We are staying at Mary E and find it hard to get in to the festival grounds when they open. When we do get there for a band we want to see we can find no spot to set up our chairs, we aren’t youngsters. It is very upsetting to see large areas marked off with tarps that are half to three quarters open.
It seems to me that I paid the same amount as these absent people and have as much right to have a place to comfortably watch the performers I want to see. For all the talk of this being a friendly festival I have mostly encountered glares when I try to approach these empty areas and no helpful ideas from staff.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed most of this experience, just not so much at the festival itself because of this reason.
Really? I seriously find people are very kind. Have you asked if it is ok for you to park on their tarp for just this one performer? Maybe people think you want to set up your chairs for the day? People sleep in line all night and run in to get their space for their tarp. The rule is that other folk can share it if it is empty. It might be that you are wanting to put up your chairs on their tarp and that might be misinterpreted that you are going to camp there all day? Sorry - i honestly dont know the etiquette but i hope you find some friendly tarps today. My suggestion is to approach them w/o your chairs first and ask if the two of you can sit on their tarp for the particular set. Good luck! :flower
You’re exactly right. My mindset is go wherever you want, if you notice a tarp with no one on it, go sit there, if the owners come back be friendly and ask if they mind if you sit there, if they do because they have a large group coming just move one tarp over where there is less people. If people are being assholes THEY’RE doing it wrong not you. I always say- go wherever you want within reason of everyone else’s comfort and you’ll be fine, hope you try again next year.
Nah. I disagree with the responses. Yes, you can go where you want, but no one admits it: it is intimidating to set up your chair on another’s tarp. The TARP SIZE SHOULD BE LIMITED!!! Tons of empty space, all day long due to people ‘over-claiming’ their territory. Pretty much my only complaint about the whole festival, and I’ve been to at least 20 of 'em…
You’ll get a hundred responses saying why there should be no tarp size limit. None of them really justify it though.
OK glares could be a lack of sleep and too many beers my friend. :lol No glares, glare back woof! Your correct we all pay the same and tarp space has always been, first come first serve. Now yes they do secure a tarp space for a group up front and play all day and listen on and off till dark. You can sit right down on that big fat cat tarp and boggie. without fear it is your right as a festivarian. You must however introduce yourself, smile, offer to buy beers all around. At times folks do not want addional folks on there full tarps so they may ask you to leave so move on to the next empty. And if that’s not good you can always stay in line the next day super early to secure your special spot. :cheers Tarp 101 :flower
Trying to enforce tarp size limits would be a lot like making love in a canoe. Oh wait…no it wouldn’t. Nevermind. But seriously, there is no no no way to reasonably enforce a tarp size. So best bet is to continue to promote the shared tarp/empty tarp rules. And, as a prime example, Hot Sugar and I arrived on our tarp one day to find 3 people sitting on it. When they realized it was our tarp (since we sat down in our festi-chairs) they looked to us to see if we were happy/not happy about them staying. Since it was just he and I, we told them they were totally fine to stay. It’s not hard to be friendly, people!
I think the Planet has the perfect approach …
From the Festivarian Bill of Rights (page 6 of the program): “Festivarians should assume the right to occupy empty tarp spaces until said owners return, at which time Festivarians have the right to become lifelong friends.”
Well…there are some logistics involved…a tarp is rather hard to spread out during the tarp run frenzy. One reason I opted to sleep in line rather than run the tarp. And I did make friends sitting next to me on it. That’s the whole idea…not to mention the music, as I was standing on the tarp more than I was sitting. :wave
:wave Fiddler, I totally understand your frustration. There is no perfect solution to the tarp line/run that happens each day of the Fest. Tarp size enforcement? Does each tarp need to be measured each morning and get some kind of sticker? Yeah … that would break down after the second day.
However, there a couple solutions which have been suggested.
The social method is the most popular with small groups. AF, Landshark, and Hooch all described basically using the empty tarps already down. This can be fun and a great way to meet new friends. Yes, it can be intimidating at first.
Show up early, early and get in line to secure your own spot.
Pay a young adult to run a tarp for you. Landshark can comment more on that, a young lady in our camp ran her tarp a couple years ago, and I met more people this year who do the same. Especially when you’re past the age of sitting in line or getting up extra early to get a number in line.
We all work within the same set of rules, and with that we have people in line each night so that we can acquire the space we need for our respective group. You might say that isn’t fair, but we put in the work to make it happen. I need a week back at work to rest up from the Fest! If I was staying at Mary E, I would either
talk with the veterans out there and see what they say. Work together to get someone in line each night and get a tarp down like those you are pointing fingers at. There are a bunch of festivarians who stay at Mary E year after year who would be glad to help you out.
plan to barter something … i.e. booze, food, etc. in exchange for using someone’s tarp or shade structure. Last year a couple approached us about taking shelter under our EZ Ups. Of course we said yes, and on Sunday they brought us a bunch of pizzas from Brown Dog! That’s how it works, like Bill said, he doesn’t want to run a tarp but is willing to sit in line over night.
It’s all about working as a collective. Individuals and couple are naturally going to have a harder time to do the same. So find yourselves some like minded people and before long you will be the ones offering space on your tarp! :medal
It was over 100 in LA yesterday but have now arrived home and it is FREEZING, going to snow, sheesh. Am wearing jumpers ( sweaters), ugg boots ( fur lined boots) and thermals. Bring me back to summer babes
Passport, i like your style, i totally agree with your suggestions, we work together on this stuff. And getting space is work…
Not looking to single out this person and I hold zero judgment, but just couldn’t help taking the shot (Sunday afternoon) … simply as a matter of the “factual record”.
Also not looking to stir the pot to upset anyone, so I won’t make any more posts on the subject of tarps in this thread or anytime soon, but I have given the tarp issue more thought and would like to offer my refined & new suggestion … and will quietly disappear from this thread:
1.) I do believe randomization of numbers before tarp run will mitigate a lot of the issues.
2.) Tarp size enforcement is hardly impossible … the regulations just need to be widely dispersed and agreed upon as the “share the tarp space” rule is currently accepted. Hand out leaflets to those waiting in line stating there will be no exceptions & your tarp will be either folded if it’s in violation (or pulled entirely). It wouldn’t take that long for volunteers to start from the front and quickly scan the field, moving to the back.
Perhaps the tarp size limit would only apply to the section in front of the middle horizontal catwalk: the sections adjacent to & in front of the soundboard. Large tarps could still be setup in the rear sections, and larger camps could still coordinate efforts to run however many smaller tarps they can fit next to one another up front.
3.) NEW idea (not sure if it’s been floated here before): create a new horizontal line which parallels the first catwalk (poser pit rope), but setback by about 15 yards. Small tarps can only be placed within this frontal zone & after a set time (around 3-4pm), all tarps AND chairs need to be cleared out of the frontal zone … and the entire section reverts to a “pure” GA experience. I realize this kind of happens to an extent anyway, but it’s typically around 6-8pm … and I’ve noticed that it is this particular “window” (especially the earlier portion) which has the potential to create some (minimal) tension as a result of “interlopers/dancers” vs. those who “put in the time and energy/sitters” to secure a good spot.
What might this accomplish?
even though it already happens to an extent, establishing an official “rule” insures everyone is on the same page & expectations aren’t perceived to be trampled upon by either “side”.
helps to promote the “performer / audience” feedback loop with greater activity / engagement by the audience up front earlier in the day.
systematically clears away all of the crap/clutter up front … making much more efficient use of space for people instead of “things”.
provides a better opportunity for more people to randomly / periodically get a closer look & intermingle with others.
disperses the interest levels of the various “types” of real estate available … since the very front section might not be appealing anymore to those who want to remain planted in the same spot all day … effectively freeing up the very front for those who might not care so much & might not otherwise have a chance to be very close.
if only small tarps are allowed in this proposed very front section, it might be enough in so far as being able to shuffle the deck & improve the dynamic of the overall audience’s “egalitarian flow” sufficiently and not have to worry about tarp sizes elsewhere
There might be unintended consequences, but I think it’d be worth a shot to see how it plays out.
Since I’ve promised not to respond again in this thread, I’ll apologize in advance if there’s anyone I’ve offended or feels like I’m a broken record (which I admit to a certain extent) :flower
As a sister and fellow Festivarian I would like to say that I value your injection and analytical responses but as I mentioned before you wild and crazy guy you are long winded. LOL :lol :burn
