Yes, I lost my cool - apologies to the kids out there for my foul language.
The reason for my animosity is that FOM has been going on and on about how to make TBF better while I have read his feelings about TBF on another music forum where he called TBF “mundane”, among other things.
I frankly can’t stand hypocrisy, as well as this attitude that he thinks he can fix the problems of TBF, given his prior opinions of what he really thinks of the festival (and the Planet).
So basically I told him to stick it because I knew the truth.
Right on Billy. You said what needed to be said, and after all we are all “friends in the music”. Quite frankly if FOM thinks that TBF is Mundane, I say great, I hope he will do something else on the next Summer Solstice, if he really feels that way, and leave a ticket for someone that really enjoys the event for the music and the community. So here’s an Idea, lets leave the TownPark Line the way it is, and let the rest of the folk do what they want with their line. Because us Town Parkers are going to enjoy the Fest wherever we are. :pirate
Perhaps I will look elsewhere next solstice Pirate, but as I mentioned TBF is my favorite festival (musically) close to home. I’m not going to push any more on the tarp issue unless there’s something substantially new to add. Nonetheless, I still feel the way I do about it and whatever I’ve said elsewhere on other topics doesn’t detract from the position re: tarps. Another festivarian started this thread, some others agreed to various extents, and I tried to give it momentum … since it is an issue which bothers me & would like to see the festival be as open and level to all as possible.
I did have an out of character meltdown earlier this year regarding another TBF topic on a different board - which in hindsight I’m not happy about having lost my cool either. While I’ve been over the issue for quite some time, I guess things live on in virtual space.
So, I can see how Billy may have thought I was being like “Eddie Haskel” over here, but the truth of the matter is that I simply didn’t want to be disrespectful inside another person’s house nor rain on anyone else’s parade by airing it all out here. Maybe I should’ve dropped it entirely or been more direct with the powers that be (I ultimately did wind up “clearing the air” with Craig via pm). I’ve tried to explain my “two-facedness” to Billy in pm exchanges, but apparently he felt my explanations weren’t sincere … which I can understand since I was quite peeved way back when on this other topic & my comments were reflective of that. Regardless, I have no desire to be at odds with anyone on a personal level.
Moreover, I’d just assume not see what is already a contentious topic re: tarps take a turn for the worse on a negative and unrelated tangent which won’t be productive for anyone and would be happy to simply drop it. We might not all be best friends, but do share a love of music … regardless of the context.
So here’s an Idea, lets leave the TownPark Line the way it is, and let the rest of the folk do what they want with their line. Because us Town Parkers are going to enjoy the Fest wherever we are. :pirate
I guess I would be one of the rest of the folk and quite frankly, I think that attitude is part of the problem and not much in the way of a constructive suggestion.
I as well will continue to enjoy the Festival, whenever we can make it over.
I guess I would ask why you would suggest that plans involving more work for PB should be avoided? I think I understand your rationale, but comes a time…
I really have to question the use of the term reasonable for getting in line at 4AM when other alternatives have been suggested and are being discussed. But I’m reasonably certain we can agree that what is reasonable for some, may not be considered such by others?
Agree. It is that US vs. THEM attitude of entitlement that shines quite an unflattering light on the “Town Parkers”. It’s quite “unfestivarian”. Considering that the Town Park campers make up a fraction of attendees, and the fact that there is a separate line for entry, there will always be an advantage there. I guess those that stay in TP do so regularly… Lucky lottery winners I guess
Hold on, folks. If you knew Pirate Larry you’d also know that he is a very humble person and is not being serious about Town Park entitlement. He’s just acting like the silly pirate that he is- aargh!
Now lets all return to the merriment and jocularity we come to this for- FESTIVAAAAL!!!
Thanks Billy, and you are correct, just extending your femur a bit. This is the greatest festival in the world and it is too bad that some people feel that, and I am sure, for very good reason, that there are issues regarding how the lines and the tarps are handled. I for one have never worried about a spot on the tarp, I have done my time in line, and I must say enjoyed it. Nice to have Yonder sing to you at 4:30 in the morning when you have finally gone to sleep. Remember the Planet is listening and I know that Craig and Steve and every one there will look into all of the great suggestions that have been made on this list and TRY to please more people. That’s the way they are! I for one will welcome any change that suits the MAJORITY. Because I will have the time of my life regardless of the LINE or TARP sizes. I agree with Billy, The suggestions are out there and the planet will come up with the best possible solution to make everybody happy. Love TBF, Love THe Planet, Love to all on the forum! :kiss :pirate
Because they have more important things to deal with. They’ve always generally asked us to police the line ourselves, and try to be hands-off as much as possible. I’d like to keep it that way.
For a 10-12,000 person festival that opens the gates at 9:00, what is “reasonable”? I agree, we all woul dhave different definitions of that, but if you want to get a very specific spot, and have a large group of people depending on you, getting to the show 5 hours early seems very reasonable to me. YMMV of course
QUOTE FROM FERG"1. Dust Control, we can and need to do better, however I worry that planning for this will assure rain. Similarly, a canvas pathway would also help this but also provide clearer access through the crowd."END OF QUOTE
My eyes and lungs thank you for keepin on this topic.
Landscape mesh, wet wood chips, tarped paths with drain ports for rain, reusable…thats my idea. How many tarps are left at lost and found each year? :rolleyes
QUOTE FROM FERG"2. Let’s let the tarp discussion begin. Purchase of reserved seating “squares” at sound booth radius? (wouldn’t lots of people pay us for a decent but not from row seat? I realize many local teenagers would be out of work) Random line number giveaway. Tarp size enforcement or abandon “rule”. Rented Chairs at first 100 seats in line, no storing seats, seat picked up at noon daily and replaced after the show the night before, their last task of the day). A different strategy every day just to experiment? Using wristands for number, alternating daily. Reserved sunshade spot? Sunshade rule of size and height? Give any money collected to the Early Stone Ferguson retirement account or to the winner of a festivarian vote of national/local charities selected by Planet Bluegrass?" END QUOTE
Life like alot of things is a mixed bag. . Mix it up shuffle things around. I was always up front and center and by chance stood back way back and WOW the sound is off the charts further back. So there is no bad seat. It all starts with a number when you make that purchase, now you are in. Anything that comes after that is cake.
Real Estate Ferg, you know what to do and when is that retirement party? LOL!
Sunshade, one family one spot. Not two take yer pick like the rest of us , sun or shade?And yeah if you don’t designate a size and height each year the sunshade area grows like Matropolis, LOL! Can you imagine in a few years, youll have to bump the stage back. LOL!
Chair rental, SUPERB IDEA do you need a locker with that? :flower
I think you must give many tickets away for gate help. I bet it would be in your best interest to give Vets a first in with the exchange for 5 hours of service to give back for that special ticket offer or something to that effect. good for you and meeeeee :medal :cheers
Lots of good ideas… and lots of the same discussion. I am older and grumpier than I used to be and while the line thing did not bother me much in the 80s and even the 90s, of late I do not like it. As a long time sunshade tribe member (since our now 20 year old daughter was born) (for a decade before that we did the tarp run) I have seen the line go from needing to be in line at 8AM or so (Town Park) to get in the front row of sunshades to having to spend the night.
Used to be that you could not leave your chair sitting there all day with nobody in it and expect it to be where you left it when you got back. Same for leaving it unoccupied most of the night… it simply would be sitting out in the volleyball court when you came back.
I have no quarrel with someone that wants to sit in a chair all afternoon and night to get a spot the next morning, but if you are not actually going to be there, the chair should not be there either! One person sitting all night also does not hold space for six friends to join them in line in the morning either. (No problem with trading out though)
What I would really rather see though is random numbers handed out at the time the line is “supposed” to form… the start of the last act the night before. If you want to be in front tomorrow come to the gate at 10PM and get a random number (yes large groups that all get numbers will have an advantage and people will still sell numbers) and enforce a reasonable tarp size. 5X7 is probably too small but we all know some are too damn big!
I love this idea. Like most people here, I have been reading about this issue for years. This is the best suggestion I have ever read on the subject. This sounds like heaven. And I could sleep in!!!
While I support a different system to establish line order, and freedom from what seems to be a broken and contentious issue, I think whatever system is chosen should allow for the flexibility of exchanging numbers. Thanks to all for trying to make this part of TBF better
I would also like to reiterate that the idea of just going up front, making friends and using a temporary spot sounds great and easy and I have had many great experiences in this way. But it is not easy to do as a family. Additionally, that policy shouldn’t and I assume wouldn’t change if tarps had to be limited to Colorado size instead of Texas size.
I love the festival and I will keep going no matter what but if a change isn’t made with the tarp/line situation, I will certainly be making a change to my routine. I will be one of the guys paying good money for a low number. I think that it sucks that I feel the need to resort to that and I would understand the frustration that people would have with me buying a good spot but it is better than my current alternative.
That being said, if someone out there wants to make some cash at the next festival I will gladly pay for a good spot and some extra sleep.
It’s a little lonely out here. But the worst part is taking short pee breaks, knowing that I’ll sometime come back to the line and find I’ve been replaced as the first chair, with my chair thrown into the middle of the volleyball court. The stress is unbelievable!
The only thing that keeps me going is that I’m so sure that TBF will FINALLY be headlined by Justin Bieber.