Can someone explain to a simple Englishman what this is? Over here “tarps” are waterproof covers you put over something in your garden or on a building site.
I’m guessing from context it’s how you reserve a sitting space in the field? That’s not a thing over here. At festivals you just put a chair down, except in front of the stage. It’s not formalised. Presumably it’s different at this festival.
Is queuing up for a number vital? Do people tend to sit or stand by the stage?
Well here across the pond, a tarp still had the same meaning. The tarp run is a way to keep the whole festival GA friendly. Basically 1 person in your group gets in at opening and stakes down your claim for the day using a tarp. If you’re coming solo, or as just as a couple, wouldnt even worry about a tarp. If no one is on the tarp, it is open game others to enjoy. Most of the time, people dont care if you stay when they come back to their tarp and will let you stay. If they dont, you just simply move onto another.
For the number system to get in to do the tarp run, they have been tweaking it over the past couple years. As of year, this what they did.
Warner/ Town Park ticket holders: you got randomly got handed a number for the next day as you scanned in for the afternoon.
All other ticket holders: They kept them old school and it was a mark your spot in the line and be there the next morning when they hand out the numbers. First come, first serve.
During the daytime it’s mostly sitting audience, and at darkish the tarps get pulled up and chairs put away and it’s mostly standing, especially in front of soundboard.