New and Improved Rules for Jazz Fest.

[festydave]

The festival has an open seating policy - movement throughout the festival without impediment is essential to audience flow, safety and comfort. The use of ropes, cords, tape, etc. to reserve space is not compatible with this policy. In this same spirit, an area in front of the Acura Stage and the Gentilly Stage will be Standing Room Only.

Many of you commented last year about a few folks trying to reserve large spaces in the most densely populated audience areas all day in order to come back for the biggest acts. This new Standing Room Only area should make everyone happy and give more of you the same opportunity to get up close for their favorite sets! This area will be marked with signs, and staffers will be on hand to help throughout the day. The rest of the audience area at both stages as well as all areas at the other outdoor stages will be available, as usual, for chairs and blankets. Please also be considerate and leave some pathways between groups and around chairs so the crowds can continue to flow through to get plenty of beverages and return to the port-o-lets! Chairs are also allowed inside the Blues Tent - on the GRASS - but remember that all aisles must be kept clear in all tents.

Some other dos and don'ts worth reminding everyone of:

Allowed:
Small bags and backpacks
Soft coolers - 12-pack size or smaller only
Ice only in allowed coolers
Single, collapsible chairs
Push strollers for children
Blankets and ground tarps 6' x 8' or smaller
Factory sealed water (up to 1 liter)
Wheelchairs/medical scooters (please call the Access program with questions at 504-410-6104)
Plenty of Common Sense!

Not Allowed:
Hard coolers of any size or thermoses
Outside beverages
Wagons or carts
Athletic games, balls, etc.
Bicycles or other wheeled personal transport devices
Glass, personal tents, metal poles, shade canopies, beach or pole-style umbrellas
Anything used to reserve space such as tape, rope, cord, stakes, hammers
Video or audio recording equipment
Unauthorized vending of anything
Weapons, illicit drugs, contraband
Re-entry (except with OZ Brass Pass, Gala Pass, Big Chief Pass)

All bags will be searched and vehicles are subject to search.

Please continue to post comments and questions.

[Bill/KC]

Now, I LIKE that. An area reserved for standing and dancing, with no chairs. Now everyone has the chance to get up front (and get out too). An idea that has come not too soon. Whaaahooo!

[Belle]

I am with you Bill. A dancing area up front. That should be fun. Why would you or how could you sit during a set up front anyway!!! This is way cool

[The Tie Dye Guy]

Quote 'Athletic games, balls, etc.'

What about the devil sticks I come to JazzFest to play for the past 20 years? Having never hit or bothered anyone and had nothing but appreciation and joy brought by them I assume this is ok still.

[The Tie Dye Guy]

or hacky sacs...?

[bluesgirl]

Originally Posted by Belle

I am with you Bill. A dancing area up front. That should be fun. Why would you or how could you sit during a set up front anyway!!! This is way cool

The rude people, the ones who sit through the entire show are the front sitters. I'm glad they're going to be gone.

[Bill/KC]

All the years I've gone to the Fest, I've never tried to get up front at Ray Ban/Acura. Didn't seem worth the hassle. At Polaroid/Sprint, I always stand on the side on the hill. More breeze and good sightlines.

[pokerchick66]

Originally Posted by bluesgirl

The rude people, the ones who sit through the entire show are the front sitters. I'm glad they're going to be gone.

lol, they're not gonna be gone; they're just gonna be behind you now.

That's funny.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by The Tie Dye Guy

or hacky sacs...?

I love both!!!

[swag]

Excellent, thanks Dave.

Very glad to see the sealed-bottle-of-water exception made official. And ice.

The rule that chairs must be single is new, not that many folks brought the heavy double loveseats, anyway. The rest of the allowed/not allowed list seems unchanged.

It sounds like the blues tent configuration is unchanged? So will that tent still be no standing/dancing/fun except in the back? Or will tthere be a dance area up front there too?