VIP...what does it really get you?

[GlitterArt]

Yes, the VIP parking is extra.

[lt.roast.a.botch]

I've done VIP 2 years in a row now. The shaded areas, comfortable sitting area behind the bar, cleaner bathrooms, and better food options make it worth every penny...at least I think so.

Impostors. A very important person would be appalled about these fringe benefits.

[JustSteve]

I just randomly posted this in another thread:

I had the (mis)fortune of sneaking into the Special Guests section (left front row of main stage) following the Santigold back-up dancing opportunity this past Sunday, and while it was unreal to be able to enjoy ATDI's set from the front row without being touched once (whereas I had been fearing for my safety the previous Sunday), it felt completely lame to be surrounded by people who were basically friends of insiders, spent no $ to get in, and really didn't care all that much about being there either. Upon realizing that, my guilt about having snuck in transformed into "damn right I earned my way here after actually paying for both weekends". Life isn't fair sometimes.

And inside that area, btw, I noticed that there were 2 different colored wristbands: Purple (with the <3) (which meant basically VIP + special left front section), and Yellow (all that + backstage).

the wristband with the heart also allowed backstage access, artist compound access, etc. way more access than "vip'. also, a majority of those passes are paid for by the people wearing them or someone they know who paid for them, there are hardly any comps anymore.

you didn't earn your way there any more than most of us in there. cool how you are able to judge so many just by looking at them, dumbass. i have been making my way out there for 9 years in a row, spend a lot of time, money, and effort to do so, and even risk what is left of my health to be there. tell me i don't care as much as anyone else on those polo fields.

[TomAz]

I know someone who was given a <3 wristband and didn't go backstage or anything at all like that because she was chicken.

[JustSteve]

biggest benefit? golf cart rides to all the stages.

[TomAz]

Tell your buddy I want one of those next year. lol

[GaragePoet]

damn, those "guest" sections seemed pretty huge, i just assumed they were VIP, which i thought was kinda cool, but still don't know if it would persuade me to upgrade next year. were there ever very many "guests" occupying those spaces or were they mostly swaths of unoccupied prime real estate?

[JustSteve]

definitely filled up at night, there was plenty of room during the day.

[phosh]

the wristband with the heart also allowed backstage access, artist compound access, etc. way more access than "vip'. also, a majority of those passes are paid for by the people wearing them or someone they know who paid for them, there are hardly any comps anymore.

you didn't earn your way there any more than most of us in there. cool how you are able to judge so many just by looking at them, dumbass. i have been making my way out there for 9 years in a row, spend a lot of time, money, and effort to do so, and even risk what is left of my health to be there. tell me i don't care as much as anyone else on those polo fields.

so do you pretty much have to have an insider hook to get one of the heart or plus access wristbands? I would be interested to see how much one would be.

[frazzles]

I know someone who was given a <3 wristband and didn't go backstage or anything at all like that because she was chicken.

lulz

[sonofhal]

so do you pretty much have to have an insider hook to get one of the heart or plus access wristbands? I would be interested to see how much one would be.

Don't you get them with the Safari tent package?

[ThatGirl]

Don't you get them with the Safari tent package?

Yes you do. It's an Artist level pass.

[gmfortner]

Yes you do. It's an Artist level pass.

They advertise Safari (S) as Artist level (A), but it's really not. It is actually equivalent to Artist Guest (Heart) pass. The only real difference is the Artists can actually get between the front rail and the photographers pit area. Other than that you have access to pretty much everything. In fact we actually got to walk the festival grounds on Thursday night while they were still setting up.