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!!
Post by steverbeaver on May 7, 2006 11:38:56 GMT -5
Radiohead is by far my favourite band and i really want to see them up close. (i know, i'm being greedy). i was wondering how early people start crowding the main stage to get good spots for the headliners...?
I don't really think that is too greedy. Seeing your favorite band up close is mind blowing!!!!! I've never been to Roo so I can't give you a very accurate answer but I posted a topic awhile back kind of like this but just referring to the scene at the shows in general. It seemed like most people said that they got up front during the show previous to whatever you want to see....
I was considering asking the same question. If it is selfish to want to see my favorite band of all time up close, then so be it. I don't plan on being a prick about it and shoving my way to the front, but you better believe if I have to miss 2 or 3 hours worth of other shows just to get in line to see Radiohead from a respectable distance I will do it.
I know at Austin City Limits last year people waited at the mainstage for four or five hours just to see Coldplay. I don't know about Roo as this will be my first time there but at ACL what most people did was set up their lawn chairs and just chill there until their band came on. I don't even know if lawn chairs are allowed at the stages at Roo.
Post by thefussydutchman on May 7, 2006 14:29:30 GMT -5
I've seen people bring lawn chairs with them to sit at the front stage for hours just to see their one band, which seems kinda like a waste with all the other music going on. Last year I showed up a half-hour before the Allman Brothers set and started working my way up and before I knew it the Allman Brothers were on stage and Gregg Allman was 10 feet away from me. SO the moral is if you really wanna go see your band front row with a little work and determination you can do it. Although it may be harder with a radiohead or oysterhead as those two bands seem to be the biggest draw this year.
"We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, movie gods, and rock stars. But we wont, and we're slowly learning that fact & we're very, very pissed off......."
Post by Lucid Interval on May 7, 2006 21:36:28 GMT -5
Yeah i came straight from J5 to Allmans and got a pretty decent spot right to the left of center... I'd say the popular tent shows would be a harder spot to reserve... With the open air stages its not to hard to flank around either side and get a decent wide angle view... Getting a spot at UM/Bisco will be a milllion times harder than Radiohead... Not because of the draw but because of the stage...
Unless you're carting around an entourage, you'll be able to get up front for just about every (stage) show you want to see. Factoring in the rabidness of the Radiohead fan though, I dunno. That's the "x" factor...if you will. I'm among the mellowed rabid, so I'm no Kampy or anything, but we'll see how things end up. :-D
I used the push through at the end of the previous band- you essentially end up filling in the space of the departing people. Worked for me for Jack Johnson and Herbie.
I have been able to get up close to the main stage with a little work. If you are polite and not rude. most people will let you slide on up to the front. If you want to see a major headliner you may want to be there before they come on to get a space up front. I dont think you willl have a problem to get up close in the main stage area if you are there in plenty of time. I got pretty close the last few years to the main stage numerous times. 2 years ago we followed this kid up close and kind of made a game of it to see who could closer and followed each other up to the main stage.
How long is there between shows at the mainstage? If I go an hour or two early for Radiohead is it gonna be silence over there or will a lesser band be playing?
A great option is to bring along a "Neat Sheet" or one of those blankets that is plastic on the bottom. They are great to lay out on the ground between sets. It gives your feet a much needed rest from standing.
In response to your question, if you want to be a considerate person, then arrive before the previous band quits and move up with the flow of the crowd. If it's really worth it and you want to be real close, then come two bands previous.
This post begs the question...is there any bigger bummer at a music festival than waiting out shows, moving up between bands, earning a spot and staking your claim, just to have someone push their way through people and stop right in front of you just before or even during the show? After all the patience it takes to get that close in a considerate manner, it really gets me irked to have people take the liberty of stealing my well deserved view. Nothing kills my buzz like some uncomfortably close man-ass in front of me. Plus if there is any room to be had up close, it's your hard earned dance groove space.
So, I encourage you all, if you enjoy a good view and some get-yer-groove-on space, dont forget to be considerate of others trying to do the same. Do unto others as you would like to be treated. Or something like that. (Thank you Mrs. Dunscome, Kindergarden teacher, Norris Elementary School for that wisdom.)
From all the talk of Radiohead this year I would say get there hours and numerous shows early. Once the band before Radiohead finishes I really doubt there is going to be any movement from the people in the front. I agree it sucks waiting forever to get a good spot only to have people push there way up and stand in front of you but it's gonna happen. There is no way around it. Personally I've never felt it was worth it to stand or sit around all day in once place, especially at the stages where there is no shade. You'll miss a lot of other stuff. But if your determined to be up front then get there real early.
Post by Lucid Interval on May 8, 2006 19:42:40 GMT -5
The "dance groove space" is typically in the back man, always has been always will be... The front is for people who want a view, and theres ALOT of them, so pile in tight and hold on for the ride...
You definately have to be respectable but its inevitable that the front will eventually be shoulder to shoulder, its just that way it is at G.A. shows...
Well I wouldn't say it's always in the back... I was surprised by the number of dancers and circles in the front wings of the stages as well. Near the fence during Jack Johnson was a fairy fest of fluttering.
Last year I distinctly remember seeing the DMB fans sprint to the fron of the stage when they opened the gates to the main stage. They stood there all day so they could be in prime position for DMB. Just depends on how dedicated you are to a single band and how much great music you are willing to miss elsewhere.
Especially at roo where people have schedules and conflicts to deal with, space opens up as people move out to see half of another show, thus creating my (your) groove space. It's not gonna happen often or for very long, so I figure ya just have to go with the flow, but damned if I am not a bit disappointed when my dance floor or vision closes in on me. I guess that would be harder to come by during the headliners, but it was definately the case during the Black Crowes last year on the big stage. And my favorite memory of last year was in a personal mud puddle that opened up at the Karl Denson show. That was epic.
Post by steverbeaver on May 10, 2006 10:56:46 GMT -5
ok...i'm still a little confused. so in theory, you can wait at the mainstage all day if you wanted to? or do they close off the mainstage area so people have to line up at the gates and sprint to the front like an hour before the show starts...?
Post by sparklybecca on May 10, 2006 11:05:37 GMT -5
steverbeaver said:
ok...i'm still a little confused. so in theory, you can wait at the mainstage all day if you wanted to? or do they close off the mainstage area so people have to line up at the gates and sprint to the front like an hour before the show starts...?
no, you could wait all day =) there arent 'gates' between each stage, once your in centeroo, your pretty much in centerooooooooo
being up front in a General Admission situation is severely overrated due to the fact that if you get there early and get close, inevitably some prick who shows up 3 minutes before the show is scheduled to start will push his way to the front, sandwiching you between the stage and all the other sweaty stinky bodies there.
That being said, it's really not that hard to get up front at the Roo before the show starts, maybe not front row, but first 5-6 rows, if you just know how to walk through the crowd. I prefer being further away and having space. The Big Screens at the Roo fill you in on what you can't see.
and yea you can wait all day at the mainstage, although that seems extremely silly.
ok...i'm still a little confused. so in theory, you can wait at the mainstage all day if you wanted to? or do they close off the mainstage area so people have to line up at the gates and sprint to the front like an hour before the show starts...?
Sorry, i guess I explained that poorly. The Main Stage is blocked off in the morning, then a little after noon or an hour or so before the first act comes on, they open up the main stage, then the people sprint up to the front and stand there for the next 8 hours or so...
Post by futurecowboy on May 10, 2006 12:44:07 GMT -5
Hornet nailed it. In terms of the main Centeroo/What Stage entrance, you either go thru the Centeroo chutes/security, or the What Stage chutes/security. They are separate. So if you come into Centeroo thru the other chutes, which are on the other side, then you have to go thru the What Stage chutes to get in there.
This may be confusing, but looking at any official Centeroo map should clear it up. I can't link to one right now b/c my work web filter is blocking them all. Just google "Centeroo Map."
Unless you're carting around an entourage, you'll be able to get up front for just about every (stage) show you want to see. Factoring in the rabidness of the Radiohead fan though, I dunno. That's the "x" factor...if you will. I'm among the mellowed rabid, so I'm no Kampy or anything, but we'll see how things end up. :-D
Ha ha AD I almost missed that...
in my experience, there's a couple methods - get there really early, or you could just be a complete jerk and just plow your way up to the front. I almost always do the former, but have done the latter a couple times too... but people will want to fight you, and that's not cool, especially at roo....
I expect the main stage for radiohead to be similar to the main stage at Coachella this year. I started worming my way into the crowd 3 acts before the headliner. During each changeover, there's a huge surge of people moving forward and backwards. But I'd say you'll have to get there at least a couple acts ahead of time if you want to be within 100 ft of the stage. You can get there later if you don't mind a side-view angle... but if you want a central view, get there early
And AD is right, it takes a certain "rabidness" to go through hours of being on your feet crunched up against strangers, just to be close to the stage. For me, it's worth it; but it's not for most people, and definitely not for people who have "personal space" issues....
by the way, I'm hoping to get a handful of inforooers together for the great radiohead camp-out at the main stage... expect a new thread soon!
Post by steverbeaver on May 16, 2006 10:52:45 GMT -5
Kampy, i'm liking the inforoo radiohead campout idea. I'm totally up for that.
I'm not that worried about missing other acts that day. I've still got the other days to check out bands. Sure, i will miss out on some real great acts, but i'm sure the pay out will be worth it. Plus, you still get to see whoever is playing on the mainstage!
The Infohead campout sounds like a great idea. The problem for me is that Saturday is such a stacked day that I know that I will miss a couple of acts.