Scalping Line Tickets

[HuckinFappy]

But then again... so is putting chairs out at 2:00 PM in the afternoon the day before.  I don't know if anyone watched the battle between Claire and the other folks all weekend... every day the chairs went out a little earlier in an attempt to be the "first in line."   

I agree with Rhonny...it's time for it to stop.  I don't mind the line, it can be fun, and it's part of the experience.  Heck, I just wake up around 5:30-6:30, walk out, and get a number when possible.  All 4 days that put me in the 150 range.  That's good enough for a good sunshade spot., and I don't need to stay out there all night "not sleeping"

The policy on the line respectfully requests the line not start until the last act.  It also states the policy is at the request of the festivarians.  Claire ignores it, in complete disrespect of everyone else.   That is by far one of the lamest ongoing parts of the experience.  I don't care about the line, the number, or where I sit...I care about the lack of respect.

~Jeff

[monkeygirl]

But then again... so is putting chairs out at 2:00 PM in the afternoon the day before.  I don't know if anyone watched the battle between Claire and the other folks all weekend... every day the chairs went out a little earlier in an attempt to be the "first in line."   

I agree with Rhonny...it's time for it to stop.  I don't mind the line, it can be fun, and it's part of the experience.  Heck, I just wake up around 5:30-6:30, walk out, and get a number when possible.  All 4 days that put me in the 150 range.  That's good enough for a good sunshade spot., and I don't need to stay out there all night "not sleeping"

The policy on the line respectfully requests the line not start until the last act.  It also states the policy is at the request of the festivarians.  Claire ignores it, in complete disrespect of everyone else.   That is by far one of the lamest ongoing parts of the experience.  I don't care about the line, the number, or where I sit...I care about the lack of respect.

~Jeff

Cheers Jeff... I thought I may have been the lone voice in the desert there... especially since I lost my beloved 420 rating as a result!   

I don't know exactly what the answer is, but I do know that it's time to give it some thought.  If we don't, before we know it people are going to be lining up on Tuesday for Thursday's tarp run... and that is just plain and simple insanity.

xoxo R

P.S.  I too think the line can be fun at night... but can't we respect the "not until the last act" request, at the very least?  Not all camps have multiple people willing to take their turn in line and they deserve a shot at their preferred space just as much as the bigger camps...but the way things go currently, they would have to miss the entire night of music every night.  Again, unpopular subject and my "rating" will most likely take another hit, but such is life!

[HuckinFappy]

Cheers Jeff... I thought I may have been the lone voice in the desert there... especially since I lost my beloved 420 rating as a result!   

Hey, I lost mine about 3 years ago, and have no right to it anymore 

I don't know exactly what the answer is, but I do know that it's time to give it some thought.  If we don't, before we know it people are going to be lining up on Tuesday for Thursday's tarp run... and that is just plain and simple insanity.

The worst part had to be the Wednesday line.  Nothing better than spending your last "free day" before the festival sucking port-o-john fumes in the hot sun, missing potluck and the other campground activities, and hearing the tales of all your friends who got to go hiking, biking, picking, etc.  I'll never understand that, and I've been a part of this line madness for 19 years (since way before there was line madness)

~Jeff

[melndon]

Do you really want MORE rules at TBF? NO. Everyone keep their cool. The FestiStaffians already have their hands full, full full!

I don't think anyone wants more rules, it would just be nice if everyone played by the rules. If there were no "rules" there would be a 9:00 stampede every morning.   

[Bevin]

Indeed, the line does police itself.  Two years ago, the line police were picking a random time each night and taking all the empty chairs in the town park line and piling them in the middle of the volleyball court.  Hilarious. 

If you put a chair in line, it's my opinion that you should occupy it, with the exception of trips to the bathroom or to get supplies or a fresh drink.  But an unoccupied chair, sitting by itself all night, might just find its way out of line.  A person should hold a spot in line, not an empty chair.

But I've got no idea how to manage the early 2:00pm line.  If the Planet decreed a set time to start the line, then there would be an unofficial line forming nearby of people waiting to get in the official line.  Some folks just can't get enough of being in line!

[HuckinFappy]

My last year before my hiatus I was the one throwing chairs out of line...to the cheers of those sitting there staying awake.

Shuffle the first 50 numbers.  You'll still be in early enough to get something darn close to "your spot", if not spot on it, but there's no advantage to starting the line. 

[LuAnna]

My last year before my hiatus I was the one throwing chairs out of line...to the cheers of those sitting there staying awake.

Shuffle the first 50 numbers.  You'll still be in early enough to get something darn close to "your spot", if not spot on it, but there's no advantage to starting the line. 

I threw chairs in the sand one year long ago but I don't remember too many people cheering...  but it sure felt right! I LOVE your idea about shuffling the first fifty or even 100 numbers.

I was kind of disappoiinted that there was "NO sleeping in line" but people who were sound asleep and inside sleeping bags got numbers that they didn't even know about until they woke up an hour or so later.

I think that there should be a big sign that has whatever way it is going to be clearly spelled out.. doesn't seem to do much good to put it on the back of the tickets. Then those of us in line can follow those rules .. and if the rule is no chair may be unoccupied (except for a reasonable quick trip for a potty break).. and we could pitch those empty chairs in to the center!

and as far as the kids selling line numbers... well, it is what the market will bear, right? If we don't buy then they don't get rewarded for their night in line. Kind of like the "suppose they gave a war and nobody came ?" theory.... we just say no.

...and if SOMEONE would honestly keep the line from even forming before midnight or 2 am. that would really help.

I think it is fun and  I like the tarp line  part of the tradition... but I do not like the part where I feel angry because some people are so bent on not playing nicely.

okay.. now you have had my 2 cents also...

(I DO love you, Jeff!)

LuAnna

[bodegahwy]

There IS a big sign and has been for the last few years.  It is hanging on the chainlink at the righthand end of the portolet line.

Here are some ideas:

1.  Move the portolets from the first base line to the third base line so the line folks do not have to sit next to them.

2.  No empty chairs in line.  No number in the morning for empty chairs (already a rule) and no place holder at any other time (other than bathroom, snack breaks etc say... under 20 minutes)  If a chair is vacant it can be pushed out of line.  If there are 40-50 empty chairs like there were Fri and Sat night just sit next to the last person that is actually there and move the others down the line.

3.  Hand out numbers at 3AM at least once during the weekend.

This was the first year where you HAD to sleep out to get in the front row of sunshades.  The times are changing as we all get older and have kids.  We have been in the sunshade line 15 years now.  Back when our oldest was born we camped in Illium.  We could take the bus into town and enter the festival at 10AM and get in the front row of sunshades (albeit toward the store end of the field).  3-4 years ago, we couuld get in the town park line when it stood up and get in the front row.  Now you have to be in line by about 10PM to get in the front row.  (We had number 81 one day and got the second to last front line space on the east side of the festival grounds.

[HuckinFappy]

1.  Move the portolets from the first base line to the third base line so the line folks do not have to sit next to them.

I like it!  Then they can pick up the Bass better and act like a giant reverb chamber!  "Bass that'll move your Bowels"

~Jeff

Crying camper returning from the port-o-john:  I lost a Glove!
Me:  Don't worry, we'll find it
Camper:  You don't understand, I know where it is, and I don't *want* it back from the port-o-john hole!

 Listening to: Brett Dennon Set - Thanks JR!

[Redknuckles]

What if Planet Bluegrass just gives out random numbers at a given time durning the day or after the show.
No lines needed, set a time, grab a number and move on, and if it's a random number it eliminates the advantage to those getting in line early, luck of the draw.

[John R]

What if Planet Bluegrass just gives out random numbers at a given time durning the day or after the show.
No lines needed, set a time, grab a number and move on, and if it's a random number it eliminates the advantage to those getting in line early, luck of the draw.

why should those who get in line early be penalized?  an empty chair is what the issue is about, isn't it?

[bodegahwy]

If there is a time for random numbers, there will be hundreds of people there to get them since they don't have to stick around afterwards.  That would certainly change things, but not neccessarily for the better.

[TellurideTom]

What if Planet Bluegrass just gives out random numbers at a given time durning the day or after the show.
No lines needed, set a time, grab a number and move on, and if it's a random number it eliminates the advantage to those getting in line early, luck of the draw.

why should those who get in line early be penalized?  an empty chair is what the issue is about, isn't it?

I think it's not only the empty chairs, but mostly those lining up at 2:00PM or 3:00PM the day before. Giving out random numbers at 1:00AM or 2:00AM would not only eliminate the early line, but let people sleep in their own tents at night.

[John R]

What if Planet Bluegrass just gives out random numbers at a given time durning the day or after the show.
No lines needed, set a time, grab a number and move on, and if it's a random number it eliminates the advantage to those getting in line early, luck of the draw.

why should those who get in line early be penalized?  an empty chair is what the issue is about, isn't it?

I think it's not only the empty chairs, but mostly those lining up at 2:00PM or 3:00PM the day before. Giving out random numbers at 1:00AM or 2:00AM would not only eliminate the early line, but let people sleep in their own tents at night.

how so?  where would the tickets be handed to to those who want a number?  they'd still need to be away from their tent, no?

[TellurideTom]

What if Planet Bluegrass just gives out random numbers at a given time durning the day or after the show.
No lines needed, set a time, grab a number and move on, and if it's a random number it eliminates the advantage to those getting in line early, luck of the draw.

why should those who get in line early be penalized?  an empty chair is what the issue is about, isn't it?

I think it's not only the empty chairs, but mostly those lining up at 2:00PM or 3:00PM the day before. Giving out random numbers at 1:00AM or 2:00AM would not only eliminate the early line, but let people sleep in their own tents at night.

how so?  where would the tickets be handed to to those who want a number?  they'd still need to be away from their tent, no?

Although I don't do the line any more, it's my understanding that they give out numbers to those in line somewhere around 5:00AM.
If it's done a bit earlier and the first 200 spots are random it allows people to go back to bed and prevents such an early line. Just my $.02