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 randomhero4 on Jun 14, 2010 12:07:08 GMT -5
From a volunteers standpoint:
For the past 3 years I've volunteered w/ Bonnaroo and had AMAZING experiences. This year, however....was much different. At first I thought maybe I just got off the wrong foot, when I arrived for check-in. After I waited 2 hours to get to the table - My girlfriend and I wern't in the system! There were a few others in our boat. I finally got my wristband after 4 people and apparently 4 different lists in their "system". My girlfriend hadn't recieved hers, and I went to get our car keys from her when 2 "security women" started yelling in my ear about getting out of the building if I was done, and how my girlfriend needed to "REMAIN IN HER LINE!!!" I understand the security has a job to do -but come on - CAR KEYS....we clearly stated I just needed the keys.
So I get my car keys - my card and wristband and head outside. 20 minutes later, the girlfriend comes out and says they're closing the campgrounds soon and they suggested I leave, and she just "find a ride" to the campsite when they were finished finding her in the system. ...so I left. Made it to the campsite only to be treated like a scumbag. They pulled a knife out of an open bag and started questioning me immedietly. What else I had in the car, why I needed it, ect. they took the knife....a damn knife at a campground. Then they tore 70% of EVERYTHING out of its bags, ect. and just left-taking my knife. I tried asking why I wasn't allowed it, and he said it was a weapon. What was I supposed to do, cut rope with my rugges good looks? Not happening. About 3 hours later my girlfriend showed up, she had to hitch hike with some other volunteers, but I couldn't believe that was their advice. They didn't offer her a shuttle or even shelter from the rain! Once she was done she was kicked out, no coat, parka, ect. she had nothing with her.
My volunteering? A joke. The first day I showed up, waited for 45 minutes.....hopped on a golf cart, drove around for half an hour, they dropped me back off and said I was done. the second day was about the same.....showed up to work, waited 2 hours in the sun, they said they had nothing for me to do. I'm not complaining about the not working -but I feel bad when my neighbor has 2 14 hour shifts, and I basically got a tan for a few hours.
My next problem was with those damn tokens....what good are those? I got into arguments with at least 5 vendors(which were on the "vendor approved" list about tokens). NO ONE wanted those things, except a nice Louisianna shaved ice vendor....which is where we ended up using them all (minus one). No one seemed to have any clue as to their value, IF they had even heard of them. It ranged from someone trying to get 9 tokens for a $9 burrito (we were issued 4/person for those who wern't volunteering) to getting 2 slices at Spicey Pie for 1 token. They said we could use them for the showers, and they would NOT accept them unless I really argued with them.
The crowd...... I've never been asked by so many 12-16 year olds if I knew where to buy acid. I have no problem with people using whatever they want, as long as you arn't trippin and stumbling onto my tent then sure...I've done it before as well. Have a blast....but don't walk into my tent space and just ask me for acid. Why would I have acid? I don't look like I have/ am on/ am selling acid.... AT ALL. When The Gossip finished and She& Him was up next, we were BUM RUSHED by about 70 tween/teens trying to get up close to stage. Literally as I turned around, moments after Gossip finished their set there were more people shoving themselves into the front than trying to get away from it. That kind of ties into the next point I had...overcrowding. I had to get up at 5 AM just to get a spot less than half a mile away for Conan ( SO worth it though :] ) But the smallest bands were PACKING stages, even at 1-2 oclock in the afternoon, if you wernt there an hour ahead of time, you had no chance of seeing the band. Weezer, She & Him, Norah Jones.... I wasn't able to even get close to these guys and I was pretty excited for all 3.
LITTERING!!! I saw so many peolpe littering when there was an abundence of empty garbage cans. In my opinion this also has to do with the crowd that Bonnaroo is now bringing in. When I went to go wait in line for Conan - I walked through the farm not to see grass, passed out partiers, and the sunrise..... but to see an ocean of blue and red smashed plastic cups, empty water bottles, and trash just strewn about. And the cigarette butts EVERYWHERES on the ground. I understand there will be garbage regardless of who goes - its inevitable - but it just seems like peolpe didnt care. I walked through campsites to see empty beer cans, dorito bags blowing in the wind, empty meat packages and plenty of other garbage just strewn about campsites and fields....not in bags, or contained at all.
Overall I still had some fun - I met some VERY friendly, very cool people, saw some amazing bands put on some fantastic shows, and got a nice tan I just don't think I'll be going back next year.
I did have one question which has yet to be answered.....the helicopters. Has there always been a 24/7 helicopter patrol, or am I just noticing it this year? It seem like everytime I looked up, I could spot that one police chopper. What is that choppers job?It got VERY low at times....just curious what Big Brother was looking for! I'm interested in hearing other volunteers exp. with volunteering.....
Post by autumnsredtears on Jun 14, 2010 12:38:31 GMT -5
Roo is not half of what it once was. This was only my third year, and even so, it's shit now. I'll never be back.... It sucks, but there's so many other, better festivals out there.
Post by richarddawkins on Jun 14, 2010 13:00:45 GMT -5
I had a great time this year, but the scene is starting to suck. Thursday night the campgrounds were swarming with pigs, and fucking everyone was littering. There are garbage cans about every fifty feet yet people are still leaving crap on the ground. I also love these kids that show up at the live shows ten minutes after the set starts and just push their way to the front. Assholes.
Post by HighlySuspicious on Jun 14, 2010 14:23:49 GMT -5
Seemed to be a lot more fake Leno going around than the last few years and people getting robbed/tents slashed was a major concern in my camping area. Still had a blast though and will be back.
I had a great time this year, but the scene is starting to suck. Thursday night the campgrounds were swarming with pigs, and quacking everyone was littering. There are garbage cans about every fifty feet yet people are still leaving crap on the ground. I also love these kids that show up at the live shows ten minutes after the set starts and just push their way to the front. smurfs.
agreed on every point. this is what happens over time though. it's inevitable. i can't think of a way where it wouldn't eventually get to this point....especially when you have two top 40 acts headlining your fest. this is the crowd you draw. i will prob. still go back next year, but i can't see it being tolerable past then.
Post by instantmartian on Jun 14, 2010 17:56:18 GMT -5
I had a great time, but I could not believe the amount of trash being thrown on the ground. This is only the second Roo I've been to, but it seems like the litter was way worse than it was last year.
Post by bamadancer on Jun 14, 2010 18:17:06 GMT -5
I am not surprised about your girlfriend's experience. Last year, when we showed up to check-in at volunteer check-in, we waited in line several hours, only to be told that they had run out of wristbands and that check-in was closed for the night, to come back at 8 AM. When we asked where we were supposed to sleep they told us, "I dunno. The walmart parking lot is open"...so myself, my boyfriend and many other volunteers slept in the walmart parking lot in our cars. I have a back injury, it's really hard for me to sleep in areas like that and I was in pain all night due to it.
The next morning, we literally waited...I think it was 6 hours in line to get our wristbands?
So yeah, volunteering has always been a clusterfuck. After our experience last year we decided we would never volunteer again.
This is what you should do instead of volunteering: get a part time job at home. On the weekends. Bus tables for a few months and you'll have MORE than enough money to a) pay for Bonnaroo tickets b) all the corn you want c) all the food you want d) all the fun you want. THEN you get to quit that crappy job.
For me, Bonnaroo is a vacation and I'll be damned if I work on my vacation.
I volunteered at Bonnaroo this year. Never, ever again. My boyfriend and I waited hours outside in the POURING rain to check in, after waiting a good 3 hours to get my parking pass. We were told to stick around for a meeting that never happened. It was absolutely miserable, and I got a little sick that night.
Thursday I worked at the Fuse Tent charging cell phones. I had a pretty good time. Some of the Fuse Staff were mean, but I enjoyed meeting people.
Friday they placed me in silent auction. I didn't mind helping this lady from somewhere in Europe run around doing her errands. But she eventually had me doing a job that a PAID staff member was supposed to do. I ran around for hours helping her out. My shift was supposed to be over around 8, and at 10 I was still working. They were no where done with me, and they had already signed our work cards at 9pm, so who knows if those extra hours were going to be counted. I'll be damned if I missed the Flaming Lips for this piece of crap auction. So I quit. I had already missed so many acts because of work, and I was completely disrespected. All my bosses praised me for being such a hard worker, and took advantage of that. If you're there to party all weekend and not listen to music, then volunteer. But don't risk it if you're there to see bands.
I also love these kids that show up at the live shows ten minutes after the set starts and just push their way to the front. smurfs.
This was pissing me off. We got to the sets early, found our spots and waited for the show to start. 10 minutes after it starts the wedgers come in kicking and stepping on everyone to get close... 15 minutes later those same kids were pushing to get back out when they decided they didn't like the music. My legs are bruised from being kicked by these little snots.
Just out of curiosity, why do people volunteer? Didn't Bonnaroo make $12 mil last year? I would understand if it was non-profit and every year it was at risk of not getting good bands or something, but I don't think that's the case. What is the attraction for volunteering, it doesn't sound very appealing to me. I'm not trying to bash any volunteers, just wondering what the perks are.
For me, Bonnaroo is a vacation and I'll be damned if I work on my vacation.
WORD.
and on the notes of littering, I KNEW things would be bad when on Thursday night/Friday early early morn it was already a minefield in Centeroo. Dude, the hardcore bands didn't come up yet ya know?
I usually try to do my part and get obnoxious, vocal about how much litter is around bc seriously guys, its not hard to separate trash from recycling or hold your bottle for 20 mins of a show. seriously not that difficult dude.
*Next year you might see me around as a guy with a garbage bag, grabbin up recycling the lack of consideration esp in Centeroo is starting to get on my Bonna-nerves
Yeah, the littering was horrible this year. Even people in my group, I saw them littering even before the festival, throwing empty water bottles onto the highway. I yelled at them, but they just said "sorry, its a boston thing i guess" and blew it off with a whatever kind of attitude. I made sure I kept every water bottle to reuse or recycle later, and picked up some trash here and there. C'mon people, its really not hard. Stop being lazy!!!
Post by tangerinetrees on Jun 17, 2010 7:08:01 GMT -5
We met a volunteer -Angela- she said the program was really relaxed. She couldn't do one of her shifts because she overslept and they just assigned her to 'the beach' she was also volunteering at the comedy tent. She told me that she works for some company and gets in a lot of festivals for free by volunteering.
jakebrick- Volunteering is a free ticket, that's the only reason. My boyfriend is jobless and couldn't afford the $275+ so we both volunteered.
I had a pretty similar situation to the OP. Waited in lines all day Wednesday in heat and rain with my boyfriend. Before the festival I emailed several people making sure my bf and I would be working the same shifts as we were going alone and were a little anxious about being alone. All these people said yes, we would be placed together. Of course we get our schedules Wednesday night and had totally opposing shifts. After trying to switch with various people, we decided to just forfeit our deposit and enjoy ourselves. Hey, we got some meal tokens and a shirt out of the whole ordeal.
We just received emails from WET telling us our deposits would be forfeited unless we could give reports of all our shifts (including department, start and end time, and supervisor name). If any nice and willing volunteers would like to share that info with me so I can try and get my money back it would be greatly appreciated!
Yeah, the littering was horrible this year. Even people in my group, I saw them littering even before the festival, throwing empty water bottles onto the highway. I yelled at them, but they just said "sorry, its a boston thing i guess" and blew it off with a whatever kind of attitude.
I just don't think I'll be going back next year. 
