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!!
I made this quick PDF, and sent it to a couple buddies. It's seemed to work well.
....NH/MA?? um, hi, take me with you. i'm from good ol' maine, and my friends don't think the journey is worth the destination. stupidheads don't know anything.
I wouldn't say I've directly talked anyone to goin', maybe Jury would count. I think after I wouldn't shut up about my first year he wanted in. But I do think my talk and love of the festival has helped to convince some other friends into goin' over the years. Still bummed that a lot of my good friends either can't or won't do it anymore. I've also given up on tryin' to convince one of my best friends to finally go. He's always interested but unwillin' to commit, and then around April/May he says he'd like to but won't fer one reason or another.
you know begging others to come can be trouble if it isn't a certain kind of person, because if you have to convince someone to go they could feel that you are the one who must produce the good time. I have known people who when they had one speck of an issue all of a sudden it was the person who "made them comes" fault also I like going with people who have their own Idea of what they want to do so they can go explore on their own instead of me walking them around. Also forget it if they dont dance it can be a little frustrating when you invite someone to come to a concert of any kind and your dancing like a maniac(that would be me) and they are standing there tapping. SO ultimately I am trying to say if you have to convince them to come they might not be suited to enjoy bonnaroo is pretty hard core. **Plus there are plenty of wonderful people to hang out with on the farm!!!!!!
More likely I expect they may feel like I used to; that I was too old, or too fat, or too square or anything else I could come up with. It's always easier to make an excuse than to step outside your comfort zone. If you look at it that way your buddies may think you're waaayyy to cool for them to hang with for four days straight.
Well, if the ticket price is the issue, try to break it down. Paying around $300 for 4 days of amazing live music isn't a lot. If you tried to see any of the bands on the lineup this year on tour, you'd pay anywhere fr $30-$100+. Another great thing about bonnaroo is that you get to stay there!! You can't get quacked up and camp out at an amphitheater. Going to 3 concerts this summer will cost your friends more than a Bonnaroo ticket when you include hotel rooms, tickets and transportation. I come from MA every year and gas costs aren't that bad either as long as your car is full of people. For me, going to Bonnaroo is a great way to get the most bang for my buck. It's a no brainer.
I'm Canadian, I live in Ontario, so convincing friends is pretty difficult. This year I thought for sure a couple of our bestfriends were heading down with us. I was with them last Friday night, planning our Roo trip, they seemed pretty excited!!!.. Saturday told them I got my tix and have not heard from them..lol..oh well..part of me thinks just going with my man is the way to go anyways..less stress...I know it's a major commitment, the gas, the long drive, the heat, but every year we get our tix and just hope for the best..it's always worked out!
Post by theshining on Feb 24, 2012 10:47:35 GMT -5
^ I'm from Toronto and have been heading down yearly for a while now. I always get the same, "it's too far," "It's expensive" when I ask people if they are interested in coming along. Both arguments are to me ridiculous but I love Roo. The key is to get people down there once and I find they always want to go back.
Since the first time that I went I have successfully convinced others to go but it is a hard sell when you are a 15 hour+ ride away.
Post by konstantine on Feb 24, 2012 11:24:09 GMT -5
The length of the road trip is part of the experience!! I guess Bonnaroo would be expensive if you didn't have a job but $300 for the ticket and camping, it really isn't bad. With everything combined I probably spent $1000 (gas, hotels, camping gear we needed, etc etc) and that's at the high end! I did The Rock Boat in 2009 and the cabin alone was a grand. Factor in I get two weeks paid vacation a year, I see win/win. Some people just can't hack it, I guess.
Last year I went with my close friend, her co-worker, and another girl from Michigan. This year, none of them are going. I asked friend 1 what her plans were and she said she "might have summer school and probably couldn't swing it". I'm not going to beg you to go back, if you wanted to go BADLY you could make it work.
^^ Exactly..the road trip is part of the fun! Altogether I say we spend about $1500 on everything..two tix, gas (we take our Jeep Liberty) food, motel room Sunday night, souvenirs and odds and ends, like camping gear. I know we could spend less if we needed too..
I was lying in a burned out basement With the full moon in my eyes. I was hoping for replacement When the sun burst thru the sky. There was a band playing in my head And I felt like getting high.
^^ Exactly..the road trip is part of the fun! Altogether I say we spend about $1500 on everything..two tix, gas (we take our Jeep Liberty) food, motel room Sunday night, souvenirs and odds and ends, like camping gear. I know we could spend less if we needed too..
If my friends went, I know they would go again..
It really kills me when I've had friends tell me they "really don't like music festivals". WHAT? Might as well say you don't like music. Funny, I heard it from one person and then three months later she was at Lolla. Hmm.
I need to start asking mine to go. I'm afraid I'll never find travel arrangements. My entire crew from last year isn't returning.
Post by bonnarooster242 on Feb 25, 2012 19:18:40 GMT -5
The problem with Bonnaroo is that its truley something you can't explain. You could videotape your whole weekend, non stop and people still won't get it until they step onto that farm and experience it first hand. I was one of those guys. After and invite in 2009, i thought my friends were stretching the truth on how amazing it was. Boy was i wrong. my only way to describe it...an addiction of a high you can only get once a year, and once that high is over its all you can think about for the other 360 days out of the year.
Post by drtechnology on Mar 2, 2012 23:38:37 GMT -5
I can relate to most of these posts. The first few years I was gung ho about recruiting people but now I don't bother. at the end of the day most folks just don't get it and I think I prefer it that way.
I've been going for 6 years now and I try to get one new person to go each year. Once they go they get hooked and then its easier to talk other friends into going. The crew gets larger every year!
The length of the road trip is part of the experience!! I guess Bonnaroo would be expensive if you didn't have a job but $300 for the ticket and camping, it really isn't bad. With everything combined I probably spent $1000 (gas, hotels, camping gear we needed, etc etc) and that's at the high end! I did The Rock Boat in 2009 and the cabin alone was a grand. Factor in I get two weeks paid vacation a year, I see win/win. Some people just can't hack it, I guess.
Last year I went with my close friend, her co-worker, and another girl from Michigan. This year, none of them are going. I asked friend 1 what her plans were and she said she "might have summer school and probably couldn't swing it". I'm not going to beg you to go back, if you wanted to go BADLY you could make it work.
Considering you will probably see 'at least' 30 bands (of your choosing of the 150 available) during the four days, camping included, and you can bring in whatever food/drink you want, you could easily survive on $300/person + fuel to get there and you purchase your ticket early....$10/band or less....no better deal available for music lovers....add in the experience of 80k other people like you.....they're giving it away....
If your friends don't understand that, then they shouldn't come.
For me, I drive five hours from my current work location and freely spend on showers, non-alcoholic drinks during the day, alcoholic drinks at night, and buy my main meal each night...will spend no more than $300 over the cost of the ticket....amazingly affordable.
Its the heat and the crowd size that really deters my friends...Im thinking that one year I may just buy them tix and then guilt trip them into coming "you really dont want me to lose all this money do you?"
I went alone in 2010 and it was a bit weird...my camp just wasn't as comfortable looking as the others with a group....but I had a great time. In '11 I met some people on inforoo and shared a camp, and it was better. The best part of that arrangement was that we weren't friends before 'roo, so we camped together, but we all went our own way.....like being alone but not.
This year, I'm camping again with one of the group (other two from Oregan aren't making the trip this year), and we will compare notes going in (lineup/schedule) and visit a bit in the mornings and late evenings, but are free to go when and as we please. Of course, that she is an intelligent lady and great conversationalist doesn't hurt....
i always tell people not to go because theres already too many of us. i will always be there as long as i can or as long as they have it. so i tell everyone else you wouldnt like it.
Post by pondo ROCKS on May 5, 2012 20:12:22 GMT -5
Well two years ago, my buddy John was on the fence about going and I finally talked him into it. Needless to say, it was prolly not the thing for him. He did not wanna get up front on the rail at shows (something I love to do at the start of a day), he really did not care for much of the acts outside of Weezer, Stevie Wonder and Clutch, and he just did not get the whole Roo vibe. Perhaps if he had researched the bands better, things might have been different.
On the other hand, my buddy Dave FINALLY got to go last year and loved every minute and was ready to go back the following week.
Providing an outlet and a voice for music lovers to unite under the common theme of music for all. Join The Pondo Army to show your allegiance to musical freedom! Fighting for no censorship of the arts & music education in schools, The Pondo Army will triumph! The Pondo Army Movement
Follow me on twitter@Pondoknowsbest
Post by candyflippedaround on May 6, 2012 9:04:20 GMT -5
This year I have my first convert. My buddy made the late decision to go to Bonnaroo for the first time after doing Bisco the past two years. I'm pumped someone's making the trip with me but I still kinda feel like I'm going solo because he's bringing his new GF. If it was just him I would totally take him under my wing but I get the feeling that won't work as well with her being there, mainly because I don't know her outside of meeting once. I'm cool with rolling alone I just feel kind of guilty about having no interest in putting the effort forward to ensure they get the full Bonnaroo experience. It's really just that I know exactly how fun Bonnaroo can be if you have the right attitude going into it and I think they need to realize that on their own, without any coercing. If they have a bad time, it will be because they chose to, not because I lead them astray. Likewise if they have the true Bonnaroo experience. I'm happy I got some newbies there, I just want to detach myself from what they take out of it. Not entirely of course, but enough to let us all have our own Bonnaroo
Providing an outlet and a voice for music lovers to unite under the common theme of music for all. Join The Pondo Army to show your allegiance to musical freedom! Fighting for no censorship of the arts & music education in schools, The Pondo Army will triumph! The Pondo Army Movement
Follow me on twitter@Pondoknowsbest
Post by tommyboy7328 on May 8, 2012 10:32:10 GMT -5
So i have convinced all sorts of people to go to the Roo including my parents, other relatives, newly found friends and even a couple of Doctors i have seen in the past few years. All ranging in age from 35-70. Not only do i explain my personal stories but i always tell them to you tube it and watch other peoples stories to see that i am not just partial. I even tell em to watch videos of shows from the Roo to feel the energy from the crowds as the show is going on.
Like these couple from the past that i still watch and get goose bumps while smiling uncontrollably :
Long time lurker, first time poster here. It's coming down to the wire for a buddy of mine who wants to make the Roo trip with me this year, but is unsure of his work schedule. So anyone who is going solo and needs somebody to see some shows with, let me know.