Please make Coachella more like Lollapalooza

[lvlylrn]

Ok, not really, but after attending Lolla this year I learned a lot of valuable lessons:

- 3 day pass wearers were given a WRIST BAND so they could easily go IN AND OUT without tying up the entrance and being forced to spend hours in the painfully hot sun waiting in line for tickets they purchased months before.

- Water was plentiful and inexpensive. And they had SMART water. (Wait, electrolytes in the heat? What a great idea!)

- There were paid volunteers walking around with silly shoulder strappy things collecting beer cups for recycling so there was a lot less waste

- UPS had a booth right near the place where they were selling Lolla concessions. At first we were like, how lame. And then we realized... O-M-G, that's BRILLANT. Buy things (maybe even get them signed) and then... instead of leaving them in the portajohn by accident, you can MAIL THEM HOME. It's a stroke of genius!

- Set times were well staggered, but considering the number of bands at Coachella, I just don't see this as being possible.

Some other ideas (from me, not learned from Lolla):

- How about having a fleet of people with golf carts to bring people in from the outside? I would seriously pay someone to escort me there in a more efficient manner. The way it is done now is horrible.

- Misters. Is it too much to ask to have them in more locations around the venue?

- Give some relief to the poor cellphone-charging bike riders. I felt sad that they weren't in the shade and felt worried that someone was going to collapse from heat exhaustion and then sue the guys at Goldenvoice. That would have been bad.

- Get some more variety back into the lineup. I love it when my friends make me go see some breaking edge Hip Hop or when I can take them to see the best new barely discovered DJ in the dance tent.

- Speaking of tents, do you really need to schedule big bands in the Gobi tent? I mean, it becomes a very very very small place when you are selling 50,000 tickets.

One thing that (unfortunately) Lolla didn't do better... please, NO MORE Perry Farrell. I don't care if he's there as himself, or as DJ Peretz, or as Janes Addiction, or as Satellite Party, I'm just sooooooo tired of him always being around. Just give us 1 year off, that's all I ask.

Ok, I'm done ranting. Can't WAIT for April!

-lvlylrn

[summerkid]

Ok, not really, but after attending Lolla this year I learned a lot of valuable lessons:


- - UPS had a booth right near the place where they were selling Lolla concessions. At first we were like, how lame. And then we realized... O-M-G, that's BRILLANT. Buy things (maybe even get them signed) and then... instead of leaving them in the portajohn by accident, you can MAIL THEM HOME. It's a stroke of genius!

- Set times were well staggered, but considering the number of bands at Coachella, I just don't see this as being possible.

The UPS thing is actually a damn good idea.

The Set times at Lolla were a fucking joke the only thing that was worse than those set times were ACL's

[leo01g]

I think the wristband idea was pretty cool

[Courtney]

paid volunteers

???

[Courtney]

Also I'm pretty sure the lack of misters has to do with the owners of the venue, and isn't Goldenvoice's choice.

[Boourns]

Make it more like JUGGALO GATHERING! I want wrestling and seminars about recovering from meth addiction.

[orbit]

I think Coachella has more variety in its lineup than any other US festival.

Water at Lolla was what.. $2-2.50? It was $2 at Coachella.

The UPS thing sounds good, but I'd rather get a locker like this year to put my stuff. That was a really good idea.

[Cpt. Funkaho]

Also I'm pretty sure the lack of misters has to do with the owners of the venue, and isn't Goldenvoice's choice.

From what PF has said on the topic before, I think you're right. Also, last year the only misters I experienced were actually more unpleasant than anything else... they didn't really cool me off at all, but they made it super muggy and humid. Plus they turned the ground all slimy and sick underfoot.

To the original poster: How would adding more cutting-edge DJs and hip-hop acts make Coachella more like Lolla? I admit I haven't looked at Lolla's lineup in a while, but I don't recall there being (m)any great underground hip-hop acts on the bill.

[orbit]

The only hip-hop act Lolla had this year was Lupe Fiasco. Well, also MIA.

[RotationSlimWang]

The UPS, I guess sure, why not. The wristbands would be cool. And those smart waters could actually be a good idea, we buy them sometimes at Ralph's--you get this huge thing of REALLY good tasting water for like 1 dollar there, they're mad cheap, I'm sure Coach could still turn a nice profit selling them at two when they're getting them in bulk. Or 2.50, whatever--the bottles are like 24 oz I think? It's a cool deal.

Mostly I'd just really like in/out privileges for SOMEBODY. Make it just the campers, whatever--that's the only hinderance at all about Coachella to me. Sometimes I'd just love to be able to go back to my tent for an hour or two and nap, dammit. Or if I was having a bad trip or something, or would be so nice to be able to just go back there, chill out for a couple, and then come back and catch more acts.

Aside from that I think it's run pretty damn well. Oh wait, one more thing--BETTER FUCKING PIZZA. That Spicy Pie shit SUCKS. There was some place claiming authentic NY whatever in 2006--it wasn't authentic NY, but it was better than that crap. But really you should just get D'Amore's to get a booth at Coach--their pizza is the best in LA, I've found now. They might be game for it.

[rage patton]

Mostly I'd just really like in/out privileges for SOMEBODY. Make it just the campers, whatever--that's the only hinderance at all about Coachella to me.

Thats exactly what I was going to say. In and our privileges for campers would be PERFECT. And more room for camping... but I would rather have in-out privileges first.

[paulb]

A McDonalds would be nice too....

[mvanwinkle]

in n out. double double please.

[Amneeziac]

Please make it rain at Coachella. Sometimes I get a little bit hot. Thank you very much.

[scoop49er]

i think coachella does fine but the main issues they could improve, is parking and in and outs and i do like the golf cart idea as well or some type of shuttle service if it was possible. shoreline does it in sf and is kickass!

[ADrunkPoet]

It could just be me, but I found the recycling drive (10 empty for 1 full) negated any complaint I had for water for the weekend. I bought a bottle here and there sure. However, it is as easy as minding what is on the floor on the walk from a stage to the recycling center that made hydrating close to free for me in 2007.

Please continue this next year GV.

[Cpt. Funkaho]

It could just be me, but I found the recycling drive (10 empty for 1 full) negated any complaint I had for water for the weekend. I bought a bottle here and there sure. However, it is as easy as minding what is on the floor on the walk from a stage to the recycling center that made hydrating close to free for me in 2007.

Please continue this next year GV.

Seconded. My wallet was stolen Sunday morning, and the 10-for-1 recycling plan was all that kept me from dying of dehydration. Saved my ass. By Manu Chao I had so many full bottles I was giving them to the people around me... they also came in handy when the girl next to me collapsed with heat stroke.

[Daft Fro]

I'd like to strongly concur about giving IN/OUT privileges to campers. They have the separate entrance for campers........say, I bet they could do a 180 conversion and turn those into....exits as well!

Then I'd like to strongly disagree with the title of this thread.

[karecares]

The UPS, I guess sure, why not. The wristbands would be cool. And those smart waters could actually be a good idea, we buy them sometimes at Ralph's--you get this huge thing of REALLY good tasting water for like 1 dollar there, they're mad cheap, I'm sure Coach could still turn a nice profit selling them at two when they're getting them in bulk. Or 2.50, whatever--the bottles are like 24 oz I think? It's a cool deal.

Mostly I'd just really like in/out privileges for SOMEBODY. Make it just the campers, whatever--that's the only hinderance at all about Coachella to me. Sometimes I'd just love to be able to go back to my tent for an hour or two and nap, dammit. Or if I was having a bad trip or something, or would be so nice to be able to just go back there, chill out for a couple, and then come back and catch more acts.

Aside from that I think it's run pretty damn well. Oh wait, one more thing--BETTER FUCKING PIZZA. That Spicy Pie shit SUCKS. There was some place claiming authentic NY whatever in 2006--it wasn't authentic NY, but it was better than that crap. But really you should just get D'Amore's to get a booth at Coach--their pizza is the best in LA, I've found now. They might be game for it.

Water recycling i think worked out well last year, be great if they do it again

I have found really NO good pizza in the state of Cali- mind you i live right outside NYC so..... i'm a little biased


CAMPERS- going in and out would be wonderful, i would've killed to go back to my tent for a bit on sat. last year.

I like the UPS idea

[Memorial_07]

I agree with Rotation. That SPICY PIE sucked! And I love pizza, so I was screwed this year.

But the UPS idea is awesome! I have A friend who work for UPS in the Coachella Valley. And would the wristbands have to be worn all three days?

[captncrzy]

- UPS had a booth right near the place where they were selling Lolla concessions. At first we were like, how lame. And then we realized... O-M-G, that's BRILLANT. Buy things (maybe even get them signed) and then... instead of leaving them in the portajohn by accident, you can MAIL THEM HOME. It's a stroke of genius!

One thing that (unfortunately) Lolla didn't do better... please, NO MORE Perry Farrell. I don't care if he's there as himself, or as DJ Peretz, or as Janes Addiction, or as Satellite Party, I'm just sooooooo tired of him always being around. Just give us 1 year off, that's all I ask.

That UPS thing is a pretty good goddamn idea.

And yes, please no more Perry Farrell.

A McDonalds would be nice too....

Ew. LAME. read Fast Food Nation. You'll never eat at McD again.

in n out. double double please.

That's more like it.

Also, I still say that they need to figure out some sort of park-and-ride thing.

I also still say they should let us in with bottled water, as long as it's unopened. It's the desert for christsakes. Let us have a price break on something we absolutely have to have.

[Boourns]

1. Spicy Pie was good.
2. I love hamburgers too much to eat one from McDonalds.

[invisiblerobots]

That Spicy Pie shit SUCKS.

Agreed. I've chewed on better tasting pizza boxes.

A McDonalds would be nice too....

Hell, the fuck, no.

[Tylerdurden31]

regarding Gobi...the only times I've seen issues with it is when you have a band like Gnarls Barkley or Amy Winehouse who wasn't really big when the lineup was announced and then suddenly become huge within a month of the festival

[bmoon99]

This is what I'm hearing from the industry:

Supergrass
Tears for Fears
Violent Femmes
Talking Heads
Temple of the Dog
The Verve
Birdy Nam Nam

Also notable:

Stone Roses
Spoon
M.I.A.
Oasis
Louis XIV
Ben Harper
The Bravery
Jamiroquai
White Stripes

[Cpt. Funkaho]

This is what I'm hearing from the industry:

Supergrass
Tears for Fears
Violent Femmes
Talking Heads
Temple of the Dog
The Verve
Birdy Nam Nam

Also notable:

Stone Roses
Spoon
M.I.A.
Oasis
Louis XIV
Ben Harper
The Bravery
Jamiroquai
White Stripes

Who are you and why have you posted this eight times in eight threads? I smell someone seeding disinformation.

[Trick Loves The Kids]

In-and-out for the campers would be SO great

[Boourns]

regarding Gobi...the only times I've seen issues with it is when you have a band like Gnarls Barkley or Amy Winehouse who wasn't really big when the lineup was announced and then suddenly become huge within a month of the festival

Beck Beck Beck Beck. Wow, that was a clusterfuck. But worth it. Once in a lifetime acoustic rarities/cover set.

[Courtney]

i do like the golf cart idea as well or some type of shuttle service if it was possible. shoreline does it in sf and is kickass!

I'm actually pretty surprised that some enterprising person hasn't done this yet. I mean, especially for the high-end hotels where 90% of their guests are Coachella attendees on Coachella weekend, you could have a shuttle service running back and forth from the hotel to the festival grounds and I'm sure people would pay decent money for it if they knew it was reliable.

It would also improve both traffic and parking issues by getting cars off the road. And it would be better for the environment.

[Boourns]

A shuttle from the campgrounds to the bus station is essential since cabs don't want to go there Monday morning. Ugh, that was the worst.