Big Chief VIP Experience ?'s

[Dana]

A couple of questions to help me decide if I should get Big Chief tix... It's a lot of money for me to spend, but my husband seems interested so I was thinking it might be a good gift.

1) "Seating is first-come, first-served"...how likely/frequent is it?

2) what does "semi-private access to a viewing area" at the Blues Tent mean? Where's the seating area for this pass? The Blues Tent seems crowded a lot - is that one that you are likely to get turned away?

3) What are the "complimentary light refreshments" that are served? Are there sodas there too?

4) Are there early entry or special entry access lines?

any other insight / comments on this pass would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks -

[rowEn]

A couple of questions to help me decide if I should get Big Chief tix... It's a lot of money for me to spend, but my husband seems interested so I was thinking it might be a good gift.

1) "Seating is first-come, first-served"...how likely/frequent is it?

2) what does "semi-private access to a viewing area" at the Blues Tent mean? Where's the seating area for this pass? The Blues Tent seems crowded a lot - is that one that you are likely to get turned away?

3) What are the "complimentary light refreshments" that are served? Are there sodas there too?

4) Are there early entry or special entry access lines?

any other insight / comments on this pass would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks -

The stands at the larger stages (Acura and Gentilly) are fairly large and I've never seen them turn people away.

Your area will be off to the side, usually a section of bleachers towards the back. It will depend on who you are there to see. I've seen the stands empty and I've seen them packed.

Usually a "treat" of the day. Ice cream sandwiches, zapp's chips, etc. No sodas are out but you can get some at the window (you can also order beer/wine)

If you opt for parking, yes, there are special lines. If you don't get parking you enter with everyone else but have in/out privs.

[Dr. A.]

i've done it a few times over the years. i am wishy washy about it. the seating at the big stages has never been an issue and you have much easier access to bathroom stuff and no lines for coke/beer. the blues tent thing is nice too, and i recall one of my best experiences was in the separate section at congo. that said, on more than one occasion i had the big chief access and found myself in the crowd anyway. it doesnt really help you at places like the heritage stage where i seem to end up a lot.
i found it most valuable when i had some older relatives with me. it does give you a guaranteed seat at many stages where that is often just not possible. i think these same relatives are going to go this year and they would not consider going without the big chief option. parking is a plus too, especially if you are one that might like to visit your car to get stuff over the course of the day.
i think you should def do it once. maybe not twice. i didnt do it last year, and prob wont do it this year either.

[resmp]

I did it the first year it was offered (06?) and haven't done it since. The comments here are pretty accurate. The access is quite good for Congo Square and the Blues and Gospel tents. However, I found myself wanting to be in the crowd at Acura and Gentilly, and the seating areas for those are to the back and feel removed.

There always seemed to be seats available, and it is nice to get out of the sun. I remember a refreshment area in the grandstand - nothing elaborate, but a good place to chill out a bit, and clean restrooms as well. No small thing.

I would say that if your big motivation is comfort, (and ain't nothing wrong with that) it could be worth it. If you're the kind of person, though, that really wants to be mixing in the crowd and feeding off that energy, I would skip.

[canadianjohn]

I Love the Brass Pass. Free fruit & iced coffee in the OZ tent & internet access.
Also this pass is tax deductible, if you are an American. Unfortunatly this does not apply to us Canajuns. The pass is a real cool ticket keepsake as well.

[Dana]

Good info everyone..thanks!

[mfrankkk]

I did it the first year it was offered (06?) and haven't done it since. The comments here are pretty accurate. The access is quite good for Congo Square and the Blues and Gospel tents. However, I found myself wanting to be in the crowd at Acura and Gentilly, and the seating areas for those are to the back and feel removed.

There always seemed to be seats available, and it is nice to get out of the sun. I remember a refreshment area in the grandstand - nothing elaborate, but a good place to chill out a bit, and clean restrooms as well. No small thing.

I would say that if your big motivation is comfort, (and ain't nothing wrong with that) it could be worth it. If you're the kind of person, though, that really wants to be mixing in the crowd and feeding off that energy, I would skip.

DITTO!!

[chrisjoseph]

Love Brass Pass. Love Grand Marshal. Not as crazy about Big Chief.

[Dana]

yeah, after thinking it all through and weighing the money vs experience...i'm gonna pass on it this year. maybe some other time...we're going to pay better attention to the stage locations this year and may go for it next...
Thanks again for the info!

[canadianjohn]

Seriously the Brass Pass supports WWOZ & well worth it.

[Swen]

The reasons we like Big Chief, in order of importance to us, are:

1. Protection from sun and r**n at Acura and Gentilly, when we want it
2. Reserved section with decent sight line at Blues tent- allows easy in and outs
3. Reserved section directly off stage at Congo square, with great sight line
4. Never a long walk or a wait for a real toilet or a drink
5. The lounge is kept nice and COOL, and the free Hubigs, ice cream sandwiches, etc are nice too
6. In and out's
7. When you enter fairgrounds from the Liuzza's side, there is a separate,short line for VIP pass holders.

We were planning to skip it this year, expecting to be spending only a couple hours a day at the fairgrounds, but the line-up changed our minds.

[linza22]

The reasons we like Big Chief, in order of importance to us, are:

1. Protection from sun and r**n at Acura and Gentilly, when we want it
2. Reserved section with decent sight line at Blues tent- allows easy in and outs
3. Reserved section directly off stage at Congo square, with great sight line
4. Never a long walk or a wait for a real toilet or a drink
5. The lounge is kept nice and COOL, and the free Hubigs, ice cream sandwiches, etc are nice too
6. In and out's
7. When you enter fairgrounds from the Liuzza's side, there is a separate,short line for VIP pass holders.

We were planning to skip it this year, expecting to be spending only a couple hours a day at the fairgrounds, but the line-up changed our minds.


WAIT??? WHAT!?? HUBIGS???????

[Swen]

WAIT??? WHAT!?? HUBIGS???????

This changes EVERYTHING, right? ;)

[linza22]

This changes EVERYTHING, right? ;)

well YEAH! HAHA!

[funkkjunkie]

Curious here. How did the lineup change your minds?

[Apostrophe (')]

We were planning to skip it this year, expecting to be spending only a couple hours a day at the fairgrounds, but the line-up changed our minds.

I was just watching the slide show on the main page and thinking about upgrading our tix this year. Just when you think it's going to repeat, it hits you with something else you know is gonna kill.

How's the sound at the main stages? Do the areas in the tents and at Congo get overly crowded?

[Swen]

Curious here. How did the lineup change your minds?

The lineup looks so good that we know we're gonna be spending alot of time at the fairgrounds again. So, worth the upgrade again for us.

I was just watching the slide show on the main page and thinking about upgrading our tix this year. Just when you think it's going to repeat, it hits you with something else you know is gonna kill.

How's the sound at the main stages? Do the areas in the tents and at Congo get overly crowded?

Last year- our first with the passes- we never once encountered significant crowding at ANY of the Big Chief seating areas. It was a particular treat to be able to scoot in and out of the Blues Tent in seconds through a private entrance, and to always have a seat there (higher on the bleacher if you want a better sight line.) This easy access, lack of crowding and "reserved" seating with decent sight lines can make the difference between actually going to hear the acts who you want to see there, and just giving up on the Blues tent because of its well-known problems.

Sound was good at Acura and Gentilly. As at all stages, the Big Chief seating areas are off to one side, but that's not a big problem sound-wise because the monitors are all blasting in mono and the seating areas are not so close to the stage that an imbalanced direct sound image overpowers the board mix from the monitors.

[Apostrophe (')]

As at all stages, the Big Chief seating areas are off to one side, but that's not a big problem sound-wise because the monitors are all blasting in mono and the seating areas are not so close to the stage that an imbalanced direct sound image overpowers the board mix from the monitors.

Nice, glad to hear the sound is good. I'm not as worried about the positioning of the risers as their elevation above the crowd noise. Sounds like that's probably not an issue either though.

Big Chief is soooooo expensive. It might be worth it to me this year though.

[Swen]

Nice, glad to hear the sound is good. I'm not as worried about the positioning of the risers as their elevation above the crowd noise. Sounds like that's probably not an issue either though.

Big Chief is soooooo expensive. It might be worth it to me this year though.

It IS expensive, Brian, and as you know the upgrade is by no means essential to having a great Fest experience. It does make some things much easier and more comfortable, though. If you're gonna be spending lots of time at the Jazz and Heritage stage, the gospel and jazz tents, the fais do do, etc, it probably wouldn't be AS worth the dough. However, if you're liking the lineups at the blues tent, Acura, Gentilly and Congo Square, it can make the experience of going back and forth between these stages MUCH easier. And if you tend to be direct-sun-phobic and rain-phobic like me, the upgrade is definitely a good investment. If you've got the dough available, it's definitely worth trying for a weekend, just to see how much of it's amenities you will or will not miss the next time out. On the other hand, you may feel that springing for VIP passes means that you're getting old. This is not a problem for me any more, because I KNOW I'm fucking old! If it's an issue for you, then consider staying young a little longer and turn away from the siren's song of creature comforts this time. Don't know if any of this helps...

[festivalgirl]

I'm glad you guys enjoy it and can afford it but those damn grandstands take away so much room for the rest of us especially at Gentilly.

Ok, I'm done now.

[Apostrophe (')]

if you're liking the lineups at the blues tent, Acura, Gentilly and Congo Square, it can make the experience of going back and forth between these stages MUCH easier.

that's what was driving my interest for sure.

And if you tend to be direct-sun-phobic and rain-phobic like me, the upgrade is definitely a good investment.

shade from the sun is definitely a huge plus for me.

On the other hand, you may feel that springing for VIP passes means that you're getting old.

not at all. i relish getting older, even if i'm not maturing.

those damn grandstands take away so much room for the rest of us especially at Gentilly.

and that's really what pushed me to the precipice. the Gentilly lineup should be phenomenal this year, with one of my favorite live bands closing one night, but i've regained my senses with a little help from the dailies.

[rowEn]

I'm glad you guys enjoy it and can afford it but those damn grandstands take away so much room for the rest of us especially at Gentilly.

Ok, I'm done now.

To be fair, they did move them last year and both ponds were partly sacrificed for the stands rather than "regular" space.

That said, I am not a big chief this year. I'm not as traumatized by the "green rooms" as I was upon my return last year ;) I might, however, see if the Valentine Fairy can spring for some Grand Marshal tix...

[festivalgirl]

and that's really what pushed me to the precipice. the Gentilly lineup should be phenomenal this year, with one of my favorite live bands closing one night, but i've regained my senses with a little help from the dailies.

To be fair, they did move them last year and both ponds were partly sacrificed for the stands rather than "regular" space.

That said, I am not a big chief this year. I'm not as traumatized by the "green rooms" as I was upon my return last year ;) I might, however, see if the Valentine Fairy can spring for some Grand Marshal tix...

I just can't imagine spending that kind of money on a ticket, myself. (well, actually not just myself, is it - ouch, really hurts for two)

Now, if it included drinks, food and they did my laundry mid-week .... ;)

To be fair, I spend more and more time at the smaller venues each year. The BNA's don't knock my socks off enough again this year. And I'm good with that!! :)

[webbev]

Well Dana, probably by now you have made your decision but I'll put my two cents worth in anyway. Last year was our first year. We only went the second weekend and got the big chief pass. The two best things about the pass are: 1.)You can usually manage to be in the shade which is important to me since my skin is quite fair and I get sun poisoning...2.)The bathrooms themselves are worth it!!!!! LOL

Look - I'm getting old and have no interest in schlepping blankets and folding chairs around with me all day. My friend said I wouldn't like the seats but I found them quite good especially compared to where she was sitting. Sure, you may get down and go have a dance in the crowd or whatever and there are many venues where the pass nets you nothing whatsoever but I still thought it was the way to go.

[webbev]

lol at Swen

At least some of us can admit that we are getting old and part of being old, fortunately (hopefully) is having the dough to spend on a bit of comfort.

That's right - comfart for old farts. And don't forget the nice bathrooms. I realize it is not so much of an issue for the men but it sure is nice for us broads. They keep them clean and don't forget to tip the attendants. All the folks that work there are super.