I'm considering the vip ticket, just wondering if any fans will be in that area. Not sure how I feel about being at the gates when they open and running to the Gentilly stage to secure a spot all day on Saturday.
Alex
This will be my 21st Jazz Fest and I have never believed any of the VIP packages are worth it. Last year, I got right up to the barricade at Gentilly for Wilco just by showing up about 20 minutes before the previous set ended. There will be a few diehards who camp out all day, but it's pretty easy to get up front (or relatively close) as JF is not like other festivals.
I agree with Sass on this. I do purchase a pass that includes my tickets for both weekends and access to a hospitality tent for when I want to take a break, but the VIP access has never seemed worth it to me.
Now, the day MMJ plays I will be checking with my friends to see if I can get an all-stage pass that would allow me to be in front of the gate that separates the crowd from the area where the photogs. and other stage-pass holders stand. I'm not sure which VIP ticket you would need to buy for that access.
Failing that, I'll have a group of friends who are camping at that stage all day. They'll be back at the line that separates the chair people from the non-chair people. I'll drop my bags with them and then wiggle up into the crowd.
No need to be there at gates to sprint to Gentilly. And, you should definitely try to take in as much of the other stuff as you can!
Great, thanks for the tips!