Sneaking Sh*t in: My Experience of Security and Cops at Coachella

[punkydory]

Our first time entering the campsite we got 2 26s of vodka, 3 bottles of wine, a 26 of gin and a 40 of vodka in NO problem at all. The security guard simply opened my giant sports bag, looked and closed it. Didn't even feel around. So easy. We got caught with a 26 of gin and 2 jager mickeys while bringing in our food, but I snuck them in later when I went back to car. As for the festival ground......I walked right on in with a giant bottle of jager in my bag. I guess I got lucky?

[BROKENDOLL]

I used those zippered clear bags that bed comforters come in so they could see everything...without having to unroll or unpack shit. Fortunately, they were more interested in my toybox full of lighting effects n' shit...

As far as entering the fest gates? Palmed my bullet and opened my bag, then walked on through. I will admit that maybe the age thing made a difference, not sure.

[anonimouse]

for those of you first timers claiming we exaggerated, we didnt. there were people last year that had their fucking shoes searched on the way in. as ive posted before on sunday of 08 i had some guy search every pocket, everything in my backpack, AND my fucking wallet. the other two days of 08 werent that bad. again nothing on me of course but i hate being accused of that shit based solely on my appearance

sometimes they are lax, sometimes they are not. there is no given as people are entering any time between 11-8 typically. different guards, different shifts, different moods and so on

yes, yes I am sure security has the time, intelligence, and resources to weed through all 15,000 campers and single me out based an avatar.

yes, perhaps they will print out my avatar and blow it up and poster it up at all the entrances with instructions to all security personnel to "search anyone who looks like this guy really good"

dumb dumber

its not security you should be worrying about, its the police

ButCoachella is definitely not the concentration camp some people on this board led me to believe. At least not in my experience.

again it varies from year to year. you werent there in 08 to see the TEAMS of 8-10 security guards (off duty marine looking types) CHARGING into the mojave or sahara and dragging people out, with security supervisors on the side handicapped viewing areas with headsets on directing them to the potheads. i only saw it a few times but it was fucking insane. the only other thing i've seen thats even close to that at a concert is when people start fires and form a circle pit around them and security have to rush in to extinguish the fires



yes, this year they very mellow and it almost seemed like a free for all reading everything people have posted here. if next year they are back to nazi search mode then you only have threads like this to blame

[amyzzz]

I hate to admit it...but Coachella is nowhere near as fun sober. I wish I had something to sneak in this year.

[lindysindie]

camping thursday night, we got stuck in the slowest line and then realized it was because the security lady was being really thorough. I started to get a little worried because we had our stuff pretty well hidden but if she patted down the sides of my suitcase we would have been caught. Right as her hand was hovered over the drugs, the guy next to me got busted with a whole bunch of bags of weed. Apparently my security guard was a supervisor so she turned to the other guards and started giving instructions. I stood there waiting for her to pat me down and she just turned around and said "you can go."
So big thanks to dude with all that weed!

[karecares]

on thursday night i had my suitcase searched, more than a look actually felt around and such. one of the kids i camped with lost $300 worth of weed. bottom line is it is always going to be luck of the draw on which person you will get.

into the venue itself i had a glance over

[Egull]

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxed security this year, because with threads like this I wouldn't get used to it, I don't think that is what they were supposed to do.

[Reekinghaovc]

Did anyone else notice how ridiculously easy it was to get into Coachella? I mean I walked in with.... well... HA ALOT! and... they didnt even ask me to open my bag.. I mean WTF?! Not for me.. but to them lol.. THANKS COACHELLA!

[anonimouse]

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxed security this year, because with threads like this I wouldn't get used to it, I don't think that is what they were supposed to do.

THIS

[SlowMotionApocalypse]

Did anyone else notice how ridiculously easy it was to get into Coachella? I mean I walked in with.... well... HA ALOT! and... they didnt even ask me to open my bag.. I mean WTF?! Not for me.. but to them lol.. THANKS COACHELLA!

My friend snuck himself and his girlfriend in on Sunday. He showed up real late and ticketless wanting to only see one band and by that time more people were leaving than arriving and he kept walking and walking and walking thru checkpoints until he realized he was in.

[ADGZ662]

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxed security this year, because with threads like this I wouldn't get used to it, I don't think that is what they were supposed to do.

exactly but from what i hear the company just signed a three year contract this being their first year

[theanteater]

i just opened my backpack and the security lady didn't even look through stuff. i soo coulda had stuff underneath my sweatshirt...next year

[Egull]

exactly but from what i hear the company just signed a three year contract this being their first year

Ya, but I am sure that if everyone brags about how much shit they snuck in with no problem, they are going to be a little disappointed and have them search people better next year. Just saying, I wouldn't count on security being the way it was this year every year.

[justfoundfreedom]

3 Grams of molly taped to my pubis, worst idea ever. After i snuck it into the campgrounds, I realized nobody cared and just cruised with it in my pocket. I felt really stupid when the guy we paid 5 bucks to give us a ride to the campground entry, was the same exact guy to search through my shit. He looked at me, didn't ask me to empty my pockets, didn't open my bags, just said "have fun" and waved me through. Future note, if all else fails, offer money.

Don't use duct tape near ur balls, dangerous.

[gilwankel]

3 Grams of molly taped to my pubis, worst idea ever. After i snuck it into the campgrounds, I realized nobody cared and just cruised with it in my pocket. I felt really stupid when the guy we paid 5 bucks to give us a ride to the campground entry, was the same exact guy to search through my shit. He looked at me, didn't ask me to empty my pockets, didn't open my bags, just said "have fun" and waved me through. Future note, if all else fails, offer money.

Don't use duct tape near ur balls, dangerous.

Ouch! Boxer briefs ftw

[chairmenmeow47]

you people do realize that security is comprised of a bunch of INDIVIDUALS, which is why security checks are different every time you go through. even if some are hard asses and want to scour the boards to find the best ways to catch people or to train their team on how to catch people, it all falls on that one person standing in front of you and their mood.

[Trick Loves The Kids]

This year, like every year, it was super easy.

HOWEVER, I did have a couple run-ins and they were both at the fucking campsite search, believe it or not. The first time a girl asked if she could put her water bottle full of vodka in our flat full of actual water bottles... the dude searched through the entire flat, saw the one bottle that looked different (I have no idea, it was the same brand but I guess it was just a little less full), opened it, smelled it, and threw it out. Luckily he didn't kick me out or anything but that was kind of obnoxious.

The second time I went through the search, walked about 10 feet away and the supervisor said "YO DID YOU SEARCH THIS GUY?" to the guy that searched me. He was like "YEAH" but then the other lady said I smelled like weed even though I had nothing on me so the original dude searched me again in a harddddd way. He turned out my entire bag like four times, which was mostly just annoying since I didn't have anything on me at all. When he was done I realized I was wearing a weed leaf bandana though so I think that might've been the reason.

[Egull]

you people do realize that security is comprised of a bunch of INDIVIDUALS, which is why security checks are different every time you go through. even if some are hard asses and want to scour the boards to find the best ways to catch people or to train their team on how to catch people, it all falls on that one person standing in front of you and their mood.

I do realize this, but that doesn't mean that they won't be asked to do a better job searching and monitoring to make sure it happens, this year I saw a person watching ID checks to make sure it was happening, and I didn't see it last year. But, I don't know I always just assume they are going to search me just in case.

[chairmenmeow47]

yeah, they smelled weed on randy's bag or something and would not stop searching it. then when it was my turn he was like "is he (pointing to randy) clean?" and i replied "i dunno, i ain't responsible for him, he's responsible for him" and the guy looked annoyed but come on, what did he expect me to say?! i am not randy, so how would i know what's on his person?

and i've been going most years since 2004. the security has seemed the same from year to year and it has always depended on the person for me. i've also never actually camped, only passed through the campgrounds, so perhaps that has been different, i dunno.

[Egull]

Girls in general at Coachella rarely get searched. At least from my experience, I have never seen a girl I went with patted down. This could be why it seemed the same every year.

[chairmenmeow47]

i have been patted down, even in a bikini and a short skirt. this year i wasn't really patted down though and i've entered with males who have always been able to smuggle shit in no problem.

[Trick Loves The Kids]

the best part about the super intense search was even though he spent a good couple minutes going through my bag and person he missed the place the contraband would've been if I'd had any on me so it was a pretty good affirmation of that particular spot

[Egull]

i have been patted down, even in a bikini and a short skirt. this year i wasn't really patted down though and i've entered with males who have always been able to smuggle shit in no problem.

Haha, that must have seriously been the most intense security guard to ever work at Coachella.

[muzikgrl]

Last year I was able to sneak in 3 pints (glass bottles) of vodka, various goodies, and a glass hitter. I wont tell all of my secrets but let's just say they really don't search girls that hard.

[StubbADubb]

they used to be awesome. now i get full on cupage and a hand between the cleavage looking for shit. crotches are more awesome.

Are u serious? I've never ever had someone pat me down that hard and that sucks if it's true for Coachella cuz that's usually where I hide things.

Time to invest in one of those MEGA pushup bras and cut out part of the foamy areas.

Kind of like one of those bibles with the slot for a flask...

[F/O/X/Y/5]

Ha We got in a Half gallon bottle of vodka in... But thats trade secret to.

[F/O/X/Y/5]

I love this one guy put a kettle one bottle under his arm. Lol he did not make it.

[DopeMatic3002]

Last year, 09, we had one person with a backpack. They never really searched him too hard going into the festival, so he carried most of the stuff. I went in alone one day, Sunday, and had bomb and caps on me. I simply put them in my sock about 100 yrds away from the entrance, walked in, and pulled the shit out after I walked past. It really does depend who you get checking your entrance.

As far as the camprgounds that was a different story. I mainly prerolled J's and took them in my cigarette box (I've since quit but might need a psuedo-pack), or a shiwsher box. Luckily the only time these were checked was at the end of the night going back to the campground and everything had been smoked. Camping was much more...friskier of a search. More patting, more bag looking, they even made me take of my hat. I'm worried about the "through car searches" this year. Time to get craftaaayyy.

[Petro]

I get there early. never had a problem.

[juloxx]

I appreciate this thread OP, but honestly its better if people are overly paranoid. Better safe than sorry