Bonnaroo!!!

The last week has been a kind of crazy that veers a bit from average.
I flew back to TN on Tuesday morning. Mediocre service and horrid neighbors aren't something I would have expected on a Delta flight. I had the privileged of sitting next to what seemed to be bored Nashville housewives unable to let there be a moment of the flight be crowded with their selfish, petty conversations. Not to mention one of them took my coveted, already reserved window seat.
Growl.
After finally landing in Nashville, I had a moment of revelation in which I decided I would no longer fly Delta if given the choice. I waited 40 minutes for a bag I felt like I already paid too much to check.
Why did I fly Delta (who always has more expensive flights with the same if not less customer service) and pay more than other carriers (especially southwest who flys bags free) when they take longer than others to get my bags out?
Bad decision on my part.
Conceptually I think it is ridiculous to charge to check bags anyway. The idea of going somewhere means that not only do I need the airline to transport my body, but the things it will need while I am gone.
Last I checked rental car companies don't charge me for putting stuff other than my body and a 24 inch bag in the car. Neither do buses or trains. Why do planes get the special privilege?
Moving on.
My brother picked me up and we headed towards Manchester, TN (about an hour drive) for the tenth Bonnaroo music and arts festival. With 85,000 general admission, 3,000 VIP's, 3,000 volunteers (that's me!), and about 5,000 staff there were around 96,000 in and around 700 acres of farmland in Manchester - a town that only has a Wal Mart because of the once a year bonnaroo.
Being a volunteer through workexchangeteam.org definitely had its perks. For one, we arrived a full day earlier than 88,000 other people. That means we saved hours of sitting in traffic and God only knows how much gas not sitting in traffic. We also got free showers, which we shared with vendors. Our camping area was for volunteers only and was a lot more spacious than the others. We also received a meal token valid for different things at different vendors for every shift worked (usually 3). Of course we got a cool staff shirt and a free ticket. We also saved time waiting in lines and going through security by utilizing staff entrances.
As it turns out Work Exchange had a not so fabulous or customer service oriented year. The downsides to these so-called perks. Upon arrival, check-in was confusing and unorganized. We weren't given any information on what we were doing or even where the hell we were going. We had no idea how to get anywhere or what to do and most of the WET staff were unbelievably rude and talked down to us consistently when asked questions. I never had a pleasant encounter with any of the staff.
Our showers were unfiltered so they smelled of sulfur (AKA rotten eggs), although they still got the job done. Hey, a free shower is a free shower. But the first full day that general admission got there, our showers were unguarded and therefore being used by everyone making them incredibly filthy and creating 2 hour lines. WET was incredibly delayed in helping. They also never guarded our campgrounds whenever GA arrived. Meaning that many of them were camping in our grounds which were laid out in spacious aisles (GA grounds were simply crammed in). As a result, many volunteer's tents were robbed.
Many of our newfound Bonnaroo friends were pre-festival volunteers, meaning that they arrived 2 days earlier than the rest of the volunteers to actually set-up Bonnaroo. The volunteer showers were not working upon their arrival and WET did not get them fixed until late the day my brother and I arrived.
That makes 3 days without a shower.
3 days slaving in the TN heat doing heavy lifting and building with no shower.
Pre-festival volunteers were also denied meal tokens since they were given stale turkey sandwiches (because they weren't given breaks long enough to return to camp to eat). Mind you, our contracts say EVERYONE gets meal tokens.
Superfly Productions should really consider an alternate group to hire for volunteers.
Our first night went fine setting up the tent and getting everything together. We bought a lot of snack food to carry around and A LOT of bottle water. I recommended doing most of your purchases at the local Wal Mart. They are SUPER friendly and heavily staffed for Bonnaroo. Plus they are well stocked with it making a lot of their end caps filled with necessary bonnaroo gear I would have forgotten.
We were off on Thursday so we made another run to wal-mart for forgotten essentials, the liquour store (and then the dollar tree to pour our alcohol into plastic containers as you could only bring so much alcohol per person and only in plastic containers), and starbucks to turn in an assignment for my history class plus to enjoy our last taste of civilization for the rest of the week. That night we celebrated one of my good friend's 21st birthday with many fellow roo'ers around us and had a great time before heading out to see Civil Twilight.
We worked Friday morning from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, which worked out perfect since most of the good acts are in the afternoon and evening. We were essentially "Trash Talker" floaters. A trash talker stands by a disposal post and talks to people all the live long day about trash. Basically directing people on what is compost-able, recyclable, and landfill material. This is important in maintaining a "green" festival as TN is pretty picky about what goes in which container, and if they are contaminated, they cannot be accepted for composting or recycling. As a floater, we moved throughout our zone of about 5 posts ensuring the entire area was clean and that the trash talkers got bathroom and water breaks when necessary. We had a great time near the main entrance to Centeroo (the main area of Bonnaroo where all the action took place) welcoming folks to centeroo and chatting it up with our fellow trash talkers. Floaters are apparently a coveted position as you can move about and see shows without getting into trouble since you aren't assigned at any one station, so a supervisor can't expect to find you at any one.
We were good and stayed in our zone though. There weren't any great shows going on during the day anyway. :)
After we got off we went back to our tent to get a nap in before heading back for matt & kim (by far my favorite show).
They had so much energy and passion plus great music of course. The crowd was wonderful, and huge. They really should have been in a bigger arena!
From there I met up with my friend and napped while listening to Abigail washburn. I didn't know her before bonnaroo, but she was great. Especially wonderful music to nap in the sun to.
We then moved to the decemberist for the first half of that act and then on the Ray LaMontagne (another great performance). He really had a lot of passion and emotion as well, but he didn't really recognize his audience at all. It seemed like we werent there, but his voice was so damn beautiful it didn't matter! These shows we sat back a ways to enjoy on our towel with a little space. It was really competitive to get close with most shows (you could be competing with up to over 85,000 people!) and since we were really exhausted, it was just as nice to enjoy most of the shows from afar.
We moved to My Morning Jacket (I fell asleep halfway through, oops!). I stuck around for Arcade Fire afterwards while my friend went back to the tent to nap. Going back to the tent to nap wasn't always an option. Thats a half hour walk one way. And our campsite was one of the closest. Hence my often napping during mellow shows.
So I made friends with the people next to me so I didn't feel like I was watching a great band alone. These 2 fellows were from Louisiana, both going to LSU (i think) and were incredibly huge arcade fire fans. They were really cool and helped me keep jerkos out of my spot and let me nap while waiting on the show to start.
I love bonnaroo hospitality :).
Just before the show started some bonnaroo magic happened. Arcade Fire had what seemed to be cycling parachutist move through the sky dumping glitter onto the crowd. Except it wasn't glitter. It was like a line of glittering beauty across a clear TN night. It was beautiful, but too big to be glitter. As it finally reached the ground we realized it was LED lights bound together. Fans attached them to their clothes, bags, bandanas, whatever, to create an incredible awesome looking crowd rocking out to great music for two hours. It was a wonderful show. Another top pick.
Although we were 45 minutes early, we were already way back in the crowd for Lil Wayne. He performed as any mainstream rapper would. Lots of screen and a little good music.
We finally got back to the tent after his performance at about 3:45. When the sun wakes you up already sweating at 7:30, that doesn't give you much rest. We awoke and I decided to wait my hour and a half for a sulfur smeling shower (getting sunburned in the process) just to get dirty from the muddy floor of the building and the dust bowl outside (cleanliness doesn't last long a 'roo).
I didn't get to Centeroo until about 1 pm (an hour before Garden State started at The Bonnaroo Cinema with a Q & A with Zach Braff afterwards (one of my life heros). Apparently I was way late and tickets had already sold out. :(
I picked up my spirits by getting some 'roo merchandise (including a limited edition print poster signed by the artist, which I later also got signed by Amos Lee and Civil Twilight, happy!) and sampling at the Ben and Jerry's Tent (Bonnaroo Buzz is perfect for midday heat).
I returned to our camp site for about an hour to nap in the shade the car was giving off since our ground was less dusty and there was less noise. I arose to check out mumford and sons and the black keys before starting my trash talker shift at 9:30 (that went until 4 am!). I also had a really great crab cake sandwich for dinner from a vendor, yum!!!!!
We were actually assigned a post this time, which happened to be near the "This Tent" where Girl Talk was playing while I was working. Seeing them live, even from a small distance, for the first time was amazing. I wish I could have been in that crowd for those two great hours. It was nuts. I'm definitely seeing him the next time he is in Memphis.
STS9 was also playing at the same time, but far from my post. They went on until the sun was already up at 6 am (2 hours past planned time). I guess when you are the last act for the day, you can do whatever you want. It was crazy to be walking back to our tent while the sun was coming up.
Especially to be getting up only 45 minutes later to start the day again with a trash talker shift.
My shift that next morning went from 7 am to 1 pm. I spent my whole shift line picking the festival biggest stage area- What Stage. It had to be a mile long at least and probably the same in width. It took all 50 of us the whole 6 hour shift. The arena was supposed to open by 12 or 12 :15, as there was a 1:15 performance. We had to call in extra help at 12:30 to finish. It wasn't open until 1:00. Thank you Eminem fans for completely trashing the arena the night before.
I was so happy to be done at one and head over to see Neon Tree with a deliciously unhealthy pizza in hand. I moved over to catch the last bit of Amos Lee with my friend a couple new ones that were camping near us and then off to see a bit of Galactic and Iron & Wine before one of my favorites, Cold War Kids. They put on a great and passionate show. This was my second time seeing them live (they came to Memphis in December).
Afterwards we all enjoyed fried oreos (one of my favorites!) before heading to our last show, The Strokes. That was an okay show. I guess no one can really beat Matt & Kim or Arcade Fire or Cold War kids.
My brother and I rushed backed to the car, having already packed the afternoon before to leave. A lot of people left then and supposedly even more at midnight after the last show (Widespread Panic). But apparently traffic is even worse on Monday.
We moved quickly before tiring too bad to get to Jackson, TN to spend the night with family.
Before we entered the house we had to "Wet Wipe" our feet before entering, ha! It was so nice to have AC and a shower and even actually wash my hands, not just sanitize them. There was dirt under my fingernails all week and everytime I sneezed I had black snot thanks to the disgusting dust bowl of centeroo.
It was an awesome time with great music that made it worth the camping experience. Throughout the experience we did our best to jot things to definitely bring again or just for next time. Here they are:
Car Chalk to post our schedule on our back window of the car
A mylar balloon to mark your campsite
Glowsticks for a bit of light on you and around the camp site
Citronella candles
Flashlight
An air mattress or a cot (just something to keep you off the ground)
Of course a tent, but consider also a shade tent- Bonnaroo is very communal and most people enjoying sitting outside and chatting not cooped up in a hot tent
Thin sheets and towels that you don't mind getting disgusting with dirt and sweat
Having small snacks (especially trail mix) will keep you going through the day without spending a lot of money on vendors
Of course a lot of bottle water - not all the water stations are filter and it just isn't pleasant drinking sulfur smelling water
Put any alcohol that doesn't come in a plastic contained in one, people really get hurt since they often walk around barefoot
An SUV with laydown seats is also helpful for relaxing on and of course storage (we kept our bags in it instead of the tent)
Bug spray and bug buttons to hang around your site
sunscreen
a portable shower would come in handy plus cut down waiting time
if you have a big group a table under a shade tent would help too
your own toilet paper is nice to have whenever the portable toilets run out, plus its cleaner (always try and use the ones on your camp ground because the lines at centeroo toilets get long)
A camelback comes in handy since they hold a lot of water with ease
A battery operated fan helps to keep the heat down in your tent
A bandana is nice to keep the sweat and your hair back, plus it fits the hippie atmosphere
Of course a cooler is nice, use ice and a pack of frozen water bottles to keep everything cool
Only a couple shirts (MAYBE one a day) guys you won't wear a shirt unless your burned and girls will only want to wear a swimsuit and maybe with shirts
We have been talking about bringing a blow up kiddie pool, ha!
super comfortable shoes, my sanuks were perfects (they kept my feet semi clean and are some of the most comfortable shoes i have)