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I liked the 'urinal-only portos' - pretty sure they were new this year; fast service for standers and they each freed up five sit-down portos for those that needed them.
Due to my pen!s, I did not experience the women-only portos at What, but all the ladies I spoke to loved them.
Edit: Oh wait, I just realized this thread was supposed to be about new stuff at VIP. Apologies (add something to the title for specificities' sake, maybe)
I liked the 'urinal-only portos' - pretty sure they were new this year; fast service for standers and they each freed up five sit-down portos for those that needed them.
Due to my pen!s, I did not experience the women-only portos at What, but all the ladies I spoke to loved them.
Edit: Oh wait, I just realized this thread was supposed to be about new stuff at VIP. Apologies (add something to the title for specificities' sake, maybe)
Well we are in the VIP discussion forum
Hence the apologetic edit.
And the subforums are not displayed on the recent threads page - just the thread title; hence my including in the edit a simple request to add "VIP" in the title to avoid other ijits like me from posting here, thinking it was a general thread open to the unwashed non-VIPers
This. There's just waaaaaaaay to many people that bought vip tickets to give them actual access in any of the tents. There were at least a couple thousand camping in the artist/guest campgrounds this year. Combine them with all the officiates and artists that aren't camping, and you have a sizable number of people. There were times that I had trouble getting into the pits at the tent, but I would imagine that if VIP had access too, then they just would have been packed for every single show. No bueno.
Its better to use all of the space than to leave some empty.
I'd like to see a reduction in guest/artist bands. At the Cinema tent some people with guest bands were sitting in the VIP rows, when they got full the staff actually booted them from the seats so that VIPs would have a place to sit.
Except there needs to be space in order for the people to use it. If they fill the area that's reserved for artist/guest by letting VIP in, what happens when more artists/guest come to the show and can't get in cause it's full? I understand the importance of showing up to shows early if you want a good spot, but that's no what the people with credentials are thinking. They're thinking "I have access, there is a system set up that let's me get where I want, when I want.
If people want this type of privilege, it's not VIP. I'd suggest RLARS.
Its better to use all of the space than to leave some empty.
I'd like to see a reduction in guest/artist bands. At the Cinema tent some people with guest bands were sitting in the VIP rows, when they got full the staff actually booted them from the seats so that VIPs would have a place to sit.
Except there needs to be space in order for the people to use it. If they fill the area that's reserved for artist/guest by letting VIP in, what happens when more artists/guest come to the show and can't get in cause it's full? I understand the importance of showing up to shows early if you want a good spot, but that's no what the people with credentials are thinking. They're thinking "I have access, there is a system set up that let's me get where I want, when I want.
If people want this type of privilege, it's not VIP. I'd suggest RLARS.
So basically you think VIP should be treated as GA+, not VIP.
Except there needs to be space in order for the people to use it. If they fill the area that's reserved for artist/guest by letting VIP in, what happens when more artists/guest come to the show and can't get in cause it's full? I understand the importance of showing up to shows early if you want a good spot, but that's no what the people with credentials are thinking. They're thinking "I have access, there is a system set up that let's me get where I want, when I want.
If people want this type of privilege, it's not VIP. I'd suggest RLARS.
So basically you think VIP should be treated as GA+, not VIP.
Nah, VIP is GA+. Would you make a very important person pay to be there? By paying for VIP your paying for much better services in camping, close proximity, showers, some exclusive events, clean bathrooms, and the ability to relax in the shade whenever you wanted in centeroo.
The pits in the tents aren't really to make people feel special, they're there because the artists and the people running the festival want their friends and family to see what they've been working on.
And the subforums are not displayed on the recent threads page - just the thread title; hence my including in the edit a simple request to add "VIP" in the title to avoid other ijits like me from posting here, thinking it was a general thread open to the unwashed non-VIPers
I agree! Every time I see this thread, I get confused as I also rely on the recent threads page. I think a name change would be a good idea
Welcome back Bonz, but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal.
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So basically you think VIP should be treated as GA+, not VIP.
The pits in the tents aren't really to make people feel special, they're there because the artists and the people running the festival want their friends and family to see what they've been working on.
Not going to say I disagree with you entirely, but Bonnaroo is one of the few fests I'm aware of where it only offers VIP patrons special pit access to just one stage (Which, the Hill doesn't necessarily count as close for What). The ability to actually see the band's ought to be one of the main perks of paying considerably more for a wristband. Friends and family of the bands most likely have the ability to see them play in far more intimate settings than Bonnaroo.
Perhaps Bonnaroo needs to charge a bit more for VIP (not RLARS prices though) or somehow re-engineer the tent areas to accommodate all the various echelons above GA accordingly. Exclusive campsites and creatures comforts are nice, but all said and done I'm there to both SEE and listen to great music. Otherwise I might as well save some money and just slog it out with the GA'ers for a good spot.
I guess this concludes my entitled post of the day! :-P
Re-reading my post I feel like I come off as a snob, but really I just want to be able to get a glimpse of the groups I'm trying to see. If I'm lucky I'll get a bit of space to dance if the music warrants it. The fest folks should have space as well to enjoy the fruits of their labor, although not at the expense of the people who are (in large part) providing the financial support to make all of it happen.
No worries, I completely agree with you. The main reason to go VIP anywhere is for the viewing areas (for me at least). That's why I also said that if they added a VIP pit to the tents, I would definitely go VIP again next year. Having the viewing areas where you're basically guaranteed a good/decent place even without showing up super early allows you to see way more people and have a better time at each set as well- making the entire cost worth it.
Welcome back Bonz, but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal.
I liked the 'urinal-only portos' - pretty sure they were new this year; fast service for standers and they each freed up five sit-down portos for those that needed them.
Due to my pen!s, I did not experience the women-only portos at What, but all the ladies I spoke to loved them.
Edit: Oh wait, I just realized this thread was supposed to be about new stuff at VIP. Apologies (add something to the title for specificities' sake, maybe)
they've had them for the last couple of years. only problem is they usually leak resulting in your neighbor peeing on YOU through a crack in the porto. with any luck, you're drunk and just happy to be freeing up some space.
Re-reading my post I feel like I come off as a snob, but really I just want to be able to get a glimpse of the groups I'm trying to see. If I'm lucky I'll get a bit of space to dance if the music warrants it. The fest folks should have space as well to enjoy the fruits of their labor, although not at the expense of the people who are (in large part) providing the financial support to make all of it happen.
Don't, your not a snob. Just someone that cares about the music and wants to witness it all happening firsthand. Id say thats what a majority of us have in common.
It's unfortunate that they can't cater to give everybody special access to everything when they pay extra, but the cold truth is there's just too many people, and not enough space. Yes, its true at times the access areas are somewhat empty, and it makes sense that if you have paid access, you should be able to use that space. But if they did it for one person, they'd have to do it for everyone. Think of the number of people in VIP camping. Yes, no where near the number of people in GA, but still, it's a lot of people. The access areas in the tents are not very big. They're not even that good of a view. If I wanted a good view in those areas, I still had to show up as the previous band was ending, to move in as people were leaving to secure one of the few good spots in there.
Really, at the end of the day, access doesn't mean much. The viewing area for the mainstage is nice because of port-o-potties and an open bar being right there, but other than that, the fun you have at the festival really is determinate on the energy that you as an individual put out into it. Thats why having showers, and close camping, and access to AC really is an advantage, you don't lose as much of that energy just getting into the damn festival.
I'm really sorry if I come across as snooty, I've just had a number of frank discussions with staff members that set this crap up, and have accepted that there are concrete rules set up for the safety and preservation of the festival, and they are not really to be messed with.
If you are the type of person that in order to maximize your fun, needs to be able to show up as a show is starting and get up where the action is happening, there are only two passes that will ensure you this privellige: RLARS, which costs $30,000 for 8 people (and I hate to break it to ya, this price is only gonna go up over time) and the glorious Infinity Pass (You have to be essential in the running of the festival to get one of these, they print out exactly how many they need each year, and give those to exactly who they printed them out for, no sneaking these to friends).
Reading all the responses to this are in line with what I was thinking. One thing to add on my end is the weekend food pass. We actually got the passes with our tickets this year, and the food was a lot better than what they served on Thursday night. You can go up and pay cash at the door (30.00) to eat a dinner though. Before the "boo" birds come out, you pay 10-15 for a dinner dish anyone with no drink, 30 for prime rib, and mongolian grill wasn't such a bad offering. One last question. Bonzai, were you in the RLARS area during Skrillex? We got into the pit for it, and I noticed a guy and girl in those panda hats directly in front of us.
Bonzai, were you in the RLARS area during Skrillex? We got into the pit for it, and I noticed a guy and girl in those panda hats directly in front of us.
I was actually really far back for Skrillex where the crowd started to think out. I was with my traditional non-VIP Roo crew for it. I can't think of who you might have seen though... was it the exact panda hood in my sig or a generic one like:
Welcome back Bonz, but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal.
Post by pondo ROCKS on Jun 25, 2014 16:10:22 GMT -5
Which Stage now appears confusing as all hell on how to get into the pit for a show. Watching people try to get up there (especially drunk people) was entertaining.
I do love the side VIP area on Which (right in front of the Access platform) that allows a decent to good spot to see from. Just seems like the days of getting really early to a show to get rail maybe a thing of the past for GA?
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We got lucky and found the Which walk around earlier on Friday. But yes there was a small gap that lead to a pit right behind RLARS.. The choke point of that spot made the illusion it ended at the front of the viewing area. The pit last year for VIP was BOTH the RLARS area and the area they gave us just now it was redesigned. Definitely more limiting but it did raise the energy in the VIP on packed shows inside the pit. Last year VIP was too big. This year RLARS was WAY WAY WAY too big. Which RLARS area was mind blowing big and always near empty. I got turned away at every tent for VIP. I LOVE VIP but do agree with another poster the music viewing options have gotten pretty bad if you love to be up in it. We used the Hill once all weekend for Elton.
I thought the organization of the VIP center area was WAY better this year. So much more communal.
Got there early and definitely had to ignore the traffic people tho. Last year they did this wrap back and forth at the beginning and went forward back starting against the What stage and going back. This year they tried to start in the corner, BFE side of VIP, and work out.. Getting there at 6:45am said no way and that was a great decision. We were with all the other rebels that ignored the lady and the neighbors this year were a SERIOUS upgrade from last year.
As for the searches they were WAY WAY worse this year both coming into camping and going into Centeroo. Not even close to what I experienced last year. I had nothing taken from me so no real complains.. However, the VIP searches went from NOTHING last year to a table this year. Came into camping last year and got a high five. This year got 5 dudes looking thru the car. Before one of our longer stretches of back to back music I loaded up the camel back part with a few beers. Lady starts going through backpack, goes to reach inside that area, I stop her and go "Oh you can check this pocket" and unzip the front small pocket for her. She looks and says great!. Got lucky there. But then again I don't have too much to complain about. Went by GA saw everthing from pat downs, to throwing blankets away, to going through camel backs CLOSELY. GA security looked way ramped up from last year so I have a feeling it was across the board & VIP was still getting the nice end of that stick.
Last Edit: Jun 25, 2014 17:28:16 GMT -5 by tbd - Back to Top
Bonzai, were you in the RLARS area during Skrillex? We got into the pit for it, and I noticed a guy and girl in those panda hats directly in front of us.
I was actually really far back for Skrillex where the crowd started to think out. I was with my traditional non-VIP Roo crew for it. I can't think of who you might have seen though... was it the exact panda hood in my sig or a generic one like:
I checked my photos, and have one partially view of the panda hat....but it looks pretty close to yours. I'll post it after work today. You need to sue for infringement
From what I've garnered, VIP gets you in the pits at the tents?
I was told that by various people, but I asked at each tent (multiple times) and was told there is no VIP area at any tents. The reserved pit was for RLARS and was way too big in each one
I was actually really far back for Skrillex where the crowd started to think out. I was with my traditional non-VIP Roo crew for it. I can't think of who you might have seen though... was it the exact panda hood in my sig or a generic one like:
I checked my photos, and have one partially view of the panda hat....but it looks pretty close to yours. I'll post it after work today. You need to sue for infringement
haha, I look forward to seeing the picture! A fellow Inforooster, mayonaise, made them for a punch of us for a different fest. There were probably 20-30 of us at Bonnaroo this year that have the hood (not sure who else brought it...) so it could be another one of us! No one was RLARS that I know of, but I am intrigued to see the pic!
Welcome back Bonz, but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal.
Re-reading my post I feel like I come off as a snob, but really I just want to be able to get a glimpse of the groups I'm trying to see. If I'm lucky I'll get a bit of space to dance if the music warrants it. The fest folks should have space as well to enjoy the fruits of their labor, although not at the expense of the people who are (in large part) providing the financial support to make all of it happen.
If you are the type of person that in order to maximize your fun, needs to be able to show up as a show is starting and get up where the action is happening, there are only two passes that will ensure you this privellige: RLARS, which costs $30,000 for 8 people (and I hate to break it to ya, this price is only gonna go up over time) and the glorious Infinity Pass (You have to be essential in the running of the festival to get one of these, they print out exactly how many they need each year, and give those to exactly who they printed them out for, no sneaking these to friends).
One other way to get really serious access is to have a main stage artist wrist band. Ive been lucky enough to wear one and these bracelets are magical. We had access to everywhere. We even got access to the RLARS pits. We did get shut down when we tried to get side stage for Radiohead though.
If you are the type of person that in order to maximize your fun, needs to be able to show up as a show is starting and get up where the action is happening, there are only two passes that will ensure you this privellige: RLARS, which costs $30,000 for 8 people (and I hate to break it to ya, this price is only gonna go up over time) and the glorious Infinity Pass (You have to be essential in the running of the festival to get one of these, they print out exactly how many they need each year, and give those to exactly who they printed them out for, no sneaking these to friends).
One other way to get really serious access is to have a main stage artist wrist band. Ive been lucky enough to wear one and these bracelets are magical. We had access to everywhere. We even got access to the RLARS pits. We did get shut down when we tried to get side stage for Radiohead though.
So main stage artists get different bands than other artists? I wondered this.. Theres no way Paul McCartney has the same access as Robert DeLong lol.
I'm very against VIP areas in the tents - and I say this as someone who will likely go VIP on my next farm visit. Some of my favourite Bonnaroo shows have been ones that I've staked out to get right up front. I would be pissed if I waited hours for a show, only for some bozo to waltz in front of me five minutes beforehand. I also feel like it would have a negative effect on the energy of the performance if the people right up front are not the biggest fans, just the richest ones.
What makes VIP great is that it offers perks that don't disadvantage others. Viewing areas work at the main stages, because you can put the stands back and to the sides; not so in the tents. Enjoy your proper bathrooms, shorter lines, better food, and A/C lounges all you want, but leave the tents out of this. If it's that important to you to get right up front in the tents, go RLARS. Or, y'know, just wait it out amongst the plebeian masses. The horrors, The horrors!
I'm very against VIP areas in the tents - and I say this as someone who will likely go VIP on my next farm visit. Some of my favourite Bonnaroo shows have been ones that I've staked out to get right up front. I would be pissed if I waited hours for a show, only for some bozo to waltz in front of me five minutes beforehand. I also feel like it would have a negative effect on the energy of the performance if the people right up front are not the biggest fans, just the richest ones.
What makes VIP great is that it offers perks that don't disadvantage others. Viewing areas work at the main stages, because you can put the stands back and to the sides; not so in the tents. Enjoy your proper bathrooms, shorter lines, better food, and A/C lounges all you want, but leave the tents out of this. If it's that important to you to get right up front in the tents, go RLARS. Or, y'know, just wait it out amongst the plebeian masses. The horrors, The horrors!
I don't disagree with the majority of your sentiment here. Just want to point out that richest fans and biggest fans aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.
I'm very against VIP areas in the tents - and I say this as someone who will likely go VIP on my next farm visit. Some of my favourite Bonnaroo shows have been ones that I've staked out to get right up front. I would be pissed if I waited hours for a show, only for some bozo to waltz in front of me five minutes beforehand. I also feel like it would have a negative effect on the energy of the performance if the people right up front are not the biggest fans, just the richest ones.
What makes VIP great is that it offers perks that don't disadvantage others. Viewing areas work at the main stages, because you can put the stands back and to the sides; not so in the tents. Enjoy your proper bathrooms, shorter lines, better food, and A/C lounges all you want, but leave the tents out of this. If it's that important to you to get right up front in the tents, go RLARS. Or, y'know, just wait it out amongst the plebeian masses. The horrors, The horrors!
I don't disagree with the majority of your sentiment here. Just want to point out that richest fans and biggest fans aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.
Oh totally, and I didn't mean it to come off like that. I probably should have clarified that; not necessarily the biggest fans, although they very well could be.
A Venn diagram would be handy here, but I couldn't be arsed.
One other way to get really serious access is to have a main stage artist wrist band. Ive been lucky enough to wear one and these bracelets are magical. We had access to everywhere. We even got access to the RLARS pits. We did get shut down when we tried to get side stage for Radiohead though.
So main stage artists get different bands than other artists? I wondered this.. Theres no way Paul McCartney has the same access as Robert DeLong lol.
How did you get yours if your allowed to say?
There's three levels of artist wristbands: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. All of them were lime green this year, with Primary having a lime green tag, and Secondary and Tertiary having other colors (I'm not sure what). The main idea is those on the main stage are Primary, those in the tents are Secondary, and those in the club stages are tertiary. However, depending on the name, they're management might be able to get them some sort of other pass, because in the end, Artist passes still can get told "No." Mostly, Artist passes have the same access for all the tents, there's just some different perks, like being able to sneak into the comedy tent, or get side stage for the main stage (during the day, only laminates get you back there for the night shows). Last year, I noticed I was wearing the same wristband as Paul McCartney. That was cool. R Kelly had an infinity pass. Kanye West probably had an infinity pass. It's all about who you are, and what you can get away with.
Post by Phyre Fest on Jun 26, 2014 22:28:44 GMT -5
I want to comment on a lot of things on this page but don't feel like multi quoting everything so I'm just gonna run with it.
1. This year there were 3 levels of Artist. Each band was green, but the color of the RFID was different (Blue, Green, Red) and yes some levels had access to things others didn't. You'd be surprised how many people have these wristbands that are not actually an artists performing at Bonnaroo. I wouldn't be surprised if they outnumber the actual performers. They gave out so many artists wristbands this year that at some point they even stopped letting Guest wristbands into the Tent pits. Guest at Which were placed in the VIP area, and the only What area is the bleachers you see on the right side above ADA.
2. Bonnaroo fucked up when they accidentally let VIP into the tent pits last year. Otherwise this discussion wouldn't even be taking place. Everyone knows, and has known since the beginning, that VIP does not have access to the tent pits. But all it took is one tent mistakenly letting them in and now people feel they deserve it. I watched numerous VIP people get extremely nasty with staff in the pits on Friday when they stopped letting VIP in. I can assure you that between Staff/Production/Guest/Artist/Media/RLARS/This Pass/Infinity the number is much larger than VIP. The pits most definitely stayed at capacity unless it was an early, or really late show. The thing is, they wouldn't fill up until right after the show started, so people would walk up 20min before the show with VIP and bitch because they saw it was empty, when that's far from the case. If they did not have those pits, then all the credentials listed above would be forced to stand side stage and really get in the way of performers and sound/production crew.
3. As someone else said, the view from these pits is honestly not that good, unless you manage to be in the very front corner of the pit. Your view is typically blocked by the side of the stage erection and the curtains surrounding it. Not only that, but the sound is horrible because you're beside the speakers. I had access to the pits this year and many times I left and went out in the crowd in order to get a better view and hear better.
4. The pits on the LEFT (right at That Tent) were for RLARS only, and yes were extremely empty the majority of the time. But that is why people pay $35,000 for the package. They want that breathing room, and at that price point, deserve it. There were many celebrities/athletes this year who went RLARS and did so so that people wouldn't constantly bother them for an autograph or a photo. Even an artist in the pits on the other side were constantly nagged while trying to enjoy other shows. For example Disclosure was in the artist pit trying to watch Sam Smith and got bothered so much they eventually had to leave and hide sidestage so they could watch the show.
I want to comment on a lot of things on this page but don't feel like multi quoting everything so I'm just gonna run with it.
1. This year there were 3 levels of Artist. Each band was green, but the color of the RFID was different (Blue, Green, Red) and yes some levels had access to things others didn't. You'd be surprised how many people have these wristbands that are not actually an artists performing at Bonnaroo. I wouldn't be surprised if they outnumber the actual performers. They gave out so many artists wristbands this year that at some point they even stopped letting Guest wristbands into the Tent pits. Guest at Which were placed in the VIP area, and the only What area is the bleachers you see on the right side above ADA.
2. Bonnaroo fucked up when they accidentally let VIP into the tent pits last year. Otherwise this discussion wouldn't even be taking place. Everyone knows, and has known since the beginning, that VIP does not have access to the tent pits. But all it took is one tent mistakenly letting them in and now people feel they deserve it. I watched numerous VIP people get extremely nasty with staff in the pits on Friday when they stopped letting VIP in. I can assure you that between Staff/Production/Guest/Artist/Media/RLARS/This Pass/Infinity the number is much larger than VIP. The pits most definitely stayed at capacity unless it was an early, or really late show. The thing is, they wouldn't fill up until right after the show started, so people would walk up 20min before the show with VIP and bitch because they saw it was empty, when that's far from the case. If they did not have those pits, then all the credentials listed above would be forced to stand side stage and really get in the way of performers and sound/production crew.
3. As someone else said, the view from these pits is honestly not that good, unless you manage to be in the very front corner of the pit. Your view is typically blocked by the side of the stage erection and the curtains surrounding it. Not only that, but the sound is horrible because you're beside the speakers. I had access to the pits this year and many times I left and went out in the crowd in order to get a better view and hear better.
4. The pits on the LEFT (right at That Tent) were for RLARS only, and yes were extremely empty the majority of the time. But that is why people pay $35,000 for the package. They want that breathing room, and at that price point, deserve it. There were many celebrities/athletes this year who went RLARS and did so so that people wouldn't constantly bother them for an autograph or a photo. Even an artist in the pits on the other side were constantly nagged while trying to enjoy other shows. For example Disclosure was in the artist pit trying to watch Sam Smith and got bothered so much they eventually had to leave and hide sidestage so they could watch the show.
Cool post; thanks for sharing what you saw. Are you privy to this based on the whole festivalsnob thing, or so you have another in? Honestly curious, thanks again for sharing.
but I do not find it strange that your presence being requested in the Orgy thread and then you showing up, like it was the quacking Bonzai Bat Signal. 
