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!!
As a first timer do you think I should do GA or spend the extra bucks for VIP? I'm going with two other first timers as well (hopefully...still working on convincing them ) who I know will not want to walk for 30-40 minutes...then again I don't think they're willing to spend the extra money. But that's besides the point, basically is it better to stick to GA for your first roo experience then just wait till future trips to go VIP?
Also, I know this is in the wrong area but if anyone's leaving from NY (or surrounding areas) who has extra space please let me know! Gracias.
Hoenstly I say first timers should kick it in GA first. Last year was first for me as well and honetly I dont think I would have gotten what Roo was like if I was in VIP. You take your risking being in GA such as having to walk the 30 min at times but seirously give it a shot at least for the first year.
Agreed. You must GA your 1st time to get the vibe. Chances are you won't be 30-40 minutes away but even if you are 1/2 the fun is at camp chilling with your new best friends.
Post by peaceanlove on Mar 5, 2007 10:38:39 GMT -5
i'm a first timer as well and i'll be meeting up with friends at the wal mart who have been before. We are all planning on setting up near each other and making a little community in the GA. I think GA is the way to go
Post by spookymonster on Mar 5, 2007 11:08:34 GMT -5
I'm also a 'Roo-virgin, and I'm going VIP. I like having the VIP-only portapottys and showers, the free food, the beer discount, and the pre-event party on Thursday. If I'm not feeling the love in VIP camping, I can always bring my gear over to tent-only.
I'm also a 'Roo-virgin, and I'm going VIP. I like having the VIP-only portapottys and showers, the free food, the beer discount, and the pre-event party on Thursday. If I'm not feeling the love in VIP camping, I can always bring my gear over to tent-only.
Just my 2 cents.
I'm with you on this one, Spooky. If you or your friends are not into roughing it (using porta-potties all weekend, sponge-baths at the water trough, and hiking 30 min into Centeroo every day just to bake all day in the sweltering sun), by all means go VIP. Why be miserable (or be around your friends who are miserable)?
There are already some VERY good threads on this board re: "Convince me to go VIP." Those alone have sold a number of people on the upgrade.
It all just depends on how much you (and your friends) are willing to deal with.
Virgin Rooer/Vipper here as well. The way my wife and I looked at it, we're at a point in life where we can afford VIP, but are still young enough (at heart, age-wise, whatever) to enjoy the experience.
So, no, it may not be the "real" Bonnaroo, but if we weren't able to do this, we'd stay home. I love music and dancing around and getting crazy, but I also likes my space, proximity to my stuff, a shower and clean terlits.
1st Time 'Roo'er myself. Gonna go VIP. To each his/her own, but if you have the cash, it seems to make an insane amount of sense to go VIP.
I dunno, I personally love GA and this year wil lbe my second Roo and I thought think that if I had gone VIP last year I wouldnt have gotten a good feel for the festival. Having camping neighbors and sorta roughin it for four days is what its all about I think (along with the music and great times) but as its been said, to each his own and I know that some people jsut arent camping people so its whatever.
Thanks everyone for replying so quickly! Unfortunately, now I'm even more confuzzled than I was before I see that a lot of my fellow "virgins" are going VIP...but veterans are suggesting GA. Grrrr...Yeah I know I should do whatever my little heart desires but my heart's being an indecisive bitch right now so I'd love to get more input on this.
Also, it's unlikely that my two best friends can tag along with me...so now I have to convince my boyfriend to go which will be like pulling teeth. Any ideas how to get an almost 30 year old boring stockbroker to go to this kinda shindig? Not to mention he hates this kinda music...dooooouchebag!
Any ideas how to get an almost 30 year old boring stockbroker to go to this kinda shindig? Not to mention he hates this kinda music...dooooouchebag!
take it easy on the poor guy, will ya? i'm sure if you express how much it means to you, he'd be willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy right?
now then, as to the VIP vs GA question, for me at least, even if i had the cash i wouldn't go VIP because i don't feel the additional benefits are worth the additional ticket cost. again, this depends on your individual preferences, but here's my breakdown.
The VIP package includes:
* VIP entrance (all i do while waiting in line is listen to music, BS with people in other cars around me, and otherwise begin acclimating myself to the 'roo environment...why deprive myself of this experience to save a few minutes? sometimes you even find shakedown vendors while on line...) * Preferred parking and camping (this seems to be huge for a lot of people...the heat really didn't get to me much at all, so the prospect of some additional walking time if i get a far camp doesn't really frighten me. it would be nice to be close, but if i have to walk further, i'll have a better chance of meeting more people on the way, and seeing more cool nuts) * Special shower and restroom facilities (it ain't like i spend a lot of time in the porta-potty, i don't really care what it looks like if cleanliness is important to you, showers might be worthwhile, but i never bother...really, who am i trying to impress here? 10 minutes after you shower you're just going to be sweating bullets again) * VIP pre-event party on Thursday night (idk what this is, but unless they're giving away free party favors or you get to meet a band backstage, i'd rather be exploring the grounds) * Two VIP lounges with:Discounted beverages and Full buffet and snacks (i bring all the beverages i'm going to drink with me, don't drink alcohol at 'roo, and don't eat much. if you like eating/drinking, this might be worthwhile) * Exclusive viewing bleachers for main and second stages (i don't enjoy sitting down while a band is on that i want to see, so bleachers for me seems counterproductive, plus there's a picture of 'em here and they're really not that close imho: www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=172450030&size=l plus, you can't really dance in the bleachers, least not safely ;D) * Commemorative Bonnaroo Package (what is this anyway?) * ...and other amenities
now again, this is just me personally, but at $560.87 per VIP ticket vs $214.50 per GA ticket, even if i was a millionaire, i'm not going to pay more than twice as much for things i probably am not really going to use on principle alone.
one last thing to consider: i have a feeling those who go VIP the first time probably find it difficult to trade down and go GA in subsequent years. i could be wrong, but thats my hunch.
sorry for the ridiculously long post... just consider what's important to you and go with your gut.
Maybe I'll throw myself to the dogs, but my back's not to the wall Maybe I'll lay some bricks for the man, but the days just aren't that long So if I settle back and chill will I see far enough to feel the angel's dream? I thought it was the Story of the World!
When they come to take you down When they bring that wagon round When they come to call on you and drag your poor body down Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me Please forget you know my name, my darling sugaree Shake it, shake it sugaree, just dont tell them that you know me
Thanks a bunch xiphoid (and all others) for such a detailed response! Unfortunately things w/ the bf are not looking good. I'm not going to force him to do something he has absolutely no desire to. Oh well.
Anyway, I’m really leaning towards GA now…which is great cuz as a struggling broke-ass college student I really cannot afford to spend that extra $300 dollars!
I don't think you should worry about coming by yourself. Just camp with the inforoo gang. Everyone I've met on here seems super cool and I'm sure there will be tons of people to hang with. As a matter of fact, I cordially invite you for a schmoke and a pancake with my group.
VIP first time would be nice, but to really appreciate the VIP, I think you need to experience the packt like sardines 45 minute walk to Centeroo. But I appreciated all that last year. Had to GA first year, just to see if I was really into the whole 'Roo thing.
Well, I definitely enjoyed myself. I can tell you we'll damn well be appreciating VIP this year.
here's the thing about going VIP. The VIP amenities are really not all that great. When you compare them to the price of the ticket, the ticket seems to be WAY overpriced for the "amenities" that you do actually get. The crux of the VIP amenities are: Bleachers WAY OFF to the side, Buffet food that is average at best, Beer for $2 instead of $4 or $5, Special VIP-only entrance (normal traffic has tapered WAY off so this isn't that big of a deal anymore). The one amenity that is "special" is the thursday pre-party, imo. However, this goes off as the same time as the Thursday night music, and if there is a band you want to see playing thursday, you might be torn (as I was last year with the Wood Brothers playing the same time as the VIP party).
The one major amenity of VIP is the proximity of your campsite to the stage. In comparison to the price of the ticket, this is BY FAR the one amenity that makes the VIP ticket worth the 600 bones. The problem with that, however, is that if you never experience GA life at Bonnaroo, you may not agree that the proximity is worth the extra $400 in cash. Once you have had to walk 25 minutes to centeroo and miss half of the set you wanted to see, only then does it become crystal clear that VIP is worth the money.
I suggest VIP for anyone who wants to go to Bonnaroo, first-timers or vets. Having attended every Bonnaroo, I will not go back as a GA, and I do plan on attending every Bonnaroo as long as it is in Manchester. But without the experience of GA, you may be left saying "I paid $600 for this?"
Post by macaroniandtuna on Mar 6, 2007 13:04:37 GMT -5
I've never done VIP myself, being a poor college student who sure as hell can't afford it. So I don't know if it's actually worth it. I do think that everyone should do GA the first time 'round, both because it's part of the experience and because, as amazing as Bonnaroo is, I'm sure there are some people who just don't like it and would end up feeling like it was a waste spending that much money. It's kind of like "the sweet isn't as sweet if you don't know the sour too." Or something. Not that GA is bad at all, it's quite fun actually. Err....I don't know if this helped at all, but yeah.
Post by destination5250 on Mar 6, 2007 15:07:07 GMT -5
First timer here and definitley going GA and camping by car. I do like the idea of putting a tent in tent only as a midday stomping ground. Either way, I just couldn't get myself to pay $600 instead of $250 or whatever it came out to.
I went 2005 GA . It was a true experience! I had fun, but you have to have a good since of direction. I got lost the first day, and spent 3 hrs looking for my car. I am looking for a hookup to hang with this yr. I was lucky to meet nice people around me,2005 but I would be more comfortable with meeting up in advance. email me at spider1955@comcast.net
i vote for GA... if you're going solo it will be more fun meeting up with other solo roo-ers around your age. vip tickets are sold in pairs, so you're less likely to encounter solo travelers. plus you really can't ever make up for missing your first roo GA experience.
ga is vip camping for me. i love to go backpacking so a lot of weekends i'm carrying everything i need to survive on my back all day and doing without a lot of the niceties. so the fact the i can camp by my car and have a cooler and sunshelter is more than enough luxury for me (not to mention all the music that will message my ears through the weekend ;D).
also a half hour walk to centeroo is necessity, how else are you gonna check out the offerings on shakedown ? but if you really want to be close (it is nice to be able to come and go as you please without it becoming an ordeal) remember, the parking guides are just that, guides, it's up to you to find the spot to call home for the weekend.
lazylover, I'm a 40 something sales manager and my friend who is coming with me is a 40 something IBM guy (very high on the food chain). We're virgin roo'ers and we're going VIP Camping. When I was younger, the festival camping was fun...but I've got a camper and we can afford it so that's what we're doing. We did it mainly for the proximity to the stage and the fact that we don't have to bring food and waste time cooking and cleaning up (more time to party!!!), and that there are showers available. Here's some karma for you - try to ease up on the bf!
"And no-one showed us to the land And no-one knows the where or whys But something stirs and something tries And starts to climb towards the light" Pink Floyd - Echoes - Meddle
If you go VIP your first time, you'll never "feel" the community of Bonnaroo.
I bet all the first-timers camping with vets at 'The Official Inforoo VIP Camp' will disagree with this when all is said and done.
That said, if you're going with the hopes of seeing as much music as you possibly can and you see everything else as a way to fill a little time here and there, then go VIP.
If you're going because you've heard it's the world's best party and they happen to have bands too, go GA
I"m a virgin 'rooer who is going GA. I want the whole experience. Maybe VIP later, but I really don't see what you get as being worth it for the most part.
) who I know will not want to walk for 30-40 minutes...then again I don't think they're willing to spend the extra money. But that's besides the point, basically is it better to stick to GA for your first roo experience then just wait till future trips to go VIP?
if cleanliness is important to you, showers might be worthwhile, but i never bother...really, who am i trying to impress here? 
I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to...