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!!
My input after 40 years, 2 Roos, and reading through many threads:
PEOPLE make Bonnaroo great. Be cheerful, considerate, and generous (when you can) and you will be part of what makes it great. You will remember those people more than you will remember the band you liked. Imagine that multiplied by 80,000 people.
If you insist on using Mind-Altering Substances: Think of the last time you overdid it, and plan for LESS THAN THAT. This is definitely a place where more is not always better. The discomfort of overdoing it at Roo can be intensified by horrible weather, getting lost in the middle of 30,000 tents, and the misery of missing everything you came to see.
If this is your first big party and plan on getting trashed daily, you are flirting with a truly unpleasant disaster.
Rain And Mud Happen. Sometimes cold rain. Figure out footwear and raingear. 1 pair of footwear for cold rain, and 1 for humid heat is a good guideline.
Heat kills. Decide how you will stay hydrated, shaded, sunblocked, sheltered, and cool before you show up for a series of long 100 degree days. And don’t imagine large quantities of alcohol are part of that plan. There is a reason the party happens at night. Using anything that can incapacitate you or make you forget to cool off is a bad idea in the heat of the day.
Car Searches: The cops “randomly” search a small sample of vehicles. I guess 1 out of 20-40 vehicles? Mostly this is to DETER ppl from bringing anything illegal in. They TYPICALLY take out everything in your vehicle and do a thorough search throughout. This is bad if you are into trafficking stuff. The major tip if you don’t want that kinda delay: look like a clean-cut dweeb, and wash your vehicle. If you like latex gloves and lube, make sure you show all your tats, piercings, and rocker attire at the gate. And try to hide your face from the troopers with your trendy Anarchy or Satanist hat.
a lot of these are good for non-noobs too, to better their bonnaroo stay
Totally. My first roo was 2009, but I'm going back this year. I still find myself reading and re-reading all the great info on this thing. Some Roo-ers have been going for all nine years, and who am I to argue with all that wisdom?
The one piece of advice I'll add is to plan when you will sleep. I think a lot of people (including myself) didn't plan on getting so exhausted by the sun and walking and partying and ended up sleeping through some sets I really wanted to see. It didn't matter in the end, but making a schedule where you sleep every 12-14 hours or so wouldn't be a bad idea.
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.
Post by iowaherkeye on Apr 24, 2011 21:05:43 GMT -5
very good tips here. My first roo was last year, but, even though I camp as often as I can, there are still some things that I'm forgetting in/for the festival atmosphere. Thanks.
My input after 40 years, 2 Roos, and reading through many threads:
PEOPLE make Bonnaroo great. Be cheerful, considerate, and generous (when you can) and you will be part of what makes it great. You will remember those people more than you will remember the band you liked. Imagine that multiplied by 80,000 people.
If you insist on using Mind-Altering Substances: Think of the last time you overdid it, and plan for LESS THAN THAT. This is definitely a place where more is not always better. The discomfort of overdoing it at Roo can be intensified by horrible weather, getting lost in the middle of 30,000 tents, and the misery of missing everything you came to see.
If this is your first big party and plan on getting trashed daily, you are flirting with a truly unpleasant disaster.
Rain And Mud Happen. Sometimes cold rain. Figure out footwear and raingear. 1 pair of footwear for cold rain, and 1 for humid heat is a good guideline.
Heat kills. Decide how you will stay hydrated, shaded, sunblocked, sheltered, and cool before you show up for a series of long 100 degree days. And don’t imagine large quantities of alcohol are part of that plan. There is a reason the party happens at night. Using anything that can incapacitate you or make you forget to cool off is a bad idea in the heat of the day.
Car Searches: The cops “randomly” search a small sample of vehicles. I guess 1 out of 20-40 vehicles? Mostly this is to DETER ppl from bringing anything illegal in. They TYPICALLY take out everything in your vehicle and do a thorough search throughout. This is bad if you are into trafficking stuff. The major tip if you don’t want that kinda delay: look like a clean-cut dweeb, and wash your vehicle. If you like latex gloves and lube, make sure you show all your tats, piercings, and rocker attire at the gate. And try to hide your face from the troopers with your trendy Anarchy or Satanist hat.
If you would stop and notice that we number every day But allow the many moments left uncounted slip away You don't have to count them, just enjoy them one by one Then things would take a different hue and sparkle in the sun - Phish
Post by mscrystalann on May 23, 2011 8:58:43 GMT -5
Thank you so much for the great compilation~ This is our first Roo and I'm excited and nervous all at the same time...just wanna prepare enough so I don' t have to worry about silly things while I am there.
If this is your first time going to Bonnaroo get ready for an adventure. I've had an amazing time last few years, and wrote up a survival guide for the newbie solo-rooer. If you need info on what goes on or what to bring, check out The Bonnaroo Blog-a-Roo:
Post by thoughtartist on May 12, 2012 11:05:58 GMT -5
Quick essentials guide for people that don't like reading much: Get in shape!!!!!!!! and bring a canopy!!!!!!! (absolute must), tent, lots of water, salty food (for sodium loss during sweating), earplugs, pants for nighttime (it gets cold), earplugs for sleeping, extra shoes, poncho or rainjacket, paper towels, tissue, rag, bar of soap, sunglasses, suncream.
Post by Dave Maynar on Jan 27, 2013 13:50:47 GMT -5
Some of the VIP perks are really great (i.e. bathrooms, separate entrance line, closer camping) but it does cost a good bit more. In my opinion, it comes down to if you think the perks are worth the cost.
I am a first timer. Do you think it's better to go VIP or GA?
I think everyone should go GA their first time. You will feel so accomplished after making it through the weekend and will appreciate the VIP perks so much more on your 2nd trip to the farm.
Post by rideincircles on Jan 23, 2017 20:20:37 GMT -5
I will add my Ultimate Supply List to this thread. I added a long update about the importance of hearing protection. I am now retired from music festivals from permanent tinnitus with mild hyperacusis. I don't wish this on anyone.
Aside from that, my list covers most of the items you could ever need out there.
