Press Pass/Media Question

I had a media pass back in 06. Like whomever said it earlier, the media backstage isn't anything fancy, but there is wi-fi, air conditioned tents, lots of shade, and free water. You know there are only a fraction of the amount of people using the toilets too, so they are usually a tad bit cleaner.

I'm coming back this year, aiming to arrive early Thursday. From what I remember, the media tent was pretty much empty until Friday noon-ish, and yeah, as of last week they were still trying to work out all of the press conferences, but those are usually pretty rad.

I'm bringing just a D-50, and two cheap lenses. 18-125 and a 70-300. I might try to snag a cheap wideange or fisheye for random festival coverage, too.

Does anyone have an extra photo pass. I'm attending as a photographer, but of course only have a media pass. If you have no idea what you're doing, let's trade! It really sucks wading through a sea of peopel for ten hours to get decent shots of the headliners.

I didn't even send in my request to Lolla yet, we still have another month (july 1st is the deadline).

In the past, I was given a photo pass one year, but not the next two. Hm. Oh well.

We're not radio per se... but we only deal in audio. Hung out a good bit with the radio people last year. Kicked off the weekend with a "tequila tasting." Good times. I think we did more interviews than a lot of the radio people last year... Always on the go!

Got a bunch of interviews on our plate for this year. There are a lot still in the works, but right now, we're possibly looking at Bela Fleck, O.A.R., Ozomatli (possibly up to 5 members of the band), MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Serena Ryder, Talib Kweli, Back Door Slam, and a few others... The week before Roo is always super hectic. Not only are we doing a ton of research and prep work, but we're getting requests from publicists to interview their artists...

Any way you look at it, Roo's gonna be great!

Got my email today with directions. They suggest going from the Will Call down to the Brushy Branch entrance. Isn't that automatic far the heck away campsite status entering there?

i was sent a PDF file with instructions on how to get to the will call location (the radio station).
basically they said bring a picture ID, blah blah...
Fantasy 101 Radio Station Office
1025 Hillsboro Rd.

& the hours...

Will Call Pick Up Hours:
6/12/08 Thursday 7am-11 PM
6/13/08 Friday 7am-11 PM
6/14/08 Saturday 7am-6pm
6/15/08 Sunday 7am-6pm

and thats all i got.

Photo wristband is a media band, as well.

Also, if you are in guest camping, you're not picking up your passes at the radio station, but at another location, so landa, you might want to confirm that.

So I have a quick question? How does it work getting in the front for the smaller shows in the tents? Do you have to be there right when the band goes on? Cause looking at the schedule, I might have to come half way through a set to some bands. Do they let you in half way through? Also, do they restrict the number of photographers in the pit for the headliners? Thanks guys, I cant wait until next week, this will be my first time shooting a festival.

thanks cdn. my guest access was actually hooked up separately from the press access, so i will have to go to the radio station first, and then to the holiday inn to get my guest access.

so, i guess the what and which are strictly first 3 songs and the tents are more flexible? i've noticed at some fests (roo, coachella, langerado) that they will let some photographers go in the pit halfway through the set and shoot some pics. that would make things much easier. can't wait until superdrag. they're pretty great live. i wish they were playing a little later. they're a much better live band than MGMT and Vampire Weekend.

it really depends on the band.

if you have photo pass, you are required to bring an SLR camera this year -- there is a strict no point-and-shoot cameras rule in the photo pit. if you enter the photo pit using point-and-shoot cameras, especially the big shows, you will likely lose your photo access. just a heads up for anyone planning to bring their PowerShots, Elphs, Coolpix etc.

if you don't have photo access but do have media, you may be able to take pictures from the side of the stage, but more likely you will need to do so from the audience.

Now I have a question:

If we're camping and we have to pick up our tix/press, I know that last year we could do so on Wednesday. This year I am told that's not an option, which means we may end up camping so far away from Centeroo that it becomes a hassle. Can anyone offer a creative suggestion that will keep this from being a problem? I'm very concerned about it -- I had made a firm decision this year to try and get to Bonnaroo right when gates opened.

*COUGH*

I thought about this too. I wanted to to pick ours up tomorrow night, but it wasn't offered as an option. The line to get your credentials moves pretty quickly. We're def doing tent only. No freakin' way we're doing BFE this year.

Park and move!

The real question is: How easy is it going to be for one of you to sneak me into the media area?

From my past experience covering the roo, un-easy.

there's nothing exciting about the media area, really, and it's so embarrassing to get thrown out of some place where nothing all that exciting is happening. you're better off hanging out at the festival.