How Early do you need to get to stage?

[scarlett]

I'm new to Lolla and wondering if I want to see a particular show about how early do I need to get to the stage to see them up close. I'm pretty short and I'm worried I won't see anything if I don't camp out.

[hjkz1982]

It really depends on the popularity of the band.

[xamnamxam]

Well, which show are you thinking of, and about how close do you need to be? Are we talking front row, or middle of the crowd?

[cosmo]

I would get there at 11:00 a.m.

Seriously, I would get there (at least) before the preceding band begins their set. So, maybe 2 hours.

[TheCountofMonteDisco]

Depends on which set you're worried about.
Sometimes you can walk up the moment the show starts and be fine, other times you need to camp for 30+ minutes to get close.

Listen, here's the facts... no mater what you do... you wont catch every show you want to see from up close. Choose the ones that are really important to you and plan accordingly.

[manduh]

I would like to know this, too...though I'm sure it has a lot to do with what band you want to see.

I want to get close for Foo Fighters, and I'm wondering if I need to camp out all day...

[sixtimes]

My only experience I can point to was being front-row for Kanye in 2006 - I got there four hours before his set. But that was because the two preceding acts on that stage were Common and Gnarls Barkley, both of which were acts I expected to carry over a lot of their crowd - the act before Gnarls on the south stage, which I didn't see, had a lot of people leaving and we snagged an opportunity to get up front.

If you want to be up front for a midday set, it should be a little easier - the stage might be all but empty after the previous act on that stage leaves. And it'll be easier to get up front at Sony and Playstation than it will at Bud Light and Music Unlimited. Just plan strategically, and try to guess where everyone else will be going.

[stelles75]

As people have stated, it really depends. We "camped" for The Strokes last year about 50 minutes ahead of show time and managed a decent spot about twenty yards back in front of the left video screen. I was perfectly happy with that.

[africanwhale9]

yeah how do you guys think i should do because i want to see crystal castles but i also want to get a great spot for muse where the crowds into it and stuff. any suggestions on what to do?

[reagansmash]

How about going from crystal castles to ratatat on friday? How close (or more likely, far) should I expect to get to the stage?

[sixtimes]

Crystal Castles to Ratatat - It's probably a ten minute walk as long as you've got an escape route so that you won't be lost in crowds of Muse fans, and I don't believe the overlap between OK Go and Ratatat will be that huge. Doesn't seem unreasonable that you'd get a pretty decent spot. You might not be among the superfans, but I'd think it'd be close enough to enjoy the show.

Crystal Castles to Muse - I have the feeling that by the end of Crystal Castles both crowds will be butting into one another. If you don't mind viewing the show from an angle, you can get a lot closer.

[africanwhale9]

well i was also thinking about either leaving crystal castles early or not going at all, so what do you think i should do?

[onelittleworld]

I would like to know this, too...though I'm sure it has a lot to do with what band you want to see.

I want to get close for Foo Fighters, and I'm wondering if I need to camp out all day...

For Janes Addiction 2 years ago, I got as close as I could at the start of the Neko Case set... about 4 hours prior. Once her crowd thinned out, I was decently close for the next set (Lou Reed). After his crowd dispersed, I slid up to about 4 or 5 rows off the barricade, and fairly well centered.

Bottom line: All-day camping is not 100% necessary, but all-afternoon camping might be. That also means I missed Silversun Pickups, Vampire Weekend, Cold War Kids and The Killers... and only got to hear and not see Dan Aurbach and Band of Horses.

Be careful what you wish for.

[Caseysitsallgood]

How much of a fan overlap does everyone think there will be for APC and Muse?

My schedule is looking like Two Door Cinema Club then nothing until Muse. Would the 2:15 be enough to find a decent spot?

[carligula]

I don't understand the 2:15 question. If you see TDCC, you won't be able to get to the main stage until they're done at 6pm. I will say that I think there will be a massive amount of camping from APC> Muse. I'm considering it myself and I NEVER do that. I think having White Lies before that makes it even more likely that getting up close for Muse will be an all-day commitment. Their fans are rabid and it looks like the schedulers put most acts of interest on that stage. I'm actually concerned that Delta Spirit will be plagued by a bunch of sitting disinterested campers.

[africanwhale9]

yeah im slightly worried about the APC to Muse overlap, i was thinking of just skipping crystal castles and TDCC for a good muse spot, but ive also heard that crystal castles just tears it up live

[Caseysitsallgood]

I don't understand the 2:15 question.

Sorry, should have clarified that. meant 2 hours & 15 minutes. thanks for your reply though.

[carligula]

You know what's more important than getting right against the stage? Making sure you're surrounded by friends (new and old) who are going to be just as into the music as you are.

[/cornball]

[africanwhale9]

You know what's more important than getting right against the stage? Making sure you're surrounded by friends (new and old) who are going to be just as into the music as you are.

[/cornball]
sadly my friends have no money to buy a ticket to get in, my bro and his group of like 20 friends are all going to coldplay, and my only friend thats going probably isnt going to muse, but im just going to see crystal castles anyway. on another note, ive seen many youtube videos of bands headlining the south stage, and the filmer is 9 times out of 10 really far away, ive never seen a headliner there, is it hard to get like closer or is to the point where you cant go any farther?

[JordanJ]

What about going straight from TDCC ending at 6 to bright eyes>Coldplay at 6:30? do you guys think getting a good spot for coldplay will be possible doing this?

[africanwhale9]

yeah i think you could usually if you are at the band before the headliner (same stage) you can get a pretty good place, like last year i went to black keys and stayed for the strokes, and during the strokes i got to the barrier and really up close

[onelittleworld]

What about going straight from TDCC ending at 6 to bright eyes>Coldplay at 6:30? do you guys think getting a good spot for coldplay will be possible doing this?

This is kind of a tough call. Bright Eyes is a fairly big name and has some fans... but he's up against APC, which will draw some bodies southward.

In years past, you could easily move up a few spots before before the headliner... but this time they just have a DJ at the Petrillo (Playstation), so maybe not so much. Then again, I think a lot of people will bail to see OK-Go or Crystal Castles.

So anyway, I dunno.

[scarlett]

I should have been more specific with my question. I'm planning on going to Coldplay. I don't mind missing the other shows as I'm really only there to see Coldplay. I'm only 5ft tall so I don't want to be stuck way in the back. What's your advice on when I should "camp" out at the stage? One or two shows ahead of time? What do you think my chances are of getting right in front? It's only going to be two of us going so not a lot of people to try to get spots for.

[rainostr]

I am kind of worried about the Smith Westerns > The Kills > Mountain Goats > Bright Eyes. Is it possible to get a decent spot (middle crowd or forward) going from Bud Light to Playstation and vice versa the minute an act finishes and the other one starts?

And in what degree is it possible to enjoy, for example, a Playstation act while camping in Bud Light?

[onelittleworld]

Scarlette: If you want to be assured of a decent spot for Coldplay, go to The Kills' show and stay put for the rest of the day. If you really, really want to get close to the front... stay from Grace Potter onwards. Coldplay is a very popular band, and there will be a lot of people trying to get good position to see them.

rain: I've listened to bands playing the band shell while keeping my position at the Bud stage, and I'll just say... it's not as enjoyable as you might expect. It's always a tough call. If I had to do it over again, I would give up my spot for Arcade Fire last year to see The National. But I'll defend to the death my decision to stay put for Janes Addiction in '09.

[Hurricane Kid]

Scarlette: If you want to be assured of a decent spot for Coldplay, go to The Kills' show and stay put for the rest of the day. If you really, really want to get close to the front... stay from Grace Potter onwards. Coldplay is a very popular band, and there will be a lot of people trying to get good position to see them.

rain: I've listened to bands playing the band shell while keeping my position at the Bud stage, and I'll just say... it's not as enjoyable as you might expect. It's always a tough call. If I had to do it over again, I would give up my spot for Arcade Fire last year to see The National. But I'll defend to the death my decision to stay put for Janes Addiction in '09.

I regret staying for the National, though it was a great show and the end was phenomenal. I can't tell you how far away I was for AF.

[Hurricane Kid]

And in what degree is it possible to enjoy, for example, a Playstation act while camping in Bud Light?

Its terrible. You will know what band it is but thats it. You won't have line of sight and it will sound bad.

[emitts]

I am kind of worried about the Smith Westerns > The Kills > Mountain Goats > Bright Eyes. Is it possible to get a decent spot (middle crowd or forward) going from Bud Light to Playstation and vice versa the minute an act finishes and the other one starts?

And in what degree is it possible to enjoy, for example, a Playstation act while camping in Bud Light?

Last year I attempted to watch Metric playing the Playstation stage while being only somewhat close for Spoon coming up on the Bud Light stage and it was not that great of an experience. I'd say if you really want to camp and be close and that's your priority, expect to sacrifice seeing other things (or even being able to really enjoy hearing them from afar). If being close isn't your priority and you want to see everything you want to see, be ready to move around and be a little farther back for some sets.

[mexifrida]

I should have been more specific with my question. I'm planning on going to Coldplay. I don't mind missing the other shows as I'm really only there to see Coldplay. I'm only 5ft tall so I don't want to be stuck way in the back. What's your advice on when I should "camp" out at the stage? One or two shows ahead of time? What do you think my chances are of getting right in front? It's only going to be two of us going so not a lot of people to try to get spots for.

I have the same problem on the being short thing. I wonder if it will be bad.
For Bright Eyes, I don't really know when to get there, because there will also be a crowd for The Kills. This is the show I most care about, so I wouldn't mind as much missing other stuff.

[DAFTSOUND]

Every year at Coachella my strategy when watching artists perform on the main stage is to walk around to the opposite side of where the huge crowd is walking. For example, when a band starts at the main stage at Coachella the huge crowd always goes to right side of the main stage because they are leaving the other tents and the right side is closest to them. I always go around the crowd to the left side of the main stage and can usually get a decent spot. This is my first Lolla experience so idk if it will work there, but it's worth a try

[Antoinek91]

My two cents to those who are concerned about having to camp out: just get to the stage of the act that you want to see before the previous act on that same stage is done playing. Regardless of who it is, there will ALWAYS be a lot of movement both toward and away from the stage when an act finishes, and you will be able to wiggle up very close to the stage. Camping all afternoon seems ridiculous to me. Very few fans are that hardcore about a certain band, and this isn't necessary. The vast majority arrive to see a non-headliner 0-10 min before they go on, and a headliner 30 min or so before they go on.

[sonickteam]

so i'm assuming trying to catch a band on the opposite stage on the south side would prove even more of a pain in the arse? I havent been since 06 and i just remember how easy it was to hop around...how times have changed i suppose!