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This is our fourth 'roo but first trip VIP. I'm wondering about special seating/viewing areas at each of the stages which is only available to VIP'ers.
If you're facing the stages, the bleachers are behind you and to the right of the What and Which stages, both set on an angle. The What stage also had a large hill/mound towards the front left (again, those positions are when you're facing the stages).
Post by OldLadyRoo on May 10, 2009 19:42:55 GMT -5
Hi - the special seating is a nice benefit of VIP. The Which stage has a bleachers which give you a good, albeit kinda far away, view of the stage. Only drawback is that the seats are in direct sun which can be sort of hot in the middle of the day. The What stage has the big, man-made hill to the right of the stage. It is a really nice spot to watch the show from. Lots of room and a great view. Better than the bleachers were before they built the hill. One piece of advise is to bring a beach chair or blanket to sit on. Better than the special seating, however, are the special entrances/exits for VIP. Be sure you find them and avoid the general entrance at all costs. In VIP there are no lines and they don't check your bags. Have a great time!
Post by themeyersman on May 10, 2009 20:35:06 GMT -5
Whoa whoa hold the phone...are you saying that VIPers do not go through the bag check lines under the bonnaroo arch with GA ticket holders?! Pleasee tell me this is true. :-)
There's a separate VIP entrance near the arch (you don't have to actually walk under the arch). I was checked at both that entrance AND and at the VIP entrance to the What Stage (more than once).
I've done VIP for 3 years and last year we got searched everytime we went in to Centeroo. We got used to it, but it was quite annoying at first, since the 2 years prior to that we never got searched.
Wait just a second..... They search you when you are going in from VIP now???? I have been 4 times VIP and never had that happen. Truth be told thats probably the biggest reason we do VIP.
Its not really even the hiding of things that bothers me as much as just having to be searched period. You are paying a bunch of money and IMO some of that should mean you dont have to stop and be searched when entering centeroo or the What stage. Its really starting to become less and less "VIP". Seriously being able to walk in and out with the quickness has been the entire reason me and my friends have done vip every time since the first time we tried it.
welp, last year was the first year they searched me in VIP. but really only on Thursday. people were bitching. by the end, there was no searching, just busted your balls if you had a beer in your hand. "no aluminum in centeroo" was the excuse.
the what stage entrance is the best one. but like sass said, there is a separate vip line at the main gate. its sort of a "i got my monies worth" feeling when you walk by 10000 people going nowhere in the arch line and you don't even pause going by security
The only search I experiened last year between VIP and centeroo was sometimes having to open my backpack so they could glance in. Most of the time they did not even make me do that.
I spoke with one of the safety supervisors about the searches and he mentioned that they were trying to keep "unauthorized vendors" from using VIP as an easy way of getting large amounts of stuff into centeroo easily. Unfortunately they discovered in years past that enterprising people had realized that using a VIP pass they could re-enter the site with ease and then access centeroo without passing through any kind of security.
Post by OldLadyRoo on May 11, 2009 18:38:29 GMT -5
I also love the entrance to the What stage that goes through the VIP beer tent. There are even chairs and tables right outside the tent so you can sit and watch the stage from far away. It's a luxury that makes the extra cost of the tix worthwhile.
Another positive VIP benefit is the grass.... no not THAT grass, but the grass in the fields where you camp. It keeps the dust down during a dry season.
Personally, was only 'searched' once- going through the VIP entrance by the arch - and it was just a 'open my bag and breeze by' type search. They didn't even touch it, much less frisk me. The What stage entrance was even easier. Security was especially lax during the mainstage shows in the evening. People were having to empty their pockets coming from VIP? I don't think my pockets have ever been searched in all of the 3 previous years...
I only had someone poke in my bag at all on Thursday going through the What stage entrance. The rest of the time no one bothered. I admit that look ridiculously innocent, though. Suckers.
Post by sweetmelissa on May 12, 2009 9:08:11 GMT -5
We got searched everytime too. They looked in my bag and moved things around. I had a beer in the bag that I opened and downed in front of them when they said I couldn't take it in. Other than the beer, I was innocent as well!
I was mostly innocent, too. Only thing I had at any time I wasn't supposed to was a flask with my Belvedere in it. I can't stand beer, so what do they expect me to drink, eh?
Last year, we never sat in the VIP seats. Too far away. Could aways get closer. As for searching at entrance it started out fairly through and by Sunday, unless you had it in your hand, they waved you through.
Roo should take a look at what Sasquatch does for it's VIP's in the venue. There were VIP zones and decks next to every stage. One stage had a viewing tower right in front of the stage and others had side viewing areas. We were almost in touching distance. Also, VIP only lounges within the venue. Camping was another story. Bonnaroo knows how to take care of it's VIP's in the campground and Sasquatch know how in the venue. These guys need to get together and have a chat.
Post by sweetmelissa on Nov 3, 2009 17:17:25 GMT -5
I never even got to sit in one of the chairs. By the time we got there they were either used or the majority were broken. I wonder how much money those cost.
Roo should take a look at what Sasquatch does for it's VIP's in the venue. There were VIP zones and decks next to every stage. One stage had a viewing tower right in front of the stage and others had side viewing areas. We were almost in touching distance. Also, VIP only lounges within the venue. Camping was another story. Bonnaroo knows how to take care of it's VIP's in the campground and Sasquatch know how in the venue. These guys need to get together and have a chat.
How many VIP tickets do they have at Sasquach? The reason I ask is that I'm guessing there's a LOT more at Roo and it's hard to accommodate that many people.
Wakarusa has similar VIP viewing zones up front, but they sell about a thousand VIP passes for a 15-18,000 festival. Those numbers may be wildly off. Lots less than Bonnaroo. At the same time, I really like the hill.
