Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by greenjeans on Jun 19, 2008 17:41:53 GMT -5
As we entered the enterence off of the highway we were waived into line with no problems. We were sitting in line when a state trooper knocked on the door of our motorhome. He said that all vehicles with PA plates were being searched, because they had found something in all PA vehicles. I almost poo pooed myself, but remained calm. He came aboard and searched the vehicle. He also looked underneath in all of our outside bins. There was only me, my buddy and his wife in the vehicle. It's not like we were driving the party van, the thing is filled with kids toys. This search along with the useless people directing traffic almost gave my buddy a friggin heart attack. Our trip in was the worst experience in the 4 years of us going. They need to get their shit together before people like me who have been going for years stop coming all together.
Post by jesmith5508 on Jun 19, 2008 18:07:46 GMT -5
when you buy your ticket you are agreeing that you will abide by their rules and be subject to any and all searches upon entering the grounds and the centeroo area...
2010: 3/12: The Bad Plus/Happy Apple/Buffalo Collision/The Bad Apple 6/10-13: Bonnaroo 6/19: Rock the Garden 7/30-31: Mid West Music Fest 8/21: Los Hombres Calientes 8/31: Marijuana Death Squads 9/11: The Book of Right On w/ City on the Make 9/23: Of Montreal w/ Janelle Monae 10/4: Broken Social Scene 11/23: Grinderman
Post by plasticpepper on Jun 19, 2008 20:18:24 GMT -5
I'm sorry that some people had bad experiences with security and I can understand being sort of pissed about it, but since those extreme experiences aren't the norm it's really not something that worries me much. When you've got 65,000 people (or 90,000 some years) at a festival like that, you need to search people. You know going into it that it's going to happen. Granted, it's certainly very inconsistent, but just because some people got off lucky I wouldn't feel like I was treated unfairly just because I got the search I expected.
I'll be honest, I have been fairly lucky. Last year was my first (and so far only) Roo. When our car was searched coming in they just took a quick look around and checked the cooler and stuff, nothing too intensive. And going into Centeroo, I always had my bag open and was holding it up to make it easier for them so they always checked it...occasionally they would sort of sift through it a bit and in one case they had me open a tin of altoids since they were unwrapped. And sometimes I got patted down, sometimes I didn't. Being a girl and tiny helps, a lot of the times the volunteer would give me a quick check, call me some cute nickname and wave me on (lol). So I'll certainly admit that I've been lucky and haven't experienced the stuff people are complaining about, but honestly...I don't think there's anything security could do that would anger me for more than about five minutes at Roo. I've got no problems with them taking a few minutes to make sure I don't have weapons and glass.
when you buy your ticket you are agreeing that you will abide by their rules and be subject to any and all searches upon entering the grounds and the centeroo area...
Yeah I understand that just had no idea they would take it to the extremes they did. Now I know. Having been to several hundred concerts in my life, never expected this.
chilly... you just got some idiot security guys that want to be tough guys. what you should have done, really, is find a supervisor. complaining about it now isn't going to get you anywhere. you should take care of it on the spot. next time, go to a supervisor and tell them what happened, show them the damage, tell them they took your advil and you point out the exact security guard that did this to you. or find a cop. you should know, though, that you can't carry around a bottle of combined pills. that is just a red flag.
Post by themaninblack on Jun 20, 2008 0:34:56 GMT -5
and if this has not been said, ANYTIME someone comes to your tent asking for a search if they do not provide the credentials up front you MUST ask to see them. Should be a no brainer but I'm sure some scumbags got away with this type of thing over the weekend.
We came from PA, off the highway, and we didn't get searched at all by the Police. Our guy at the booths took about 2 seconds to ask us if we were there before and when we replied, "yes", he said "ok, have fun". I was barely searched at all during all of my trips into Centeroo...it really is luck of the draw. Plus, I like to wear the cargo shorts that tie in the front and anything you need to stash you can tie the string around and hang down the front of your shorts and they never even know!!
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
HE and this HUGE black guy were the only two who were awesome. They knew we were there to have fun and would say there I looked get outta here go have fun. This is what it should be. They should only be looking for weapons thats IT!
As my Inebriated buddy walks out of the Porto, he yells out, "Dude...I love this place...bonnaroo thinks about everything...they even put beer holders next to the toilet!"
Had to break it to him that that was the urnal. Good times good times!
Post by blankaflip on Jun 20, 2008 13:04:46 GMT -5
My search at the tolls were pretty damn intense too. We got there on Friday morning, and while I'm not bitching, because we had no traffic to wait in, the search was pretty intimidating. They tore my truck up bad. Took out all everything in my glove box, didn't put it back, looking through cig boxes, lifting behind my seats, rummaging through my console, and then unrolling sleeping bags, checking everything in the back- Bleh. I would have been having a heart attack if I had some no no's with me.
Also- At Centeroo, there was this prick who wouldn't let me or my brother through with our lawn chairs, so we went to another line. When we looked back, the same D.BAG was letting people with chairs go through... ???
Post by mikesworld420 on Jun 20, 2008 13:54:27 GMT -5
I was about to get it good because the yellow shirt dude thought I was nervous, he asked me specifically if i had glass bottles, i said no, corn paraphernalia? i said no, he said are you sure? i said yes im sure, i mean take alook if you want, he asked me to open my glovebox and what was in it, I opened it and said a bunch of junk, he looked around for a minute, then his supervisor asked him if he was clearing me to go through, then he said yes, and marked the s on my windshield, and said i seeemed nervous.
I've been really thinking this all over, alot. It's been eating at me and that has made me think even more. I mean I had an amazing time. The people I met, the music I heard...was one of the best weeks of my life. Seeing PJ for the first time I put up there with seeing The Grateful Dead for the first time in '82 and my first Panic show. Met 2 friends who I will keep in touch with forever and many more great folks I hope to meet again. So why so sore? Why is it not just a minor annoyance I ask myself? Maybe it is just me and having a problem with authority, I realize this may be the truth. I was at '03 and 04 and the security has changed alot. The golf carts in particular and the entrance. It has changed the whole "vibe" of Bonnaroo I think. And this really bothers me because I want to experience Bonnaroo again. Just a few weeks ago we had a discussion here on inforoo about "bonnaroo bashing" and I myself said it was because of jealousy, but now think different. I feel like Bonnaroo has maybe jumped the shark and it bothers me. I want to go back but unless PJ goes back:-) I don't think I will, I will try my luck at another festival. I'm sorry for the whining, I want you all to have the time of your lives next year. I had so much fun this year listening to the tunes with you all, I really did. I'll tell people about the PJ show and both Les Claypools shows for decades, amongst others. Just wish superfly didn't take the route they have. It has changed. Anyway I'll see you all at Langerado and who knows where else, enjoy Bonnaroo in '09 but be careful of 'the man'.
I hardly got frisked at all but that is because I wasn't just a normal guest. I recall that I walked up to a security member just before entering Centeroo. I spread my arms for her and she hesitated at first, but then quickly touched my waist and down my pants, ignoring my bulging pockets. I was kind of disappointed. Once or twice I chose the Centeroo entrance with the best looking security person, hoping to be thoroughly frisked, however it never happened.
I used the special access entrance and each time, I had my bag open with most of the items pulled out so they had so much to look at that they did not do anything but thank me for making it easy to view what I was taking in. We were close enough to things that we only went in when the lines were nothing or if someone had to be in for work, I walked them in as my companion got me a Magic Hat #9 and walked back out across the street to the camp. We had a lot of coolers for the day and items left at out camp that people could not take into Centeroo and instead of going back to their camp they asked us if they could leave them with us. So I know that the security was looking for things that could not go in and turning the people around or keeping it.
Post by bamadancer on Jun 22, 2008 11:45:03 GMT -5
I've said this like 89237598279823758923 times but the biggest problem with Security at Roo is that they have NO communication between each other. There were at least 3 companies hired to search people and each one had a different set of rules. Not to mention the fact the people who actually do the searching get the rules changed on them like 50 times a day, and so they're never quite sure what to search for. Yes, there are some asshole security guards. Some of them are just there to make $$ (yes they get paid) and don't care that people are there to have a good time. Others (including my friends who worked security this year) realize that people are just there to have fun and don't hassle them too much.
It sucks that you got so ridiculously searched. You just got a bad security guard...it happens. I ran into a lot of them on the Staff Walmart Shuttle and unfortunately some of them are just there to get paid and confiscate what they can for personal use later. It sucks. Email AC/Superfly and tell them that they need to change security companies if its a big deal to you. I think that would be the most effective way to solve it.
I had no issues with security this year...only a couple of peeks into my camelbak and I was fine. However, it does bother me that so many people (and this isn't directed at you Chilly) are like OMG BONNAROO IS DEAD AND YOU ARE SOOOO LAME IF YOU GO BACK NEXT YEAR YOU'RE NOTHING BUT MAINSTREAM CORPORATE CRAP.
It just makes me sad, because I had a great experience this year and I almost feel like I'm being judged for having a good time!
thats really crazy. security was never even close to an issue for me. a guy opened my cig pack, saw a few "hand rolled" and told me to have a good time and let me through. just depends on the guard in particular. the world is full of dicks, and roos amateur security force is no different. some security guys crashed on my camp spot looking for a lighter to spark a blunt.
I've been really thinking this all over, alot. It's been eating at me and that has made me think even more. I mean I had an amazing time. The people I met, the music I heard...was one of the best weeks of my life. Seeing PJ for the first time I put up there with seeing The Grateful Dead for the first time in '82 and my first Panic show. Met 2 friends who I will keep in touch with forever and many more great folks I hope to meet again. So why so sore? Why is it not just a minor annoyance I ask myself? Maybe it is just me and having a problem with authority, I realize this may be the truth. I was at '03 and 04 and the security has changed alot. The golf carts in particular and the entrance. It has changed the whole "vibe" of Bonnaroo I think. And this really bothers me because I want to experience Bonnaroo again. Just a few weeks ago we had a discussion here on inforoo about "bonnaroo bashing" and I myself said it was because of jealousy, but now think different. I feel like Bonnaroo has maybe jumped the shark and it bothers me. I want to go back but unless PJ goes back:-) I don't think I will, I will try my luck at another festival. I'm sorry for the whining, I want you all to have the time of your lives next year. I had so much fun this year listening to the tunes with you all, I really did. I'll tell people about the PJ show and both Les Claypools shows for decades, amongst others. Just wish superfly didn't take the route they have. It has changed. Anyway I'll see you all at Langerado and who knows where else, enjoy Bonnaroo in '09 but be careful of 'the man'.
Hey, I'm with you. I had an awesome time this year, better than either of my previous two Roos, but I have a serious problem with the abuse of authority by people who really shouldn't have any in the first place. I don't mind police so much, but volunteers who are just looking to take (steal) something from someone else for them to use are very high on my poop list.
For me, Bonnaroo has not just been an awesome musical experience, but a place where I could go where nobody would hassle me around, where I could do whatever I wanted as long as it wasn't bothering anyone else. That's changing, and I understand that things do change. Superfly/AC have created this machine, and it's too big to stop now. There are too many people making money off of Bonnaroo for them to stop putting it on, so they have to keep going, and they aren't allowed to take a step backward, so with their mainstream exposure comes increased pressure from law enforcement. It's not their fault at all, they just have to play by the rules now.
I don't think of people talking about their bad experiences as downing Bonnaroo, I think of it as a warning to newcomers. Hey, we had the time of our lives, guys, but you do have to be careful. Is locking your stuff in your car and securing or not bringing your valuables to Centeroo all that bad? Not really, but it's a change for the people who aren't just discovering Bonnaroo.
Our planet wasn't nearly as polluted 200 years ago as it is now, but do you see people telling Al Gore to stop hating on the Earth? We're not saying Bonnaroo sucks, we're just saying it's different, and precautions must be taken. Or you could just go to other festivals, like some of us are. I wish Bonnaroo-goers the best.
I've been really thinking this all over, alot. It's been eating at me and that has made me think even more. I mean I had an amazing time. The people I met, the music I heard...was one of the best weeks of my life. Seeing PJ for the first time I put up there with seeing The Grateful Dead for the first time in '82 and my first Panic show. Met 2 friends who I will keep in touch with forever and many more great folks I hope to meet again. So why so sore? Why is it not just a minor annoyance I ask myself? Maybe it is just me and having a problem with authority, I realize this may be the truth. I was at '03 and 04 and the security has changed alot. The golf carts in particular and the entrance. It has changed the whole "vibe" of Bonnaroo I think. And this really bothers me because I want to experience Bonnaroo again. Just a few weeks ago we had a discussion here on inforoo about "bonnaroo bashing" and I myself said it was because of jealousy, but now think different. I feel like Bonnaroo has maybe jumped the shark and it bothers me. I want to go back but unless PJ goes back:-) I don't think I will, I will try my luck at another festival. I'm sorry for the whining, I want you all to have the time of your lives next year. I had so much fun this year listening to the tunes with you all, I really did. I'll tell people about the PJ show and both Les Claypools shows for decades, amongst others. Just wish superfly didn't take the route they have. It has changed. Anyway I'll see you all at Langerado and who knows where else, enjoy Bonnaroo in '09 but be careful of 'the man'.
Hey, I'm with you. I had an awesome time this year, better than either of my previous two Roos, but I have a serious problem with the abuse of authority by people who really shouldn't have any in the first place. I don't mind police so much, but volunteers who are just looking to take (steal) something from someone else for them to use are very high on my poop list.
For me, Bonnaroo has not just been an awesome musical experience, but a place where I could go where nobody would hassle me around, where I could do whatever I wanted as long as it wasn't bothering anyone else. That's changing, and I understand that things do change. Superfly/AC have created this machine, and it's too big to stop now. There are too many people making money off of Bonnaroo for them to stop putting it on, so they have to keep going, and they aren't allowed to take a step backward, so with their mainstream exposure comes increased pressure from law enforcement. It's not their fault at all, they just have to play by the rules now.
I don't think of people talking about their bad experiences as downing Bonnaroo, I think of it as a warning to newcomers. Hey, we had the time of our lives, guys, but you do have to be careful. Is locking your stuff in your car and securing or not bringing your valuables to Centeroo all that bad? Not really, but it's a change for the people who aren't just discovering Bonnaroo.
Our planet wasn't nearly as polluted 200 years ago as it is now, but do you see people telling Al Gore to stop hating on the Earth? We're not saying Bonnaroo sucks, we're just saying it's different, and precautions must be taken. Or you could just go to other festivals, like some of us are. I wish Bonnaroo-goers the best.
I think security was a little much this year as well. However, the people, the performances, and the community at Roo was well worth a little security guard trying to be the big man. So many people say that they had a blast, an experience of a lifetime. If it is such an experience is it worth giving it up over a little hassle? I don't think so and I can say that I'll be back at Roo again next year. Well as long as the lineup is decent
As my Inebriated buddy walks out of the Porto, he yells out, "Dude...I love this place...bonnaroo thinks about everything...they even put beer holders next to the toilet!"
Had to break it to him that that was the urnal. Good times good times!
^I am glad I went VIP, I woke up in my bed at 9:30 I was in camp by 12:30. The first day they were a little strict on the way in through the VIP enterance, but by Friday I was walking in drinking PBR in a can or with a Nalgene full of my craft beer. I don't think I will ever go GA again.
^I am glad I went VIP, I woke up in my bed at 9:30 I was in camp by 12:30. The first day they were a little strict on the way in through the VIP enterance, but by Friday I was walking in drinking PBR in a can or with a Nalgene full of my craft beer. I don't think I will ever go GA again.
Well of course they didn't take your PBR. Why would anyone ever want someone else's PBR...
^I am glad I went VIP, I woke up in my bed at 9:30 I was in camp by 12:30. The first day they were a little strict on the way in through the VIP enterance, but by Friday I was walking in drinking PBR in a can or with a Nalgene full of my craft beer. I don't think I will ever go GA again.
Well of course they didn't take your PBR. Why would anyone ever want someone else's PBR...
Well we will see at All Good when it is 90 degrees out. I love good craft beer but I can't drink it in the heat to me PBR tastes just as good or better than any other mass produced brew.