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I was camped out in camp Stewie Griffin and on several occasions a couple of neighbors reported stuff missing. One friend had her purse stolen and other neighbors had a bunch of random things stolen.
We are pretty sure it was the guys selling t shirts in the campgrounds. We had about 6 t shirt sellers just sitting at somebodys camp when they were gone and it seemed they always walked around 5 or 6 camps near us. Did anybody else experience shady t shirt sellers?
My girlfriend and I also ran into "security" in Centeroo. They didn't have any shirt or any credentials saying they were security but they were pretty hell bent on taking paraphernalia from a group infront of us at Gogol Bordello. The group not wanting to get in any types of trouble gave up what the guys asked. Did anybody else see this happen or know if there is actually plain clothed security in Centeroo?
I saw a couple guys I thought might have been plain clothes security over the course of the weekend. One guy specifically in the Robert Plant left side pit that I think was looking for a guy who had an SLR camera. He spent the entire time looking around trying to find somebody without paying attention to the music. So it might be possible.
Post by shingboslice on Jun 14, 2011 16:50:14 GMT -5
I got shook down by a staff member patting people down at centeroo entrance at 2am friday night. Walked up, put his hand in my pocket, and i forgot i had my corn in there. i pulled his hand out and walked away. 50 yards back to my campsite to stash my corn i hear where is it? where is it? i tell the urban kid with flat bill yankees cap on that i dont know what he is talking about. He threatened getting me arrested, i called bluff. He then asked if I wanted to get in i would have to cut a deal. i said what kind of deal, he said a .5 corn to get me in, i said ok gave him .2 corn and paid the tax, kinda had to pay to get in since it was only 2 guys checking to get in. saw an amazing Ratatat show. I pointed him out to my friend on our way out and he later saw the same guy with another shady looking dude scouring the black keys audience not enjoying the show, i assume he was looking for kids to scare into giving up what they had.
Post by rideincircles on Jun 14, 2011 16:57:17 GMT -5
I was bribed at the centeroo gate for $20 during an empty line complete search. I paid it to not deal with any hassle. I usually pick my gate attendants, but was called over at the time. The arch seemed way more thorough for searches than the side entrance in that regard. I did not care for the herding lanes. Took way too much time and ate up arch space.
I was camped in Pod 11 (Stewie Griffin or Joe what his face?) and our neighbs from Carolina had their tent ransacked and a few things stolen. It sure was a crappy way to wake up on Sunday before you go. They seemed like great kids too. I hope it didnt wreck their experience........Just goes to show that you should lock all valuables up in your car before leaving your site. I am also shocked to hear that some of you put up with the bribery from the "volunteer" security. Get a pair and tell them wear to go ...or simply go to the other entrances......
We saw a security guard try to take a kid's corn. The kid put up a fight and a boss-type security guard was called over. Boss-type guy yells at the douch-y guy that he cannot take people's personal property, gave the kid his corn back and essentially told him to go use the other entrance. Stand-up for yourselves people!
Bonnaroo uses a company called AXIS. They have for as long as I can remember.
They are clearly marked with t-shirts and neck things that have information on it.
Don't ever trust or give anything to anyone that doesn't have the proper credentials.
This is 100% correct.
If someone approaches you in plain clothes, ask to see a badge because only a cop would do something like that. All security must be wearing their shirts, as well as their staff wristbands and/or lanyard. If they don't have a radio, they are a nobody. If they have a radio, they are most likely a supervisor.
As for people at the gate asking for bribes, please, PLEASE go to the nearest person with the same color t-shirt that also has a radio (supervisor) and report them. That is complete bullshit, and those people should not be doing that.
EDIT: I'm sure AXIS was there performing security, but there is definitely another company that does security, at least one. FESS is another one that I believe had "safety" shirts this year. AXIS has been there the last five years I have been though.
some guy lifted up my shirt out of no where at the entry search.... that's the only thing he did. i'm a guy and i felt violated. didnt' have time to suck in my fat
If someone approaches you in plain clothes, ask to see a badge because only a cop would do something like that. All security must be wearing their shirts, as well as their staff wristbands and/or lanyard. If they don't have a radio, they are a nobody. If they have a radio, they are most likely a supervisor.
As for people at the gate asking for bribes, please, PLEASE go to the nearest person with the same color t-shirt that also has a radio (supervisor) and report them. That is complete bullshit, and those people should not be doing that.
EDIT: I'm sure AXIS was there performing security, but there is definitely another company that does security, at least one. FESS is another one that I believe had "safety" shirts this year. AXIS has been there the last five years I have been though.
Lanyard...that's the word I couldn't remember. On it is their name or id number. If they are doing something that isn't right all you have to do is take down that number and give it to the supervisor. It's another option you have to report someone.
I know AXIS were all of the pink and yellow shirts. I think black too.
I was camped out in camp Stewie Griffin and on several occasions a couple of neighbors reported stuff missing. One friend had her purse stolen and other neighbors had a bunch of random things stolen.
We are pretty sure it was the guys selling t shirts in the campgrounds. We had about 6 t shirt sellers just sitting at somebodys camp when they were gone and it seemed they always walked around 5 or 6 camps near us. Did anybody else experience shady t shirt sellers?
My girlfriend and I also ran into "security" in Centeroo. They didn't have any shirt or any credentials saying they were security but they were pretty hell bent on taking paraphernalia from a group infront of us at Gogol Bordello. The group not wanting to get in any types of trouble gave up what the guys asked. Did anybody else see this happen or know if there is actually plain clothed security in Centeroo?
I have friends who were up in Benjamin Linus (near Stewie) that had their bags and ipods stolen from their tent. They needed to pay $500 to have a new car key cut and spent part of the day filing a police report! It was his first roo since 09 and her first ever!
On the other hand, my crew and i once again had an amazing time with no shadyness (other than getting bunk :. I do think I remember seeing more people with green "roo x security" shirts in the campgrounds this year than years past, so maybe they were all over ???
My girlfriend and I also ran into "security" in Centeroo. They didn't have any shirt or any credentials saying they were security but they were pretty hell bent on taking paraphernalia from a group infront of us at Gogol Bordello. The group not wanting to get in any types of trouble gave up what the guys asked. Did anybody else see this happen or know if there is actually plain clothed security in Centeroo?
We saw this happen, there were four young ladies getting ready to enjoy their corn when a red-bearded, pink shirted security guy walks up and stands 10 feet behind them. A few moments later 3 armed sherriffs ( wearing sherrifs tee shirts hats and loaded belts) walk up with flashlights and take their corn. I don't believe they wrote them a citation, I guess they were not holding much, but they were asked to leave centeroo and they girls looked completely bummed!
Post by plasticpepper on Jun 14, 2011 19:08:32 GMT -5
We spoke with a guy who as far as I remember was in plain clothes who claimed to be "safety/security" or something like that. We were trying to find someone who could look after a guy who was passed out on the ground - the guy was breathing and seemed like he would probably be just fine, but we didn't want to just walk away and were trying to figure out who to alert. We asked some of the Trash Talkers what to do and a girl who was with them came to help us a bit - she didn't seem to really know what to do but was trying to help us locate a med tent or something on the map and she offered to call someone on the radio if that's what we wanted. While we were talking to her there was another guy hanging around and she asked him if he was with the passed-out guy, and he said "no, I just work here." She said "oh, you work here? Where?" And he said something about "safety/security." So she asked if he was looking after the guy and he seemed sort of caught off-guard and said that he had checked that the guy was breathing. Pretty sure he was actually just taking pictures of the guy. Not really sure what all that was about, but that was my experience with a plain-clothes guy claiming to be security of some sort. And also my experience with just how difficult it is to get help for someone who might need it. I guess that girl would have radioed for someone to come golf-cart the guy away if we asked her to, but that wasn't really necessary - he looked like he was gonna be just fine, we just kinda wanted someone more reliable than us to check him out and confirm that.
Post by 10goldbees on Jun 14, 2011 19:15:29 GMT -5
my camp and everyone around us was robbed. hard.
between my group we had at least 800 dollars cash, a $1500 camera, a $300 camera, credit cards, booze, corn and various other necessities you would find in purses and backpacks. it happened thursday night while we were out at the night time sets.
they actually popped the doors open on all of our cars, presumably using the locksmith method. did the same thing to everyone (and i mean EVERYONE) around us.
luckily we had all spread our stuff out and/or hidden it really well so it didnt put that big of a dent in the fest experience (except for the cameras). it was just really disappointing though because it's awful to see people completely miss the point of wonderful places/environments like bonnaroo.
fortunately we had a really great group of people and we all decided to not dwell on the experience. after that we had a freaking GREAT roo.
Post by onecrazylove on Jun 14, 2011 22:09:35 GMT -5
The same thing happened to my brother and my friend. These people claiming to be Bonnarooo Security took $285 dollars and a bunch of corn. I think it is ridiculous that people have to turn to theft at Bonnaroo of all places.
We saw a security guard try to take a kid's corn. The kid put up a fight and a boss-type security guard was called over. Boss-type guy yells at the douch-y guy that he cannot take people's personal property, gave the kid his corn back and essentially told him to go use the other entrance. Stand-up for yourselves people!
Post by FatKeystone on Jun 15, 2011 1:42:17 GMT -5
During WSP's set, a t shirt vendor offered me two shirts for twenty bucks so I took the deal, thinking I would be able to give the second shirt away to somebody. As I was walking through Centeroo on the way back to my campsite, I half-kidding shouted "Bonnaroo shirt 5 bucks." Out of nowhere some piece of Leno with dreads told me I had to give him both shirts because I was illegally vending and I could go to jail if I didn't comply, so of course I gave in. This jerkstore did have a lanyard but I didn't see a radio or anything else indicating he had any type of authority but I didn't want to deal with cops so I didn't put up too much of a fight. I was so mad at first but now I kind of laugh about it because it was just so ridiculous.
Post by drivewayfriedeggs on Jun 15, 2011 3:27:36 GMT -5
Before Black Joe Lewis I was sitting with my back to the stage barricade, sharing some corn with a guy I had met there. I had it up to my mouth and suddenly a hand reached down, grabbed it, SHOVED IT HARD INTO MY TEETH (painful), took it away, and said, "No glass in the park." I didn't even see the douchebag's face.
People all around us were corning, and he only took mine (which wasn't mine; it was my new friend's, which made me feel awful). I get that it's illegal, but it's fucking Bonnaroo. This was my third and I'd never seen anything like that.
This year sucked for other reasons too. I'm not going back, which is sad because up until this year I would have told you Bonnaroo was my favorite place in the world.
EDIT: I'm sure AXIS was there performing security, but there is definitely another company that does security, at least one. FESS is another one that I believe had "safety" shirts this year. AXIS has been there the last five years I have been though.
well anyone with a SAFETY shirt should really be trained in first aid crowd response. those guys didn't know the first thing about treating people who were passed out... just pulling them out and handing them 120+ degree water... ridiculous!
but i digress. we were never hardcore searched or robbed, but we had a really weird experience with some guys that ended up moving (or leaving) only 2 hrs after arriving. they were parked between us and the next camp (some really awesome people from long island) and were selling posters, t-shirts, and corn. they walked around completely out of it, complaining the whole time about being broke and how they were ripped off etc. they were conveniently stumbling through half-set up camps, looking confused and disheveled. needless to say we weren't upset when we came back and noticed they were gone.
I have a bed cap on my pickup and in that bed cap is a sleeping platform I built from construction lumber. One of the supports for that platform is a very strong wooden lockbox, about 18" by 18", equipped with a stout padlock and hasp and internal hinges. All totally hidden from the outside looking in.
I built this so I could leave my truck at a trailhead for a few days without worrying about the smash-and-grab. It's never failed me yet, not even at Bonnaroo. You'd have to crowbar it open.
Lanyard...that's the word I couldn't remember. On it is their name or id number. If they are doing something that isn't right all you have to do is take down that number and give it to the supervisor. It's another option you have to report someone.
I know AXIS were all of the pink and yellow shirts. I think black too.
Yea, there's usually some type of ID number on it. It also contains their meal tent card. Get that ID number, and the supervisor can trace it back to either the exact person, or the person who signed them up to work there.
A few people in my group this year received lanyards including me, each of their ID numbers would've have returned my name in the database.
On the other hand, my crew and i once again had an amazing time with no shadyness (other than getting bunk :. I do think I remember seeing more people with green "roo x security" shirts in the campgrounds this year than years past, so maybe they were all over ???
The people in the green shirts were volunteers, nothing more. They had no authority at all. Most of the ones you saw walking around were just leaving their shifts. Make sure you read what is on each color shirt, all green shirts were WET volunteers, never confuse them with security.
We spoke with a guy who as far as I remember was in plain clothes who claimed to be "safety/security" or something like that. We were trying to find someone who could look after a guy who was passed out on the ground - the guy was breathing and seemed like he would probably be just fine, but we didn't want to just walk away and were trying to figure out who to alert. We asked some of the Trash Talkers what to do and a girl who was with them came to help us a bit - she didn't seem to really know what to do but was trying to help us locate a med tent or something on the map and she offered to call someone on the radio if that's what we wanted. While we were talking to her there was another guy hanging around and she asked him if he was with the passed-out guy, and he said "no, I just work here." She said "oh, you work here? Where?" And he said something about "safety/security." So she asked if he was looking after the guy and he seemed sort of caught off-guard and said that he had checked that the guy was breathing. Pretty sure he was actually just taking pictures of the guy. Not really sure what all that was about, but that was my experience with a plain-clothes guy claiming to be security of some sort. And also my experience with just how difficult it is to get help for someone who might need it. I guess that girl would have radioed for someone to come golf-cart the guy away if we asked her to, but that wasn't really necessary - he looked like he was gonna be just fine, we just kinda wanted someone more reliable than us to check him out and confirm that.
Don't waste time, get a supervisor (someone with a radio) for something like this. If you can't wake the person up, they should go to the medical tent. None of the safety people have time to just stop and watch someone. They are all instructed to do specific jobs, so they will simply call in for a medical cart. Trash Talkers were Clean Vibes volunteers this year, most of them are new to the farm.
During WSP's set, a t shirt vendor offered me two shirts for twenty bucks so I took the deal, thinking I would be able to give the second shirt away to somebody. As I was walking through Centeroo on the way back to my campsite, I half-kidding shouted "Bonnaroo shirt 5 bucks." Out of nowhere some piece of Leno with dreads told me I had to give him both shirts because I was illegally vending and I could go to jail if I didn't comply, so of course I gave in. This jerkstore did have a lanyard but I didn't see a radio or anything else indicating he had any type of authority but I didn't want to deal with cops so I didn't put up too much of a fight. I was so mad at first but now I kind of laugh about it because it was just so ridiculous.
That could've just been a vendor. Some of those guys really take their job seriously. You have to remember, the vendors pay upwards of $1000 for a vendor pass and then they see people selling shit all over the place. That sounds like it was just a pissed off vendor, so next time just tell him to screw himself.
MANCHESTER, Tenn. – Dozens of people were arrested on drug charges last weekend at the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival in Manchester.
Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves told WSMR Radio 380 citations were issued for small amounts of drugs and 53 arrests were made on drug, domestic violence and theft charges.
Several others were also arrested for impersonating festival security officers.
The road to Bonnaroo turned into a dead end for thousands of dollars worth of drugs.
Authorities in Rutherford County confiscated more than $12,000 worth of illegal drugs en route to the annual festival.
The Special Enforcement Bureau made 17 felony arrests ranging from possession of illegal mushrooms, cocaine and marijuana, and 51 misdemeanor arrests.
Several others were also arrested for impersonating festival security officers.
People really disgust me sometimes.
Someone tried that crap on me in Chicago at a Dead show in 93. I just asked for their badge number, and started calling a real cop over. They left right after that.
Even at tollbooths, especially Sat/Sun, folks without wristbands could walk right through. I spoke with one volunteer who worked tollbooth Saturday and she said that security was only stopping cars. Anyone on foot could walk right past security and right past the wristband checks onto the farm without being stopped or checked once. The 'roo crew were doing next to nothing to stop foot traffic from just walking onto the farm. If you were in a vehicle, sure, they were searching and checking, but not the folks on foot.
This made the campsite pretty easy pickings, really.
But I've heard voices not in the head Out in the air they called ahead Through ripped out speakers Through thick and thin They found a shelter Under my skin -Evgeny Aleksandrovitch Nikolaev
. I do think I remember seeing more people with green "roo x security" shirts in the campgrounds this year than years past, so maybe they were all over ???
