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!!
So what do you do on a typical day at Bonnaroo? What is your routine? When do you find time to sleep? How do you stay out of the burning heat? When do you party?
Last year was my first Bonnaroo, and I'm asking you these questions because there are some routines that my friends and I definitley need to do different this year to have more fun. It was very hard to find sleep last year and because of the mindless chaotic partying I was feeling worn out more than I could have been. Anyways, I'd just love to hear some advice from those of you who have experienced Bonnaroo more than me.
Last year was my first year, so this is pretty much the rundown of one of my days. You wake up around 7 or 8 in the morning, because the heat turns your tent into an oven. You hang around for a while, maybe get breakfast, maybe start drinking (my friends sure did), just to wait for the bands to start. I liked a lot of the bands last year, so that's pretty much what I did all day. Maybe here and there I got free time to eat, but it was pretty much all music all the time. Bands can go on until the sun comes up, but don't worry, you'll find plenty of time to party.
cut down on partying. you'll get alot more rest for the next day...if you do drink alot, make sure to take breaks for water too. you need to stay hydrated or else youll pass out
Post by steveternal on Jan 27, 2008 14:40:50 GMT -5
Great idea for a thread! Karma when I can.
A typical day for the missus and I would be to wake up around 8, becuase by then the sun and lack of wind made our tent unbearably hot, not to mention the loud yet jubilant neighbors. We'd get up and take our sweet time making breakfast (cold cereal & milk, or bagels & jam), chill a bit, talk with folks about how yesterday was, eventually clean ourselves and get dressed, plan our day, pack our lunches and backpacks, and head to Centeroo around noon. I usually had a show I wanted to see first thing, and generally would try to hit between 5 and 8 day shows, spending as much time as I could at each before heading to the next. Jo (the wife) can't take as much of that, so we'd compromise by taking it slow and planning some time during the day to walk through the shops and other attractions, or just chilling by a tree and tossing the frisbee. We both usually like to be as close to the stage as possible, and try to get as far as we can without being rude to people or pushing our way. This is also so Jo has a good spot from which to take photos, another activity that goes on throughout the day. Between all the musicians and entertainment and fellow travelers and other oddities, there's always something to photograph! During the break before the headliner we usually go back to camp to make dinner (burgers, soup, or Hamburger Helper) and get ourselves and our backpacks ready for the nightlife. Then we'll head over and watch the headliner-- we're usually only mildly interested in the headliner, so we don't mind being late but we don't want to skip it either. We bring a blanket and chill out on the far side of the stage, relax, dance, maybe even take a nap, and I will wander up to the stage at least once to take some photos. The headliner is our chance to really just chill out and listen to music, and we want to save our energy for the late nights; only at Trey in '04 and Radiohead in '06 did we stake out a standing spot near the stage and enjoy the show from there. We usually stay for the whole headliner, then pack up and try to be toward the front of the rush from What Stage to the late night shows. We hop around to a couple things, check out the assorted late night weirdness, try to hit up the Silent Disco at least once. Jo isn't really a nightowl, and while she tries her best to enjoy that side of the Bonnaroo experience, she usually has to turn in by 2am. So we say goodbye and she walks back to camp while I hang out and catch more shows and revel in the unique adventure that is the Bonnaroo late night. By 4am I'm too pooped to keep going, and have to head back to camp as well. I brush my teeth and crawl into the tent with my sleeping wife, and fall asleep dreaming of what tomorrow will bring.
Post by steveternal on Jan 27, 2008 14:56:58 GMT -5
On the practical advice side of things, I'd strongly recommend bringing a backpack. I'm surprised how many don't, because you can carry with you so much that you need-- food (vendor food is good and fun, but expensive), water (obvs), camera, poncho, first-aid (Gold Bond, anyone?), TP, etc. I'd also reiterate how much better it is to bring your lunch and snacks; sure there's planning and prep to do in the morning, but it's way cheaper, you bring what you like to eat, never have to find a vendor and wait in line, and you never have to break your routine. If you're rocking at a show and need a quick bite, it's so nice to already have something with you. Water, water, water. You always need it. They let you bring in empty bottles, and they have potable water stations around Centeroo that are free. If you bring two 24 oz. bottles, or a Camelbak, you only need to refill once or maybe twice during the day. For the heat, bring a hat or bandana. Also keep applying the sunscreen. It's a bitch to do, but much less of a bitch than sunburn. I'm not one for all the "experience enhancers" that others might consider part of Bonnaroo life, and I also don't drink much-- usually just one at camp during dinner (this is partly also because I hate most of the beer choices in Centeroo, and they are also overpriced). But if that stuff is your thing, just remember to take it easy. You want to stay safe, but you also want to have the energy and everything to enjoy the whole weekend. If you wreck yourself by Friday, you won't enjoy Saturday. Eh, at that point I'm just saying stuff that's been said many times in other threads around here. Anyway, I think the most important bit of advice is don't ever let your desire to party get the best of your sensible side. It's totally doable to party, have a kickass time at Bonnaroo and keep yourself in good shape. Hope all this crap I said helps.
I'll start, conceptually, with a Friday: 8:00-9:00 AM - Wake up at 8 or 9 at the latest, sit and stew in the tent acting like a loon, getting everyone in the mood. 10:00 - Go out of the tent, cook food (definitely optional) sit and plan out the day, find out who'll be with who, etc. 11:00 -Mass corn burning ritual, done before the trek into Centeroo. 11:30 - Walk to Centeroo. I'd always take my time, unless a show was early in the day. There is TONS to do and see on the way to Centeroo. 12:30 - Go find a string of shows that you'd want to see under a tent. Example, last Friday we went to the tent that had James Blood Ulmer and Tortoise, and sat there for an hour before the first show. It gets you good spots, and most importantly, keeps you out of the sun for the hottest part of the day. 4:30 - Go walk around Centeroo, check what's happening, for roughly an hour. 5:30 - Back to campsite. Time for food, resurgence of energy, and beginning of "partying" (for us at least). 6:30 - Back to Centeroo and What Stage. Start out the real, serious party. Stay for Pre headliner and Headliner. 11:30 - Head out to the other reaches of Centeroo, head immediately for the midnight show you want to see the most. 2:30 - The real fun begins... This is where I'd assume most lose their minds.
Post by coanbread751 on Jan 27, 2008 15:31:57 GMT -5
wake up and fight off the sweat until you absolutely have to get up. Then I hang around camp...take care of ice, bathroom, breakfast. Head to centeroo about an hour or so before my first band starts. Partake in LOTS of water all day (no alcohol)....plenty of corn tho. Then when night falls you start to hit up the alcohol.
Post by c234567892 on Jan 27, 2008 15:39:55 GMT -5
I've been the last 2 years and each year I had a different routine because of where I was camped. In '06 we were camped in Lois Einhorn so we didn't mind walking back to camp to eat or grab some more waters, but last year we were out in BFE so we made sure we had enough of everything for the day so we stayed in centeroo from about noon or 1ish to about 3 or 4am all day.
We would all wake up around 730-8am sit aroung camp 2 of us would go get some ice fill the cooler with ice and bottles of water, wait until they were cold, or cold enough. Fill our backpack with everything. Water, food, cigarettes, TP, more water. Then we'd head out and we generally took our time. We stopped everyday at got grilled cheese. delicious. And a lot of times we split up once we got to centeroo because we all wanted to see different things. And we'd all meet back up at camp around 3 or 4am.
Post by gogogajoob on Jan 27, 2008 15:45:57 GMT -5
9am - wake up in the sweaty tent, open up all the screens and turn on my battery powered fan. 9-11am - just lie there with my eyes closed, i can't usually sleep but it sure beats doing anything 11am - Wake and Bake, eat breakfast, disscuss plans for the day 12:30-1ish - pack up for the day and head to centeroo via shakedown
It's all beer, water and grass all day, i try to sit down as much as can in the morning, near the back of crowd just enjoying the atmosphere. If my campsite is close to centeroo i might make one trip back for dinner or some other indulgence, but typically i just chill out, then get crazy at the night shows.
4am - go to bed and repeat next day
The secret to bonnaroo is to pace yourself, drink tons of fluids, and make sure you eat even if you don't think your hungry, even sitting around in 90-degree weather takes alot of energy.
For me, the key is to set up camp Wednesday. It's also key that once camp is set up to standards, to not consume the "supplies" that i start searching for right off the top. You may find this to be disturbingly fiendish, but i always get this stupid fear that "this will be the year that i have problems finding the supplies", and i like to get rid of that fear as soon as possible so that i can begin mentally preparing for the next 4 days and 5 nights.
I prefer to track down these supplies Wednesday night by walking around the general shakedown area. This gives me time to soak in the atmosphere and it always feels great to be walking around looking at the farm while it's still very empty, and it's a trip to think that when the sun comes up, the place that i'm walking around in will be packed.
So, score the much needed supplies, take it in, but then go back to camp. I try not to get into much at all when i return. Just a little bit of corn and a little bit of beer. I try to eat good and relax, and this is certainly not the time to be screaming "BONNAROOOOOOOOO!!!!!" at the top of my lungs - there will be plenty of that from Thursday to Sunday.. Maybe take a sleeping pill, and try to hang out in my tent. Sure, the friends are just outside of the tent partying like Wednesday is the new Friday, but there will be plenty of time to party and to be with the friends. Sunday, they will be spent and uninspired, and i'll have a bit of a pep in the step. This is the time to stash those 3 large red bull cans at the bottom of my cooler for when that time comes - i have an added edge. After that, it's time to get cozy in the tent and read the Bonnaroo booklet.
Thursday: I'm usually up at like 6 am. The other 360 days of the year, i'm notorious in my circle of friends for sleeping way too much and way too long, but there is an agenda, and i avoided the campsite party that lasted until 4:45 am
Make my way to the water trough for some teeth brushing (etc). This can sometimes be one of my fondest memories of the entire weekend. That first stroll to the water trough, alone. People are in incredible spirits ready to rap with anyone for however long, and there's always something to chat about. It's also really cool to see these people, because when you went to bed the previous night, the farm was still pretty empty.
Now that the mouth is clean, maybe it's time to hit up one of the good friends who have only been inside Bonnaroo for only a couple of hours because they couldnt leave early Wednesday. Check out their site, meet their neighbors. Now that it's Thursday, the "no snacking on supplies" rule is for the birds. Meet up with your friend and spontaneously decide that 8 am is the PERFECT time to try out the strange vitamin A for the Friday headliner. To test it out. To just see what you have on your hands ;D Last year, i met up with a friend on Thursday, and his neighbor was sharing Peach Moonshine and Space Brownies for breakfast. Yummm! When it's time for Centeroo to open at like noon or 1 - 2, it's a must that we venture inside to wonder around on a headfull of the good. Be prepared for possible crappy music coming from some of the tents. Last year, a huge group of us found a fantastic perch by The Other Tent and lounged there for a good while, but was driven away by really loud Nickleback. At this point, there is nothing to do but wait for the fountain to erupt and then you know that the music acts will start soon and get even more hyped as you realize the festival is about to really kick off - you're in Centeroo with a headfull of the funk, it's still far from dusk, and there are poor fools that are stuck in traffic out there. Not just the outskirts of the farm, but all over the world - and you are in the only place in the galaxy that matters. When returning back to camp on Thursday night, it's always a good idea to make up for being slightly anti-social the night before, and have a great time with the friends. Crack open your salad collection that you've already started, reveal that bowl that found you in centeroo. Share stories from that day and plans you have for Friday, but try and eventually get some sleep, because Friday is a busy day!
My routines from that point are basic. Wake up and hit up the water trough. Blaze till i develop an appetite and try to eat before heading into Centeroo and dosing. When i tune in, turn on, and drop out, my appetite always gets severed, and not eating anything but Vitamin A at Bonnaroo can be dangerous, but that's usually what i end up doing. In my opinion, such an enhancer at Bonnaroo is CRITICAL. It's my personal belief that i could NEVER keep up with such an intense schedule from Thursday to Sunday without it. It keeps me inspired, talkative, goofy, ready for more music and craziness, easier to be around, and most importantly... wide awake. The only times i'm ever hot, uncomfortable, tired, and irritable are the times that i'm not fung-eyed or suffering from lack of the vitamin. Outside of the Roo, i'm very sensitive to the stuff and dont like very much of it, and would never consume 3-4 days in a row, but at the roo, it's like i barely notice it. It's just fuel at that point. It makes me feel as though i've drank from the beloved Bonnaroo punchbowl and because of that, i am more tuned into the fest than those who decided not to dabble (more power to ya).
9am - Latest I would wake up. Get some food, usually Poptarts and an Uncrustable (God's food). 11am - head to Centeroo to find some shade and chill out. Enjoy the day there. At about 530 or so, me and my buddies would go back to the site, grab some more water (because who wants to pay those outrageous prices when theres better things to buy?) We would nap for about 30 minutes. Head back to Centeroo for the night. End up back at the site 230am at the latest.
I was never really exhausted during the day despite the small amount of sleep. Maybe it was the midday nap (HIGHLY suggested if theres time that you have to kill), or maybe it was chemical reactions taking place in my brain. Most likely, it was a healthy combination of both.
This man came up to me just the other day, asked me I'd been born again. I told him, "I didn't think I had." That I had been rejected. But I think, Hell's got all the good bands anyway. And Bonnaroo.
Post by trippindaisy on Jan 27, 2008 17:14:25 GMT -5
Mine is a little different because I drive in each day from Nashville - my main reasons - because i could not stand the burning heat in the tent at 6am the first year and like to be clean :
Get up, shower, and eat breakfast (essential!). Add ice to the cooler - I took gatorade, water, mountain dew (for the ride home) and a Margarita bucket.
Pack a small bag with a sealed water, granola bars, sunscreen, chapstick, babywipes, camera, a lightweight blanket and money.
Leave the house around 10:30am and drive to Roo. Park in Day Parking and pour a large Margarita for the walk to Centeroo ;D
I usually pick out my schedule the week before so would head to the first band of the day and keep moving from stage to stage - trying to stay in any shade available. I buy many bottles of water during the day - only because I didn't want to carry a camelbak and hated the taste of the free water. It was well worth the money for me.
Take a break sometime around 4 to eat - because of the heat, i usually only need to eat once during the day at Roo. I sat in the shade of the recycling pyramids to eat If there are no bands I want to see after that I may take a short nap under the trees near the Comedy Tent or surrounding area. I also take some time during the day to wander around the vendors and sometimes will visit the vendors outside and go back to the car for a Margarita and water refill.
I usually go early to the Headliner so I can get fairly close. By this time the sun has gone down and it is much more comfortable no matter where you so this is also a good time to eat - especially if you are going to be up all night partying.
I usually stay until 2am (depending on the bands playing) and then drive home - although one night last year I stayed till the end of the Lips and arrive home at 4:30am - that was a harsh drive home!
Keep in mind I am not a partier and I am driving, so my schedule is a little more laid back than most The key thing is if you are drinking alchohol - drink as much water because the dehydration from drinking will wear you out. Also waiting until the sun goes down is probably the smartest thing to do. As laid back as my schedule is, I still managed to see around 18-20 bands so I am going to stick with the same plan this year.
Last Edit: Jan 27, 2008 17:17:40 GMT -5 by trippindaisy - Back to Top
Wake up too early. Head to the bathroom, to "shower" at the trough and brush my teeth. Breakfast - either buy from the vendor near our tent or have PB&J. Hang around the campsite waiting for everyone else to get ready.
Early afternoon is spent wandering around from band to band. Group might split up, some to Comedy Tent, some to brewer's tent, one afternoon my sister and I watched Xavier Rudd just to wait for Kelly Williams and fell in love with XR and didn't end up staying for KW.
Then it depended on the day. Friday we went back to camp and the boys went to see Tool and the girls stayed behind. Then we all met up for the late night shows, although my sister and I couldn't hang for that long.
Saturday, we all went back to camp late afternoon and hung out for a while then went together to see the Police and then Gov't Mule - although only one of us stayed for the entire show.
Sunday didn't go back to camp until after the White Stripes, had dinner in Centeroo and then were able to listen to WP faintly from our camp, which was pretty cool.
For the most part, I stayed sober during the day - I just know myself, I'd never be able to last all day if I was drinking or anything else. And even at night, I watched myself so I could better stay awake and know where I was. I didn't want to be That Girl and I knew the combination of heat and lack of sleep would mean my tolerance would be below normal.
Oh - and I had a battery-powered fan that I would turn on in the morning so I could sleep just a bit more.
I too arrive Wednesday night because I like to get settled in the dark. After setting up camp in the burning sun at Woodstock 99 and Roo 04 I've decided that it's worth the extra walk from BFE to avoid the need to shower when I'm done.
I also set up a shade tent Southeast of my tent. After getting up at 5 or 6 AM due to the rising sun, this buys a couple of hours. Two battery-operated tents and a favorable breeze can add a couple more.
Baby wipes are a refreshing way to start out any day that I'm not hitting the showers (which I try to do at least once during the weekend). A bottle of vitamin water, some trail mix and a Snickers bar gets my day moving as I head up to Centeroo.
I always try to get to Centeroo at least an hour earlier than the first band I want to see. Nothing worst than standing in line in the boiling heat hearing the band you want to see faintly in the distance.
I usually carry a backpack with a digital camera, a waterproof disposable, a magazine, a book, a fleece, a couple of garbage bags, toilet paper, some sort of rain jacket and a couple of bottles of water. I eat at Centeroo because I don't want to miss anything and in previous years I ended up bringing most of my food home with me or throwing it out before we left. The food is reasonably priced, unreasonably tasty and conveniently located.
My achilles heal is that I tend to get sleepy during the course of the day and I nap wherever I can hear a good band and catch some shade. On the plus side, this helps me make it through the late-night shows : )
I don't drink much at Roo anymore but when I do I do it after the sun starts to set. The sun just tends to kick my ass once I mix it with alcohol. And I don't indulge otherwise at all.
Other than that, I see as much as I can. I don't camp out for spots because I'd rather be able to wander around and catch a few songs from each artist. Any artist that I want to see a whole set of I'd rather see play a headling set on their own. But that's just the way I do the Roo.
I used to spend the whole day in Centeroo, come back to camp for dinner and then out for night life. But I was so worn out by Sunday I've changed.
I now go to Centeroo whenever the first band I want to see starts (ususally early) but spent more time back at camp during the day to rest up for late nights. About 6pm I wash in the trough and eat and then head out. Late night is the best IMHO so I don't mind missing a few band during the day to make sure I can stay up ALL night.
I also have no problem with missing the headliners, unless I REALLY like them. The shows are so crowded that many times I'd rather rest up for late night.
we normally crawled out of the tent when it got too hot - around 8 or so Sat around camp waking up - coffee, breakfast, etc. Trip to portapotties - back to camp for teethbrushing, hairwashing and such (cooler water is great to wash your hair with) pack up and head out for the day - spend the day in Centeroo moving from band to band - grab something to eat in between.
The only say we really have a routine is Sunday - Boz and I normally get up - do all of the above - and then head to the shady grass by The Other Tent - spread out the blanket and chil for most of the day - in one place - sleeping, corning - just enjoying people watching and music - then we head for the big show and camp to get a little sleep before packing upon Monday morning
i agree with almost all of you guys... the only thing i did differently was this... once your tent was too hot to sleep in... i laid down on a blanket/camping chair under my shade tent and took a nap from about 8am until about 10am...
some morning corn will help you sleep just a few more hours... another 1 hr of sleep can be very good news... power naps baby, power naps!
oh and depending who is playing on sunday, i usually do as much packing as i can, so i can wake up on monday and get outta town, or leave sunday night if Widespread is playing again... hehe
Bed at 3 or 4, wake with the sun baking in my tent till around 8 or 9, eat something, chill out, reflect on the previous day/evening with breafast, a bloody mary and herbal refreshments for a couple hours and plan the day (all while re-upping on ice, using the b-room and freshining up).
Once the day is planned, pack the bags with beer, water, gatorade - hiding the beer and herbal refreshments very well. With beer in hand, im off for the day. Spend the day in centeroo doing various things, perhaps stopping bye the fountain for a refreshing break. Sometime in the middle of the day ill get lunch from the vendor. Usually we go back to the campsite to re-up for the headlining show and late night. be out till about 3 or 4 am and start all over again.
Close your eyes. Picture a convict. What's he wearing? Nothing special, baseball cap on backwards, baggy pants... he says something ordinary like... 'yo, thats shizzle.' Okay. Now slowly open your eyes again. Who are you picturing? A black man? Wrong. That was a white woman. Surprised? Well, shame on you.
I used to spend the whole day in Centeroo, come back to camp for dinner and then out for night life. But I was so worn out by Sunday I've changed.
I now go to Centeroo whenever the first band I want to see starts (ususally early) but spent more time back at camp during the day to rest up for late nights. About 6pm I wash in the trough and eat and then head out. Late night is the best IMHO so I don't mind missing a few band during the day to make sure I can stay up ALL night.
I also have no problem with missing the headliners, unless I REALLY like them. The shows are so crowded that many times I'd rather rest up for late night.
Post by latierrasutil on Jan 28, 2008 15:22:20 GMT -5
my only advice is to start walking to the entrance like 2 hours earlier than the bands start, unless you might miss them. cold war kids started last year, and a lot of people were still in line and missed them (i being one of them.) bring a loooot of water, because those lines are long, and one girl next to me passed out because of it.
Post by notcolormecrystal on Jan 28, 2008 15:59:25 GMT -5
This is my third year and I do camping only. My best advice is to prepare/party like you are going to the desert to see Awesome bands play. If you think your body can handle hard playing with little rest, then go for it. If you forget your money, like me last year,water, jerky, granola, and the kindness of strangers should never be far from you. Definetly invest some money into a battery operated fan, remember to bring the correct size batteries. The fan, even though it is blowing semi hot air will cool you as you sleep and sweat. Don't even worry about the portable airconditioning fans, you will fiddle with them the whole time, and they don't work that great anyways. A shade tent is great to have. Just make sure you know which way the sun rises, East, and make a shade barrier to block the rising sun. Having blocked sun in the morning can guarantee a couple more hours of rest. FYI: by the time Sunday night and Monday Morning rolls around, you will be tired, cranky, and stinky. Make sure that you have saved some tylenol, water, and food for when you are trying to leave and wanting to kill everyone around you.
;D Last year, i met up with a friend on Thursday, and his neighbor was sharing Peach Moonshine and Space Brownies for breakfast. Yummm! When it's time for Centeroo to open at like noon or 1 - 2, it's a must that we venture inside to wonder around on a headfull of the good. Be prepared for possible crappy music coming from some of the tents. Last year, a huge group of us found a fantastic perch by The Other Tent and lounged there for a good while, but was driven away by really loud Nickleback. At this point, there is nothing to do but wait for the fountain to erupt and then you know that the music acts will start soon and get even more hyped as you realize the festival is about to really kick off - you're in Centeroo with a headfull of the funk, it's still far from dusk, and there are poor fools that are stuck in traffic out there. Not just the outskirts of the farm, but all over the world - and you are in the only place in the galaxy that matters. When returning back to camp on Thursday night, it's always a good idea to make up for being slightly anti-social the night before, and have a great time with the friends. Crack open your salad collection that you've already started, reveal that bowl that found you in centeroo. Share stories from that day and plans you have for Friday, but try and eventually get some sleep, because Friday is a busy day!
hehe
