No more VIP areas

Was anyone as frustrated as I was with the VIP areas? Most of the small crowd in the VIP area didn't seem to be fans. I went specifically to see GBV and they love having their fans up close and personal. I would love to see more equality for those attending this type of festival.

[AR]

I agree. It seemed like a lot of people in VIP (with some exceptions, of course) weren't getting as into it as the people in the front rows of the general crowd.

[csbosox]

They were getting into the booze though!

I was in the VIP areas and I was groovin' just as much if not more than most people. Everyone had a chance to buy those tickets. I worked freakin' hard to be able to afford that ticket. Just because some people weren't dancing, don't stereotype the rest of us. So you were an extra ten feet away, big deal. :roll: I didn't want to have dig out my wallet every time I wanted a beer or something to eat. Long live the VIP section.

[JackDog]

I wasn't frustrated by the VIP areas, but I was definetly jealous.

[NCTRNL]

Yeah, I would have to say that jealousy is what I was feeling too.

[Dgold at An Honest Tune]

Yeah, I thought Guided By Voices really whined about the VIP area. What was with their whole comment about Phish -- considering not one member of Phish had anything to do with Wakarusa. That was pretty off key. I think GBV should not have booked their last show in 25 yrs at this festival. Other than their talking btwn songs they rocked.

[alva]

In some respect, the whole 'hippie love fest' vibe ain't exactly up GBV's alley. It's downright over-sensitive to complain about comments Bob Pollard makes between songs. That guy's whole point is to be provocative. He routinely says controversial things and then asks everyone to boo him. It may be difficult for the typical Waka-phan to relate to, but it's a little thing called rock and roll.

If you want to complain to somebody, your beef is probably with the organizers of the festival. They absolutely should not have tried to have any musical diversity at this show. Maybe next year's rule should be 'no bands where less than 75% of the members sports lenghty beards'. Or better, 'no bands who play songs that average less than 12 minutes'.

I know you're just trying to be all disingenuous and ****, but to most of the non-jamband loving free world, Phish is the absolute epitome of the style. Talking about Phish is shorthand for the whole epic jam genre. Also, it's funny (i.e. pertaining to humor) for a hard rockin' icon to demonstrate his utter ignorance of the jamband phenomenon by dissing on Phish. Well, at least I was cracking up.

;)

Please take all this as tongue-in-cheek. I ain't tryin' to start any flame wars here.

I do agree that GBV should have played somewhere else for their last show in the area. The true fans would have enjoyed it a lot more since who in their right mind would have bought those goddamned over-frickin-priced VIP tickets just so they could be up close to the one band that was 100% completely different from every other band at the festival? I paid $50 to see GBV and showed up on Saturday at about 8pm. I was bored by Particle, mildy enjoyed Spoon and was thrilled to rock hard with the sparse crowd at GBV. But, that's still a helluva lotta cash for one short set amidst a crowd who didn't really get the band.

[TomThumbs]

I got hooked up with two vip wrist bands at the gate and that made my weekend. Free beer and BBQ and I could go right up to the rail and get good pics. I wouldnt have payed the $250 a ticket for it though.

[PolyOntology]

How did you get hooked up?

Well, we rolled in around 9:30 Thursday night and the dude working the gate seemed alll messed up or something and didn't really know what he was doing. After about five minutes of looking through his boxes of wristbands he walks over to our car and gives me and my fiance a red wristband and says this is a VIP wristband, have a great time and don't tell anyone I gave it to you. That made my week right there! :D

[ethan]

I paid good money $300 each for me and my wife for the VIP which included food, beer, camping and those spaces. It was worth every penny and I did get my groove on so you must be talking about someone else.

Next year pay the money!

[Puffhead]

I have to say, I'm sure VIP was well worth everyone's \"hard-earned dollar\" but just because someone else shells it out doesn't mean they should be able to get wasted all night, stumble up late to the show and get all loud and rowdy at the front of the stage. I'm thinking of Particle in particular. You wanna have a VIP section, fine, just don't make it the entire front section of the stage. Assholes without VIP access still made their way up there and VIPs brought their FRIENDS into the \"special section\"! Dude, I don't care WHAT you paid or HOW HARD you worked, the front of the stage is for the fans, not the money.

[ryan (not signed in)]

I was in the VIP section for many shows w/ my Press Pass (still working on my story). I have to say this:

1. The VIP section was a great idea. its a great way for the fest to make some extra bucks and to provide people with 1st class service (front row seats, food, beers, ect) you DONT HAVE TO DANCE to enjoy the music. i mean comeone...... anyone can get there groove on and enjoy the show in any number of ways, so saying jsut bc some peeps werent dancing in the VIp section doesnt mean anything...... (tho, i was getting down in between taking pics)

2. I think that the press section should not be mixed in with the general VIP area, and should be in the small spot between the VIP area and the stage. we are there to get good shots and dont need people spilling thier beer on/or elbowing our cameras.... the press is there to capture the moment and report it all to the outside world....

3. i dont think not allowing the press to be down front or on stage for one of the main headliners (OAR) was a good call. not very cool at all actually... see my above post as to why that is....

4. i think the VIP area needs ALOT tighter security. during Robert Randolph, i saw TONS of people down there w/o any sort of pass down there. tho, the next few nights, they were alot better... but i think this area needs a much tighter security force....