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I don't understand why people are being so critical of this guy's idea.. If you don't like, or don't think it will work, then don't do it? What he's doing isn't much different then what other people are doing on this thread as well.. just trying to work out rides. I don't think he's even remotely coming off as a d*ck. He's trying to answer people's questions respectfully and even said "not to sound arrogant or conceited.."
I think this is a really good idea, and that kinks could definitely be worked out in the upcoming months.. I mean he must be doing something right if people have been buying it. I'm definitely going to look into it. I love the idea of being able to suggest places to stop on the way there and back, and claiming time slots to be DJ.. sounds like a party
Question: I think I read that we would be arriving back in NY by 2am on monday.. Does this mean we would be missing Sunday acts? I think that would be an issues for some people or maybe I'm just speaking for myself.
Thanks to answer your questions. We will be there for the whole festival we will hopefully depart by Monday at 2 am but later if necessary. I want to be there for the whole festival too!
I think leaving Monday morning would be better. I've left a few times on Sunday night. First of all you have to pack up all your gear Sunday before the sun sets, and that's no fun. Then you would have to haul all of your gear to the bus from the camp after the last set. Also no fun.
I would just let the party play out over night and have everyone meet up the next day at like 9am.
I would also put together itineraries together for everyone to give to them before hand. Include a map of the festival that indicates the meeting points.
Also I would bring an actual message board. Like a spiral notebook or something. Hang it from your ez up. Since you are the main person everyone should be able to get a hold of you no matter what. Some times even if you have a fancy phone, phone calls and texts don't go through. If you have a notebook at the main camp site people can leave you messages and you can in turn leave them back.
We used to use this method all of the time when we would go to festivals before the time where people felt the need to be jacked in all of the time.
Again you should have a binder with copies of every ones photo and personal information. Black out the stuff that other people should see but the important stuff like name, picture, and phone number. Keep a hard copy of this because a number of things could happen to a phone.
I hope this helps you get better organized. But they are a few things that I've done in the past with festivals. I've been to a lot of them and these little extras have always made things easier. Especially with a large group of people that know each other.
Good to know thank you! So if the bus is meeting at 5:30pm. Realistically people will be ready to leave latest 6-6:30pm (nobody is ever on time). We would arrive around Noonish on Thursday latest? Did I calculate that right? It has been a long day, so sorry if I am off!
Carina your calculation is about right thats what Ive planned for arrival times but hopefully earlier... Id LOVE for everyone to be on time and you can bet that you will get status requests from me that day via text message.... We will use GroupMe to stay in touch and have a bus sms group chat, well at least thats how Ill be sending out SMS alerts on when/if the bus is coming back to roo so you can access the caboose, etc....
If we leave on time we can be in TN pretty early, we have two dedicated drivers so if we keep stops to a minimum we will get there in no time at all.
Also, 200 bucks for a bus ticket? That's literally almost as much as it would cost you to fly, only you have to be on a bus for 16 hours as opposed to a plane for 2.
My roundtrip to NYC and back next week thurs-mon was 203$ after fees. In all fairness the shuttle is 60, and it would be nice to be able to bring more stuff with you.
At $200 this is a pretty solid deal... 165 was an even better deal for those who got it. Plus we dont charge for extra luggage etc etc just asking everyone to be as compact as humanly possible and the idea someone had for bungee cording the gear to a rolling moving tool is a great f'ing idea which I am going to probably build a few of (from recycled materials around the tech/wood shop I belong to and bring it with us so people can use them if need be.
The way I did it was start out with the dolly, one with two wheels and the handle that is movable. Put the cooler on the bottom. On top of that I put my clothes bag. It was a medium sized duffel bag. Make sure the straps are free because I used the straps from all of my bags as anchors and ties. Next was my tent bag(3 person tent so it's small), and my folding canvas table(also really small, I got mine at Target in the camping isle) I also attached one of those wicker rolled up beach mat things(you can get them at any Big Lots or Dollar General, I used this to sit on when I was at camp in place of a chair). On top of that I had a smaller duffel bag that had my shoes, toiletries, and other odds and ends. I also had a small canvas bag with some dry snacks in it. I also attached one of those large golf umbrellas. I used it for shade while at camp.
All of these items were enough for me to be at the Bonnaroo sight for 10 days. In the cooler I had water, fruit salad, pasta salad, some lunch meat and cheese. For my dry snacks I had a big ziplock bag of homemade chex mix, some granola bars, and some cup o noodles. I also brought some tin foil so I could cook the cup o noodles with out a grill. I would have brought oatmeal to cook the same way but I was pregnant and oatmeal made me puke.
I would have to say the dimensions of the set up were 4 ft tall and maybe 2 1/2 feet wide. It was easy enough for me to walk for a few miles with it because I took the Grey Hound and had to walk from the volunteer check in to the site.
I would also suggest to bring a few communal EZ ups. Maybe the larger rectangle ones. That way you can have some shade that everybody on the bus can use, if you guys decide to camp with each other. The tent only section has no natural shade.
This whole thing just sounds like a disaster. You've never been to Roo, right? RIGHT????? Then you shouldn't be attempting this.
Also, it's pretty clear this was an amateur attempt at salesmanship from the start. You have absolutely no clue what you are doing.
Tickets are moving so please plan early.
Not really.
These tickets are mooooving only 6 left now at early bird pricing,
ZOMG I'd better get one!
I would advise anyone that is consider this to laugh there ass off and make better plans. The dude has had 2 weeks and he can't get anything strait. Do you really want to take a chance with him?
jniamehr, we have a lot of lurkers and first timers that read these boards. You'd better get a real itinerary up or just leave this tread as the failure it is. I'll be damned if I sit back and watch you mislead people into something you clearly can't provide.
Last Edit: Mar 23, 2011 4:01:53 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
I do have to agree that this plan while a really good idea is poorly executed. I think bonnaroo itself should add this to their many different travel plans. But they would also charge an arm and a leg for it. But if not Bonnaroo than at least someone who has the knowledge of the way the festival works. Not just some kid who thinks that the bus is just going to drive up and hang out in the festival for the weekend. It doesn't work that way.
If I remember correctly WEMF used to have shuttle buses that left from Nathan Phillips Sq in TO. The kids would pay a small amount, like 20$, but that was back in the stone ages of the 90's. The bus would drop them off at the gate, then at the end of the weekend it would pick them up again.
The idea works, it's been done before. But only with massive planning from people that know festivals and the way they work. Or from the actual production company.
But it would be really cool if there were inexpensive buses that left from major cities and carried kids right up to the gates of Bonnaroo. First of all if a lot of people actually took the bus that would cut down on the number of cars waiting in the line from hell. It would also cut down on the number of cars traveling, and that's something Bonnaroo always supports. I think one year they were upgrading people to VIP who participated in their car pooling thing. In theory they would have to make the Tent Only larger but that's no big deal.
Of course I'm speaking if this were done the right way from cities across the country, and obviously still wouldn't happen this year.
But I also don't want a bunch of kids have their weekend ruined because of poor planning.
I just like how this guy comes across like a pompous d*ckhole. Nobody here really cares about your teenage dreams and your internet startups. You come across like a hyperactive college freshman who think he's found a fresh angle nobody's ever thought of, yet you haven't even completely worked this plan out.
But please, continue to tell us all about your TOTES AWESOME accolades that you're piling up while you try to entice young girls on here to join you on the Rape Bus to Bonnaroo.
Wow, what a pompous dickhole.
Seriously buddy, if your not interested in this deal, then just GTFO. That was honestly one of the rudest posts I've ever seen on this board. You just called somebody a rapist on the internet, you feel big and bad now?
EDIT: I leave from Philadelphia on a Coach bus on Tueday night at 7-8 PM and arrive at noon on Wednesday. We have to be there a day early since we're staff, but that'll give you a good idea of how long it takes.
Thanks Arubabear, shotty salesmanship is what has 14 tickets sold in under 20 days? Yes I am a shotty salesman becauae i tell people the truth about the trip the whole way through!! People are gonna have a whole 4 day festival ***RUINED*** for having to walk 1-2 miles? If that is that big of an issue then let me know and I'll refund you're ticket now... So let's be clear about it since I'm a poor salesman and a poor planner apparently. Be ready to walk... Pack tight and bungee cord to a dolly, I've never been to bonnaroo (but am talking to people who do go), I started planning this about 24 days ago... Also am willing to bribe gatekeepers and staff to get as close as possible, pay for an rv permit, shuttle permit or anything else that bonnaroo offers to get close to the camp sites!
To recount without sounding arrogant or pompous or a dick hole or and asshole or a rapist or skeevy or whatever you can pull out of the trolltionary....... here is why I think I'm qualified to organize this trip... I've started successful businesses in under 30 days for verticals I've never been involved in... Am able to put my ego behind and my ethical standard forward and tell the truth and be open and honest regarding to the plans, the status of the plans, and planning progress... And I'm not a rapist to get the record straight lol...
Simple as that... If you are willing to take a chance and your weekend will not be ruined by having to GASP walk a few miles and break in your Birkenstocks, and are willing to be a beta tester for this bus project... Then join us! If you have experience than advise us, critique us, and tell us what we should consider and how we can make this an absolute success and a model trip for next year and if you're a troll please go away.
I think leaving Monday morning would be better. I've left a few times on Sunday night. First of all you have to pack up all your gear Sunday before the sun sets, and that's no fun. Then you would have to haul all of your gear to the bus from the camp after the last set. Also no fun.
I would just let the party play out over night and have everyone meet up the next day at like 9am.
I would also put together itineraries together for everyone to give to them before hand. Include a map of the festival that indicates the meeting points.
Also I would bring an actual message board. Like a spiral notebook or something. Hang it from your ez up. Since you are the main person everyone should be able to get a hold of you no matter what. Some times even if you have a fancy phone, phone calls and texts don't go through. If you have a notebook at the main camp site people can leave you messages and you can in turn leave them back.
We used to use this method all of the time when we would go to festivals before the time where people felt the need to be jacked in all of the time.
Again you should have a binder with copies of every ones photo and personal information. Black out the stuff that other people should see but the important stuff like name, picture, and phone number. Keep a hard copy of this because a number of things could happen to a phone.
I hope this helps you get better organized. But they are a few things that I've done in the past with festivals. I've been to a lot of them and these little extras have always made things easier. Especially with a large group of people that know each other.
Karen these are invaluable tips! Thank you so much! Keep em coming I will def rethink my position on relying on tech and back up to non tech too..
Also one more thing the bus will not be hanging out there!!! I never said it was hanging out there and the only thing I have paid for in the contract is for the bus to come back once a day near to the campgrounds as is allowed depending on the bonnaroo people.
And clearly you aren't a rapist (I hope) but the way you pop into any thread where a woman happens to be lamenting her lack of ride to Bonnaroo and tell them to come hop on your bus sounds extremely rapey.
The fact that you don't understand the difference between successfully starting your own company which merely organizes local laundromats into an online database and managing 50+ people's safe and hassle-free arrival to a major music festival you've never personally experiences speaks volumes.
Strap everything to a dolly! Where do people get these dollys from? It's only a couple miles! How do you expect people to lug tents, coolers, personal belongings, etc. 1-2 miles in 95 degree heat?
The fact is, you probably can't use the main entrance for the bus because they're concentrated on getting all the cars in, and they won't let a bus come in, drop people, and move off. So you're talking fighting all the traffic to find a side-street somewhere to let people off, and who know where that is?
It's arrogant because you think that doing something else successfully by the seat of your pants somehow means people should just fork over money to put their safe arrival and enjoyment in your hands. The fact that you haven't been before and have no idea what to expect only solidifies my opinion.
And clearly you aren't a rapist (I hope) but the way you pop into any thread where a woman happens to be lamenting her lack of ride to Bonnaroo and tell them to come hop on your bus sounds extremely rapey.
First of all go back and do some research and see how many guys I also pitched on the trip... Classic trollism to only tell half the story... Further solidifying my opinion that you are a forum troll...
Again I don't want to sound pompous and only sharing the following in response to you attacking my credentials to organize such a trip:
My business experience happens to be in business planning, fleet logistics and logistics software... I develop erp's (enterprise resource planners) route management systems, route optimization systems and inventory optimization systems for small and midsize companies and develop logistics from the farm to the market, but have also worked in trucking, taxi fleets, air conditioning supplies, auto parts etc. laundrylocal also happens to manage the logistics of customers orders well into the three digit range daily and manages the orders and problems that arise from time to time. Further I also manage to own and operate a gourmet grocery store with over 30 employees, a web/software development company with 12 staffed.... Manage clients in almost every timezone and you're telling me I can't organize a bus because I haven't been to a particular festival?
This bus will be run like any of those businesses where my customers satisfaction always comes first and before myself.
I think we will figure out just fine and have been open and honest about progress and challenges in each persons contact... Again I said I would build the dollies and let people use them.... I also said that I am investigating the shuttle pass, and am willing to pay for it.... Also willing to pay for passes for the drivers and rv pass just to get us into roo... I've said many times I'm waiting for the answer from the people over at roo...
jniamehr, I will offer a bit of advice (in the nicest way). Asking people to walk one or two miles is, in fact, a big deal. It's hot and humid here in Tennessee, even in the morning. The other thing is that it sounds like all of these people on your bus will have to set up in Tent Only, which is the part of the campgrounds closest to Centeroo. That's a pretty good walk from the entrance.
I have personally done tent only the past three years. We've been parked and then we hauled our stuff to TO. Every year, it's been about a 20 minute walk from our car to TO (which isn't very bad at all), but every year, it has been HELL lugging our stuff. There are people EVERYWHERE, and trying to get through with a dolly loaded down with crap is pretty rough. Make that double rough if there's mud. This is from personal experience.
So if you're having to drop people off a mile or two outside the grounds and then they have to walk another mile or so while IN the grounds, that can add up. My two cents: if your bus isn't allowed onto the grounds, I would say that you might need to rethink your logistics, come to the fest this year sans bus, and try the bus option for next year.
Thank you fore being polite when sharing your opinion if we ever meet you may notice I'm a wirey programmer not to interested in lugging anything around (one of the reasons laundrylocal.com got started) like I said earlier the goal is set to get inside and as close as possible at any cost... If people aren't willing to have the possibility of a haul I have no problem refunding their ticket 100% - I think that I've been pretty open about this and I am being fair aren't I? I am willing to walk and not drive...
Thank you though I do see the obstacle and the level of difficulty of walking to TO and solving this logistic problem will remain a priority.
Thank you though I do see the obstacle and the level of difficulty of walking to TO and solving this logistic problem will remain a priority.
From what I understand, your contract with the bus company is going to need to be tweaked. You're saying the plan is that they stop by once a day, more then likely, at an entrance point. Walking wise, that's not a very good option given that people are going to be in tent only.
If you buy a RV pass then your problem is that the bus can't leave the festival grounds until Friday at 9 pm without being denied reentry. After that time the rules are you can only reenter once. And relying on bribing people at the gate doesn't guarantee anything and shouldn't make people feel more secure in your venture.
I think you are seeing this now but you pretty much have to get an RV pass and renegotiate so that the bus stays on the festival grounds. I don't see how it would even be possible for the bus to reach and wait for everyone on Sunday. I'm pretty sure the people at Roo don't want you crowding the entrances either.
I'm sorry if I was being harsh earlier and I'm not rooting against you or anything. Once you experience how awful the traffic situation is and look back at the progression of this tread. You'll see where our doubts are coming from.
Last Edit: Mar 23, 2011 22:35:48 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
I'm going to have to be in the camp of waiting until you been there to do the bus thing.
Again not to be disrespectful but this isn't an internet company. This is a tiny farm town that for one week out of the year explodes with people and cars. While they have figured most things out and the town works incredibly well with the festival and most things run smoothly, it took a few years to figure it out. On Thursday through Sunday there is no way this bus is going to be able to drive around freely. There are very specific routes that the offical busses take and they are allowed to do so because Bonnaroo set it up that way. There are other entrances that you're not aware of but those are reserved for the people entering with Guest/VIP/TA tickets. I think the KOA uses that entrance as well. But not the general population. They are filtered in to a miles long line that you are pretty much put into from the highway. You can't really get out of line, and you can't bypass it. So your bus is going to wait in line for hours just to drop people off at the gate. Then it's a good 40 minute walk from that gate to the Tent Only.
You aren't going to be able to have a bus driving in and out of the camp grounds even with a RV pass. With a RV pass the bus will be parked in the RV camp. After all of the cars get in the roads they drove in on turn into sidewalks for the people. And I really don't get why you want to do this is the first place. The only time I ever left the grounds and came back was to work my shift. Once the festival starts there is really no reason to leave. Everything you need is right there.
That's not a bad price for a motel. How close is it to the festival?
It's the microtel it's about 40 minutes away. Yeah I'm starting to see that it might not be possible for the bus to come back. I'm going back and forth with the bonnaroo folks about the shuttle pass trying to sort it out... Almost there
I also have gotten some tips from different sources on back roads etc so trying to sort that as well apparently some will take you 5 minutes away from the entrance.
It's the microtel it's about 40 minutes away. Yeah I'm starting to see that it might not be possible for the bus to come back. I'm going back and forth with the bonnaroo folks about the shuttle pass trying to sort it out... Almost there
I also have gotten some tips from different sources on back roads etc so trying to sort that as well apparently some will take you 5 minutes away from the entrance.
One of our moderators lives right off the back of the farm, to get from the back entrance by his house to tent only is at least a one mile walk.
It's the microtel it's about 40 minutes away. Yeah I'm starting to see that it might not be possible for the bus to come back. I'm going back and forth with the bonnaroo folks about the shuttle pass trying to sort it out... Almost there
I also have gotten some tips from different sources on back roads etc so trying to sort that as well apparently some will take you 5 minutes away from the entrance.
The microtel??? As in it's located in Chattanooga or Nashville? Ha!!! So the crucial service provider for this trip has a 40 minute drive to his passengers. You want strangers to give you 200 hundred dollars and believe in you and that's what you are providing for the most important members of your venture.
You are just now starting to see how things might not be possible but you've been pimping your bus for around 2 weeks. You've been asking for people's trust and you can't back anything up. Absolutely nothing. It's all the people at Bonnaroo's fault for not getting back to you.
You are getting tips from sources???? HOLY GOD! Why haven't the people on this board ever given me the secret back roads. They must know them. Actually, why don't I know them???? I only live about 15 minutes away from where your bus drivers are possible staying.
Again: Lurkers and newbies. DO NOT give this guy a cent. I noticed that almost all of the people who have bought tickets have never been to Roo. Hope you guys make it OK.
Last Edit: Mar 25, 2011 3:17:53 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
I don't think they are really "sources", I think they are just random people posting on this message board.
I really hope that the people who have purchased a ticket don't get screwed. But the days are counting down and there doesn't seem to be much figured out.
I don't really believe the whole "trying to sort things out with the Bonnaroo people. Almost there." I highly doubt they have time to deal with some kid trying to drive a bus into Bonnaroo without following the entrance rules.
When I worked for a production company the last thing that anyone wanted to deal with close to an event was random requests.
If I was taking this bus, or considering taking the bus, I would think of it like the Greyhound. Expect to be dropped off quite a distance from the fest. The walk will be grueling, wiped me out for most of Thursday actually. However, this is cheaper than Greyhound, no transfers, probably better buses/drivers, looser rules, etc. So if your choosing between Greyhound or this, I would definitely go with this, even if the arrival plans are shotty. Can't be any worse than Greyhound
But if you're in TN and you miss a Greyhound you catch the next one.
I don't think they're going to be two of these busses.
I wouldn't trade dependability(sp) for price and no rules. I've sat on a Greyhound many times. I used to take one weekly. So I know they can be a pain, but at least they are reliable and will answer any question I have right away.
Please take the Greyhound if it's one of your choices.
Also just did a quick check and a Greyhound from NYC to Manchester is 174. Of course the price will vary from station to station and the date you buy your ticket will determine the price, but right now a round trip ticket from Penn Station to Manchester is 174.00.
Well I am probably biased after taking Greyhound from Philly last year. One bus driver would get us there late, we miss the connection, have to wait 4 hours, a bus driver was verbally attacking us passengers, telling us we can't talk because she has to read directions.. Then she got lost, threatened to kick anyone off the bus that challenged her, it took me 36 hours to get home. Honestly, the worst ride of my life, so that's why I rule out Greyhound personally.
I have also seen some horrible passengers that probably deserved to get kicked off a bus.
And taking a bus is just like flying, or driving. Sometimes things happen. Sometimes you miss a connecting flight, or bus. It happens. Like I said I've taken Greyhounds all over this country and Canada. The number of successful trips is way higher than the number of bad ones. But it does happen. I won't lie. The bus from Buffalo to Manchester is a little brutal. But I did it. Almost missed the bus in Nashville but it all worked out.
I wouldn't want to take a bus again and I think I've told other people to avoid it if you can. But I would still put my faith and money in the Greyhound company long before I would in this kid.
Lol.... Its not a coop and it's not all that different it's just a level of rigorous work ethic and organization. You're right I don't get it....
Now for important developments:
Just to keep everyone updated! I'm now talking to Roo director of operations, hashing out the details and getting approval for all the nay Sayers you can almost find another forum to troll.
Karen and Juggs, when this trip goes excellent and the forum members come back will you be sure to send me an apology letter or some chocolate covered strawberries from my friends over at berries.com please?
to answer your questions. We will be there for the whole festival we will hopefully depart by Monday at 2 am but later if necessary. I want to be there for the whole festival too!
