Yes. The Tarp thing again.

[Auntie Hope]

10,000 festivarians a year can't be wrong! 

And we call it "tarpology"! 

Auntie Hope 

[dayton]

sounds like a new entry for the festavarian dictionary

[Matt]

Overall, I have had generally positive experiences while tarp hopping with my usual group of myself and 2 other people.  However, last year I had a definitely negative experience.  Since my experiences have been mostly positive, I didn't want to ruffle any feathers by bringing up this bad experience.  But, after having a conversation about said incident and tarps in general with my fiancee (who was there) I decided to go ahead and make a post.  This happened last year at the YMSB main stage show. 

My g/f and I were volunteers and had just barely made it up to the festival grounds in time for YMSB.  We hunted around for the most open tarp we could find, which is a tough mission during the afternoon YMSB show even with plenty of time.  Right as the band was coming out on stage, we found a spot we liked and asked if we could use it.  It was a small corner of a fairly large tarp with a fair bit of room.  We are not huge people, and were taking up at most 10% of the total tarp area, and we had also secured permission from one of the tarp owners.  The show started amicably enough, and the tarp we were on started to fill up.  About 15 minutes into the show, a middle aged gentleman with a small child in tow bumped into us and told us (VERY impolitely) that we were going to have to move, this was his tarp and he'd waited all night for it (un-likely due to the positioning of the tarp, it was not exactly on the front lines) so he could have a good spot for the show.  We apologized and tried to get as much off the tarp as we could but by this point, the grounds had filled up and there was very little room to move about.  After some readjustment we were barely on the tarp at all, however it was apparently not good enough for this man.  He glared at us several times, and when that did not succeed in removing us from the vicinity he proceeded to "dance" about wildly with his various extremities flailing around.  Much of his exuberant gesticulation found its way onto my g/f, seemingly on purpose judging by the looks he was giving us, and his manner in demanding we move (again, VERY rudely).  In essence, he was attempting to remove us from the vicinity using physical force.  This went on for the entire show, and effectively ruined a large percentage of our day.  Dancing is one thing, but during a crowded show (like Yonder always is) that type of dancing disturbs people's festival experience.

My issue with this circumstance was not that we were asked to move.  I understand that it is the right of whoever placed the tarp to use the space as they see fit.  My main issue is with the way we were treated.  He did not ask nicely.  He didn't ask at all, it was a demand, something you'd expect from a pair of siblings under the age of 10 in the back seat of a mini van ("MOMMY TELL HIM TO GET OFF MY SIDE!"), not something you'd expect from a 30's something adult.  I also take issue with his action after we got as far off as we could physically get without completely changing locations (thereby disturbing more people in our attempt to get ourselves out of the area).  Even if his aggressive physical behavior had been unintentional (which I do NOT believe), he could have been (and probably was) knocking around several other people who were NOT encroaching on his tarp. 

This type of behavior exemplifies a self centered existence which is the complete antithesis of the Festivarian spirit.  Had he asked politely it would have been a completely different story.  Were we sprawled out over half his tarp, it again would have been a different set of circumstances, but even in that instance his physical violence would not have been merited.  It's totally opposite of everything that the festival stands for and everything that I love about the Telluride experience.

I don't intend this as an assault against any person or group of people.  I don't know where that man camped, and wouldn't care if I did (a rude person is rude no matter where he calls home). 

I know that the majority of festivarians and tarp owners are not like this particular gentleman.  I have enjoyed tarp hoping in the past, I've met some really interesting people, shared beer, food, stories and other things with many many people, and hope to do so again, especially now that I'm in Town Park for the first time in my 6 years of Festivating. 

Again, I hope no one takes this as a personal attack, as it is just me venting my frustration over one particular person.

I want to leave this post on a happy note, so....

FFFFFFEEEEEESSSSSTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIVVVVVVVAAAAAAALLLLLLLL

[TellurideTom]

Matt, unfortunately you're gonna run into rude people no matter where you go. Just take it in stride and remember; The majority of festivarians will welcome you in their space.
Just say (as rudely as he did "Well, excuse me asshole!") and find a friendlier spot.

[landshark]

  Matt, there will be a grump in every bunch. Don't sweat the small stuff. You can always visit my tarp and we are always up front. And when I get to old to capture a front row tarp I know that you will cover my back. Correct?

That is how it works. Share and as Tim O'brien says to me every summer"Give love, get love."...

[Matt]

I know most of the festivarians are nice.  This will be my 6th year, and as I said, 99% of my experiences were positive.  Just felt the need to get that one bad one off of my chest. 

[NellyNell]

To all those worrying about tarps relax, I'll save space for you. Look for me, I'll be the guy with the sunglasses drinking a beer.

[John R]

The tarp thing, like the line thing, is such a non issue.  Rude people are definitely an issue.  It sucks that you were treated that way.  Tarp hopping is one thing, tarp poaching is another.  I'm more than happy to have people hang on my tarp, when obvious other crew members show up and things are getting tight, it's time to accommodate them.  Pretty much every tarp between the soundboard and the sidewalk are of the same crews every day, every year.  There's lots of space/friends to find/see.

Don't forget your ear protection.

[landshark]

Don't forget your ear protection.

You got that right, last year were too close for my likin'. I hate to feel my liver move to the beat. 

Don't get me wrong, PBG does an EXCELLENT sound job IMO, I was just way too close for my taste. Never use to think that way,,, maybe I'm gettin old

Somebodies gotta do it, mise well be me

Might be a natual rotation of all things fest....... think about it. No worries this thing will work itself out..

lots of ol fest vets gettin it done to get whatever it takes to secure a fantastic tarp spot and all the young festivirgins invadeing tarps when the music really strats gettin hot, sleepin in I spouse.

How bout we mix it up this year my sweet learnin the ropes, lil festi newbie pilgrums and you get the spots and let us festi vets sleep in than slide in for a tarp visit and a howdy

[Hot Sugar]

To all those worrying about tarps relax, I'll save space for you. Look for me, I'll be the guy with the sunglasses drinking a beer.

That's pretty specific! 

 Listening to: NGR

[david blair]

The tarp thing is in my opinion the worst part about TBF. It has become an around the clock all day/night effort and this is just wrong. I've seen people (Clare) in line during Sam's set!
 I'm a 14 year veteran tarp runner who feels strongly that there could be some better policy from Planet Bluegrass on this issue. The lineup all day and overnight creates unnecessary tension for Festivarians AND staff, who often have to police and enforce the rules. No fun...
The tarp size of 5x7 or whatever it is has never been enforced as someone mentioned previously. I have noticed very large tarps which are mostly empty until  late afternon, (Except Saturdays) and that people crowd in later regardless of who's tarp it is. And because there's a tarp there many people are uncomfortable to come up front. Resentful.
 I know that tarps help to preserve the "grass" underneath and so it would be ideal if Planet Bluegrass would do this for us. I'm thinking the area in front of the path which crosses the field up to the stage. A one dollar ticket price increase would pay for this.
 Another idea I've thought about is to offer numbered cards though a lottery system for an extra charge, an optional purchase with your ticket, for each day. The numbered cards could then be distributed with tickets, for all four days. Done.
 Money?
 Money

?Planet Blugras could make some more here.

[Schleintz]

i am not a tarp runner, i am a wander-around type. i will say that last year i too was sad when someone thought i was too close to their tarp and felt that dancing wildly and spilling their beer on me was appropriate. we were welcomed by a group to their tarp area, but the neighbor felt different. What i'm trying to say is, there will always the "stick in the mud" , nothing we can do about it, but move on. i will ever understand why,(how can one be angry in such beauty?) but i won't let it get me down. i'ma gonna keep coming to TBF, keep dancin, and will take my place in the way back next to the dumpsters till the sun starts to set and we all share the "big tarp" up in front. sorry if i've been too close, bumped into your pile late at night, or took up too much space. just tryin' to get my groove on.... 
FESTIIIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVVVVVVVVAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!
six weeks...

 Listening to: MMW