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!!
This was my sixth Bonnaroo, and likely the last one I'll do without going VIP or renting an RV. Here's why:
First of all, we were camped at far side of the lake at Ron Slater/Cleo McDowell. There was one set of about 15 Port-o-Potties that far out on Jake's Street, that were cleaned only once a day (we asked the staff how many times they were done, and they said once a day at 5 PM).
There wasn't a wash station within a 15 minute walk, which to me is just ridiculous.
Then once you reach the wash station, it's these little tiny sinks instead of the giant troughs like they had had every other previous year. This was the worst of the lack of logistics.
They packed us in so tightly that we couldn't even open our car door without hitting the car next to us.
The lack of water filling stations in Centeroo was just ridiculous to me. They are lucky that it wasn't a hotter Roo, as those lines would have been double and triple what they were.
To arrive in line at 12:30 on Thursday, get in at 2:30, and be camped that far away (about 35 minute brisk walk) is just ridiculous to me.
Sorry, had to vent. I'm not anti-Roo at this point by any stretch of the imagination, but it will take an absolutely excellent lineup (on par with this year in terms of my personal taste) and either an RV or VIP to get me back to Roo. I'm sure part of this is due, also, to the fact that I don't want to and can't party at the Roo the way I used to back in 2003, but I just had to get out my complaints and figured the That Tent area of this board would be good place.
Post by dreamingtree on Jun 16, 2009 13:41:50 GMT -5
I guess you just didn't have good luck with it all.
We had a less than 10 minute walk into Roo. We had tons of room for our tents and shade. We had about 20 porties a few cars away that were always clean and always had toilet paper. The walk to the water stations took about 10 minutes but that was the worst part.
My only big complaint is that the Which stage needs big screens.
I guess you just didn't have good luck with it all.
To me, a lot of this isn't luck, it's a lack of logistical planning on the part of the Bonnaroo staff, and things that could be easily avoided by actual planning. For instance, getting rid of the water troughs was an awful idea. Only having 15 port-o-potties and only cleaning them once a day is unacceptable. Not putting a wash station out there by the potties is just silly. The lack of water stations in Centeroo - really?
Some of the other stuff does have to do with luck, such as the far away spot. And I can live with that. But the other stuff are giant leaps backward for a festival that has made vast improvements every year, IMO.
There wasn't a wash station within a 15 minute walk, which to me is just ridiculous.
Agreed on many points. I was out on the far side of the lake, and was surprised at the lack of wash stations. I think that should be mandatory near the portos. (Or at least offer some hand sanitizer!) I think the closest wash station was on shakedown, and that's halfway between BFE and Centeroo, not worth the effort one you are already at camp. We cleaned up in Centeroo each night before heading back to the tents.
Post by Ian'sGotAFeeling on Jun 16, 2009 15:03:47 GMT -5
Did anyone happen upon the water station in Centeroo with absolutely NO water pressure, it took me about 5 minutes to fill up my camelback. No wonder the line took 20 minutes to get through.
yeah there was one trough in centeroo with no pressure. the trick was to stand in the mud according to my husband. shorter line.
we lucked out in family camp. huge mud pit in the middle that cars got stuck in if they chose not to go around but there was room, and portos just outside the entrance, and an ice truck and trough right across from that as well as food vendors. that helps alot when you have kids in tow.
the water trailers in centeroo seem to have gotten shorter as well
Not only that, but there are fewer of them. We're lucky this wasn't 2007, when the temperatures were off the charts. The med tents would have been full of people with dehydration.
the only real complaint was the lack of knowledge by the staff.
however, thats been the same every year. a bunch of stoned volunteers dont pay attention to directions? shocking!
Geez the "staff" didn't know a damn thing. I learned quickly that the incredibly nice folks driving the taxi's are the most knowledgeable "staff" at Bonnaroo.
My only complaint is the shower folks claiming to offer "hot" showers for the $7 fee. Coldest "hot" shower I've ever taken but damn it was refreshing.
^^^ The staff are told things from their supervisors. Then they repeat it to the patrons.
Like on Tuesday when I was told to tell people that Walmart was full. I was telling people that for about two hours. Then I went there to get some stuff and the lot was almost empty.
So when there is alot of people all over the place without a fantastic communication system, things are bound to get mixed up.
Also, you wouldn't believe the WEIRD questions that were asked of me. I swear some people are way to demanding.
karen, i agree that the biggest problem is really a lack of communication by the staff and security. ive seen it 4 years running. one color security shirt has policy x, which is not enforced by a different color security shirt - although they enforce something not enforced by.... well, you get the idea.
im only half joking about a bunch of stoned volunteers (i mean, at one point, i watched a security guy walkie talkie his partner to come by - and then he promptly passed him a bag of corn and a large pipe).
without the volunteers, it would not work at all, so i do appreciate the effort.
Post by stallion pt. 2 on Jun 18, 2009 9:19:36 GMT -5
I agree on the wash station thing. We were even further out and it was more like a 30 min walk. The tiny sinks were bullsh!t, with no way to hook up our hose to them. Lines were at least 45 mins. We ended up bathing in cooler water most of the weekend. One more water station out there (w/ troughs) would have solved all these problems.
But there were (at least) 2 sets of port-o lets out there: The Maroon ones right next to the east gate taxi stop, and yellow ones on Walnut Dr. (Which I'm just now realizing were not marked on the map). Those yellow ones were so remote that even if they were changed only once a day they were THE cleanest Roo portolets I've encountered in 8 years.
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
I must get lucky at Roos. This year we were in Chewbacca about 10 steps from water/food/toilets.
Did notice water lines were very long in Centeroo though
Hey, we were neighbors!! We had the giant 16x30 tarp attached to the 4Runner, plus another tarp and ez-up and tents underneath, with a shower tent off to the side.
yeah there was one trough in centeroo with no pressure. the trick was to stand in the mud according to my husband. shorter line.
we lucked out in family camp. huge mud pit in the middle that cars got stuck in if they chose not to go around but there was room, and portos just outside the entrance, and an ice truck and trough right across from that as well as food vendors. that helps alot when you have kids in tow.
Def shorter water lines in centeroo if you stood in the mud. Thank god for those water stations. I think I averaged 6-8 liters of water a day.
A Thieve's Parade 2/24 Conspirator 2/26 Kevin Smith 3/11 Keller 3/17 Papadosio 3/18 JJ Grey 3/25 Bela Fleck/Edgar Meyer 3/26 Toubab Krewe 3/27 O'Death 4/11 Budos Band 4/22 EOTO 4/28 Summer Camp 5/6-29 All Good
But there were (at least) 2 sets of port-o lets out there: The Maroon ones right next to the east gate taxi stop, and yellow ones on Walnut Dr. (Which I'm just now realizing were not marked on the map). Those yellow ones were so remote that even if they were changed only once a day they were THE cleanest Roo portolets I've encountered in 8 years.
You're right about the two sets of potties, but that's still not enough in my estimation. The lines in the morning at the yellow ones were ridiculous, and to not have a water station out there was both unsanitary and unsafe. You are right in that they were relatively clean when I used them.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Jun 22, 2009 9:26:09 GMT -5
The accomodations have been fine every year i've gone. Sometimes you have to wait in line at porta potties......it's just life.
You want more water? Bring it? I always bring a few jugs of water just for washing and other stuff.
It's an outdoor, camping music festival on a farm. You kinda have to expect what you're getting into. Water is provided. So you have to walk a little while to get to it? Big deal. There are much worse things in life.
Post by ronburgandy? on Jun 22, 2009 9:34:49 GMT -5
yeah, id much rather they put up a big screen on the which stage, or produce a longer, more comprehensive dvd...over putting up more water stations/portos. (although, i realize its not necessarily an either/or scenario)
Post by guitarheroo on Jun 22, 2009 14:03:44 GMT -5
meh. Honestly, I took some water in my bag and never once used any of the watering stations, nor the "water = life" station in centeroo. Last year it was the same story as well. I'm not saying you're not right to complain but, like somebody else said, you're in the middle of a farm so be ready to be a little bit uncomfortable slash dirty slash dehydrated .
btw I second the motion for a more in-depth dvd next year!
the only real complaint was the lack of knowledge by the staff.
however, thats been the same every year. a bunch of stoned volunteers dont pay attention to directions? shocking!
Geez the "staff" didn't know a damn thing. I learned quickly that the incredibly nice folks driving the taxi's are the most knowledgeable "staff" at Bonnaroo.
Thursday I saw the taxi crew having a big meeting getting pumped up, going over details, etc.. They were really the most prepared staff.
Geez the "staff" didn't know a damn thing. I learned quickly that the incredibly nice folks driving the taxi's are the most knowledgeable "staff" at Bonnaroo.
Thursday I saw the taxi crew having a big meeting getting pumped up, going over details, etc.. They were really the most prepared staff.
To be fair I'm pretty sure they had a lot less taxi drivers compared to all other types of staff. It's easier to spread the knowledge to 20 or so people instead of say, 200 or so.
the water trailers in centeroo seem to have gotten shorter as well
Not only that, but there are fewer of them. We're lucky this wasn't 2007, when the temperatures were off the charts. The med tents would have been full of people with dehydration.
There were like 5 refilling stations within a 200 acre area. I do not think you could be in centeroo, and be further than a 5 minute walk from one of them.
The accomodations have been fine every year i've gone. Sometimes you have to wait in line at porta potties......it's just life.
You want more water? Bring it? I always bring a few jugs of water just for washing and other stuff.
It's an outdoor, camping music festival on a farm. You kinda have to expect what you're getting into. Water is provided. So you have to walk a little while to get to it? Big deal. There are much worse things in life.
Here's my issue. I'm totally cool with being dirty. I've been to six Bonnaroos, so trust me, I'm okay with it. However, how do you go from having ample wash stations in the campgrounds to none within a 20 minute walk? That makes no sense to me. To go backwards in terms of logistics is illogical.
They shouldn't say, "Stay hydrated!" and not provide the means.
Also, as far as having 5 water stations within Centeroo, and not being more than a 5 minute walk from a water station, I agree. However, when several of those stations are full of sulfur-laced, undrinkable water, and the stations that that have drinkable water have little to no water pressure and fewer faucets than ever before, I wonder if Bonnaroo really thought out the logistics well enough, or if they were just attempting to shave a few pennies off the top.
These things really affected my experience this year, and judging from several others' comments, theirs as well. Simply put, the backwards trend in these logistical items baffles me, as one would think that the logistics would get better every year they put on the festival. Unless, of course, the people at the top are no longer in touch with what the average festival-goer experiences. Just my two cents.
I think roo has the best logistics of any fest out there, I have been to fests that have no security, no medics, no free water, you have to bring everything you would need aside from music.
I think roo has the best logistics of any fest out there, I have been to fests that have no security, no medics, no free water, you have to bring everything you would need aside from music.
Again, I actually agree with this. I just don't like it when there are obvious steps backward from past years. Logistics should improve, not get worse.
EDIT: I've been to many festivals, and I agree Bonnaroo does have good logistics given the struggles of curating a 4-day camping festival.
Last Edit: Jun 23, 2009 13:14:41 GMT -5 by dto - Back to Top
.
