Brass Pass

[brooklyngal]

Hi Everyone,
We're considering getting one or more Brass Passes this year b'c we're traveling with 2 small children and 4 adults. For some reason I can't perform a search here for other's comments on having bought them before (!).
It seems like they are almost the same price as regular tix at this point ($50 a day for a regular ticket and $450 for the BP). Is that right? What are other's thoughts on buying this (aside from being for a good cause). Also, how do they keep track that the person who used it for that day is the same person who comes and goes that day using the pass--do they put some bracelet on you or something? How many BPs do you think would be necessary for my group? Would it be advantageous to buy 2 so that parents could leave together if they had to (or go the Tent if they wanted together?). What would be any other advantages? Thanks for your TH advice!

[ohio]

This should help you:

http://www.wwoz.org/support/join+wwoz/brass+pass+benefits

2011 Brass Pass Features

Brass Passes are fully transferable. A different person can use the pass each day of the Fest. Passes are transferable from day to day but not within the same day. Whoever uses the Brass Pass to enter the Festival that day is granted full benefits on that day, any may not leave and transfer the pass to someone else on that same day.
The Brass Pass comes with an attached bar-coded laminate. Please be sure to keep them together for smooth entry to the Festival and Hospitality tent. The Brass Pass itself is not valid for admission, and entry will be denied if the accompanying bar-coded laminate is not present.
Enjoy the WWOZ Hospitality Tent with fresh fruit, iced coffee, tables & chairs, misters and separate bathrooms
Enter and exit through any of the public pedestrian gates, which include the Gentilly, Sauvage, Trafalgar and Shuttle Bus entrances. Please note that the Mystery Gate is not a public gate, and you may be rerouted if you attempt to enter at this gate.
Come and go as you please throughout the day via any one of the public gates listed above. You will not receive a wristband upon entry into the Festival, so before you exit please make sure to visit security personnel at the public gate to receive your re-entry wristband. You will not be re-admitted into the Festival without a wristband and your Brass Pass and bar-coded laminate. Please have all items ready to show gate personnel so you can quickly re-enter.Other Helpful Brass Pass Info

1. The Brass Pass special lines are located at the Sauvage and Gentilly gates. You can enter through these special lines if you wish, but it is not mandatory.

2. There will be no vehicular in and out from the Accessible parking lot/gate.
3. WWOZ Will Call is located at the Sauvage Street entrance and may also be picked up from the ticket booth at the Jazz Fest Express lot.
4. Brass Pass holders may bring in one other person per day to the Hospitality Tent (not to the Festival itself). In addition, children under 12 may accompany their Brass Passer parents to the Hospitality Tent.
5. The WWOZ Hospitality Tent is wheelchair-accessible.

[swag]

Also, how do they keep track that the person who used it for that day is the same person who comes and goes that day using the pass--do they put some bracelet on you or something?

As Bry posted above, the laminate gets you into the fest (last year, it was a paper ticket). If you want to re-enter, you get a wristband when you leave, and they scan the laminate again to ensure only one wristband per brass pass per day. Result is that a different person can use the re-entry privileges than the one who used the pass to enter the fest in the morning, if desired.

With 4 adults and 2 kids, I'd say it makes sense to get 2 brass passes, and paper tix for the rest. That's enough to get the whole gang into the hospitality tent, and would allow for two folks per day to re-enter.

They usually start ticket sales when the lineup is announced, and that's when you'll be able to do a true cost comparison. For example, last year, it was $60 at the gate, $45+fees advance, but there was a weekend package that was $40/day + fees. That averaged to about $46 if you used Ticketmaster.

Last year, the Brass Pass didn't increase in price until mid-February. So you should have a while after prices are announced for this year to do the math, figure out what the Brass Pass upcharge is and how many you might want.

[groovy1967]

As always, Swag has some great advice here.

Last year was my first with the Brass Pass, and I don't regret it in the least. I'll certainly be doing it again in 2011. I'm the kind of guy who races all over the Fairgrounds and rarely stops to take a break, but the ability to stop and get a refill of clean drinking water was a godsend. And when you're pretty much eating a diet of deep-fried everything, a bowl of fresh fruit salad never hurts. The hospitality tent was a nice respite from the rain, as well.

Yeah, it costs a little more, but I'd rather give my money to WWOZ than Ticketbastard.

[ozzie]

Been Brass Passing since 2006 and did not know you could bring a guest into the tent. Thanks.

[Gards]

It a donation to a good cause the way I l look at it.
If you can afford it,you should do it.
The side benifits to some one like me are no big deal.
But clean dunnies.shelter, if required and the healthy breakfast are a bonus.
Plus there is computer access,for checking on whatever you need,and the afore mentioned water top ups etc.

[swag]

Been Brass Passing since 2006 and did not know you could bring a guest into the tent. Thanks.

In 2006, you couldn't. That's a recent benefit, I think it started in 2008 or 2009?

[brooklyngal]

As Bry posted above, the laminate gets you into the fest (last year, it was a paper ticket). If you want to re-enter, you get a wristband when you leave, and they scan the laminate again to ensure only one wristband per brass pass per day. Result is that a different person can use the re-entry privileges than the one who used the pass to enter the fest in the morning, if desired.

With 4 adults and 2 kids, I'd say it makes sense to get 2 brass passes, and paper tix for the rest. That's enough to get the whole gang into the hospitality tent, and would allow for two folks per day to re-enter.

They usually start ticket sales when the lineup is announced, and that's when you'll be able to do a true cost comparison. For example, last year, it was $60 at the gate, $45+fees advance, but there was a weekend package that was $40/day + fees. That averaged to about $46 if you used Ticketmaster.

Last year, the Brass Pass didn't increase in price until mid-February. So you should have a while after prices are announced for this year to do the math, figure out what the Brass Pass upcharge is and how many you might want.

This was *super* helpful Swag! Thank you!!!! :)