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Hi,

When I went to the site Thursday evening and then again Friday morning I noticed
that once again there were no porta potties down by quiet camp (Willow Flag).  I
think they moved some down there late Friday.  However, no one mentioned it on
this group since we got back.  Was that an issue for anyone?

Any comments on Kids or Teens programs?  As I recall "quizjoel" had asked this
group about bringing kids and am wondering how it went?

Anyone else notice that the nude beach has now expanded to include both the
South most access as well as the totem Pole acess path and the Swim Suite
required beach is not accessed by a path next to the Revival stage (an area that
used to be off limits)?  I think this is a good change.  Other thoughts?

Dan

Don't you mean swimsuit required area is NOW accessed by a trail near the Arlo
Hagler stage?  I think the more clear the separation the better.  So that's a
good move.
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Oops speaking of what you rerally meant to say...the revival stage.
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I meant to say the Swimsuit required beach is NOW accessed by the path next
to the REVIVAL stage (I just can't type)

-----Original Message-----
From: KateWolfFestival@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:KateWolfFestival@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of emeisse@...
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 7:15 PM
To: KateWolfFestival@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KateWolfFestival] Re: Questions

Don't you mean swimsuit required area is NOW accessed by a trail near the
Arlo Hagler stage?  I think the more clear the separation the better.  So
that's a good move.
Sent from my BlackBerryR smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.

------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

Thanks for soliciting our feedback!

This was only my second year at the festival, and things seemed better than
ever... with one exception: Someone apparently made off the gold toe-ring I lost
in the shower Saturday night, even after your Shower Fairies were involved.

By the time I got to the showers to ask about it on Sunday early afternoon, the
on-duty Shower Fairy told me that volunteer Ashley had it and she was down at
the volunteer camp at the end of the trail. She was not; the volunteers there
hadn't seen her. I filed a report at the security area, and sure enough, the
security fellow called me within a day or so -- but he said that someone had
claimed the ring.

I can see losing a ring in the shower, but I was really surprised that it would
disappear like that after one of the volunteers found it.  :-/

Otherwise, it was a good weekend.

~~  Valerie




--- In KateWolfFestival@yahoogroups.com, "Dan" <CalifDan@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Just got back from the KWMMF.  I must say, the weather was perfect.  If only
we could guarantee such conditions every year.  However, I think we just lucked
out.  The weekend before it was brutally hot up there and they're predicting
rain next weekend (which in itself is unheard of this time of year).  Anyway, I
suspect we're all in agreement about the weather this year.
>
> Now, it's time to for you to give a little back in the way of feedback.  Let
me say to new folks that Cloud does read this news group, he does encourage
feedback, and he takes and considers all feedback.  I also provide him a summary
of the this news group's feedback.
>
> Let me also say that every wish of every person cannot possibly be met.  In
many cases there are just as many people pushing one way as there are pushing
the other.  Also in some cases there are suggestions that are completely
reasonable, valid and desirable but that cannot be made.  For example, many
(including myself) have suggested over and over to allow left turns when leaving
the site.  Turns out the CHP won't allow it no matter what the Festival says
(they have asked many times).  Another is not being allowed to buy a beer in the
music meadow and take it back to your campsite.  In this case it's the
California Liquor laws.  To allow both the sale of alcohol on site as well as to
allow you bring alcohol from the outside with you to your campsite, there has to
be a defined area that the "for sale" liquor license applies to (i.e. the
"premises" for the liquor license).  Just like a bar or night club in town, you
can't bring in your own alcohol nor can you leave the building with theirs. 
That's the way the licensing works.  So at KWMMF the "night club" premises are
defined as the music meadow and food court area.  So liquor can't cross that
border in either direction or the festival will be in violation of the liquor
license.
>
> If your suggestion is not acted on, be assured that it was considered and that
there may be mitigating circumstances that prevent your suggestion from being
put in practice.
>
> On the other hand there are things the festival can control.  I have my
personal list but so as not overly influence the discussion I'll hold my
thoughts to later in the dialog.  However, let me say that many suggestions I
have made directly and others that have been suggested in this group have been
implemented.  For example the improvements in the early morning line up for
seating space in the music meadow have incorporated many suggestions from myself
and the group.
>
> Please take a few moments, now while it's fresh in your mind, and let us know:
>
> -  What did you like or thought was well done?  Any improvements over prior
years you'd like to acknowledge?
>
> -  What did you dislike, would like to see changed, thought was better in the
past?  If possible offer suggestions for improvement.
>
> -  Was there something you'd like to see more of or less of (if not covered
above)
>
> -  What about the artist line up?  Who did you like?  Dislike?  What "style"
would you like to see more of or less of?  Etc.
>
> -  Any other comments, opinions or thoughts?
>
> Thanks -- Dan
>

Hi all,

Thanks for all of your input.  I'm sure Cloud will take note of all of your comments.  Now, as promised, here are my comments….

POSITIVE CHANGES

• Good idea to reserve the area under the trees in the Alter-abled camping area for tenters. 
• More separation between nude and swimsuite beaches.  New clothing required beach accessed by the Revival path
• Having alter-abled RV's enter through the Artist-Vendor gate off of US-101
• I didn't see as many of the lights around the grounds on all day as in the past.  Even though the generators are using Bio-Diesel it's still consuming fuel.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

Let me preface this by saying this is a great festival.  Probably the best in the country and is superbly organized and run.  But, even great things can use some improvement from time to time as they grow and change.  Even though I have several items on my list please don't take them so much as criticism but rather as an opportunity to make an already fantastic festival even better.  These are offered as suggestions rather than complaints (except perhaps the first two which I suppose are complaints but made with a smile)

• Utahpia stage location.  The location of the Utahpia stage is dreadful.  There is still too much interference with noise from the Mainstage,  It's collocation with Lagunita seating area makes it hard to hear over chatter of bar patrons and cigarette smoke, and  seating area on little hill opposite Lagunita is full of MJ smoke.

Please find a better place for this stage. 

• Available shade at Main Stage. – alter- abled area at main stage now encompases 100% of the prime daytime shade area.  I have nothing against providing shade to alter-abled folks who want to be there in the day but think this should be more of a 50/50 proposition for the best shade.  Some of this area needs to be available to folks who get in line in the wee hours of the morning in order to have shade during the day.  My proposal is to shift the front border of the alter-abeled area back about 10 to 15 feet (thereby splitting the prime shade location 50/50.  To make up for this lost space, extend it to the left (as you face the stage) to the edge of the seating area which gets great shade in very late afternoon but not so much mid day.
• Smoking area – The smoking area in the music bowl needs to be more clearly defined than just "in the back".  I suggest marking it off with yellow tape and keep it away from Utahpia stage seating area (assuming Utahpia stage stays where it is)
• Friday Morning Opening of site – As long as there is more demand for specific camping spots than supply, people will always arrive earlier than the posted opening time in order to be at the front of the queue for those spots.  This is human nature and will not change.  However, people arriving much earlier than opening time is very problematic for both the festival as well as causing a long queue for folks who come at the correct time.  I believe the only way to remedy this situation is to take away the line position advantage of those who arrive prior to the posted opening time.  In other words if you arrive at 6:00 AM you should have no better odds of being at the head of the queue than someone who arrives at 8:00 am.  I have a plan for how to do this which I think is workable and I'll be sharing that with Cloud in a separate email.
• Will Call vs Paper Tickets – This year there was at times a 60 to 90 minute queue (in direct sun) waiting for will call while at the same time the ticketed folks had a zero minute wait.  This really isn't fair. All 3 or 4 people at the ticket booth table need to be able to process both will call and ticketed arrivals from a single line.  In addition, there should be no financial penalty for requesting paper tickets in the mail.
• Camper Line Jumping – Once you get your wrist bands and are ready to drive in to find a camping spot, there was another wait.  I was told that at times this too was an hour or more.  I understand the need to meter cars coming in so as to avoid traffic gridlock in the campgrounds (especially Riverside) and am in favor of that as long as position in line is maintained.  I think being handed a little note when you check in explaining it would be helpful.  What is not real good is if other folks who arrived after you get to pick a camp site before you while you're waiting.  This seemed to happen on occasion when one person in a group walked in with a tent or tarp to stake out a campsite while the other person waited with their car in the queue for vehicle entry.  This is line jumping and should be explained as such at check in – perhaps on the same little note explaining the process. 
• Seating at the revival tent – the Revival tent has become much more popular recently.  I'd like to see more bales or chairs available there.
• Saving seats at non main stage stages – A new trend seems to be emerging where folks place a blanket or towel on one or two bales at the Arlo and Revival stages to stake out a seat and leave it there all day as they go from stage to stage.  Staking out a spot at 8:00 AM, then waltzing in from time to time to claim your seat isn't right.  I think in these non main stage areas the rule should be you're either sitting in a spot or it is free game.  Just because you left a towel there 4 hours earlier should not give you the right to kick someone out of their seat.
• Signage - One of the signs at the riverside entrance to the music meadow reads "Hold a place with a blanket or low-back chair".  As this sign is right where people spend the night waiting to get into the bowl the next morning, the sign is confusing.  I believe the sign is in reference to your spot in the music meadow but could equally be interpreted as meaning you can leave your stuff in line all night to hold your place there.
• Signage – some of the signs announcing the opening time of the music bowl in the morning read 7:00 am and others 8:00 am.  These need to be re-painted to the correct time rather than taping a piece of paper over the time which tends to fall off.
• Misting area – The misting or cooling area is great and a required feature.  However the mud underfoot is very slippery and, to be honest, disgusting.  I think some sort of platform should be on the ground under the misters.  Something like those wood slat platforms used in beach showers or behind the counter at diners, or perhaps the  rubber mats with holes that are used in commercial kitchens'.
• Printed Stage Schedule – I'd like to see a matrix form of the printed stage schedule in the paper program.  Currently it's very difficult to map out your day or to see what your choices are at any given time.  I'd like to see one page per day with a grid, where the stages are across the top and the time of day down the left side and the group name in the cells.
• Staff Smoking – When there is queue of people waiting at  a check point (e.g. to get into music meadow in the morning) – any chance we could have the staff manning the checkpoint refrain from smoking?  After all the "rule" says you must stay in line to hold your place and if you're near the front the cigarette smoke can become quite annoying and unhealthy

COMPLIMENTS

• Organization of the entire thing
• Security.  A very tough and demanding job that is superbly handled
• Staff training – all were courteous and attentive
• Keeping the outhouses cleaned (albeit several times they ran out of paper)
• Family friendly atmosphere including kids and teens area
• Variety of food vendors
• Misting Station
• Recycling

ARTIST LINE UP

Less Rock and Roll, more Folk

• Artists I greatly enjoyed (many of whom were new to me):
  JT Nero & Allison Russell
  Angel Band
  David Bromberg
  Grenninger, Kai, Fineman & Hurd
  Corinne West & Kelly Joe Phelps
  Evie Ladin & Evil Diane
  Red Molly
  Wailin' Jenny's
  Todd Snider and GAT
  Bruce Cockburn
  Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• Artists I did not enjoy (great performers, just not my cup of tea)
  Taj Mahal
  Los Lobos

ARTIST SUGGESTIONS

• Tom Rush
• Linda Ronstadt
• Dixie Chicks ?
• Herdman, Hills, Mangsun (together and seperatly)
• Gordon Bok
• Eric Vogel
• Cheryl Wheeler
• Tracy Grammer
• James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carol King (together and separately)
• Celtic (for some reason historically off the radar for this festival)
• Solas
• Old Blind Dogs
• Taeda
• Altan
• Chieftans
• Cathy Ryan
• Mary Black (or any of here siblings)
• Etc

You've summed up the comments similarly to the way I saw them.  This summing up
is a good idea.  It does invite corrections from those who feel they may have
been misunderstood.  Your list of suggested artists is very different from mine.
But interestingly enough, they are all people I'd love to see.  I can't wait
until next year.
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For us jazz folks, you could add Django, Sinatra and Benny Goodman.  That would
cinch the sellout crowd.  It would also add to the unique flavor of the crowd.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.

--- In KateWolfFestival@yahoogroups.com, tomcat <truetomcat@...> wrote:
>One artist I would love to see back at Kate Wolf is Tom Russell.  The last time
he performed was with Utah the year before Utah died.  The last two years I look
at the line-up hoping Tom will be there, but alas, disappointment.  Maybe next
year.
Thanks for a great festival!
Connie (in transportation)

> Dan,
>
> Thanks for the extensive and thoughtful summary. I do agree with nearly all
your
> conclusions including the preference for more folk. There are few things more
> subjective than musical taste and Cloud/management has the daunting task of
> selling tickets and maximizing income. Nothing wrong with that.
>
>
> ARTIST SUGGESTIONS
>  * Tom Rush
>  * Linda Ronstadt
>  * Dixie Chicks ?
>  * Herdman, Hills, Mangsun (together and seperatly)
>  * Gordon Bok
>  * Eric Vogel
>  * Cheryl Wheeler
>  * Tracy Grammer
>  * James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carol King (together and separately)
>  * Celtic (for some reason historically off the radar for this festival)
>  * Solas
>  * Old Blind Dogs
>  * Taeda
>  * Altan
>  * Chieftans
>  * Cathy Ryan
>  * Mary Black (or any of here siblings)
>  * Etc
>

quit spaming the group...............



--- In KateWolfFestival@yahoogroups.com, indigorose <lil_indigo_rose@...> wrote:
>
> <p>sorry ive been distant lately all the stress was starting to take a toll on
me at first glance I thought this was fake...<br><a
href="http://zcybulski.cba.pl/AlanClark12.html">http://zcybulski.cba.pl/AlanClar\
k12.html</a> I love that nobody is in charge of me anymore just think of all the
possibilities<br>You will love me for this!</p>
>

Lucinda Williams and the Texas Tornadoes?  They had me at "Flaco".

boy, you guyz mess us up big time by switching the dates to June 29 - July 1st,
smack in the middle of the Camp "B" session instead of at the beginning of the
Camp "B" session when we can go to KWMF AND drop the kid at camp at the same
time!!
We're not driving 3 weekends in a row up to Laytonville!!! Big Bummer!

What are "Camp B Sessions" and "MWMF"???  I'd love to know -- it sounds cool.

NLR

Dan and All...

The Wyoming Crew is making the road trip back to Kate Wolf again this year.
After having to miss last year my kids, ages 6, 9, 14, and 16 would simply not
miss this year too. I took advantage of the holiday pricing and tix are
purchased. I am already so thrilled with the lineup, I cannot wait to see what
comes next!

Looking forward to another great year and reconnecting with friends made in
2010!

Shelly
Carpenter, WY