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I agree with everybody else about the lunar stage, mud, potties, entrance line, stink of the festival. This is the second festival I have ever been to 1st at Roo, the other fest I was at was Coachella in April which was phenomenal the only issue with that one was the cost of food and water 9 or 10 bucks for burritos and 4 bucks per water. OK so the two main issues I had with Bonnaroo this year were #1 the tents:I found that the stages were set way to low, I couldn't see the act unless I got within the 1st 10 rows or so. At Coachella you could see the acts from any where around the tent now they weren't that high up but good enough so everybody could see them. I was completely and utterly disheartened that I couldn't see the act perform their music. #2 the layout of the grounds: the bottle neck after jay-z was unforgettable!! absolutely terrible. after the Gorillaz and Jay at Coachella there was no hint of bottle neck or congestion. they really could open up centeroo and not have to put a barrier between what and which stages spread them out a little more and face them opening away from each other. In my humble inexperienced opinion bonnaroo has a lot to learn from coachella about logistics. one final thing lack of shade is a sin, I don't know the circumstances of the one guy's death due to the heat, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had an hour wait at a water station before giving up on getting any of the water.
Post by nodepression on Jul 5, 2010 9:09:00 GMT -5
I'm not sure about Jay at Coach because I was somewhere else, but Gorillaz had a pretty terrible bottleneck after their show because everybody was trying to get out of the fest at once.
Not diminishing the fact that there was a terrible one at Bonnaroo after Jay, there was, but you're just making stuff up.
I don't know if you can compare the crowd after headliners at Coachella vs Bonnaroo since Coachella pretty much shuts down after the headliners. At Roo there is still a time crunch to get somewhere else. But, yeah, it sucked after Jay this year.
RVs -- why are there no RV hookups? Seriously. It would take minimal effort on the part of SF to basically rig the farm up so that RVs had power/water so that all that gas wouldn't be burned -- it would really make things a lot better in the RV areas, and a hell of a lot greener.
Post by LoveLuckLaughter on Jul 6, 2010 3:18:24 GMT -5
I concur with all of the other concerns listed for sure. However, the area I see needing the most improvement is medical response. If I drop at a ball game, in public or any other event with a mass of people, I can expect that the first responders will generally have the ability to 1) place oxygen on me 2) start IV fluids immediately 3) put a monitor on me and jump me (defib) need be 4) take my vital signs 5) be prepared to place cooling agents on me if I am overheated.....etc.
I truly understand how difficult it is to get a medical cart into a festival like this and get someone out, thus the initial response needs to be a bit more sophisticated in my opinion. I think medical response was doing the best the could with what they had, so I think that they should have more available to them. And having an ACLS certified paramedic, RN, PA or MD and protocol orders could make the life or death difference for someone.
Not only did a tragedy occur, but I personally witnessed two other incidents that appeared to be either severe hyperthermia or substance related or seizure disorder (and I know there were far more) where the medical team was just ill prepared to provide any immediate care, and the cart took 20-30 minutes to make its way through the crowd to take the person to meet EMS.
Maybe I'm naive to think that it could be better than it is, but I can always hope.
We're all a mess of paradoxes. Believing in things we know can't be true. We walk around carrying feelings too complicated and contradictory to express. But when it all becomes too big, and words aren't enough to help get it all out, there's always music.
RVs -- why are there no RV hookups? Seriously. It would take minimal effort on the part of SF to basically rig the farm up so that RVs had power/water so that all that gas wouldn't be burned -- it would really make things a lot better in the RV areas, and a hell of a lot greener.
More shade in Centeroo.
Minimal effort? "Rig" up the farm? With what? Extension cords and garden hoses? Do you have any idea the amount of energy required to power several hundred RV's? As a engineer I can say that this kind of infrastructure upgrade would be a huge undertaking not to mention the use of their capital money. I'm sure they have done calculations with ROI and it is just not feasible at this time. I could see this added the future but at a premium cost. For example camping at a NASCAR race without utilities will cost around $150 for the weekend, with utilities is it $600.
This also applies to installing a system to provide enough pressure and volume of water.
I concur with all of the other concerns listed for sure. However, the area I see needing the most improvement is medical response. If I drop at a ball game, in public or any other event with a mass of people, I can expect that the first responders will generally have the ability to 1) place oxygen on me 2) start IV fluids immediately 3) put a monitor on me and jump me (defib) need be 4) take my vital signs 5) be prepared to place cooling agents on me if I am overheated.....etc.
I truly understand how difficult it is to get a medical cart into a festival like this and get someone out, thus the initial response needs to be a bit more sophisticated in my opinion. I think medical response was doing the best the could with what they had, so I think that they should have more available to them. And having an ACLS certified paramedic, RN, PA or MD and protocol orders could make the life or death difference for someone.
Not only did a tragedy occur, but I personally witnessed two other incidents that appeared to be either severe hyperthermia or substance related or seizure disorder (and I know there were far more) where the medical team was just ill prepared to provide any immediate care, and the cart took 20-30 minutes to make its way through the crowd to take the person to meet EMS.
Maybe I'm naive to think that it could be better than it is, but I can always hope.
This is only a guess, but it makes sense that having Bonnaroo and CMA on the same weekend again cuts the number of available first responders in half, doesn't it? Both festivals had 1 hyperthermia death each. At least Matt got some medical attention at all, the guy at CMA was working security and was found dead in an unmanned medical tent. If they were run on consecutive weekends, you could have an army of medical staff on-site at both events, and all those people making 7 or 8 days of shiny corporate overtime instead of just 3 or 4.
We're all a mess of paradoxes. Believing in things we know can't be true. We walk around carrying feelings too complicated and contradictory to express. But when it all becomes too big, and words aren't enough to help get it all out, there's always music.
I agree with everybody else about the lunar stage, mud, potties, entrance line, stink of the festival. This is the second festival I have ever been to 1st at Roo, the other fest I was at was Coachella in April which was phenomenal the only issue with that one was the cost of food and water 9 or 10 bucks for burritos and 4 bucks per water. OK so the two main issues I had with Bonnaroo this year were #1 the tents:I found that the stages were set way to low, I couldn't see the act unless I got within the 1st 10 rows or so. At Coachella you could see the acts from any where around the tent now they weren't that high up but good enough so everybody could see them. I was completely and utterly disheartened that I couldn't see the act perform their music. #2 the layout of the grounds: the bottle neck after jay-z was unforgettable!! absolutely terrible. after the Gorillaz and Jay at Coachella there was no hint of bottle neck or congestion. they really could open up centeroo and not have to put a barrier between what and which stages spread them out a little more and face them opening away from each other. In my humble inexperienced opinion bonnaroo has a lot to learn from coachella about logistics. one final thing lack of shade is a sin, I don't know the circumstances of the one guy's death due to the heat, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had an hour wait at a water station before giving up on getting any of the water.
YES YES YES Raise those fucking stages!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the stages were raised/we were lower it would of helped.
Also:
Everyone needs to becareful walking near the stages. People just randomly pass out if it wasn't for my forehead lamp I would of stepped on many roo'ers
Can we keep people from sitting on blankets and in chairs under the tents while bands are playing? I'm cool with it between sets but if you camp out four bands early, you need to be courteous to the artists and fellow rooers and don't take up three times as much space as you need.
1. The mud was not in anyway a nuisance. The mud in 2009 was a whole lot worse, and even then it wasn't a problem at all.
2. The traffic is not bad if you get lucky and know where the best place to enter into the campgrounds is.
3. The Lunar Stage isn't a problem if you are under the tent you are in. If you are way out of the tent laying in the grass, then yes the sound is going to bleed, that's common sense when it comes to concerts and big festivals in general.
4. As for the water stations, here's a solution. BRING YOUR OWN DAMN WATER. You can bring in unopened bottled water into Centeroo, no problem. You people gotta realize you are in Tennessee in the middle of June on a farm where shade is non-existent, and that investing 20 bucks on bottled water is worth it and not that hard.
All in all, do your homework when coming to Bonnaroo and prepare for the worst. Bonnaroo is survival of the fittest when it comes to festivals. As much effort you put in to keep cool and prepared, the more you are going to enjoy the festival. I know for some folks they are used to city fests or other camping fests, but Bonnaroo is another different type of monster of a fest.
If you fly in or shuttle in do you go by a store for any supplies? Can someone you camp with bring water for you? Everybody can bring your own water, See Burning Man, a week long, 7 day event in the middle of the Nevada desert on a playa. 100 miles from the nearest Walmart. A place where there is no natural shade, where there is no water, where nobody sells water, nobody sells food, the only thing you can buy is coffee and ice and those proceeds go towards just getting the coffee and ice to the playa, no profit is made from the selling of coffee and ice. It is society built on gifting. Where you bring your own supplies, your own shelter, your own food and your own water. Self reliance! Everybody can find a way to bring their own water.
That doesn't really count as bringing your own, does it? My water supply this year was stuck in mud on the other side of roo. So I relied on the water on site.
That doesn't really count as bringing your own, does it? My water supply this year was stuck in mud on the other side of roo. So I relied on the water on site.
And Burning Man sounds like the worst time ever.
Making arrangements for someone to help you get water to the farm does count as, "bringing your own water." Which you did, but it was stuck in the mud? Well fuck, unstuck it, find someone to help you carry it to your site? Be resourceful. What I am hearing is, yea I brought my own water, but I was too lazy to get it to my camp, so I left it there and now I will go on-line and support people who complain about there not being enough water at Bonnaroo. As for Burning Man being the worst time ever. You are clearly spoiled. Nothing wrong with that, but if you ever wanted a real experience if life, you can find that in Black Rock City, aka home of Burning Man. Burning Man is not for everyone and as I see it, it is not for you, but it could be. If you went to Burning Man you would love it and you would retract that statement the second you got back from the Playa. Do not knock it until you try it. Just because there is nothing for sell, does not mean there are not clubs, and no bars, and no dinners, and everything a regular city has to offer, like putt-putt golf, and amazing art, and a roller ring and public transportation, even the ballet. The thing is, it is just not for sell. People bring all of these things to the desert and gift them out, which means they are free! Bassnecter spinning for free. Fire shows for free. Massages for free. You do have to buy the ticket, and then you get to take the ride!
Well I guess I just made an ass-out-of myself. Not the first time, won't be the last.
Not everyone can bring in their own water (see: flying/shuttling in).
My point was if one put the effort into it, they can find a way to bring their own water to the farm. If 50,000 people can bring enough water to survive 7 days in the desert, when the nearest store is over 100 miles away, than people at Roo can find a way to bring enough water to the farm where the nearest store is 15 minutes away, and when I say store I mean Walmart type store. Did I jump the gun when I called you spoiled, probably, my bad. Enlighten me on why your water was stuck in the mud. I am sure things happen and some people have problems that they can not control and were unable to get there supplies to the Farm, if that is your case than again, I jumped the gun, my bad. Many people on here have complained about lack of water facilities at Roo, I think that is crazy. I saw more than enough opportunities to find water. I lumped you into that crowd, again my bad. Maybe you have been to Burning man, maybe you did not like it. I think any experience is what you make it. And all this complaining is insane. Do not just be a bystander, be a participant. Be the change you want to see. If we are gonna rely on others to supply food, water, and other facilities, then we are going to have to accept what they give us. If you do not want to pay $10 for a crappy buttrito, then bring the ingredients to make your own. If you do not want to wait 15 minutes to replenish your water supply, then bring your own. If you do not want to use a toilet covered in crap, than bring your..., wait those were pretty bad, for the price I should be able to use a decent port-a-john. What people should be complaining about is how dirty we were. Did you see what the What stage field looked like after a show? Fucking disgusting, people just throw their trash anywhere and everywhere. Or complain about the people who had to push their way to the front of the line when entering Centeroo. Complain about the wook who sold you bunk molly or stole some of your stuff. Complain about the drunk that knocked over your tent. When I think of Bonnaroo I see dollar signs. I see people thinking how can I make money off this, it makes me sick. There is a better way, I know this because I have experienced it. Sorry if I was wrong on my ass-suption. My bad. ***Scrog steps down from his soap box***
Post by jerrysalive on Jul 14, 2010 10:33:21 GMT -5
"4.) The Mud - It once again got in the way of the fun. I know there's going to be some mud, but a lot of it could have been prevented with some more gravel and sand. They're should have been way more gravel around the water stations."
I'm very sorry to hear that, the mud wasn't bad and the little bit that was there only enhanced my weekend, if you get dirty thhere's a giant mushroom spewing water into the air 24 hours a day, go take a shower there
aaaaand as far as this whole water dispute goes, this was my 3rd roo and i've never had a problem. as far as i'm concerned, and sorry if this souns mean, but anyone who doesn't bring a camelback or some sort of hydration pack, or at least have someone in your group with one is an idiot. i bought my knockoff camelback at target for $20, this was it's second roo and it fuckin rocks. we had 5 people in our group who would head into centeroo every day, 2 of us had camelbackish things, we'd both throw extra waters in the bags, and one guy would load his pockets up with water, the other 2 were pintsized girls whod bring a couple bottles each and mooch off us, none of us ever went without water and we drank a looooooot! saturday night we we're in centeroo from about halfway through stevie until 6 in the morning, we finally ran outta water around 4 am? and we were goin pretttty hard that night if you know what i mean, eventually we put $20 together bought 8 bottles of water and were good to go. point is people you need to plan ahead, i'm sure you saw after the first day that water could be hard to come by in centeroo so use your fuckin head, your grownups nobody came down there to babysit you
and as for the bottleneck leaving jayz, whenever theres a huge clusterfuck like there was last night i always just walk out under the arch, hit the portos right back of the ferris wheel entrance and come back right in with no line, it's very easy to become a lemming at festivals, you miss out on a lot whenyour half way up someones ass cuz you didnt take the time to think of an alternate route, just use your brains people it makes things a lot easier
Post by jerrysalive on Jul 14, 2010 10:37:36 GMT -5
"What people should be complaining about is how dirty we were. Did you see what the What stage field looked like after a show? quacking disgusting, people just throw their trash anywhere and everywhere. "
Post by pondo ROCKS on Jul 14, 2010 15:12:22 GMT -5
I truly hope one day that Bonnaroo will let you bring water bottles already opened in. I know they wanna make money but c'mon. Especially in the heat we had last year!
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I truly hope one day that Bonnaroo will let you bring water bottles already opened in. I know they wanna make money but c'mon. Especially in the heat we had last year!
You can bring already opened bottles of water in. I have every year since 04. They are supposed to have you dump them out and then refill them when you get inside to make sure that they're not filled with vodka and whatnot but I haven't seen them do that very much.
While their bottled water does cost money, I don't think $2.50 is prohibitive.
I really have no problem with their water policies.
That's not saying that I wouldn't also appreciate more water stations but that's more along the lines of never too much of a good thing than feeling that it was too hard to get the free water.
Post by crazykittensmile on Jul 14, 2010 20:18:22 GMT -5
Also, in general I don't really understand the whole turn this thread has taken.
It's gone from constructive suggestions to people belittling others (spoiled/whiners/idiots/etc...) and acting as if it is wrong minded to think there is any room for logistical improvements to be made to the festival at all? I don't understand how anyone would feel the need to be rude over such a benign topic.
To think that a festival that has to service around 90,000-100,000 people (that's including artists and staff) is going to provide all your water needs is absolutely absurd. Sorry to think we are belittling you, but water should be your NUMBER ONE priority next to your ticket. Sorry for sounding harsh, but this isn't a city that has a water service infrastructure. Its a festival on a farm. A festival on a farm in the middle of June in Tennessee. Its going to be really, really, REALLY hot and humid.
Could they have more water stations in Centeroo? Yes, they most certainly could. Should they? No, they shouldn't. It would cost money that could be spent on other things to make the festival better. Not to service attendees who weren't prepared for the festival. It really blows my mind to see so many people complain about the water "problem" at Bonnaroo.
For everyone complaining about it, instead of worrying about keeping your phone, ipod, ipad, or whatever "essential" electronic device charged, and "ready to go", how about you worry about keeping hydrated on your own terms, and not relying on a festival to suit your needs. Isn't the festival suiting your needs already by putting together a fantastic collection of art and music?
EDIT
Here's the one thing they can improve on. Which was very small and was not detrimental at all to my experience.
Keep the sponsored tents in Planet Roo and away from the music tents. I thought having cars outside the Fiesta Garage and right next to That Tent was such an eyesore. I liked how all the sponsored tents were out of the way and out of sight around the music tents, as they should be.
6. Wristbands The colors were great I liked the flat plastic piece. BUT Its hasn't even been 2 months since Roo and mine already came apart. It was showing signs of wear 1 week after. I complain only because I had a good streak going that I wanted to continue. My 08' and 09' bands are worn but still readable and don't fray at all. So much for all my years of work. And by work I mean having something attached to my body for extended periods of time.
“What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us to understand one another better, or will they deceive us and keep us apart?---Roger Waters
Post by mybadassusername on Aug 1, 2010 19:48:20 GMT -5
1st post... but 5th Bonnaroo. Customer and staff. I've also attended other festies. Here are my beefs:
1. I really wish they would scale it down at least 10-20,000 people. Then they could enlarge Centeroo, allowing them while making the trek from camp shorter. It eventually gets old making your way through 100,000 people(including staff). Tiptoeing thru the blankets and a never ending parade of people walking on all sides of you at every show. I know it's fun for a little but then it becomes a buzzkill. This would also ease the terrible process of getting in. I know they would never drop the amount of ticket sales, for financial reasons but man, it would be nice. Not that I don't love all the Roo people.... there are just too dam many of you.
On to more realistic goals.
2. RAISE ALL THE STAGES!!! Especially WHAT stage! But all of them! You have to be right in front to see any any of the bands. This is a no-brainer and makes me wonder why they aren't more worried about pleasing the customers. It would also ease the tension in the pit and directly up front. Many other festies do this and it is much appreciated. I love getting up front as much as the next guy..... but I don't wan to do it every time and would like to still be able to see the band somewhat.
3. I love the Lunar stage but it is a major problem w/ the other tents. IDK how.... but fix it.
4. Make the tents louder as well.
5. FIx the bottle neck between WHat and WHich. Another no-brainer. It's always been like this. It's always annoying. It's always muddy. It's probably a safety hazard. Just do a little rearranging w/ the vendors.... apply a permanent wood structure and BAM! People are happy.
6. The Mud. Believe me I have seen much worse at Roo. And it will always rain at some point during the weekend. But there has to be a way to fix the few bad spots around the tents! At least!
7. Don't make everyone walk all the way around the VIP areas. Bu*ild fences and add staff if you have too.
8. More water stations or something. I personally never use them myself and I think you should be prepared to hydrate yourself w/o counting on them to take care of you but..... sometimes shit happens... people lose all their money or some kids don't know what they are getting themselves into attending Roo... or they are just dumb. They need to take every precaution they can in that respect, or it could very well destroy Bonnaroo one day. Especially if you aren't going to allow people to bring in as many fluids as they see fit.
9. Undercover security. Before you flame me....ONLY for thieves, pickpockets and violence.!!! And nitrous. I know theft is a problem and it will undoubtedly grow every year as thieves learn what an easy target it is. Myself caught someone trying to steal my wallet and my wife's backpack this year. This is another thing that could possibly ruin Bonnaroo one day, if it is not addressed.
10. Relax gate security!!! We know nothing you are doing is to help protect us... only the revenue. I was post-staff so I didn't have to wait in lines this year but I have... and people should never have to miss music so security can make sure you didn't sneak a beer in.
11. More defecation receptacles. Especially around the tents. I hate waiting in line, missing music, to express my bowels.
12. Fans: Stop littering so much! Roo: Supply more trash cans near stages! Fans: Stop buying nitrous. I know it's kind of fun but its a blemish on the festie scene. Bring your own whipppets if you have to.
I guess that's about it. Other than that it was fun this year. I just want them to improve stuff so that it remains a festival I would like to attend in the future. Ya feel me? I'm just worried they are more concerned with maximizing profits than maximizing customer satisfaction. I am afraid they will just rely on having fresh new faces every year instead of wanting to ensure they have their repeat customers.