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Post by dessertfirst on Jun 12, 2012 21:09:45 GMT -5
How you all doing? First time Roo'er but have a long time friend who posts here who's been to 4 so far. Among the strange sights seen, this one was most intriguing...
Did anyone catch that strange game a bunch of guys were running on shakedown after Phish? It was in front of the Rave t-shirt shop.
Basically it was a pile of junk and money. There was $20's, $1's, pool noodles, coins, corn, flyers, half drank beers, glowsticks koozies, etc and about 3 guys narrating the whole ordeal as if Carnies. One carried a high intensity color changing flashlight that he kept on the pile while another guy would coax people passing by to "place bets". There were addition flashcards spread out in a circle around the pile as well, that would be "redealt" every so often. Winner (who answered the question) would receive everything in the pile.
The rules of the game (from what I could gather) was to place a bet of ANYTHING in your pocket thus allowing you to guess the answer to the question. They repeated over and over that the answer was in the pile. People kept throwing things in there only to get frustrated 20 minutes later and walk away. There were a couple of guys and girls who would appear to be bystanders but were really working the crowd and adding to the confusion. They would appear from time to time.
Some observation.....
One kid came over and declared "TOO MANY GLOWSTICKS" at which the leader declared glowsticks as a void bet from thereon out and that they were not accepted. Any glowsticks thrown in the pile were picked up and thrown down shakedown.
One guy apparently kind of got the question right and was allowed to pick one item from the pile after receiving a long whispered speech from the leader. I did not hear the answer.
A girl who was working the crowd would claim she won the other night but after some time join in with the ringleaders and narrate.
There was a big black guy in a dark corner who oversaw the game. Any questions the ringleader would have, they would defer to him in secrecy. It was very strange and he would either accept or deny the request. They never brought attention to him though. It was something I just caught from time to time.
These kids/guys did not belong to any stands. A golfcart came by and told them to leave which they ignored after appeasing the staff member with "yes sirs".
Seems like a carny game in which the curiosity would lure people in and the frustration would drive them away, leaving their bet in play. I saw many people play and all gave up and left their bets. I bet 5 pieces of small square papers (no, seriously was just paper, bummer) and left after I got bored of the trickery.
Can someone please elaborate??? I was so intrigued/confused and it was one of the better memories of the Strangeness of it all.
Post by dessertfirst on Jun 12, 2012 21:22:14 GMT -5
I dont know but it was awesomely pointless. People were getting so mad and the guys running it were perfect at diffusing situations with hilarity. They were veterans of the scene, had about 7 wristbands from different festivals. Had the best Carny accents too. Good stuff Maroeky
I think the question was "How do you play/win this game?"I I threw a glowstick in and they said one or the other in unison. I smiled and walked away. There was a $20 bill and smokes on top when I "played".
Post by natedagreat on Jun 19, 2012 16:29:39 GMT -5
I saw another shady game going down in the campsites, on one of the off shoots of the roads. I don't think it had a name. It was basically the cup and ball game, dude had a little table and was taking bets on where the ball ended up. My first thought was "This has to be against the rules at Roo". Then after seeing the same guy on the same shady "alley", I noticed a person chilling out with their arms crossed at both ends. Lookouts? Totally sketch. Guy seemed to be making a killing though. Had at least 8 people checking him out every time I passed by.
I saw another shady game going down in the campsites, on one of the off shoots of the roads. I don't think it had a name. It was basically the cup and ball game, dude had a little table and was taking bets on where the ball ended up. My first thought was "This has to be against the rules at Roo". Then after seeing the same guy on the same shady "alley", I noticed a person chilling out with their arms crossed at both ends. Lookouts? Totally sketch. Guy seemed to be making a killing though. Had at least 8 people checking him out every time I passed by.
I saw this same game (maybe same guy?) in 2011 out on the far end of bushy branch near the pass through to Marty mcfly. My friends and I enjoyed some corn on the other sider of the path and watched him make a decent sum of money in only about 20 minutes.
Post by upliftingsound on Jun 20, 2012 8:37:06 GMT -5
I've seen the ball game there multiple years. He has one or more big guys that hang near him for lookout or protection. I'm not dumb enough to make that bet but I enjoy watching him rake it in for a little bit. Usually hustles $100 bets.
Post by natedagreat on Jun 20, 2012 9:48:07 GMT -5
Yeah I was amazed how much people were throwing down and how willing they were to play over again. 5 dudes throwing $20 plus on a fucking ball, he was raking dough in all weekend. It was kinda funny until I saw the lookouts posted, then it became über sketch.
