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 helterskelter229 on Feb 28, 2005 17:45:38 GMT -5
Has anyone else talked to anyone, or seen on other boards, people saying they aren't going to Roo this year because it is going downhill, becoming to mainstream/commercialized? What is the deal with that? I admit it's crossed my mind, but I try and stay optimistic and have faith that the organizers won't allow that to happen. At least not in its fourth year.
Yes, I've read those things. I mean, where else can you go for $165 and listen to all that music? As longs as there is a good mix of commercial and independent "vendors" I'm ok with it.
i heard that also, it drives me nuts, the main reason for the whole thing is the music, followed in close second by friendship. This will be my 3rd year. In the previous two there have been plenty of both......until that stops I'll be there.........sometimes I think people get successful and corporate/commercialized mixed up.......long live the ROO.
Post by Plain Jane Patchwork on Mar 16, 2005 11:24:40 GMT -5
DubbyDov said:
isn't Bonnaroo in bed with Clear channel?
what's the connection there?
I have heard that rumor too and I don't think it is true. Clear channel owns the technology to burn CD's right after a show. I think that is where that rumor comes from.
Another rumor I always here is that MTV is going to be there! Ugh. The last two years I have heard that but did I see any MTV cameras...no. I think if MTV was going to be there they would be a sponser. If they were a sponser you would think a link to their website would be on bonnaroo's website somewhere like the other sponsors.
I don't really get when people say it has become more "commercialized". Do they mean more main stream artists? Or the sponsors and vendors? Even the first year they had sponsors. I remember going into the Pall Mall tent to get free smokes! I got a VW sticker from another sponsor.
It is very annoying to read any other boards about bonnaroo. If you are just trying to get information about camping someone always feels the need to chime in with, "you shouldn't go to bonnaroo."
According to the Roo folks .. who respond to questions submitted to info@bonnaroo.com .. Roo is in no way affiliated with Clear Channel OR MTV.
I, for one, hope that is true. I don't care much to feed the demon known as Clear Channel ( ), and MTV should never be mixed with Roo in my opinion.
This will be my 3rd time in Manchester.. have LOVED the last 2 festivals, and would be devastated to see it focus more on commercialized *stuff* versus music.. which, let's face it.. is what brings us there in the first place!
Umm, MTV did have cameras there to interview people. I know this because I was walking by and saw MTV right on the cameras. Do I think they have a hand in Bonnaroo, I doubt it.
Bonnaroo has been about comericalizing the festival since year one. I mean what other festival puts out Cd's of thier festival? No one,except for Bonnaroo. Then the 2nd year they tried to expand to my town in Riverhead,NY , but backed out with the FieldDay BS.
Lets face it, they are in the business to make a profit, but at the same time put out a good product, which they do. Just go to roo and leave all the worries at home.
Post by melikecheese on May 3, 2005 10:30:21 GMT -5
Lets those people be down on the Roo then they wont come and ruin it for us. This we be my first year! Finally made it after waiting to long for tickets 2nd year, no one to go with 3rd, so I am pumped and ready to go and bringing some good vibes with me!
if you think about it, the sunday closer being the same as saturdays headliner kinda sucks for everybody thats not a huge widespread fan. i've never caught them live, just listened to alot of tapes, but since i'll be spending half of their set saturday waiting in front of the stage at Trey's tent, i wont mind. it is a little odd though.
I know lots and lots of folks who are down on 'roo. The best reason I've heard people give is that smaller fests are just so much easier to deal with, and that is correct. I've done Wanee and Smilefest over the past six weeks and both were glorious. My campsite this weekend was about 500 yards from both stages. I've never had an easier time at a fest.
Roo is hard work, period, but the energy, and the possibilities, are unmatched. Sure, there is plenty of sketch, but there is also considerable joy and positive feelings. You just have to focus on the latter.
BTW, I wasn't going this year--my first miss yet--but I just got a "kitchen pass" from my wife so it looks like I may make it after all.
And the Widespread/DMB thing works great for me; I'll sleep thru the headliners, catch the late nights like a new man, and then haul ass after The Work on Sunday. At least that's the plan...
Post by conventryhiker on May 30, 2005 21:27:40 GMT -5
my dad owns an independent advertising agency with close ties to CLEAR CHANNEL if they were involved in a mojor way i would have gotten free tickets.. since i got no free tickets" only dreamt of it" i don't think they are goign to be there, plus who cares the bands are going to be there
Honestly, what does it matter what people say about 'roo? If YOU like the bands that are playing, then it's not too commercial. Any business is out to make $, but 'roo doesn't seem overly greedy about it, e.g. plenty of free water stations when they could charge $lots for bottled water. I don't want to sound like a corporate shill, but I like how they've done Bonnaroo. Lots of good bands, very good logistics (they clean the portajohns!), and security isn't there to stroke their own johnsons.
It all comes down to how you look at it. I was at what has been called the highlight of corporate clusterfarks, Woodstock '94. I had an absolute great f'ing time. But, afterwards people came to me and said "oh that sucked, that was so MTV", so I asked, "were you there?" and the answer was "no, but I saw it on MTV". I was there, I had a great time. Don't worry about what anyone (whether they are your next door neighbor or if they write for the Rolling Stone) says, the important thing is what you believe. If you think Bonnaroo has gotten to mainstream/top40/Clearchannel, then g0ddAmn say it! Scream it from the Bonnaroo listserv, yell at Ashley Capps (ashley@acentertainment.com) who's behind the whole 'roo thing. But if you don't think it, don't let some naysayer take away your joy! I'm so f'ing sick of music media wonks deciding what concerts or festivals I've had fun at. Last year's 'roo was my first but I would have spent twice what the ticket price was, if for no other reason than to hang out with new friends and find a few new favorite bands.
Wow Leo, well said. I agree, when I tell people about Roo the first thing they say is "whats is it like to pay 10.00 for a bottle of water?" I think that comes from the Woodstock mess. I was not there but I remember reading about things being overpriced. You just don't have that at Roo. For some reason it's cooler to diss something. I have found that the people doing the dissing are the ones that would never make it thru a Roo. Must be Roo-envy.
If someone doesn't like 'roo then thats cool with me as long as they have a legit reason. Honestly prices aren't that bad at 'roo, at least better than I expected. I don't think there is any event at all that has normal priced vending. Instead of complaining about it those people should just bring enough supplies so they don't have to pay high prices. The worst reason I have heard, and it's said continuously, is that it will never be as good as the first year. The first one is the only 'roo I haven't been too but I can't see how it was "so much better." The only thing better about it was the crowd size. They have improved on every other aspect as the years go on. I like going to 'roo over smaller festivals mainly because, in my opinion, bands put on a better show at 'roo than anywhere else. I know at 'roo they get shorter set times but they make the most of them. They have to with that kind of exposure. Overall I just think that if you don't like 'roo then you don't really need to tell people that do like it. Just don't go.
As far as I am concerned, everyone has a right to their opinion, whether others feel is is right or not. That is what the freedom to express yourself is all about. Although I have never been to roo, by the messages on this board and others (not as good I might add) all follow the same idea, it is what Bonnaroo is all about. Others can say it is commercialized and "diss" the festival, but they have that right. These are the ones that are horribly misinformed and chose to make unfounded comments. I say "to each is his own" those that go understand, those that do not go, don't.
"Chicago is known as the Windy City, and Montana is called the Big Sky State, so I think that we should somehow combine the two to create the ultimate kite-flying experience. "-Mitch Hedberg
Post by photographer on Jun 2, 2005 12:48:18 GMT -5
"commercialization" "capitalism" some people make it sound like they are always bad things. They give us the freedom to attend events like Bonnaroo. Unfortunately some people expect or even need to get paid to perform, or sell things or make things. As long as the events are offered and people attend, let's make the best of it.
), and MTV should never be mixed with Roo in my opinion. 
