BS: Banning water from festivals

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 10:52 PM

Think about it: if you sit on a blanket you're taking up space that could be (profitably) filled with other bodies. Even folded a blanket would let you sit on the ground, perhaps with your legs stretched out, taking up ALL THAT SPACE!

Also, I can think of a couple of ways of using a blanket as a weapon -- not a very effective weapon, but a weapon nevertheless.

But I really suspect it's a way of preventing you from defining more personal space than the promoters think you should have.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: dianavan
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 09:56 PM

McGrath of Harlow - You are exactly right! The water should have been liberated at this concert as well but probably not by two women from Canada. Especially since the American audience thought it was acceptable. I think it was the acceptance that bugged me the most.

The Barenaked Ladies (Canadian) were the last act that day. I think they should know about this. I'm going to e-mail them and let them and every other musician know that they should not allow their audience to be treated this way.

Hope you all do the same. Its an outrage!

d

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: hobbitwoman
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 09:39 PM

We have the same restrictions at our local outdoor concert venue. No outside food or drink, no chairs, no umbrellas, no blankets... I'm trying to remember if they were making people check their backpacks at the last outdoor concert I attended. I understand the no food or drink rule, even if I don't agree with it - it's to raise revenue, just as in the movie theaters. The chairs and umbrellas are supposed to be "potential weapons" if a fight breaks out. Ok, I could buy that... until I heard that some concessioniere has started renting chairs at these concerts, and *those* chairs are ok! I guess there's something about them (can't imagine what!) which would prevent them from being used as a weapon in a fight. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic!) Now, blankets I have never been able to figure out... what sort of weapon can you make from a blanket? Trip someone with it? Smother them? I admit I'm rather naive and not up on all the things which can possibly be used as weapons in this world.

I remember having my purse "searched" going into a concert once. The searcher was so thorough (not!!) that I could have had a ton of explosives in there, and she wouldn't have known it. Now, granted, I am a rather un-suspicious looking middle-aged (eek!) woman, and it was a Rod Stewart concert, and I was with a group of equally un-suspicious looking other middle-aged (eek!) women, but still...I don't recall them being much more thorough in their search techniques at the KISS concert and I was with three very dangerous looking 20-something males (my son and his friends) that night. So it would seem there's a lot of contradictions in terms of security at concerts and other public entertainment events, these days.

Annie

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Gypsy
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 08:44 PM

That is patently absurd. I can understand no glass containers, in this day and age, since that falls in the same catagory as a knife. But as someone who drinks about 1 gallon of water on a COOL day.........i would go broke or die in 95 degree heat. Have a restricted diet as well, so would most likely starve. I would've raised a stink, too! Did they have this posted anywhere? Might've been worth a nuisiance suit.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 05:13 PM

Now back in the Sixties the people going to the would just have "liberated" the water concession in a festival.

I think the pioneer in ths kind of crap was Disneyworld and Disneyland.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 03:39 PM

Maybe, in the case of bringing water into a festival held in 95 degree heat, they should let everyone do it!

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Maryrrf
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 11:44 AM

I think this is outrageous. Banning outside food and soft drinks/beer, etc. I can understand...maybe. For God's sake if you're paying $20.00 pp just to get in - it might be that some folks just wouldn't be able to afford anything to eat or drink if they had to buy (probably inflatedly priced) food and drink on top of it. But to forbid water bottles in 95 degree heat?? Protest letters should be sent out to the local papers, festival organizers, etc. and I think I'd boycot that festival from now on. What a disgrace. And searching people????

I must confess to smuggling in cans of soda and small snacks when I go to the movies. But if the prices weren't so outrageous at the concession stand I wouldn't need to do that. It's the principle of the thing!

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 10:29 AM

Recently diagnosed as "insulin resistant" (but not on insulin) I would be HIGHLY incensed if someone tried to take my medication and food away. So much so that I might even talk about it in public, in line, with my wife. I suspect that she might help me retain it -- ya see, I'm married to an attorney and I'm not afraid to use her.

Geez, most fools back off when you say words like "litigation" and "ADA discrimination" and such.

Want to see the TSA back down? Want to carry a larger bag on a small airplane? Just smile and say, "So, would you please write and sign a statement that you are accepting complete responsibility for seperating me from my medication?"

I have a friend who IS insulin diabetic (blood sugars from 600+ to 27, so she needs her insulin, etc.). She'll surrender her medication when they pluck it from her cold dead hands, as the saying goes.

Phoenix is in a desert. I wonder how many people passed out at this concert.

The word for such promoters is "Sh*theads." Sue 'em; such lack of consideration deserves it.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 09:43 AM

Take your insulin? Would they take an emphasema victim's oxygen tank?

Good God people. RULE # 1 You don't let this happen!

Even if you have to lie to defeat their dangerous rules

ex: I need this water because I know it is trace copper free, I am deathly allergic to retail bottled water with copper...

You might even get a supervisor should you ask for one.

And then the "if we do it for you we have to do it for everybody" speech.

Well everybody is an individual.

Get your refund and if they refuse that... for the few of us who can afford justice, sue them.


OF course you can bypass the rules and sneak water in cleverly.
When you have to resort to prison camp techniques of hiding water tubes under your pants because of the rules ,
you are dealing with a prison camp scenario.
It is your duty to escape prison camps ;)


The insulin case would easily lead to a discrimination lawsuit worth at least $50K.


I am assuming it is the kids that are most easily exploited.
You know kids, once you get a lawsuit under you belt you grow up in a hurry and become empowered in more ways than you can imagine.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: lady penelope
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 07:30 AM

Here in Britain we actually have a right to access drinking water. If any one is selling food or beverages they also have to supply drinking water. This is usually tap water, but I have harrangued one particular bar into giving me bottled water as it was their problem that they didn't having fit tap water. However, many people just hand the money over for bottled water when the vendors insist that there is no alternative. Naughty vendors.

Even outdoor festivals provide water. Some of the venues that regularly hold events have plumbed in fountains or stand pipes, others use tankers.

I'm agast that they would ban water, especially in an area that hits such high temperatures. I'm also amazed that such a letigious country would leave themselves open to such a potential suit.

TTFN Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: dianavan
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 02:18 AM

Ladyjean - my camera was a cheap little disposable and it was daylight. I could have returned it to the car which was parked about a mile away but the thought of returning to the end of the line was too much. I never did figure out why no blankets were allowed but maybe it was so the promoters could squeeze more people into the space if there was standing room only.

Can you imagine a 10 hour concert in 95 degree weather standing on your feet with no water? I think the only place to sit was the beer garden.

I'll tell you one thing - when we demanded our money back, they gave it to us in a hurry. If more people did this, this kind of exploitation would end. Unfortunately too many people rationalize these kind of rules without realizing its only the tip of the iceberg.

d

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Amergin
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 11:51 PM

I took her to see Shania Twain last December for Christmas (she loves Shania) and I was amazed at all the cameras and everything...they didn't care...they only cared that we not bring in booze outside soft drinks and weapons...it was also an indoor theatre...

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: LadyJean
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 10:40 PM

I can understand the camera. Flash pictures can be annoying. But the blanket? Movie theaters don't want you to bring in any outside food or drink. But they don't search you.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Scoville
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 10:33 PM

Thank God the 2002 Austin City Limits thing didn't do that. They let you bring a small personal bag (backpack), blanket, and two bottles. My friend and I brought two 1.5 liter bottles apiece. It was ungodly hot and, frankly, they probably would have been sued if they HAD outlawed water, by people who passed out from dehydration.

I do know that a 20-ounce Coke costs $3.50 at the big annual dog show here. I'm apparently in the wrong line of work.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 10:27 PM

This happens in Canada as well. There was a rock concert in Halifax a while back that would not allow water brought in. Seems that someone bought the concession and water was being sold inside.
What really sucked about this was that the venue was at Citadel Hill, a national park.
The greed of promoters knows no bounds. I have never been to a rock concert, and I sure as Hell wouldn't go to this one, but it is galling that this could happen on public property.
            Obie

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 10:06 PM

Joybell,

   I have been to festivals where my diabetic supplies HAD to be taken to a first aid station and kept there, I was NOT allowed to have them with me....needles, insulin, and food. I understand the concern about drugs and needles but honestly, I am MOST uncomfortable leaving my needles around for who only knows to put their paws on.
   

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 09:56 PM

I've only been to one event where there were no water fountains. But they did have restrooms with sinks. I bit the bullet and bought a bottle of water at the park's ridiculous price, but I refilled it in the bathroom several times.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Joybell
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 09:14 PM

Thank heavens, or whoever is responsible, that it doesn't happen here yet at Festivals. Football games are a different matter, I think, but I never go to them. I remember some footy fans having to carry doctor's letters to allow them to bring in food and drink. Seems if you can claim a condition like say - diabetes, you can get around the rules. So far. Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 08:59 PM

For A bottle of water?   At 95 degrees F.? If you're going to be there for a number of hours, it's going to be two, three, four bottles of water!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 08:02 PM

Can we have the name of the festival?

It looks like they were trying to ding you
an extra $2.50 for a bottle of water.

Love, Johnny in OKC

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 07:55 PM

Yeah, but they should tell you up front! The U. of Notre Dame won't let you bring cans or bottles into a football game (one word: drunks), but they tell you this, often and loudly -- and they will overlook an unopened plastic bottle of water or a baby's bottle. They also have water fountains available inside.

Seems to me that failing to provide public drinking facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, in 95 F. weather, is asking for a lawsuit from the first case of heat exhaustion.

Sometimes I feel like I have to apologize for some of the sh*t-for-brains things done by US greedheads, and this is one of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: MMario
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 04:59 PM

Many venues will not allow people to bring in food, or any kind of beverage. For some this is due to a wish to increase the profit margins - for others it is a desire to prevent being sued. For example - under NY state law - if you have a license to dispense food or beverage - then under the current health code you are liable for ANY food or beverage consumed on the premises - regardless of whether you served it/prepared it, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Amos
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 04:50 PM

Dianavan:

Thanks for raising the stink . We need more such stinks in this sad-spaniel nation of ours.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 04:48 PM

You are correct about conditioning.

Zero tolerence can work both ways. It is up to you to insure you will not arbitrarily surrender your property.

It usually takes a couple extra minutes but I always protest/refuse to comply.

If you are soft spoken but firm you will usually be granted the simple courtesy of your right to your own property.

Even if it something small.
If at the airport I am asked to remove my shoes I ask for a chair, no chair, no shoes.

If however something spins out of control you must remember that you have NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS until after the fact when you may seek redress in the courts. I know its not correct but thats the way police security seems to work today.

Subject: BS: Banning water from festivals
From: dianavan
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 04:06 PM

I recently returned from a trip to Arizona. We decided to go to an outdoor festival in Tempe for St. Paddy's day. The newspaper advertised the tickets for $15.00. When we got there they were $20.00. The paper did not mention that the $15.00 was a pre-sale price. This should have been our first clue. We then got in a long line in 95 degree weather. We could see there was another check-point ahead and bags were being searched. No problem. We had no weapons, alcohol or drugs.

Imagine our surprize when we were informed that we could not bring our cameras, our blanket or our WATER! What was more astounding was that nobody else had a problem with this. The others just went through this routine like a herd of cattle. We raised a big stink and they gladly refunded our money. I guess they didn't want us Canadians giving anybody any ideas about personal freedom.

Basically, they knew that once you were in (no re-entry allowed once you left the site) that they had a captive audience. You then had to buy your water from the kiosk. No water fountains available.

I left with the impression that the American public (since 911) was so used to being searched that they never even questioned the necessity. Is seems that the terror tactics of the Bush administration has creeped into commercialism and the everyday lives of Americans to such an extent that the right to free, clean, drinking water is no longer valued. Is this true? If so, look out America, your basic freedoms are all up for grabs.

d