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Ok, so I know the cons of VIP, all the things that I would miss if I wasn't in general camping. But I need help with the pros of VIP - I just can't bring myself to thinking it's worth $550(if it doesn't go up more!) vs. $150 (pre-sale)... it's tough
But it seems some of my favorite roo-ers might take the VIP leap, and I like those people darn it!
So can anyone who has gone VIP please tell me some really fabulous things about it... things good enough to make me spend $400 extra dollars! I'm having some trouble rationalizing it on my own!
Thanks.... I'll be waiting patiently ;D
Last Edit: Dec 13, 2006 10:25:41 GMT -5 by Tara - Back to Top
"I can resist everything but temptation." - Oscar Wilde
Post by crazykittensmile on Dec 13, 2006 10:37:33 GMT -5
lol, i'd NEVER consider doing vip for any other kind of festival/concert, but when you break it down it's $100 more a day for free food, very cheap drinks, being right by the big stage (with your car/RV), not having to wait in the long line along the highway to get in, being allowed to take whatever you want into centeroo (even smuggled babies) and unlimited showers and nearby/clean potties.
hmm ok the 100 a day is a good point, cause i probably end up spending about 50 a day anyway... on food and other fun stuff.... who's smuggling babies in though?! ???
Last Edit: Dec 13, 2006 11:10:07 GMT -5 by Tara - Back to Top
"I can resist everything but temptation." - Oscar Wilde
crazykitten essentially nailed it. the one thing she didn't mention is Free Showers, which is a big plus if you ask me. The other thing you get is access inside Centeroo BEFORE GA gets in on Thursday.
Reality is you don't miss out on anything being inside VIP, b/c you can still walk out into GA. Only thing you miss out on are dirty wooks who might break into your nuts.
For me, it's all about the proximity. I've done the Roo every year, and I refuse to go back to GA, mainly b/c you can never be guaranteed a close spot. Sure you can do tent only, but last year tent only was CRAMMED full. I had a HUGE spot in VIP, and there was alot of empty space next to me to sprawl out and throw a frisbee or whatever. You also can sit and watch the mainstage from your camp. The sound is still great at that distance, and you can see the screens very well.
It's really personal preference for me. There are so many amazing bands at Bonnaroo that I want to see as many as I can. VIP affords me that oppurtunity, b/c it's literally a 5 minute walk to any stage, w/ ZERO security. I saw 40 bands last year, when my previous high had been in the 20s. I got to see some of those bands from Camp, so that was an added bonus.
It is quite a bit more expensive, but I've been planning it since the last Roo, so that's not much of an issue for me. I put a little back here, a little back there, and I'm set by the time tix go onsale.
I highly recommend it to anyone who can afford it, just be aware that once you go VIP, you will not want to go back to GA.
There is a set of bathrooms with AC, but there are also several just normal port-o-johns all around as well.
Let's not forget the party on Wednesday night! Last year it was free beer (and GOOD beer like Magic Hat), a comedian and then our own personal Rebirth Brass Band performance!
For me it's all about proximity. Even forgetting something trivial was just a short walk back to grab it. And naps. And a drink (which we'd just bring right into Centeroo with us). It let me dance all night much easier each night! And if I wanted a shower, I just pop in and get one (at the water temperature of my choosing). And aside from the initial rush on food for meals when they first began, you could generally just waltz in and grab some snack stuff. Plus, you could eat as much as you want-- and just make a big meal in the middle of the day if you wanted.
But just being in Centeroo between bands and having 1/2 an hour to kill and say, "I think I'll go get a quick shower, grab a beer from our cooler and some fries from the VIP tent and then walk around" makes it impossible to go back to GA for me now.
I just use my tax return for the tickets. I consider it my Xmas present.
Post by trippindaisy on Dec 13, 2006 15:56:54 GMT -5
I was sooo tempted to go VIP after the hell of being on the very outskirts of the camping this year, but I just cannot justify paying that much for 4 of us. We could take a trip overseas for that much money......
Wait-- one of the trailers last year was an uber-clean, 2001-style white bathroom that was air conditioned via generator...
hmmm, guess I missed it. But I didn't really use the bathrooms all that much as we bring an RV. I'll look for it this year, though. Where was it? by the showers? Only bathrooms I saw were the ones outside the hospitality tent.
crazykittensmile said:
are they more lax about checking your car/rv when you come in through the vip entrance? mainly wondering about beer/liquor in glass containers...
well, they weren't checking everyone. We did get checked. They let like 5 cars go, and then would pull over a car. We got pulled over. I had stashed a bunch of glass liquor bottles though, and had a bunch of beer bottles hidden, and they never found them. Some guy just came on the RV, looked around my stuff, and let me through after a minute. It did help that i had a massive extension ladder (to get on the roof), blocking the entire walkway. :-)
Where was it? by the showers? Only bathrooms I saw were the ones outside the hospitality tent.
It was to the left of the showers, down a ways.
And on the checks on the way in-- we weren't even spoken to much less checked-- meanwhile, the guys in a bus behind us were completely boarded and had tons of bottles removed. So it's pretty random.
Post by crazykittensmile on Dec 13, 2006 23:33:53 GMT -5
iskew said:
gougeaway said:
Where was it? by the showers? Only bathrooms I saw were the ones outside the hospitality tent.
It was to the left of the showers, down a ways.
And on the checks on the way in-- we weren't even spoken to much less checked-- meanwhile, the guys in a bus behind us were completely boarded and had tons of bottles removed. So it's pretty random.
hm, so i'll just have to hide them very well and hope for the best i s'pose
If I did go VIP I would definitely be tenting, not going in an RV - did anyone else tent in VIP? Was it noisy from the generators or whatever on the RV's?
One thing that's probably not clear to people who haven't gone VIP yet is that the VIP section is SUPER WIDE OPEN. You could throw a frisbee as hard as you want and never hit anyone in some places. In some spots there is as much as 20 yards between people. You can have it as private or clustered as you want. People tented near RV friends or on their own. But they do have a tent only section.
I concur w/ what everyone else has said. Did the first 4 yrs gen admin, then VIP last yr. Yes, it's a lotta extra cash, but if you can swing it...it's totally worth it. The showers/air-conditioned and clean bathrooms, free food, cheap beer and bleacher seating (what/which stages) are clutch...but the real kicker is proximity. You really can't put a pricetag on the proximity and ease of access to/from Centeroo and the big stage. Last year I saw so much more music and conserved so much more energy by not having to walk 1+ mile one way from camp. When you camp in BFE, you really can only make one or two trips a day; w/ VIP you can come and go as you please. Oh and you can bring chairs and beers (be discreet) in w/ you -- they don't pat you down like they do. If you're on the fence, get off it!
And to correct an earlier post, the special pre-party is on Thurs nite (not Wed nite). Lots of fun - free beer, top-notch food, etc.
My only hope is that they add a hospitality (i.e., beer) tent in the centeroo area, perhaps behind the which stage bleachers. still ended spending a lot inside
VIP is the only way to go. When you do the math, you can justify it. If you went to 100 concerts and stayed in an all-inclusive hotel for five days, you would spend way more than $600. I never regreted spending the money.
The first year we went GA and last year was our first VIP experience. On Sunday we decided to walk over to BFE where we camped in 2005 and it was the most depressing time of the weekend. Those people were miserable and packed in so tight you couldn't walk between tents.
The air-conditioned bathrooms were my favorite part, though. The bathroom attendants (one male, one female) camp by the bathroom in their own tent and kept it supplied with toilet paper, paper towels, soap (yes, there are sinks) and lotions. I found that when we were listening to bands at the main stage, I would walk to the air-conditioned bathroom in 4 to 5 minutes. Yes, there were closer port-a-potties, but the walk was nice and I could grab a snack or cheap beer in the hospitality tent on the way back out.
Some other VIP highlights: 1. On Thursday, they had people delivering ice to the VIP campers via golf cart. 2. The hospitality tent (where the food is served) is air-conditioned 3. The waitstaff in the hospitality tent were awesome 4. We could enter the main stage area at anytime - GA could only enter after noon or 1pm
Here are some pics: - hospitality tent
back yard
lots of camping room
bathrooms (attentents' tent is to the right) - pic taken from our tent/camp
tempting. my crew is considering it just based on the fact you know where you will be camping, time to get to and from the tents, discounted (or free) food and beer. Plus, we can always walk to the regular camping areas and vendors. We are waiting to see what the prices will be. Most of us got advanced purchase tickets and are really happy with that savings right now! Happy Holidays everyone!
No problem. I'd love to convince you guys to go VIP in 2007.
Also, if you take a look at the aerial photo I posted above, you can tell that they pre-marked the camping areas in VIP. This was so smart on their part and provided plenty of room, but also still small enough that we were able to get to know our neighbors.
More pics of VIP ...
- front yard
- room to breathe
- um, yeah, that's carpet.
- these VIP'ers even brought their own golf cart (they must be livin' right!)
Well I was actually starting to sway, and I discussed it with my boyfriend tonight (a roo virgin) and at first he was ok with the price and the free food sounded cool to him... However, as I described more, like the showers, a/c air bathrooms, and room to spread out, THAT was the stuff he didn't like! I guess cause lots of his friends have gone and he never has he wants the "real" roo experience the first time, can't say I blame them. He actually said, "I want to be packed in" & "I thought you were supposed to be dirty for 5 days" lol....
So, I'll think about it and work on him But if his friends decide to go it's not looking good cause he was really disappointed they couldn't hang out with us in vip.
Well if we break up before then, my plans could change! hehe... but I don't really see that happening.
BAH!!!!
Last Edit: Dec 15, 2006 0:38:11 GMT -5 by Tara - Back to Top
"I can resist everything but temptation." - Oscar Wilde
- hospitality tent
back yard
lots of camping room
bathrooms (attentents' tent is to the right) - pic taken from our tent/camp
Rebirth Brass Band - VIP party
)
I'd love to convince you guys to go VIP in 2007.
- front yard
- room to breathe
- um, yeah, that's carpet.
- these VIP'ers even brought their own golf cart (they must be livin' right!)
- General Admission = never again!