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 dancinginthedark on Jun 30, 2009 22:06:57 GMT -5
WTF? Do you know what a pain in the butt it was to have to share a book with the people in my car? The dude who got our book kept losing it and wouldn't give it to anyone else. I was able to write down the shows I wanted to see but if I decided to see a show as filler, etc, then I either didn't know where the show was/what time it was, or I didn't know who I was listening to. It was especially difficult when I wanted to go and see a late night movie or something like that.
I was also minus a very important souvenir to bring home...
Post by plasticpepper on Jun 30, 2009 22:32:17 GMT -5
Luckily we got there early enough that we each got our own, but yeah, the perpetual guide book shortage is pretty much my biggest complaint. It should be SO EASY to fix but somehow every year they either run out or the books are all in the wrong place and nobody can find them.
Post by generalstore on Jun 30, 2009 23:13:38 GMT -5
I asked for the others and they were reluctantly handed over. Publishing that book can't be cheap, so I understand why they try to go low on the publishing run, but a printed schedule and map should be given to EVERYONE and can be done with minimal cost compared to a 50 page book.
Post by plasticpepper on Jun 30, 2009 23:29:08 GMT -5
I don't think it's a cost issue. From my experience with printing, I would guess that when you're doing a run of 80 or 90 thousand, the cost per each would be pretty negligible. A few dollars at most, and out of the $230+ ticket prices that's not much.
Besides, in 07 the books were entirely made out of plain matte paper. In 08 (from what I hear) the pages were plain paper but the covers were the thicker somewhat glossy stuff. And the 09 books were entirely made out of thicker, somewhat glossy stock. If it was a cost issue, they wouldn't be making them more expensive each year.
Post by generalstore on Jun 30, 2009 23:31:48 GMT -5
a few dollars out of 230 for a guidebook is pretty big chunk of the ticket price. granted half of it is advertising, but printed ad rates have fallen like a rock in the past year or two.
what other reason would they have for year after year not having adequate supplies of guidebooks?
Post by plasticpepper on Jun 30, 2009 23:39:31 GMT -5
I don't know, the ticket price is somewhat arbitrary anyway. If they really can't spare $2 out of it then they should raise it by $2. Nobody would even notice or care anyway, but even if they did it's not like anyone would have a problem with paying an extra $2 (or whatever amount) to ensure that they got a guide.
And I don't know for sure that it is actually a shortage. That's what I always figured and I couldn't understand it, but someone else on here (I don't remember who, sorry!) said that they do have enough, they just end up in the wrong places. They run out at certain entrances and have a surplus of guides in other places somehow. So it might just be a logistical issue. If that's it I don't understand that either though - it's all the same general location, they should be able to run them back and forth to keep all the locations stocked somehow.
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
Post by Fishing Maniac on Jul 1, 2009 0:10:21 GMT -5
I got my own book. It got ruined in the storm Thursday night. Friday afternoon someone gave me another one. I have both as souvenirs. If you see someone with a press credential ask them for a book. They have loads of extras in the press only area.
Anybody remember if this was an issue in the early years where they had a two-sided fold out with the map on one side and schedule on the other? I've always got one (knock on wood) so I'm not sure if this has always been an issue or not but I hear more about it every year instead of less.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Jul 1, 2009 8:09:59 GMT -5
I think they don't mail it out with the ticket because the schedule is still being finalized. I could be wrong.
We got one for each of us in my car....but we got there early.
It sucks and they SHOULD have one for every ticket..........but they do a lot to help avoid the annoyances many people stated in here.
a.) There were poster sized schedules posted in a few areas of centeroo. I know that for a fact. One could easily go there and check out the shows they want.....mark down the times (either with pen/paper or with a phone) and be set.
b.) The bonnaroo beacon (daily newspaper) ALWAYS had a full schedule for the day it was printed.....people just didn't take advantage of it.
c.) Not knowing who's show you're at? Just ask someone next to you or look at the big poster hanging up with the artists name (except on What or which stage).
d.) Movie tent had a schedule right outside the tent.
e.) People are friendly at roo.........almost ANYONE will let you take a look at their book for a minute. Just ask.
I always worry about not getting a schedule (even tho I always go early)........so I print them out ahead of time. I've never had a problem with bonnaroo schedules
One thing I thought about - as to why they don't have one for every ticket..........they send out the request to be printed. That's got to be at least a week before Roo - possibly more. If they request one for every ticket sold - they still have to deal with all the people who buy roo tickets last minute. Perhaps that's why they run out at a certain point? Yes they should print extra but at least they do all they can to help know the schedule (even if you don't get a book).
Post by myscatterheart on Jul 1, 2009 8:12:46 GMT -5
^Right. What's in the 50 pages? Is it necessary? I flipped through the pages that weren't the map or schedule, and they seemed to be crapola. I'm sure they were better in the past, but do we really need all that?
Post by awolfatthedoor on Jul 1, 2009 8:22:26 GMT -5
There were like three articles in this year. This year's book was worthless. I don't know about pre-08, but in 08 the book had a profile of every single artist so you could see what type of music they played.
I think they should mail out a map for sure with the ticket. It wouldn't cost any extra shipping but it would cost for the printing. The books aren't necessary for schedule because as ITM said there are multiple places where you can see schedules, you can ask anyone, there are the artists names on the left side of the stage, and you can ask anyone at the show you are at who you are watching.
Post by dreamingtree on Jul 1, 2009 8:36:20 GMT -5
By Thursday afternoon they didn't have any at the gates. We had 7 people and not one book.
Later we were told that the information tent in the middle of Centeroo had them and separate maps, so we we got some from there luckily. None of us had printed out our schedules because we knew we would get a book. I've never not been given one before.
We got there at 3 am on Thursday so we all got our own. Also I had printed several copies of the schedule that I gave to people when they asked to use our book
We got there Thursday afternoon also - but we got books for everyone in the RV with no problem.
And - like Fishman said - apparently there were tons backstage at the press tent - in the future - find someone with a press wristband and ask them to get you one.
Post by questionablesanity on Jul 1, 2009 14:27:29 GMT -5
We got there Thursday afternoon and each got our own. Although we forgot ours on Thursday, everyone was nice enough to let us use their's when we asked. I don't expect some humongous booklet with artist bios, itunes downloads, etc... All I expect is to hear great music. That's all i pay for. If you think about it, you would pay more than the ticket price just to see the headliners, so I'm not gonna bitch about not getting free stuff. They make the schedules printable prior to the fest for a reason.
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
Post by plasticpepper on Jul 1, 2009 19:44:51 GMT -5
Yeah, I was kinda bummed to not get an itunes download card! I've discovered some stuff I really love on those cards!
Anyway, whatever the reason is for people not getting books, if that's going to happen they should at least have printed schedules and maps to hand people. Like others said, now that they cut the artist bios the rest of the book is pretty useless anyway. On your way into the campgrounds if they said "sorry, we ran out of guides, but here's a schedule and map for ya" nobody would be upset AT ALL. It's nice that they have the big schedule posters and the Bonnaroo Beacon, but it seems like they could have a huge stack of paper schedules to hand out if they run out of books pretty cheaply/easily.
(Also, I don't think I know anyone who's ever even LOOKED at the Bonnaroo Beacon, which is sort of unfortunate. I wouldn't mind having a couple as souvenirs, but I'm way too lazy to go figure out where to find one when I'm at roo!)
(Also, I don't think I know anyone who's ever even LOOKED at the Bonnaroo Beacon, which is sort of unfortunate. I wouldn't mind having a couple as souvenirs, but I'm way too lazy to go figure out where to find one when I'm at roo!)
(Also, I don't think I know anyone who's ever even LOOKED at the Bonnaroo Beacon, which is sort of unfortunate. I wouldn't mind having a couple as souvenirs, but I'm way too lazy to go figure out where to find one when I'm at roo!)
I love the Beacon! I get one every day and managed to make it home with all mine this year. It was pretty good at providing some new info (including Buffett for those who didn't already know) but I did get let down a little bit because they teased that Margaret Cho was going to be performing and check back for info but they never followed through on that. That would've been interesting.
(Also, I don't think I know anyone who's ever even LOOKED at the Bonnaroo Beacon, which is sort of unfortunate. I wouldn't mind having a couple as souvenirs, but I'm way too lazy to go figure out where to find one when I'm at roo!)
i am pretty sure the bonnaroo beacon is a myth
I think it's next to the Relix Tent where they have the "reading room" that I always pick them up. I got several copies Sunday afternoon of each of the Fri, Sat, and Sunday editions. They were out of Thursday's, as they had been when I went by on Thursday.
i was a volunteer and i worked the tollbooths on thursday night from 8pm-2am and my booth was the only one with guides left, and i was suprised there were any at that point, so the 100 or so people who got them were lucky! but i do agree that they are not properly distributed because i was working the access tent near pod 4 on sunday morning and we had a box full of guides that could have been used elsewhere.
Post by ellisintransit on Jul 2, 2009 10:21:05 GMT -5
In six years of Bonnarooing I've heard horror stories every year of people not getting guidebooks. So just in case, I print out one of the handy excel spreadsheet schedules that show up here on inforoo and laminate it. I've never needed it. Until this year.
Waited 10 hours on Thursday to get in and they had no guidebooks. Glad I did it this year. It's complete garbage that every person who comes can't get a guidebook. They shouldn't even try to make a book out of it anymore. My idea?; a trifold paper, like a small map that is even cheaper that they can overprint by 30,000 copies and still come out cheaper than this book so EVERYONE can have a pocket guide. It's ridiculous that they still haven't figured something out in 8 years of putting this thing on.
The good news is that if you don't get a book, the Bonnaroo Beacon has a daily guide, and they keep those stocked for everyday throughout the festival. They usually have updated info too.
But it is a whole lot of crap, that everyone pays the same price, and yet some don't get all the same perks.*
*Obviously, I'm neglecting to mention the perks and price of VIP. They can keep their gold-plated guidebooks.....I keed.