"SHOUT OUT" to Goldenvoice

[Country Gypsy]

The festival has grown from diapers to blue jeans and boots. Congratulations.

2012 is such a different experience from past years. So much ran smoothier
and easier, so consequently it was a more enjoyable experience.

The attention to detail and the organized skilll of moving and handling such a massive amount of people both from the road, through the camping lots, to the festival was amply evident.

Showers had shorter lines, the standing area, in the festival, allowed those who wanted to be up close an personal to do so ,those who wanted to or had to sit - do so without being shoved about. The ADA access was exceptional and representatives went through the area to see it there was anything needed. Numbers were placed on certain RVs so should people needing assistance would be easily found by street number and rv number- and not just in the ADA section.

The security personal were polite and seemed more professional than in the past , and for the most part the representatives and ancillary workers employed by Goldenvoice seemed to be more aware and informed of what was going on or what to do , and if they didn't have the answers they found someone who did.

Still mistakes, sure, but the festival has made it through infancy and the terrible twos and I would even venture to say even puberty.
Thank You Goldenvoice.

[sandholic]

AMEN!! Every year it seems to get a little better and more organized.

[Countrycamper]

Yes - each year better.

Wrist band scanners moved people through quickly through the gates and kept better control in P2 and P1 areas.

Trash pickups at RV sites were quick and thorough. No heaping trash cans.

Courteous and knowledgeable staff.

Street signs in camping areas made it easy to find people. Wide Main street was easy to get from entrance through ED 1.

Was a little far to get to companion parking but unavoidable as more camping was added The farther out this parking gets the more shuttle type transportation is needed (maybe like amusement parks have).

Aside from a few minor issues this, our 5th year, was much improved and enjoyable.

[sandholic]

Wristbands worked great.

Never seen trash picked up so efficiently in my life. They are down our "street" in ED 2 every few minutes.

Streets signs a HUGE PLUS!!!

[gaypalmsprings]

I loved the "Standing Only" section at the Mane Stage. The tents had wonderful acts all day on Saturday & Sunday. Parking was easier and better organized than before. Thanks!!!

[deegee83]

the first year was epic, cuz nobody went! it was the growing pains that hurt after that

[KevinB]

The new standing room only section was amazing. I was lucky enough to be close on saturday when Luke came out and Sunday when Brad ran out. I enjoyed having a fun crowd around me, and not having to worry about stepping on someones stuff or blocking someone. It really upped the fun factor, and made the concerts more memorable. I really hope the bring it back next year.

I stayed in international, and our area was nice, well maintained and patrolled. I didn't see any fights or too many people on the wrong side of drunk. I did hear problems with the water trucks and stuff, but we were fine on that end. The showers were pretty quick. I always feel bad for the girls that have to wait in line for a couple hours to take a shower, maybe the could put the shower on timers or something.

My biggest complaint was getting in and out of the concert on friday. I went to go see the Eli Young band and ended up standing in line for an hour to get in and barely getting to see them finish singing. Then there was some kind of logjam and it took me around 45 minutes to get to the exits after Aldean played. It didn't happen the next couple nights, so it wasn't that big a deal.

All in all, with as many people and as much drinking that goes on at an event like this, I feel like GV did a great job.

[Chevgirl357]

My biggest complaint was getting in and out of the concert on friday. I went to go see the Eli Young band and ended up standing in line for an hour to get in and barely getting to see them finish singing.
.

Same thing happened to us, missed all but the LAST song from the lines outside. The security lady in the line i was in was taking her job WAAAAY too seriously.

[JNPatton]

Yeah, I was saying the same, security had a couple hiccups (especially relating to pedestrian traffic at the perimeter) but overall WAY more knowledgable and courteous.

Lots of trash pickup in camping, security and police were on patrol and not obnoxious. Lines for showers and bathrooms we're much better. The camping layout was different, which I hated at first but it was WAY more functional!

Exiting on Friday was weird, not sure why but we were all funneled down pretty tight. They allowed a lot more standing in the aisles which was fine until I got hammered and couldn't find it!

PS - to the 'Respect the Tarp' guys - I heard I spilled a lot of beer! Sorry!! Blame Unclefeiny!

[sandholic]

There was beer all over the tarps. No worries! aka Respect The Tarp guy.

[annie]

There was beer all over the tarps. No worries! aka Respect The Tarp guy.

my group was right next to you guys on friday! (i asked one of you how you got stakes in past security lol)

[Chevgirl357]

my group was right next to you guys on friday! (i asked one of you how you got stakes in past security lol)

WTH Annie! We were RIGHT in front of them Saturday and Sunday. Small world!

[annie]

WTH Annie! We were RIGHT in front of them Saturday and Sunday. Small world!

DANG! I wish I woulda found you guys! friends of friends of friends seemed to invade our space! - i had to go around to people standing on my own tarp and introduce myself.... lol

[craftykimmer]

Exiting on Friday was weird, not sure why but we were all funneled down pretty tight.

PS - to the 'Respect the Tarp' guys - I heard I spilled a lot of beer! Sorry!! Blame Unclefeiny!

I think they initially tried to just use the exit section, and tried to have everyone scan out. With only about 4 scan out aisles, that just bogged it right down. I was getting really panicky crammed in like that. I kept thinking of situations where people get trampled. Thank God we were leaving, and not trying to get in. But they had it all open and no scanning out the next two nights so it went fine.

[Rose]

FINALLY they have the parking AND exiting down to a science. For the very first year I was able to drive down Monroe and Park in lot 1B all three days and actually get to exit north on Monroe all three days. Years past I have been detoured all over Indio and sometimes it was kinda scary when you don't know your way around town.

[1countryfan4life]

One of these years i hope to be able to camp on site......this year i was camping right across the street on Avenue 50, so it was nice to just be able to leave my car there where i was camping and walk to the venue every day (getting back after the concerts was kind of a headache because the security guards tried to give us a hard time about getting back to where we were camping.....we had to walk through ED 1 and cut through Lot 5 and then from there, where we were staying was literally JUST beyond the police barrier....so the Stagecoach security had us talk to the police about getting through....the police had us talk to Stagecoach security instead.......**uggggghhhhh** one guy tried to make us go down to the other end of Lot 5 and go around that way...it was 12 am and dark down that way! plus how did we know we could even get out that way when we could SEE our entrance at the front where they wouldn't let us go through?!?!)

[Raquellita]

plus how did we know we could even get out that way when we could SEE our entrance at the front where they wouldn't let us go through?!?!)

Thay're good at that! Drives me crazy!

[1countryfan4life]

Thay're good at that! Drives me crazy!

OMG....last year i went to stagecoach with a friend who was about two months pregnant at that time. Our campsite was about 5 miles away and we were traveling separately due to different work schedules and whatnot. We already had two cars at our site which was the limit, but we had asked ahead of time if we could have an extra car park at our site and have them just pay the fee. The guard we talked to said that wouldn't be a problem and gave me a special pass to give to the friend (who we were meeting up with at Stagecoach and would then follow us back to our campsite that night). Well anyway, we all get to the campsite and there had been a change in security.....my friend in the third car was displaying her special tag and everything and this new guard let our two original cars come through no problem, but wouldn't let the third one in our party in, telling her she had to park in the companion parking lot, like, a mile away and then walk back (i believe there was some sort of curfew which prevented me from following said friend and giving her a ride back....meaning i would not be allowed back in). I forget how we worked around that, but i told my friend and the guard "ummm, NO. It's midnight, pitch dark out, and she's pregnant. I am not letting her park so far away and walk back. We already paid extra to have her park with us". The guard said "well if i see that extra car there, you'll have to pay a fine". I said "okay, fine me. But she's pregnant and i'm not putting her in harm's way". My friend's car was parked at our site all night along with our other two cars and we never got fined. Go figure!!

[Cooter]

One of these years i hope to be able to camp on site......this year i was camping right across the street on Avenue 50, so it was nice to just be able to leave my car there where i was camping and walk to the venue every day (getting back after the concerts was kind of a headache because the security guards tried to give us a hard time about getting back to where we were camping.....we had to walk through ED 1 and cut through Lot 5 and then from there, where we were staying was literally JUST beyond the police barrier....so the Stagecoach security had us talk to the police about getting through....the police had us talk to Stagecoach security instead.......**uggggghhhhh** one guy tried to make us go down to the other end of Lot 5 and go around that way...it was 12 am and dark down that way! plus how did we know we could even get out that way when we could SEE our entrance at the front where they wouldn't let us go through?!?!)

were you camping on someone's property there? if so, they should be able to get you resident wristbands. pretty sure that's the way it works for coachella for all the neighbors in the direct vicinity of the venue.

[1countryfan4life]

were you camping on someone's property there? if so, they should be able to get you resident wristbands. pretty sure that's the way it works for coachella for all the neighbors in the direct vicinity of the venue.

yeah we were camping on someone's property and we did have wristbands....we showed them to the Stagecoach security/Indio Police and whoever was there that first night STILL wouldn't let us through!! we also had the guy's phone number at the place where we were staying....he told us to call him if there was trouble getting in and he would come out...but it was midnight and we didn't want to wake him up and put him through any trouble after he was nice enough to open up his land to us....we did THREATEN to call the property owner and at that point the guards were like "ohhhhhh, okay" and let us through. The following two nights, the guards were more lenient and let us through without issues......

so i can't really fault the security...changing guards and everything, they were just doing their job, i'm sure they don't know who lives down that street any more than we did. It's just frustrating when you've been outside in the heat all day, it's midnight, you're tired and just wanna go back to your tent and sleep!