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Post by livesbydryshampoo on Jun 8, 2015 5:54:56 GMT -5
One year we camped next to some people from Indiana who kept talking shit on Ohio, so we very quietly whispered in our tent about how much Indiana sucks (because we're Midwestern and polite and non-confrontational).
My other neighbor experienced have included: lovely people jumping my car, sharing booze, and keeping an eye on each other's stuff.
You're gonna be fine, I promise. Bring earplugs if you're worried about noise or something and just be sure to say hi when everyone's scrambling to set up their tents.
Don't know if I've been lucky or not, but I've always had good neighbors.
One important tip. When you first get there, go introduce yourself to your neighbors, offer to help them set up their tent/canopy, offer them a beer, and just be friendly. Most people are wanting to meet their neighbors and have a good time too. It helps if you break the ice. You can also help each other by looking out for their stuff whenever you're back at camp (and they can return the favor).
And this is coming from someone who is typically shy around new people.
I'm going to my first roo in TWO DAYS (SHIT) and I'm only nervous about one thing: my neighbors.
I know that generally the vibe is wonderful and most people are super friendly but every party has to have a pooper, right? Have any veterans ever had to camp beside crappy neighbors? What made them crappy and how did you handle that situation?
I wouldn't worry too much about your neighbors. Yes, crappy neighbors exists, but they are not the norm by any stretch of the imagination. I can't ever say that I got any plainly terrible neighbors. I had some frat guys a campsite or two down from me one year that played beer pong for a good bit of the weekend, but they kept to themselves and didn't cause issue with anyone else. They were just super loud which isn't something you can get that mad about at Bonnaroo. livesbydryshampoo gave solid advice there with bringing earplugs if noise bothers you when you sleep as it is loud in general. Also, saying hi to your neighbors while you're setting up is the best course of action. It will give you a chance to gauge them a little, and you never know how you can end up helping. My second year, I am pretty sure ten different camps used my mallet to drive their tent stakes because none of them thought to bring one.
I'm going to my first roo in TWO DAYS (SHIT) and I'm only nervous about one thing: my neighbors.
I know that generally the vibe is wonderful and most people are super friendly but every party has to have a pooper, right? Have any veterans ever had to camp beside crappy neighbors? What made them crappy and how did you handle that situation?
I wouldn't worry too much about your neighbors. Yes, crappy neighbors exists, but they are not the norm by any stretch of the imagination. I can't ever say that I got any plainly terrible neighbors. I had some frat guys a campsite or two down from me one year that played beer pong for a good bit of the weekend, but they kept to themselves and didn't cause issue with anyone else. They were just super loud which isn't something you can get that mad about at Bonnaroo. livesbydryshampoo gave solid advice there with bringing earplugs if noise bothers you when you sleep as it is loud in general. Also, saying hi to your neighbors while you're setting up is the best course of action. It will give you a chance to gauge them a little, and you never know how you can end up helping. My second year, I am pretty sure ten different camps used my mallet to drive their tent stakes because none of them thought to bring one.
Exactly, my rubber mallet is the town whore!
And as Dave mentioned, ear plugs are a must as well.
Crappy neighbors? No, not ever. Discourteous? Yes. I say discourteous as in being loud with no respect to the time or that others may be trying to sleep (I'm an old lady and need my sleep). In 2009, in tent only, we had neighbors that decided 2am Monday morning was a great time to attempt to play a saxophone that someone had "randomly found". To make matters worse, I'm pretty sure they were (old-school) Inforoosters. plasticpepper do you remember that?
I have had experiences galore with neighbors. First thing first, remember that some people are more out going than others. When you arrive, set your stuff up and introduce yourself. If they need help with something, offer. Usually your neighbors will be cool and just as excited as you are about being at Bonnaroo. Plus, they are kinda an added set of lookouts for your stuff, providing they are not thieves themselves.
The two biggest problems I have encountered as far as neighbors are as follows: I am a person who enjoys late night shows at Roo. My neighbors would be up at 7 a.m. pretty much every single morning, one particular girl would be talking to the group as if they all had massive hearing loss. Bring earplugs and use a fan and this might help.
The second one was a shady neighbor. It was my first year in Access and this guy literally was at Roo to sell his glasswork. He camped beside us with a tent and very little else. We never ONCE saw him go into Centeroo other than following me and my buddy Dave one time. He was pretty much always at camp or always walking around camp. We came back from seeing a show to find him setting in one of our chairs under our EZ-UP smoking a cig. He said he did not think we would mind. He also had one of my Gatorades as well, which he did not mention. After this, we locked pretty much anything of value (we already were doing this anyways but the cooler and such went in the back of the truck). The guy on the last day showed us 3 glass pipes and he said that was all he had left and asked if we wanted to buy one. When we said no, he grabbed his bag and took off towards BFE and we never saw him again. Needless to say, protect your valuables.
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I'm going to my first roo in TWO DAYS (SHIT) and I'm only nervous about one thing: my neighbors.
I know that generally the vibe is wonderful and most people are super friendly but every party has to have a pooper, right? Have any veterans ever had to camp beside crappy neighbors? What made them crappy and how did you handle that situation?
if you're already worried about somehting as petty as this... then you are most likely the "crappy neighbor" LOL
I'm going to my first roo in TWO DAYS (SHIT) and I'm only nervous about one thing: my neighbors.
I know that generally the vibe is wonderful and most people are super friendly but every party has to have a pooper, right? Have any veterans ever had to camp beside crappy neighbors? What made them crappy and how did you handle that situation?
if you're already worried about somehting as petty as this... then you are most likely the "crappy neighbor" LOL
Why is this a petty concern, and why does that make you think they'll be a crappy neighbor? Doesn't make any sense to me. They've never been to Bonnaroo and had a very understandable question. There are going to be douche bags wherever you go, they were wondering the best way to handle it.
One year we camped next to some people from Indiana who kept talking shit on Ohio, so we very quietly whispered in our tent about how much Indiana sucks (because we're Midwestern and polite and non-confrontational).
My other neighbor experienced have included: lovely people jumping my car, sharing booze, and keeping an eye on each other's stuff.
You're gonna be fine, I promise. Bring earplugs if you're worried about noise or something and just be sure to say hi when everyone's scrambling to set up their tents.
I jumped 3 of my neighbor's last year. Don't forget your jumper cables!!! I didn't know how to use them but someone in another camp knew what he was doing so he would hook the cables up, I just provided the cables. We had to listen to him yell "ROLL TIDE" every time like the university of alabama personally started the cars for him.
I didn't really have crappy neighbors. We all got to know eachother and I had 3 sets of "kids" (i was 28, they were all lucky to be 18) near me who let us know they were taking party favors and to let them know if they were being a bother. You never heard them. One set of kids took upper pills and stayed gone all day. They came back a few hours every morning to lay in their tent. We all kinda helped watch out for their belongings bc their tent almost flew away. We put an ice chest in their tent and just explained what happened. They didn't know you had to stake down your tent.......... the young kids and the tent also were very unclean. One of the girls changed her feminine product in the car and threw it in the grass by our cars. When one of the girls with them found it, the one chick acted like she had no idea where it came from and there was a 20 minute fight. It was actually pretty funny and not so annoying.
I plan on bringing my jumper cables again (who am i kidding, they never leave my car), I've got a 20 foot flagpole so my neighbors can find their way to their camp, and plan on helping out people again this year if they need it. The older I get, the more it seems like I play the mom role, and I'm perfectly fine with that.
They didn't know you had to stake down your tent.........
It amazes me how it never fails that there are people around you who are not only opening their tent bag for the first time but also seem to be opening a tent bag for the first time in their entire lives and stand there looking at the directions like they're written in a foreign language.
They didn't know you had to stake down your tent.........
It amazes me how it never fails that there are people around you who are not only opening their tent bag for the first time but also seem to be opening a tent bag for the first time in their entire lives and stand there looking at the directions like they're written in a foreign language.
That was me. My first Roo was my first time camping and I was on crutches. It was a disaster waiting to happen, luckily my cool neighbors helped with everything.
Though I did try to set up my tent before leaving home so that counts for something. By the time I actually got parked it was dark and I was like.....oh sh*t.
They didn't know you had to stake down your tent.........
It amazes me how it never fails that there are people around you who are not only opening their tent bag for the first time but also seem to be opening a tent bag for the first time in their entire lives and stand there looking at the directions like they're written in a foreign language.
We arrived about 1 am thursday morning. It was dark out and everyone was jumping for space to claim. These kids in particular had a VERY used tent that could have held a family of 12 and they were hitting all of us trying to get the poles figured out. While they were fighting to get the tent up, it was made known they had never put a tent up before and someone's dad let them borrow the tent. One of the poles was broke to begin with. It was just an awful mess.
So important to test out your tents and equipment and make sure you know how to put it up and that nothing is broken. I have an extra pair of stakes this year Im bringing. Mostly bc I forgot I bought fancy ones last year and bought them again this year. Again, good neighbor here... super prepared!
It amazes me how it never fails that there are people around you who are not only opening their tent bag for the first time but also seem to be opening a tent bag for the first time in their entire lives and stand there looking at the directions like they're written in a foreign language.
That was me. My first Roo was my first time camping and I was on crutches. It was a disaster waiting to happen, luckily my cool neighbors helped with everything.
Though I did try to set up my tent before leaving home so that counts for something. By the time I actually got parked it was dark and I was like.....oh sh*t.
They didn't know you had to stake down your tent.........
It amazes me how it never fails that there are people around you who are not only opening their tent bag for the first time but also seem to be opening a tent bag for the first time in their entire lives and stand there looking at the directions like they're written in a foreign language.
There's always at least one neighbor every year who is exactly like this.
It amazes me how it never fails that there are people around you who are not only opening their tent bag for the first time but also seem to be opening a tent bag for the first time in their entire lives and stand there looking at the directions like they're written in a foreign language.
There's always at least one neighbor every year who is exactly like this.
But to be fair, the instructions usually do suck.
I bought a shower tent this year. Last friday I decided I would set up all my stuff to make sure it was ready to go. So i asked my nephews to help me. Because they are boy scouts and love any and all things camping related. They put up the shower tent and I watched. When they got it completed I was like "well, glad I could show you guys how to set it up.. now you'll know" lol had to play it off like I knew what I was doing haha! The ez up I know how to work.. I also had them put together my flagpole and show me how to work the pieces to put a flag on it. My oldest nephew and the neighborhood boy Seth were picked to to do the flagpole at school bc they were boyscouts. I had no clue what I was doing lol thankfully I learned a few things that day.
I always help out that neighbor who has no idea how to put up their tent, and you are right, there is always one... But I do have to admit that my prick like tendencies always leads me to sit for a few minutes and giggle slightly at them before I offer to help...
I always help out that neighbor who has no idea how to put up their tent, and you are right, there is always one... But I do have to admit that my prick like tendencies always leads me to sit for a few minutes and giggle slightly at them before I offer to help...
Ya, I usually observe for a minute too. Partly to see if they're going to figure it out on their own, and partly for the amusement it provides
We had some neighbors in 2013 that kept to themselves, but I wouldn't call them crappy. Just un-sociable sorority girls. Our neighbors in 2014 were awesome.
This will be my 5th Roo and we've always had either awesome or "interesting" neighbors. In 2013 our neighbor ended up being on older man who came by himself, maybe early 60s, who traveled from MA on a motorcycle with all of his equipment. He somehow managed to fit a all his stuff into this little backpack, including a tent. He introduced himself to our group of 4 as "Gum", which he then told us stood for Gay Uncle Mike. Considering 3/4 of our group was gay it was cool, until he came over EVERY time we were back at the camp looking to hang out. He always tried to follow us into the fest but we quickly lost him, he def though we were going to be more than neighbors haha.
Last year we had a group of 3 next to us, a couple and their friend. The couple pretty much stayed at the site until 8pm everyday pounding beers, while their friend would roam by himself. They were nice and didn't do anything weird all weekend until the last night when the couple banged it out for 4 hours, no joke. This was 2 larger people so that tent was shaking like you wouldn't believe. Their tent was set up maybe 10 inches from my friends so he heard them all night, he kept texting us the things they were saying to each other, it made for a really funny last night.
Last year we had a group of 3 next to us, a couple and their friend. The couple pretty much stayed at the site until 8pm everyday pounding beers, while their friend would roam by himself. They were nice and didn't do anything weird all weekend until the last night when the couple banged it out for 4 hours, no joke. This was 2 larger people so that tent was shaking like you wouldn't believe. Their tent was set up maybe 10 inches from my friends so he heard them all night, he kept texting us the things they were saying to each other, it made for a really funny last night.
Last year was my first and I had some pretty cool neighbors. Offering ppl help while they set up pays off ten fold. One group were 5 guys from Canada and none of them brought any sun block. I gave them a bottle and they made sure I was on cloud nine with their herbal medicine every day.
Post by snowmanomura on Jun 8, 2015 10:41:37 GMT -5
I have always had pretty good neighbors. The first year I went there two old school deadheads who had been driving around the country in their camping pickup, and they had all kinda of cool camping gear for every possible situation, which was great because we were woefully unprepared and it rained like hell (2004). another time I unknowngly smoked opium with another group of old hippie neighbors. other years we just talked to them and combined EZ-ups for giant shade areas and stuff. , or just shared food and booze a lot. I like to trade foodstuffs. The "worst" neighbors I've had just weren't social and didn't talk to us the whole time.
Post by omgitsbonnaroo on Jun 8, 2015 10:49:46 GMT -5
Have always had great neighbors - 2007 was a particularly great crew, older couples, we would gather in a circle every morning if you catch my drift and "feel the dance." IDK just something we came up with but it became a mantra at that Bonnaroo. The only negative was Friday night after Tool we were very laugh-y coming back to the tent and it was like 3am. Some dude yelled at us to shut up - he had been sort of pissy all weekend and actually left Sunday morning. But 99% of the neighbors I had were great.
Post by FuzzyWarbles on Jun 8, 2015 10:51:20 GMT -5
In 2011 I had a father and son camped next to me in Tent Only and the son's main purpose of attending was to sell enough droogs to pay off some court fine he had aquired. They weren't necessarily bad neighbors. They gave me coffee every morning. The dad was really pumped to see Greg Allman and Robert Plant that Sunday. I also came back to camp once during late night that same year and saw some guys with flashlights rummaging through my other neighbor's campsite. I told them to leave and one of the guys got close to me and asked me what business of it was mine if it wasn't my tent. I said it could just as easily be mine and they walked off I'm sure to plunder somewhere else. That was the only year I've had any issues. My first year Ray Bong and crew we're my neighbors and that was fun. I always camp at Camp Inforoo now.
Same to report as everyone else. 6th Roo, never had a bad neighbor. I've never experienced Community like you experience on the farm. Once you go, you will see what everyone means. Edt: Sometimes you even luck out with REALLY AWESOME neighbors like roro!! And they offer you breakfast burritos and give you beer!
Post by Dale Cooper on Jun 8, 2015 11:18:29 GMT -5
2008 I had neighbors playing Metallica at 3:30 a.m. as loud as possible. I could barely stay conscious but they were nice enough to turn it down when I asked.
