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!!
the AC tents go a long way, but they are also not as good as people are describing. in the full heat of the day, they are maybe 15 degrees cooler than outside. you have to find a vent and plop yourself in front of it to really feel the AC.
WRONG! I don't know what they did different from last year, but those suckers were cold this year. God love em.
I took showers in afternoons, not in the mornings. My 'awkward' conversation skills have always worked fine in the past.
'Lacks empathy' I have been a Firefighter/Paramedic for over 10 years now. When you have seen the things that I have seen then you can talk to me about empathy.
I should have waited a few days before I commented on this subject. Fatigue and post-Roo blues don't exactly lead to polite and intelligent discussion.
To everyone, I was an ass and I am truly sorry.
All right, STOP - you are not an ass - you are a nice guy - and I can say that 'cause I met you and your wife. But you did cause a good commotion, though, which was kinda fun! Let me know when you are visiting Boston....!
Post by crazykittensmile on Jun 18, 2011 21:57:49 GMT -5
This is the first roo I have been too that I didn't come home sick... So yes, VIP was worth it! Showers each day and hand washing after each potty visit has to make some sort of a difference. Those little wipey things/purell aren't quite the same.
Would be nice if they put those porta hand washing stations around Centeroo & GA camping...
Hopefully you'll consider splurging on VIP next year, man. I can assure you that you will NOT regret it. Not only that, we're Aspie-friendly...some of us are ADD/OCD, so you'll fit right in!
Done.
Now what do I do with the other ticket? Should be fun to see what I'll do in the next 11 months.
Hopefully you'll consider splurging on VIP next year, man. I can assure you that you will NOT regret it. Not only that, we're Aspie-friendly...some of us are ADD/OCD, so you'll fit right in!
Done.
Now what do I do with the other ticket? Should be fun to see what I'll do in the next 11 months.
This is the first roo I have been too that I didn't come home sick... So yes, VIP was worth it! Showers each day and hand washing after each potty visit has to make some sort of a difference. Those little wipey things/purell aren't quite the same.
Would be nice if they put those porta hand washing stations around Centeroo & GA camping...
This is one of the big reasons I'm thinking VIP next year. I'm still coughing like mad and have cold type symptoms almost a week out. Either this or RV. One of the two, I can't deal with this after regular tent camping again. Decisions....
Now what do I do with the other ticket? Should be fun to see what I'll do in the next 11 months.
I'll split with ya!
That would work. My list went something like this anyway...
1. Girlfriend (don't have one currently) 2. Best friend (in debt to eyeballs, not very interested anyway) 3. Coworker friend (doesn't have that kind of money, should go to Bamboozled over Roo anyway) 4. Inforoo person, preferably one willing to let me crash at their camp/RV since I have no camping supplies of my own or could borrow.
Post by Chris Major on Jun 20, 2011 3:44:36 GMT -5
So theres a couple things that I was unaware of about VIP that could help me enhance my experience next year. I was new to VIP this year so I think I missed a couple things. These are three things I've seen discussed in posts that I was totally unaware of last weekend.
1. We have our own path between the What and Which stages?
2. We have the hill AND bleachers at the What Stage?
3. We have viewing areas at the tent stages? I've seen conflicting opinions on this.
1. We have our own path between the What and Which stages?
No, I don't believe so. That's for people with Guest/"that" passes.
2. We have the hill AND bleachers at the What Stage?
Only the hill. The bleachers are for Access I believe.
3. We have viewing areas at the tent stages? I've seen conflicting opinions on this.
I think it depended on the security folks. I was told it was for people with "That" (artist/guest) passes. But I do know some VIP people did manage to get in that area for certain shows. But no, it's not technically for VIP people.
Post by thebigbuddha on Jun 20, 2011 9:50:52 GMT -5
This was my 7th year going GA. I've never had a problem with anything being stolen, or having anything other than awesome neighbors. I always thought going VIP would take something away from the "Roo experience." However the daytime was pretty bad for me a couple times this year. Sunday afternoon in particular, someone tossed their cookies (or Arepas) in the urinal portos between This and the Other tents. The air was absolutely thick with chemicals and evil foulness. It still didn't ruin my festival experience, but it did make me consider VIP if I ever have that kind of disposable income in future years.
GA would've been a little easier this year without the sheer number of people. Definitely felt more crowded than it has any year, since I started going in '05.
Post by superchester on Jun 20, 2011 12:45:46 GMT -5
Eh, I didn't think the "VIP experience" was "worth" it and I got a great deal on our VIP tickets. I've done 2 years GA and this year VIP. This was my least favorite year and I'm trying to figure how much of it was because of VIP (certainly there were other factors).
For the cost of 1 VIP ticket, you can purchase 3 GA tickets. The experience should merit that cost and I find it interesting that so many people believe that it does. I hate camping and I hate porta-potties but the bathroom experience, for me, was not worth the cost of 2 additional tickets. The A/C lounge(s) was nice, but I don't think I clocked more than 30-45 minutes total time in there over the weekend. The line to Centeroo was shorter, yes, but not so much that I just HAVE to do it from now on. Not to mention I got searched worse in VIP than any previous year...dude opened every pocket on my girlfriend's backpack, opened everything inside and even took out her mint case and opened it up...just entirely unnecessary and NOT "VIP treatment".
The free beer on Thursday was nice, the people were pleasant, neighbors were great, phone charging station was awesome, but I felt like I lost a bit of the adventure. I can't tangibly describe why, but I think it's kind of like skateboarding around town and learning all the best spots and then your city opening a skate park and not letting you skate around town anymore. Sure a skate park is meant and designed for the best skateboarding experience, but the character and adventure of riding around town and finding spots is just gone.
I know it's different for everyone and certain people need certain accommodations...but I have a heard time believing that VIP is "worth" or has the "value" of triple ticket price.
The perks of Total Access *sound* like they are worth the ridiculous price. For me, a regular dude, I cannot justify the VIP price. Perhaps an RV would supply me and my group with the right balance of perks, as I doubt I can get them to save all of their lawn mowing checks for a trip in to TA...
Not to mention I got searched worse in VIP than any previous year...dude opened every pocket on my girlfriend's backpack, opened everything inside and even took out her mint case and opened it up...just entirely unnecessary and NOT "VIP treatment".
That is the opposite of my experience this year. I took in 3-4 beers almost every time I went in. Security never really looked at me at all. Maybe 'cause I'm old?
I also got searched more coming through VIP than I ever did in GA.... and yet they let a girl in front of me take in a beer??? But my bag of toilet paper was very suspicious.
Perhaps an RV would supply me and my group with the right balance of perks, as I doubt I can get them to save all of their lawn mowing checks for a trip in to TA...
I think the perks of an RV definitely help enough. I'm sure it doesn't come close to all of the comforts offered by VIP, but it helps make for an easier morning. My friend and I had a tent outside a friend's ancient RV and even though the shower didn't work, the difference made by having a compartment to cleanse your boys with a gallon of water, and an air conditioned place to enjoy some corn before heading to Centeroo was immeasurable.
We never got searched going in to Centeroo from VIP. I think a couple of times we were asked if we had anything we shouldn't but otherwise we just passed through. My big thing about going VIP was to avoid waiting in traffic to get into Bonnaroo on Thursday and having waited for over 9 hours in 2009 and knowing that could happen again was the tipping point for me. We waited for less than 30 minutes this year at 9:00 AM and were set up and ready to go by 11:00. Is it worth all of the extra $$$$? That's probably open to debate but there are certainly enough advantages to make it worth more than GA and this year I was fortunate enough to have the resources to do it.
Post by nwdreamer74 on Jun 20, 2011 15:35:05 GMT -5
I'm kind of torn. My first year we went GA with an RV and had a lot of fun. We go with a couple from washington state and just don't think that they could handle the heat of a tent. This year we went VIP (with our ac pop-up) and i felt spoiled. I am very short and the Hill was awesome for me. The bleachers were too when they weren't crowded. No wait on 24 was awesome but I heard that by Thursday there wasn't any wait at all. The access from VIP into Centeroo was great with no lines ever. the ac tent in centeroo with the toilets was nice. many of the bands that I wanted to see were in tents so vip didn't matter. I found my crew wanting to hang in the ac tents and just watching shows on the screens more and more and that kind of aggravated me because I wanted to be "in it" but that's my fault. The toilets and showers were great but you can take a shower and use the toilet in an rv. We did meet more people in vip than in GA last year and they were so friendly. I could say that I'd do GA again but I have a feeling that while sitting in a porta potty in centeroo or trying to jump over peoples heads to see someone on a stage I'd be really missing VIP.
One thing I had counted on - - and didn't get - - was minimal searching on the way into Centeroo. Pockets emptied everytime. Not that I even had anything to hide! Compared to 2005 (last VIP), when we openly brought in beers and chairs, this was a surprise.
That being said, the Hill and the shaded tent at What were lifesavers. So was the a/c'd tent at Which. Huge plus.
Also a little pissed about the fact that the second VIP entrance (by What stage hill and bathrooms opened later on Friday than announced.
All in all, we'd do VIP again. It's what the money is for.
Post by krstlpeach on Jun 20, 2011 21:09:27 GMT -5
As far as the searches went for us, upon arrival, they asked if we had a cooler. They looked in it and said we were good to go. Going into Centeroo, I had my camelback open when I got to them, they peeked in it, squeezed the bottom, and that was it. Either I look old and harmless or we lucked out, it seems.
the searches going into centeroo got pretty intrusive.. with one guy lifting up my shirt which i thought was odd. no pat down just lifting my my shirt. no rhyme or reason. they searched the hell out of one friends bag who had stuff in there that probably wasn't allowed.. for a good minute he was rooting around in there.. and then just let him through. was very strange
oh.. and those wristbands are a CRAP idea. the line getting out at some points was slower then getting in because of people having to scan and rescan. and then you have to get scanned again going into VIP? what was the point?
On Friday night I left the hill after the Decemberists to go back to camp & grab some beers. As I left by the BFE gate I noticed a new crew of security- mostly high school kids- getting some kind of a pep talk from a supervisor like guy. They looked very enthusiastic. Needless to say I did not return the same way, going around through the arch. The guys there were older and looked bored and gave me minimal search.
Post by thelongstar on Jan 31, 2012 21:05:28 GMT -5
I have to say, as a pair of mid-30s Roogins who will be driving a long way to have our cherries popped, this thread was incredibly helpful. Certainly in my 20s it would've been GA all the way, but for those of us that view this as a "once in a lifetime" experience, having the input of others regarding VIP has been incredibly beneficial. Thanks all!
