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 think we could have an interesting discussion related to the ethics of canceling festivals/concerts for weather related safety concerns outside of the individual festival threads.
Over the last couple years entire days or large parts of days have been canceled of Lollapalooza, ACL, Levitation, Mountain Jam, Governors Ball, Jazz Fest and more due to concerns relating to weather. In some cases the decision was made way in advanced using weather forecasts, others the decision was made day of or as the storm hit. In some of those cases where the festival was cancelled very early no actual threat materialized. In other cases people have been injured by collapsing stages, lightning, or unable to leave because of flooding. Often the decision is taken out of the hands of the festival (ex govs ball and levitation) but sometimes the festival makes the call.
At what point should the decision be made to cancel a festival for weather? Should festivals continue even with the chance for dangerous weather. Should the decision be made in advanced based on forecasts or the day of. Should festivals continue unless the weather makes it completely impossible and allow the customers to make decisions about their safety (also consider the safety of employees, volunteers, bands, etc. who are required to be there if the festival continues).
I think we should also have a discussion of what this means for Bonnaroo. If a storm like Bonnaroo 2004 were to happen now would the festival be canceled? Cancellations would be even more difficult for a festival like Bonnaroo where the majority of attendees camp. Would they evacuate the grounds? Where the hell are all those people expected to go?
I think we should also have a discussion of what this means for Bonnaroo. If a storm like Bonnaroo 2004 were to happen now would the festival be canceled? Cancellations would be even more difficult for a festival like Bonnaroo where the majority of attendees camp. Would they evacuate the grounds? Where the hell are all those people expected to go?
Firefly had to evacuate last year and asked people to take shelter in their vehicles. I would imagine Roo would do the same.
If they cancel and no rain, we are pissed. (Rightfully so) If they don't cancel and we get hurt (or die like those 80 at the other festival, right LP?) we sue.
Obviously I don't have an answer here. But in my youth and in less litigious days, we didn't cancel for shit.
I get why some festivals have canceled in the past (ACL 2013) comes to mind. There was NO way for the festival to go on, they had at least 3 feet of water on the fest grounds, and it was smart to cancel. Voodoo is another one, where I get why they canceled, the fest grounds were an awful mess and it took months for that field to even be usable after the festival. At a camping festival the logistic of canceling are so much more difficult. There are so many other factors and risks involved.
Like Druid, I have no real answer to this question, but I feel that the safety of the fest goers should be #1 priority.
I think we should also have a discussion of what this means for Bonnaroo. If a storm like Bonnaroo 2004 were to happen now would the festival be canceled? Cancellations would be even more difficult for a festival like Bonnaroo where the majority of attendees camp. Would they evacuate the grounds? Where the hell are all those people expected to go?
Firefly had to evacuate last year and asked people to take shelter in their vehicles. I would imagine Roo would do the same.
You should have seen the people on Molly and other stuff running around in the wind! Probably as equally entertaining as Kid Cudi
If they have concerns over lightning or high winds (which could cause stage or scaffolding damage/collapse), then they should pull the plug.
Better safe than sorry.
I'd rather see people bummed that they missed an act, than people get hurt or killed (like the 80 at Rock Am Ring. RIP In Peace)
Even T-Bois Festival (camping festival in the bayou) this year had a lightening casualty. She was inside her tent and her and the dog didn't make it. I think the two girls with her went to the hospital and they didn't cancel the festival regardless.
I think that is even more unpredictable. I mean the chance to get struck are so slim and then to actually die is even slimmer. I wouldn't want to be the person that had to make that call.
I think a lot of it depends on location. GovBall HAD to make the pre-emptive move to cancel. Getting those people off the island would have been a disaster and probably the death of the fest.
Landlocked city fests like JazzFest have a lot more leeway. They can let people in and kick people out as necessary.
I imagine camping festivals would never make the pre-emptive move and would always wait until the last possible minute before pulling the plug. I've seen some pretty bad weather at Roo and have yet to ever see a set canceled.
I think a lot of it depends on location. GovBall HAD to make the pre-emptive move to cancel. Getting those people off the island would have been a disaster and probably the death of the fest.
Landlocked city fests like JazzFest have a lot more leeway. They can let people in and kick people out as necessary.
I imagine camping festivals would never make the pre-emptive move and would always wait until the last possible minute before pulling the plug. I've seen some pretty bad weather at Roo and have yet to ever see a set canceled.
Sets were cancelled and postponed at Roo in 2004, which partially led to the rise of MMJ as legends of Bonnaroo when they were the first to perform while it was still raining
my biggest issue with canceling is why not postpone? Obviously some acts wouldn't be able to reschedule, but some can.
The whole Jazz Fest thing pissed me off because it ends at 7pm. Just push the festival back a few hours. We know that some of the artists stuck around because they preformed in venues that night.
City fests will never be as good as camping fests.
I think we should also have a discussion of what this means for Bonnaroo. If a storm like Bonnaroo 2004 were to happen now would the festival be canceled? Cancellations would be even more difficult for a festival like Bonnaroo where the majority of attendees camp. Would they evacuate the grounds? Where the hell are all those people expected to go?
In 2009 I asked this question when they kept shutting down the toll booths for the weather on Thursday. There was a line of cars that was miles long, bumper to bumper and there were talks of tornadoes. What were those people in cars supposed to do!?
Granted, I have absolutely no tornado experience so I don't know if I was overreacting.
Another Bonnaroo worth considering is 2009 Thursday. There was one hell of a storm and even tornado warnings. Fortunately there were no actual tornados, but had one touched down near by would the crowd had time to return to their cars on time? Would being in your car even help if there was a tornado?
I think we should also have a discussion of what this means for Bonnaroo. If a storm like Bonnaroo 2004 were to happen now would the festival be canceled? Cancellations would be even more difficult for a festival like Bonnaroo where the majority of attendees camp. Would they evacuate the grounds? Where the hell are all those people expected to go?
In 2009 I asked this question when they kept shutting down the toll booths for the weather on Thursday. There was a line of cars that was miles long, bumper to bumper and there were talks of tornadoes. What were those people in cars supposed to do!?
Granted, I have absolutely no tornado experience so I don't know if I was overreacting.
I think we're adults. If we choose to go into the weather, we choose to go into the weather. Anything short of a fucking hurricane and I'd be on the festival grounds.
People spend all year looking forward to a festival, preparing for it... and a storm takes it away? I think that sucks. Some of the best shows I've ever seen were in a fucking downpour. Rock and EDM are MADE for epic weather... except that time Justice's stuff all blew away at Voodoo because of the wind. HAHAHAH. That was amusing.
In Bloom Festival 3/18-3/19 Houston, Texas Rock Werchter Festival 7/5-7/8 - Werchter, Belgium Mad Cool Festival 7/12-7/14 - Madrid, Spain Austin City Limits 10/5-10/7 - Austin, Texas
Another Bonnaroo worth considering is 2009 Thursday. There was one hell of a storm and even tornado warnings. Fortunately there were no actual tornados, but had one touched down near by would the crowd had time to return to their cars on time? Would being in your car even help if there was a tornado?
I think we're adults. If we choose to go into the weather, we choose to go into the weather. Anything short of a fucking hurricane and I'd be on the festival grounds.
People spend all year looking forward to a festival, preparing for it... and a storm takes it away? I think that sucks. Some of the best shows I've ever seen were in a fucking downpour. Rock and EDM are MADE for epic weather... except that time Justice's stuff all blew away at Voodoo because of the wind. HAHAHAH. That was amusing.
But in this scenario there are people that don't have a choice. If the attendants are there so are the security, stage hands, vendors, etc.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Jun 6, 2016 13:03:42 GMT -5
Which festival was it in the last year or two that had to cancel a majority of it and people were literally stuck in the mud/cars for days? The one that was like a huge disaster for anyone trying to leave? I felt like that and all the press it got plays a major role in the decisions now.
When we were being told to evacuate Mountain Jam the people working there were serious and trying to get people to leave as fast and as safely as they could. Told us to evacuate "in 15 minutes" if we could. Had a friend get worried by the official order and was like "Guys....they said we have to be out of here in 15 minutes" and I laughed saying "What are they going to do? Kick us out while we are leaving?". But it definitely felt like the goal was to impress upon everyone how serious this could get if the rain/storms were really bad.
Just walking around on Sunday was tough because Mountain Jam is on ski slopes so any slight amount of moisture will lead to people slipping and sliding down certain paths. I couldn't imagine trying to get around the campgrounds during a terribly muddy day after hours and hours of downpour.
Weather is the number one reason why i would be wary of a city festival. Money spent getting to said city plus hotel isn't cheap. Then to have a day of the festival canceled would suck. You would have the day to spend in the city but that's not why you would be there in the first place.
Another Bonnaroo worth considering is 2009 Thursday. There was one hell of a storm and even tornado warnings. Fortunately there were no actual tornados, but had one touched down near by would the crowd had time to return to their cars on time? Would being in your car even help if there was a tornado?
That was freaking scary.
I was riding a rail in a tent all day so I didn't know how bad it really was until after the last show was over and I went out into the storm and saw just how wet everything was
"Rain or shine" events could squeeze out of that a technicality - rain or shine, but not heavy winds or lightning and thunder.
A rainstorm can sprinkle, drizzle, or downpour without any wind and lightning, but when those two aspects occur, that's where the real danger comes in, especially in these days of modern technology. High-rise scaffolding (wind), enormous electronic sets (lightning) are susceptible to causing a lot of damage. But I don't need to tell any of you that.
Weather is the number one reason why i would be wary of a city festival. Money spent getting to said city plus hotel isn't cheap. Then to have a day of the festival canceled would suck. You would have the day to spend in the city but that's not why you would be there in the first place.
Some credit cards have travel insurance, I wonder if you could get additional travel and hotel refunds for a canceled festival with those
Which festival was it in the last year or two that had to cancel a majority of it and people were literally stuck in the mud/cars for days? The one that was like a huge disaster for anyone trying to leave? I felt like that and all the press it got plays a major role in the decisions now.
"Rain or shine" events could squeeze out of that a technicality - rain or shine, but not heavy winds or lightning and thunder.
A rainstorm can sprinkle, drizzle, or downpour without any wind and lightning, but when those two aspects occur, that's where the real danger comes in, especially in these days of modern technology. High-rise scaffolding (wind), enormous electronic sets (lightning) are susceptible to causing a lot of damage. But I don't need to tell any of you that.
I think the rain or shine on the ticket is meant to tell customers to not expect a refund if it's raining and the event is not cancelled.
Which festival was it in the last year or two that had to cancel a majority of it and people were literally stuck in the mud/cars for days? The one that was like a huge disaster for anyone trying to leave? I felt like that and all the press it got plays a major role in the decisions now.
When we were being told to evacuate Mountain Jam the people working there were serious and trying to get people to leave as fast and as safely as they could. Told us to evacuate "in 15 minutes" if we could. Had a friend get worried by the official order and was like "Guys....they said we have to be out of here in 15 minutes" and I laughed saying "What are they going to do? Kick us out while we are leaving?". But it definitely felt like the goal was to impress upon everyone how serious this could get if the rain/storms were really bad.
Just walking around on Sunday was tough because Mountain Jam is on ski slopes so any slight amount of moisture will lead to people slipping and sliding down certain paths. I couldn't imagine trying to get around the campgrounds during a terribly muddy day after hours and hours of downpour.
my biggest issue with canceling is why not postpone? Obviously some acts wouldn't be able to reschedule, but some can.
The whole Jazz Fest thing pissed me off because it ends at 7pm. Just push the festival back a few hours. We know that some of the artists stuck around because they preformed in venues that night.
City fests will never be as good as camping fests.
Jazzfest is not allowed to push it back. There is a reason that it ends at 7 and it has to do with city ordinances. That is why some of the performers found second venues to play. It is also one of the reasons that they need to stop being at the fairgrounds.
my biggest issue with canceling is why not postpone? Obviously some acts wouldn't be able to reschedule, but some can.
The whole Jazz Fest thing pissed me off because it ends at 7pm. Just push the festival back a few hours. We know that some of the artists stuck around because they preformed in venues that night.
City fests will never be as good as camping fests.
Jazzfest is not allowed to push it back. There is a reason that it ends at 7 and it has to do with city ordinances. That is why some of the performers found second venues to play. It is also one of the reasons that they need to stop being at the fairgrounds.
Thank you!
I assumed it had to do with city ordinances. That's typical. Also....dumb. But I don't/can't make the rules.
"Rain or shine" events could squeeze out of that a technicality - rain or shine, but not heavy winds or lightning and thunder.
A rainstorm can sprinkle, drizzle, or downpour without any wind and lightning, but when those two aspects occur, that's where the real danger comes in, especially in these days of modern technology. High-rise scaffolding (wind), enormous electronic sets (lightning) are susceptible to causing a lot of damage. But I don't need to tell any of you that.
I think the rain or shine on the ticket is meant to tell customers to not expect a refund if it's raining and the event is not cancelled.
I think this is the issue. In my earlier days of festivals rain or shine meant "man the fuck up" or "you will get soggy" where now it means "don't ask for a refund when canceled"
