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Post by macmusicjunkie on Jun 12, 2012 10:15:25 GMT -5
I'm going to try and leave off subjective things like the schedule and things that are beyond Bonnaroo's control like the weather.
The Good ;D
Biggeroo - Upgrading the size of centeroo was great. Even though the stages seemed as full as any year, there were areas to escape to away from the crowd.
Traffic - I was in the gates in 45 minutes!!! From what I was getting from people I talked to, that seemed to be the average wait time for Wed. and Thurs. This beats out the 8 hour or so average in 2010. I think this only confirms that opening gate on Wednesday was very much needed.
Shade - Glad they finally put some shade tents around centeroo since we've been screaming at them about this for years.
Water Stations - 4 more water stations definitely helped that overwhelming wait to get free water. Well, the nice weather also was a factor.
Miller Lounge - If you went to the Miller Lounge last year, it was a stage in front of a barren wasteland with 2 or 3 picnic tables. It was pathetic. There really upped it this year with the fans, beanbags, and chairs. Kudos for the serious upgrade.
Centeroo Portos - If you went last year, they seriously cut back on the number of port-o-potties in centeroo which caused all sort of lines and gross problems. They were back to a good number this year even though What field needed more in the back.
Overall Improvements - I could go into detail why, but the festival seemed to be upgraded and ran like a well oiled machine.
The Bad ???
Tickets - Let's be honest here. Sending the tickets at the last minute was a giant f up. It screwed a lot of people's plans up and left everyone on pins and needles waiting. Everyone should have their tickets by the end of April unless your on payment plan. Hell, the ticket system crashing just adds to the mess. If this was musictoday's fault, then Bonnaroo needs to throw that company out and get someone new for next year that won't do a piss poor job.
The Website - I'm not talking about the design. I'm talking about how it was run. There were glitches and leaks all year. Hell, there wasn't even a bluegrass superjam which was in the alphabetical lineup.
The art - If you went in 08 or 09, you know what I'm talking about. Even though this year was decorated better than last year, it still was missing the big visual art which is disappointing since it's a music and arts festival. There is some cool art at each pod, but who has time to trek to each pod to see the art. Bring some of that creativity into centeroo. Also, the theme for this year's wall was so dull. A heart monitor line? Where is the amazing art on the wall at the start of the fest like the headliners from the past years like on last years wall. The painting on the fountain was amazing though.
Centeroo Gates - Friday was the example to end all examples why there needs to be another entrance. That overcrowding line trying to get into Centeroo at noon was ridiculous. At the very least, open the east What field gate before 1'o'clock.
Overall, thumbs up Bonnaroo for a great experience in most aspects of a festival this year.
I am so happy Bonnaroo stepped it up this year and corrected some annoying issues
GOOD
The DITCH was mostly gone. It filled up a little after the rain Sunday but otherwise all good!
The GRASS was thick and green and didn't turn to dust. Huge plus!
Portos in Centeroo were mostly clean EXCEPT What stage needed 3x as many portos.
LIGHTS on the arch, the clock tower, and in the POD 2 art set-up.
WATER was easy to find this year and there was never a wait.
BAD
Crowding is an issue Thursday with no activity on the main stages. With the gates officially opening earlier more and more people are arriving early they need to spread out the crowd a bit.
LINES stink. They need larger entrances to get people in quicker. Also, WHAT stage needed more portos - lines were silly back there and so was the pee wall.
Post by kikosanchez on Jun 12, 2012 16:48:11 GMT -5
The only BAD would be the long entrance lines early Friday. After that, it was very easy and quick getting in. Ultimately, the best way to clear this up is having more check-in/bag check points/people at the entrance.
This is the first year I can't complain about shade or water, because even if it was upgraded, I didn't notice a bit because the weather was too good to notice.
If they want to be really, really cool, they should build a towering wall to the east of all of the farm, so the sun won't hit us till about noon, so we can sleep in and have an overall better experience I swear I would catch a ton more shows and have energy all day if I could just sleep in!
No deaths. No tent break ins. No bunk stuff this year.
A kid from my hometown/church died on Thursday.
GOOD: The attitude of the volunteers at the gates/entrances. '09 was good as well but the last couple of years I have run into a lot of people who were just plain rude/harassed me... and I have NEVER brought in anything I'm not supposed to. Yes, people are going to sneak stuff in, but it should be like check for glass and move on.
The lack of traffic. I feel like last year being the first time of officially opening on Wednesday was not as smooth, but there were like no lines this year. We came in Thursday morning (well Wednesday night and slept at a rest stop to avoid being stuck in BFE like last year = success) ended up passing gate 112 the first time we went by because there was no one in line, didn't know for sure if it was open (it was). Although we had to turn around and go all the way back to 127 and come in the back way, there was no line there as well which was awesome.
The "roming safety" people. I don't know if they have been there in year's past, but I saw a lot of them this year. Checking on people taking naps in the State Farm tent and everything. They weren't bothering anyone they could tell was ok. I thought it was a good way to make sure everyone is safe.
Bros who were funny and breaking out of their shells/trying something new.
BAD: Bros who were their only to get messed up and be loud with their other bros.
Was the $1 grilled cheese gone? (It might have been gone last year since I was stuck in BFE and didn't wander too much into the other camps) Or was I just blind and on a mission to make it into Centeroo in the mornings.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Jun 12, 2012 17:29:44 GMT -5
Agree with pretty much everything the OP said. The tickets were a big issue this year (buying them AND sending them out). Also really happy for the improvements to the farm. The multiple different shade structures were just great and the added water stations helped out. I also kinda liked the small changes to the Which stage. Next thing I want is small screens on the outside (or at least on the side of the stage) of the tents for people who can't get all the way in. You know how they have at some concert venues where you can watch the concert on a screen while buying a drink at the bar? They should do that for the This, That, and Other tents. Would make the people who are crowded outside of the tent less disappointed.
Also, I'm not sure if they need another entrance to Centeroo....I would just widen the ones that they already have and get rid of that dumb zig-zag metal barrier thing they make you walk through.
Post by zeljocotha on Jun 12, 2012 17:37:10 GMT -5
The good: Umphrys McGee!! Fn beautiful!! New which stage setup! The bad: the d bag security guard who stole my camera! And the d bag security guard who poured out my liquor when I was giving away free shots! He said "we don't allow vending here" I said "Im giving them away" he said, "good excuse I'm not buying it!" oh and the fact that I couldn't bring my fn walking stick in without a doctors note, but I saw people with 15 ft flag poles! Wtf! All in all great time! Great people, and a whole lot of love!!
The extra water stations and portos helped so much! This year I didn't walk into any porto that wasn't well maintained. I know I was lucky, because a few of my 'Roo mates had less pleasant experiences. I also had my boyfriend along so I would have him use it first and clean it up a bit for me. He's the greatest!
And I had a GREAT camping spot by Pod 2, but right in the woods. We had a few spiders and ticks but we were careful and did tick checks regularly. No one ever got one on them surprisingly. We had great neighbors, lots of trees, and our own personal bathroom in the woods.
The only bad thing for me really was the crowds. I've never had an issue getting myself and one to two other people pretty close to the stage. This year, my boyfriend and I and one of our friends got a spot at Rod y Gab and tried to keep it for Radiohead. By the time everyone rolled in like 10 minutes before the set, everyone was just trying to push in front and basically steal our spots. We held our ground, but by the time they started, we couldn't even move because it was so crowded so we moved back and boogied instead.
So what if you got stuck in Pod 1 and you drove in camping gear for a friend who was in Pod 2? They'd have to wait til Thursday morning to grab their gear? Shit out of luck?
good - dream hands and the dancing dog in the saturday line up. front row at the word and lots of spicy pie and bonnaroo buzz. bad - taking a detour out of manchester to 24! like i dont pay taxes for there roads. another detour on 65 north in ky, 2 hour detour!! Great week end all in all. If you came by pod 1 and added to the dream catcher i loved your vibe, thanks.
Woodstock '09
Ozzfest 01,02
New Earth Mudd '03
dave matthews '08,'09
Bonnaroo '11,'12,'13
Bunberry '13
Forecastle '13
J Roddy and the business '13
Houndmouth '13
Tons and tons of good - the improvements were great. I would just be repeating other people at this point. Trapped in the Closet was totally worth it and I [don't] think the cinema tent has ever gotten so much love (nor did I know it was so huge now, same with Brooer's Tent)
The Bad: - The usual: people rummage through your stuff sometimes, but eeey someone at least dropped back off my wallet in lost and found after taking all the money (I see this as a win)
- I always forget their are some questionable folks, with some questionable advert racialism. I think my skin has grown thick enough that I know to just let it go, but day 1 sticks with me. Two dudes (yes they looked more "rural") were talking loud as hell walking through camps to the road and said "They even have darkies here". A couple F - Obama stabs thrown around too by the usual suspects, that seemed utterly unnecessary - unless you are going to have an in depth discussion. Idk, just something that needs to be said aloud.
Last Edit: Jun 13, 2012 9:55:04 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
The Bad: Not letting people leave Pod 1 for Tent Only until 8am Thursday. What the quack was up with that?
This. This BS completely ruined my plans of doing tent-only because I didn't want to wait and chance it and get a horrible spot(or no spot). I even talked with one of the "mountees" and she agreed how stupid and unfair it was that every other pod had a shot at tent-only but us. Yet she still wouldn't let us through.
So what if you got stuck in Pod 1 and you drove in camping gear for a friend who was in Pod 2? They'd have to wait til Thursday morning to grab their gear? shiz out of luck?
Yes they would have to wait. People were throwing literally every excuse in the book at the mounted cops blocking the road, but nobody was getting through.
The best part was the fact that I arrived at around 11 am Thursday and was only in like for like 20 minutes and got an excellent camp spot. I thought the crowds were much smaller this year than last so that was really cool. I didn't miss a single show due to a large crowd whereas last year I missed a few. Also this year seemed to be the best year for clean portos, not a single time (even in centeroo) did I walk into one that was really gross.
My only real complaint was the lines for Centeroo, they should go back to how it was in prior to last year and do away with herding us through the dividers like cattle.
All in all this was my favorite Bonnaroo yet. After last year I was pretty put off by 'roo and was questioning how many more trips I would make, but this year really restored my faith and showed me why I fell in love with it back in '09.
Besides the obvious: great music, the vibe, the people, food, etc...these were the things that stood out as being better than last year.
-Virtually no wait coming in Wed night -The weather -More porto's, water stations & shade
The bad:
-Waited 1 hour exactly to get into Centeroo on Friday -Still not enough done to help with the dust when it was getting bad on Sat (thank god it rained). -had the worst reception with our cell phones (no problems last year). Literally had to go to the Fuse barn to even call home to check on kids. Could barely get texts in and out much less get on the internet...If you want people to follow Roo updates on twitter then you should make sure people can all get on. - Our idiot neighbors in the campground, they really tainted the whole experience - The people that push their way into the pit lines last minute and don't give a crap about the people that have been waiting for hours.
Post by monkybunney on Jun 13, 2012 11:40:06 GMT -5
She became known as the Horse Lady! Joe and I (HEY JOE!) made camp (sort of) in the corner of pod 1 close to the entrance along with a larger group of very cool people. We got out around 4am or so when the mounties weren't looking. Wound up with an awesome spot not 50 yards from the arch. But yeah that was some BS that as far as I know every other pod was allowed to travel to TO except Pod 1. It was like we were being penalized for showing up early.
The Good: Pretty much everything that has been said already.
The Bad: The Wed. Pod 1 detention kinda sucked. The porto situation for the What stage. Seriously Seriously need more portos in that field. I don't think I ever used those portos once, always ended up using the wall. It got so bad during Radiohead that I actually saw girls starting to use the wall!
Otherwise I had one of the most awesome times of my entire life.
Post by mahgeetah34 on Jun 13, 2012 12:35:53 GMT -5
The Good: All of the new improvements such as water stations, more grass and more shade. The free stuff such as the Adult Swim games and prizes, fuse backpacks and coozies along with a trampled by turtles coozie that I got from their sonic stage performance. Also, the nice people at the church tent who gave out free phone charging, food, lemonade and water.
The Bad: All of the fraternity morons who only came to see Skrillex, RHCP, Flogging Molly and Mac Miller. There were also several at Childish Gambino which ruined the show for me.
At least it wasn't like the tenth anniversary where Bonnaroo has NO dvd and downgrades to a plastic bracelet to celebrate. That would be like giving your kid a cake for their first 15 birthdays and when they turn 16, only giving them a cupcake or candy!
The Good : Umphreys!! -Vendor shuttles, I never waited more than 30 minutes. -With the exception of the purple shirts, 99% of every staffer was awesome, friendly, and tried to be helpful. The Bad : The wednesday shut in sucked, but it was an insurance thing. People roaming. -The purple shirts need to learn basic communication skills. I'm an adult, please dont yell at me. -Coming from Pod 1, better directions as to the way back in. I know I did a lot of needless walking. - The dude watching the gate to the mainstage late night, I'm a vendor. Let me through please, places to go, shit to get done.
This year I didn't walk into any porto that wasn't well maintained.
You're extremely lucky. The only time I used a porto and it wasnt quacked to hell was 6AM on Monday morning when I got up to pee. Other than that, using the portos was a disaster. I dreaded taking a dump when I had too and I went in with a whole pack of baby wipes, a roll of my own toilet paper, my headlamp, and my hand sanitizer. I tried to wipe down everything I could before I went.
I found out this weekend the the four most vital items for Bonnaroo are baby wipes, camelbak, a small LED flashlight to carry around Centeroo at dark, and hand sanitizer.
Turtles are, actually quite sexy, if you think about it. I’m getting an erection just thinking about turtles. No, not a stripper named turtles, that’s not funny. Actual turtles.
—?Thom Yorke
So what if you got stuck in Pod 1 and you drove in camping gear for a friend who was in Pod 2? They'd have to wait til Thursday morning to grab their gear? shiz out of luck?
Pretty much. They let some people go to TO around 3 in the morning I think, but the rest had to go at 8AM. We just decided to set up camp right there at the entrance of Pod 1. We didn't feel like fucking with moving all of our stuff again and just wanted to go to sleep.
The Weather This year is certain to undisputedly go down as the best Bonnaroo weather thus far. Having to bundle up and crawl under a blanket and spoon your significant other instead of being strangled by 94% humidity inside your tent lended to an overall energetic and upbeat crowd from Wednesday till Monday.
More shade and potable water inside Centeroo - They definitely heard and felt everybody's pleads and pains from the last 2 years and mercifully hooked it up with random large tents and artistic shade structures throughout the fest. More water stations = less lines. I kept my camelback full and never really used the shade tents as the weather was flawless like Mortal Kombat, but it was definitely nice to see.
No Camelbacks Being Dumped Out Going Into Centeroo - They didn't once check my bladder compartment the entire weekend. The lines and searches were bad enough without having to deal with your bladder filled with vitamin water getting dumped out after waiting an hour to enter centeroo. Never been cool with people taking fluids from patrons, so hypocritical..
The Food Truck Oasis - such a good idea. All of the choices were otherworldly and everything was on point with prices not being over the top ridiculous. if you checked this area out, you had a positive experience, no doubt about it. Big ups to the joint that had Sriracha sauce. tip'd
Short, Searchless Entry - My vehicle search turned out to be an uplifting conversation and i waiting in line maybe an hour.
Friday - although i couldn't get tickets to Aziz Ansari, it was still one of the best days i've ever had at Bonnaroo. Little Dragon -> Ferris Wheel -> Food Truck Oasis -> Avett Brothers -> Rodrigo y Gabriela -> Radiohead -> The Word to chill the fvck out -> Umphreys Mcgee set I -> Big Gigantic set break -> Umphreys Mcgee untill 6 am
The Bad
Lines and Searches Into Centeroo - very intense all weekend. Maybe it wasn't really all that bad and i was just spoiled by VIP in 09? hmmmm
Crossing The Road from BFE to Mainstage - this may be a small complaint, but by Saturday the "cross guards" that took their job way too seriously had gotten extremely annoying. Imagine being in a hurry to get into centeroo earlier than you need because you know there is going to be a bottleneck from the tedious searches going on. You see a cab about 75 yards down the street and decide to cross because it's obviously safe when officer hardballs demands you stop and wait. by the time the golf cart crosses the intersection, tour busses and random vehicles from all four ways have jammed and the wait to cross this little four way becomes ten minutes. Imagine that happening every time you needed to get into Centeroo, everyday of the festival.
??? 
