about it maybe they didn't realize how it affects 'roo attendees.
Yeah, I did email them. The Head of the security (at least the head of security for that entrance) was involved in my search. He watched over 2 yellow shirts who searched me. Also all the other walkers before me(about a dozen) all got the same treatment, this was not an isolated incident.
Trust me if Superfly wanted all security to be this way then it would have been. It's very easy to get carried away, especially when you boss is watching. Superfly is not the security they hire several companies to handle that. I still chalk this up to bad luck in getting in a bad line.
Do things like this happen? Yes. Was it terrible? Yes Did you deserve this? No Did Superfly know about this? Maybe. We will never know for sure. Do you give up your rights? Some of them because you are entering private property and the rules are stated on Bonnaroo's website.
For every bad security experience I've heard at least 10 good ones. That's saying something because people like to talk more about bad things than good (IE Kanye). Don't let this ruin your Bonnaroo experience because you could go next year and most likely not have any trouble at all.
Also the checks to get into Centeroo were no worse then getting into any major concert I've been to recently. I saw Tool in Cincinnati last year and were made to empty our pockets and we got frisked. Par for the course if you ask me.
This is the conversation I had from security from my car. THEM: You've been to Bonnaroo before? ME: Yes, this is my third year. THEM: So you know the rules? ME: Yes, No glass, no drugs, no weapons THEM: Cool, you're set then.
Didn't even look into my car.
Though I really hope the jackass behind me got violated as he pulled in behind us at the end of the 6 hour line 100 feet before we got to exit 112.
The guys in the yellow shirts aren't Superfly or AC employees, it's a seperate security company that talks directly to the police/DEA. In fact I'm almost positive there's about 3 or 4 seperate security companies, that all wear those yellow shirts. You have to understand that there are auditors everywhere making sure they are doing their jobs, which include random searches. If you got searched hardcore, there was most likely an auditor standing nearby. Those guys are just trying to keep their jobs. Even with my staff bracelet, I got searched about 3 times into Centeroo.
So what do you do to avoid them? Well keep this in mind, about 95% of all the employees there run on 12 hour shifts, so each day the same crews should be at the same entrance, as well as the night time. Watch for an employee during the day that doesn't search people hardcore, and do the same at night. I had to do it with my staff bracelet this year, and I never got searched after Thursday.
;D 
