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 myheartgoing on Feb 17, 2010 21:39:52 GMT -5
Hey everyone! This is my first official post, yay! I just introduced myself in the newbie thread, but I have a real issue that finally got me to register for this dang thread after about two years of lurking...lol. Okay, here's my problem:
Last year, my first Bonnaroo, I basically just saw bands I already knew I liked (unless I saw someone new while I was waiting), and it happened to be mostly the hip hop/soul acts. As a result, I sat through some shows where I wasn't having fun (Raphael Saadiq, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TVOTR) and missed out on some shows that I'm now kicking myself over (Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Phoenix). Not to mention that I never took part in the Silent Disco, the B'rooers tent, Shakedown Street...and all the artists I still don't know of because I missed them!!!
This year I'm determined to schedule things better. Despite all my googling and inforoo lurking, I've yet to find any ideas on good methods for scheduling bands you want to see...I was hoping somebody on this board could help me??? I know the schedule's not going to be out for a while and that more additions are coming, but as I scroll the lineup there are about 20 artists I'm already interested in seeing!
Can someone help me develop a good system to schedule stuff so I don't kick myself again next year?!?
Post by myscatterheart on Feb 17, 2010 21:45:06 GMT -5
For starters, check the Music Lounge section for info on bands that are on this years lineup - or look some up yourself. You'd never know if you'd like a band just by the name alone. When the schedule comes out, mark a few you hafta see, a few you wanna see, and a few you've heard of, and leave some time to wander around. Doesn't hafta be rigid, but you can totally see a lot / a good amount of new stuff if you make a conscious effort.
You're gonna miss cool stuff, it's unavoidable. Focus less on what you missed but on what you saw. Don't spread yourself too thin, get to shows early, get up close, enjoy. If you bop from one show to another you'll always wind up in back and probably not have as good an experience.
Pretty much what myscatterheart said. Choose a handful of must see bands (I would include bands whose entire set you want to see in this), and bounce around from stage to stage so you can catch more performances. If you're not feelin' a band, move on. But don't exhaust yourself or you won't last till the late nights!
You're gonna miss cool stuff, it's unavoidable. Focus less on what you missed but on what you saw. Don't spread yourself too thin, get to shows early, get up close, enjoy. If you bop from one show to another you'll always wind up in back and probably not have as good an experience.
Very solid advice. I do like to find a few spots during the day where I can bop from one show to another and see some new bands, but that only accounts for an hour or two a day.
Over the next four months, research every band you don't know on the lineup; go to their Myspace pages to hear songs and check out videos of their shows on YouTube, so you can get a feel for whether they appeal to you. Realize that you are going to miss most of the bands on the lineup - it's inevitable. Between Thursday afternoon and Sunday night, you should be able to catch around 20-25 full sets, out of a lineup of around 150 acts.
Conflicts are bound to happen, especially during the late nights. From personal experience, I can say it's much better to pick one or two bands in a timeslot and stick with those, than to bounce around from act to act and see 20-30 minutes of each. If there's a really bad conflict, pick your two favorites and see half of each, but don't spread yourself any thinner than that.
Likewise, there will also be times when there are no bands playing that you know well, or have much interest in seeing. This is the time you should use to explore the various stages and see if you find something you like. It's a good way to discover your next favorite band.
If there's a band you really want to see, get there just as the act before them is finishing up. This is when a lot of the crowd will be leaving, and it gives you a good opportunity to get fairly close to the stage without having to wait all day.
Finally, be open to just going with the flow. As others have said, pick a few 'must-sees' that you can't miss, and let everything else be a 'should-see'. I was chatting with someone in Centeroo early Saturday afternoon in 2008, and we were comparing our planned schedules. He suggested I check out Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings; I saw the first half of their set, before leaving to see the second half of Against Me!, who I'd originally been planning to see. I had a much better time at Sharon Jones, and that's not a smite against Against Me!.
I am kind of nerdy about it. I make a schedule in Excel then always mark bands either must see, like to see, curious, and no interest. It works well, because if I amnot feeling something I just go to the next color.
Post by insidejoke on Feb 18, 2010 12:46:49 GMT -5
This is all great advice. I second most all of it, and will also add: consider which bands usually tour around your area or who you might see in another venue. For example, I skipped Wilco last year (and I LOVE Wilco) because they always tour around my area, and I was seeing them at Farm Aid as well. I used that spot to see an act I might not otherwise have the opportunity to catch live.
Research. I just bought a bunch of CDs to prepare for Bonnaroo (The Black Keys, The Dodos, Kings of Leon, and many more). I'm not going to kick myself this year, after missing Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear, and Band of Horses last year, who I missed because I didn't know any of their stuff. Andrew Bird and Grizzly Bear are now two of my top ten bands. This will NOT happen again this year. So anyway, just make sure you research.
This is all great advice. I second most all of it, and will also add: consider which bands usually tour around your area or who you might see in another venue. For example, I skipped Wilco last year (and I LOVE Wilco) because they always tour around my area, and I was seeing them at Farm Aid as well. I used that spot to see an act I might not otherwise have the opportunity to catch live.
This is actually good advice. I live in Knoxville and AC books shows for three venues here. Do a little digging and find out what you wouldn't otherwise see; bigger bang for your buck.
I am kind of nerdy about it. I make a schedule in Excel then always mark bands either must see, like to see, curious, and no interest. It works well, because if I amnot feeling something I just go to the next color.
This.
Plus: I went last year as though planning a vacation -- the goal was to make each day fulfilling. I understand these are only MY rules, not for everyone. But maybe there's something there for you:
1) I listened to a few songs/videos from every band and got a feel for what the live experience would probably be like.
2) I avoided seeing too much of one genre/sound in the same day. I knew I'd get bored if I heard 5 "solo acoustic guitarist" acts in the same day for example.
3) I tried a few bands each day with a sound I had never tried to get into before (eg, Crystal Castles, Andrew Bird, High on Fire). Keep the ears stimulated.
4) The bulk of each day, I remained true to what REALLY inspired me (based on research). I didn't overdo the experimentation.
5) And lastly, I was very honest with myself. No matter who is playing, how great they are, or whatever -- if I'm not into it I go wander somewhere else. If the ghost of John Lennon started singing "Instant Karma!" and by some impossibility I just wasn't feelin' it, I'd move on. Because a great day at Roo was a lot better than bragging rights about some act that did nothing for me.
I'm never too rigid in what i must see and enjoy finding hidden gems. My advice would echo many. Pick your must see up close bands and get there early but remember that you may need to sit through other bands to do this so don't do this for too many bands. Make sure and also pick bands you must see but can see from the crowd. This allows you to get there later. Meanwhile you can wander other stages instead of sitting through bands you dislike.
Also don't be afraid to leave a show if you don't care for the performance. There's always something great playing somewhere.
I usually go for quantity instead of getting up close, though there will always be a few bands worth the wait. This means I'm not wasting time on band I don't really care for and see lots of good unexpected shows. I usually find lots of great bands I never scheduled.
As mention a bunch. Research also helps a lot but some bands are not impressive in the studio but are great live so base your opinions more on style instead of specific songs.
Post by tompettyfan420 on Mar 3, 2010 13:15:14 GMT -5
I agree with pretty much all of this. To be honest theres only two bands who i have camped out to see and those being tom petty and phish. I didn't regret a single moment and am so happy that phoenix is playing again this year because I really wanted to see them last year but they conflicted with phish on friday night. This being said I'm planning on getting there really early for Dave this year.
I listen to EVERY artist on the line up. I keep a note book and make notes about each to jog my memory later. And of course the ones I really like I get their full albums.
When the schedule comes out I review my notes and make a wish list. Then to decide on conflicts I ask myself, Have I seen this artist before? and What is the likely hood that this artist will tour near me in the future?
I like the ideas to remember who is most likely to stop by your hometown. Those artists can be skipped unless you just have to see it. I've had the most fun trying to really get close for a few shows. Last year we did the try-to-see-everything technique. We failed and ended up far away for just about every show. It took something away from the experience. Decide the must sees. See those. The rest of the time you should be open to surprises. I found the Avett bros. that way. I find it amusing we all seek the perfect experience. It's a dangerous pursuit. Sometimes it can ruin the truly sublime.
Post by pondo ROCKS on Mar 4, 2010 15:24:30 GMT -5
My advice...
First, be willing to be flexible on a schedule. There may be an act that you hear playing and it may draw you in.
Second, LATE NIGHT IS A MUST SEE!!!! I STRONGLY urge you to check out late night acts at Bonnaroo. The energy at late night shows cannot be duplicated!!
Third, Have a small MUST SEE list. These are acts that as long as you are awake, you wanna check out.
Fourth, Sleep in as much as you can to help out for #2 (which again was LATE NIGHT CANNOT BE MISSED)
Fifth, Get up front for a tent show. I can stress how much fun it has been for me to be on the rail (usually on Sunday) for a series of shows. The vibe of it is amazing!
Last, regardless your route, your Bonnaroo experience is your own. Make it fun, try to make it last, and enjoy your time on the farm.
Providing an outlet and a voice for music lovers to unite under the common theme of music for all. Join The Pondo Army to show your allegiance to musical freedom! Fighting for no censorship of the arts & music education in schools, The Pondo Army will triumph! The Pondo Army Movement
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Alright, here's my take. A lot of it has been said before but that's what Roo is all about -- a little from here, a little from there until you make it your own!
First, invest in sleep. Find a way to beat the heat and the light. I actually have a shelter over my tent to buy a few extra hours of darkishness. Also, invest in a couple of battery-powered fans.
I tend to see as much as possible. I'm totally cool with not being up front for every artist, though it's typically not too hard to get relatively close without being an a-hole. (More on that in a sec.) I much prefer the flexibility of seeing partial sets of a couple of artists I'm unfamiliar with than being committed to staying in one place for an hour and a half.
Now, let me emphasize, Don't Be An A-Hole. Do not push your way through a crowd. Don't hold hands with your friends while one of them pushes their way through, either. If you didn't put in the time and make the sacrifices necessary to be near the front then you don't deserve to be there. Accept that you made a choice and don't put your experience ahead of the community's. This also goes for leaving, if you are halfway through a set and right front and center and someone else you want to see is playing somewhere else, don't push your way out to get there. Plan ahead and don't squat up front. To summarize, Don't Be An A-Hole At Bonnaroo.
Back to strategery, we all have our favorite artists and those bands we've seen a half dozen times. Do you really need to see them at Roo when there is something new to discover? (Note, I have broken this rule myself a couple of times. I could not miss an opportunity to see Ani DiFranco even though I've seen her twenty-plus times and she was playing opposite Lucinda Williams who I have never seen.)
As far as learning about new music, I tend to hold back on my hardcore research until the schedule is out for fear of creating additional conflicts. Almost every artist at Roo has merit and will generally be worth seeing so I tend to research artists based on who is playing during holes.
Finally, stay awake. Your energy will flag but the late nights are soooo worth it. Find a way to keep going. Your body will be PO'ed but your soul will thank you later.
i agree with making a wishlist and then trying to prioritize your schedule. we didnt do much research last year on new bands and just focused on seeing who we liked and a few recommendations. we pretty much just looked over things in the morning and made our choices then. the downside to this is that we missed a lot of bands we would have liked had we researched them ahead of time. also we could have seen more if we had scheduled ahead of time instead of wasting time deciding after a show was over. count me in as one of the excel nerds this year. any excuse to make a spreadsheet
also there were a few late nights we were just too tired to catch some sets we would have otherwise really wanted to see. i think the above poster has the right idea about getting some extra sleep in the mornings. we're getting another ezup to cover the tent and hopefully sleep a bit later. the nights we DID make it to late sets, we snuck naps in during the afternoon when there was no one we wanted to see. that will be a harder choice to make this year since we are doing more research but a power nap in the afternoon can do you wonders.
Agree with the above posts. One additional point. When Bonnaroo.com comes out with the Zoltar scheduler, plunk in your previous research (excel -color coding for me as well) and see where that scheduling tool puts you in terms of the other tent for a 4 p.m. show and then the which stage for a 5:30-6:00 p.m. show andd etermine if that makes sense given your must see, could see and conserving of energy and staying energized for the late night.
In the end, as Leo said above, focus on what you see and experience instead of what you miss.
I am kind of nerdy about it. I make a schedule in Excel then always mark bands either must see, like to see, curious, and no interest. It works well, because if I amnot feeling something I just go to the next color.
x2
Of course, I always ignore my sheet entirely if a show I am walking by happens to sound amazing
Post by myheartgoing on Mar 7, 2010 22:06:30 GMT -5
all of this is good advice! thank you so much, guys...i'm probably gonna end up taking a little of everything and seeing what works for us. i do know that last year the shows i enjoyed most (the knux, public enemy, jenny lewis) were the ones i was up front for. i don't think this is coincidence... there was only one show where i was in the front (MGMT) and i didn't enjoy it, but i think it was mainly because of the 16 year old in front of me flailing around and flicking her ponytail in my face the entire time...that was also the only late-night show i attended, and i was waaay tired...
that being said: i especially like the idea of waiting until the schedule comes out and researching the bands playing the gaps between my "must sees." but then how will i choose between a current "like to see" and some new amazing band i discover!?!?!??!? sigh.
I am kind of nerdy about it. I make a schedule in Excel then always mark bands either must see, like to see, curious, and no interest. It works well, because if I amnot feeling something I just go to the next color.
i do this every year as well, but i go old school with it and use pen and paper instead of a spreadsheet. i do update my list about 4 or 5 times as i get bored over the five month stretch til roo, so maybe this year i'll put my completed list in a spreadsheet and print it out instead of hauling around a bunch of sheets of notebook paper
Post by Mr Blue Sky on Mar 22, 2010 8:55:39 GMT -5
Have a question for those with experience. If you plan ahead for an act that you REALLY want to see up close and show up for the act before them, is it fairly easy to get said spot up front or is it still a semi-crapshoot? I am speaking of course more about tent shows as opposed to the outdoor large stages....
Have a question for those with experience. If you plan ahead for an act that you REALLY want to see up close and show up for the act before them, is it fairly easy to get said spot up front or is it still a semi-crapshoot? I am speaking of course more about tent shows as opposed to the outdoor large stages....
I've never had a problem getting close to the stage in the tents. Just plan to stay through the act beforehand to ensure you get a good spot for the band/musician I want to see.
Post by Mr Blue Sky on Mar 22, 2010 9:07:07 GMT -5
I've never had a problem getting close to the stage in the tents. Just plan to stay through the act beforehand to ensure you get a good spot for the band/musician I want to see.
i say just listen to more music. listen to all the different styles of music, don't just focus on one. that way you will have many different options. you are bound to miss some you like, because it's just impossible to see it all. i have my whole weekend pretty much planned out as soon as the schedule comes out, sometimes even before then, since i keep up with the schedules. i always plan to see way more than i end up seeing. this is something i am going to work on personally this year. in 3 bonnaroo's i've never really watched a show in the cafes or sonic or solar stage and never checked out art of such n such or anything else like that. i go from show to show, all day from noon through late night and i hardly ever veer from my schedule. except to cut off stuff that i planned to check out at the smaller stages. this year i am going to try to follow my ears more. like last year, i walked by grizzly bear's set and thought they sounded really good, but i went on to what i had planned instead of staying to watch them. so i definitely think you should know the schedule and have a plan, but don't be afraid to have a change in plans.