|
|
Post by hunterdrummer on Jun 12, 2014 14:26:00 GMT -5
Sparkdog is dead on about how awesome the music was.. And it seemed like it all made sense to me as far as the schedule and the bands.. I didn't feel like I was running around as much.. I did blow off a couple bands for an impromtu jam on my deck...  Which was awesome... The stage was HUGE - when we were up front all hammered - looking up was wild... haha.. The higher stage allows the lights to be more effective i think - they can reach out deeper into the crowd.. The lights were really great this year.. And the lit up trees around the festi site were a great touch... The sound was the best I've heard too.. From string bands to Pretty Lights... It all sounded great! Pretty Lights should be the measure of the top end of a PA system... One thing that was REALLY funny was Warren with that megaphone... He was cracking himself up... Great time!!! |
|
|
|
Post by Soulmate on Jun 12, 2014 21:25:09 GMT -5
The megaphone was EPIC!!
|
|
|
|
Post by jayrod on Jun 13, 2014 7:14:24 GMT -5
This whole weekend was amazing. it was worth every penny. I will be back next year for my 5th.
|
|
|
|
Post by sparkdog on Jun 13, 2014 10:35:08 GMT -5
Warren was having too much fun with the megaphone. Farmer brought it out and set it on Warren's amp for the Allmans set. But Warren just looked at it and laughed.
|
|
|
|
Post by VIP Veteran on Jun 16, 2014 18:12:01 GMT -5
Mountain Jam is a great thing. I own a home in Hensonville and made every Jam except one. For eight years I have gone VIP as I am lucky to not have to pay for lodging. Music was excellent. Great venue, great weather and lots of friendly people. The catering service was very solid and overall seems to improve every year. The tents were bigger, although that did have an effect on some sight lines. There was a lack of non-alcoholic beverages that used to be present in all the tents, especially the water coolers, but that is no biggie, just curious. There were no "extra" regular porto-potties for the guys to help with the bathroom lines that used to not be there. Again, no biggie as a matter of timing.
The cons. Obviously the decision was made to go corporate. Each year the ticket price goes up nominally, which is to be expected. I buy my ticket prior to the bands being announced, usually in November some time. VIP on site parking was ALWAYS included. When I purchased my ticket (and I spoke with at least a dozen other jammers, including members of my party) the parking WAS INCLUDED. There is little or no chance I overlooked that this year (nor did all the other people I met in the same predicament as I). The parking is a big deal with the VIP and one of the major enticements. I would arrive, Big Steve (you all know him) would scan my ticket, give me a decal with my plate number on it and have a nice day. Early on you had to download a pass but recently you just showed your ticket. NOT the case this year. I arrived Thursday around 6 pm, was ushered up the hill to be told, NO DICE. I parked my car with flashers next to the others as per Steve's instruction (and apology) and went down to the learning center (new location for VIP check-in) to ascertain what happened. Everyone was polite but had little or no idea what they were doing. My ticket I received in the mail ( not downloaded) would not scan but I was on the shirt list so I was given a wristband. No one could help with parking and no one had a computer or any way to tell me what to do. A nice young lady, Kristen, with a walkie took me and another person in my situation to the box office. We could not be assisted there and I was told I had to go back to the main gate. Kristen called on the walkie giving my car, name etc. When I got down there NO ONE had any idea what I was talking about and made me go through the camping ultra intensive car search. No one could get a supervisor, name a supervisor or provide any meaningful assistance. My vehicle was searched bumper to bumper and I was admonished repeatedly for not having any camping stuff (of course I was not camping and told them that multiple times). I had a survival knife (along with a small amount of water and emergency rations) that I keep in my car. That was confiscated and I was told I could reclaim it but no one could tell me how. I left my business card in the sheath (oddly enough I ran into the same guard at the country festival and his responses to my inquiries were unacceptable with misplaced humor about it going to the dump or maybe one of the guards) I was not allowed out of the car camping search line no matter what (although other people were oddly). After finally being allowed to speak with the people down at the tent (who also had zero idea of anything), a polite young lady named Jamie listened to my story only to essentially tell me she could not help me and that I was out of luck (although my name was never checked in the computer). She obviously was not in the know and that was incredibly frustrating. Not one person had any information. I stated numerous times that I will pay the extra fee but am gravely disappointed. I was told no as parking was sold out. After a half hour I was given the option of purchasing a pass for $80.00 (not a VIP pass). I was thankful for that. I had to show the pass to get back up the hill and when I got back up top I was told I cannot park without a decal. After some conversation I was allowed to park but somewhere else. Two hours plus after arrival I was watching DSO. Other later arriving members of my party were forewarned and were able to somehow onsite purchase the correct pass (that I was told was sold out) and we enjoyed the rest of my weekend. Jamie took my business card with cell number so I could get a call.. No one ever called. I must stress that at no time did I ever raise my voice and at no time was I treated rudely. People had NO IDEA what they were doing. I found out later from a guard that parking was oversold to the tune of 500 spots. Now it is not the money (which when you take out the parking that WAS included at time of purchase is about a 20% raise in prices). It is the fact that it was so poorly handled and that the old bait and switch was used. With all the regular emails I could have gotten one that said parking was not included. I rechecked the site when I got home and it was posted that parking was extra in a very conspicuous spot. Again I KNOW that was not there when I purchased the ticket and was added later (and I am not the only one who knows that). I hope that someone reads this who does have something to do with the festival and realizes how disappointing it was to be treated this way. I am posting here so other jammers can chime in but unfortunately this will not be the only forum from which I will be addressing MJ in a more official manner.
BTW the security for non VIP people was too intrusive at best. Whereas a personal search has no meaning to me as I am just bringing in "anything" I felt bad for others. The lines were long. As aforementioned I went to the Country festival and the security was just about as rough ( I was non-vip). They numerous times mentioned their preference for the "county folk" and not the "hippies". I witnessed five separate drunken fist fights, had some tripping/drunk dude barrel over my girlfriend and was challenged to a fight by some drunken guy who had pissed himself and accused me of stealing his jacket. I later saw him accost at least four other guys. Finally some guy belted him in the face. No security to be found. (which is weird given that the security personnel were almost all very polite and were obviously looking out for people's safety).
|
|
|
|
Post by hunterdrummer on Jun 16, 2014 18:44:46 GMT -5
We were out before sunset at Taste of Country,,,
We were working so we didn't go through security. But it looked just as bad - except the cops were all inside stopping fights or watching the bands...
There's a sexual thing that runs through mountain jam but for the most part it's fun and flirty..
Country jam... Wow.. people were really putting it out there.. And one wrong look and baboooom...
|
|
|
|
Post by misterbrow on Jun 16, 2014 21:24:13 GMT -5
"I rechecked the site when I got home and it was posted that parking was extra in a very conspicuous spot. Again I KNOW that was not there when I purchased the ticket and was added later (and I am not the only one who knows that)"
Right there with them changing the location of the premium RV lot without so much as a FU.
|
|
|
|
Post by joesnocap on Jun 18, 2014 8:50:22 GMT -5
yes sam cutler, the local police, state troopers and festival security people were arrogant, abusive and went way to far concerning the recreational use of pot at a music festival. i sat inside on thurs and fri briefly and couldn't believe how many people were being taken to the ATM machine. totally ludicrous. the mayor is also full of it as he has said this before but these small towns love to prey on music loving people who are not causing any problems by smoking at a concert
|
|
|
|
Post by hunterdrummer on Jun 18, 2014 9:05:10 GMT -5
For your information... The Mayor... the Town Trustees AND the Hunter Mountain are not down with this type of security at all..
On day 1 - Hunter was calling congressmen and senators to complain about the police presence...
The town and Hunter Mtn has nothing to do with the search onsite...
Thats the promoters... We are all appalled in the village of Hunter at what goes on at security...
|
|
|
|
Post by sparkdog on Jun 18, 2014 15:04:32 GMT -5
Security & cops seems to be the talk after every Mt. Jam. I wonder if it impacts attendance - which I acknowledge we'll never know since the promoter is under no obligation to give attendance figures. Though the mountain seemed pretty crowded this year so my competely uninformed take is despite the issues, attendance is not suffering,
Intersting to note I saw Michael Lang at MJ on Saturday. He's behind the fest being held at Winston Farms this summer. I know there were a lot of rumors about MJ relocating to that site a couple of years ago. It will be interesting to see how the ploce treat that festival and what the security situation is like.
|
|
|
|
Post by hunterdrummer on Jun 18, 2014 16:32:17 GMT -5
Mike Lang's festival is going to be awesome... But I'm hunkering down with Phish in NYC that weekend.. Cool thing about that spot is - it's RIGHT next to the Thruway exit - so there's not 5 towns all trying to bust people to put $$ in the coffers... He's smart enough and local enough to get things done as far as the police go... I've heard numbers... But i forgot what they were... |
|
Which was awesome...
