In case you hadn’t noticed, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is upon us once again and Feedback is taking all this fun quite seriously!  While our Field Team has made the 600-mile trek and set up camp for four days of entertaining acts, innovative art and a ton of fun, the crew at HQ is glued to the Internet, hoping to gain whatever insights we may from ‘Roo-goers interacting online.  Having monitored Twitter and Facebook for the past week to measure the ramping up of excitement for the event, we’ve begun to notice some interesting trends and the bands are just now starting to play!  Check in with Feedback daily for our latest observations from home base, as well as highlights and experiences from our Field Team.

Without further ado, here’s what we’ve seen so far…

It’s Time for ‘Roo!

The majority of the early posts have been people counting down the hours, expressing excitement for their trip to Bonnaroo or, in some cases, scrambling to find or get rid of extra tickets.  On Thursday, however, the clamor changed.  Many commented on leaving for the festival and their specific journey, while others lamented, wishing they were going to be partaking in the fun.  While discussions about traffic were few and far between on Wednesday, come Thursday, they were everywhere! In fact, complaints about traffic and waiting in lines dominated the conversation today.

@Bonnaroo vs. #Bonnaroo

In our early monitoring of the Bonnaroo feeds on Twitter, we discovered that most people in the discussion were using the @bonnaroo account tag, as opposed to the #bonnaroo tag, by a large margin.  As the festival’s start has arrived, this trend has reversed itself.  As the overall volume of tweets continues to ramp up, we are seeing twice as many posts tagged #bonnaroo as @bonnaroo.  It is worth noting that over 55% of tweets that reference Bonnaroo use neither tag.  We will continue monitoring this trend, to watch and see how Twitter customs and usage patterns develop among Roo-goers.

Guides

Numerous tweets have arisen with embedded links to personal and/or professional guides on how to survive, what to pack, what to wear, and who to listen to at Bonnaroo.  Some of our favorites include Rolling Stone Magazine’s Bonnaroo 2010 Essential Sets, eMusic’s An eMusic’s Guide to Bonnaroo 2010, and Owl and Bear’s Guide to Bonnaroo.

Friendly Advice and Well Wishes

In line with helpful guides, we’ve noticed a lot of Twitter and Facebook users wishing ‘Roo-goers a safe and fun trip, while also offering some seemingly obvious advice: Don’t forget the sunscreen and bottled water!

The ‘Roo Rumor Mill –Manchester Going Gaga?

Thursday afternoon, a rumor began circulating that pop diva du jour, Lady Gaga, will be at Bonnaroo. No distinction was made as to whether or not she will be in attendance or performing; however, that was of little importance.  Tweeters went crazy posting comments and questions about the alleged coming of Gaga.  As of this posting, the rumor has been neither confirmed nor denied.  Hopefully, the thousands of merrymakers won’t lose their collective minds in anticipation.

Dirty, Stinky Hippies?

It is apparently common knowledge that hippies love music festivals.  Perhaps it’s the limited access to showers, or maybe the ample amounts of vegan-friendly food?  We kid because we love, but, for many, this ‘element’ is an unwelcome development.  As you might imagine, the terms “dirty hippies” and “smelly hippies” have been circulating on social media sites Twitter and Facebook.  People are preparing for the invasion and warning their brethren of what to expect.  Here are some notable “anti-hippy” comments:

• @mitchholland1 camping with dirty hippies and watching acts like dave matthews band and weezer..and people ask why ive never been to bonnaroo
• @Greg Gookin Just saw 2 hippies getting their car searched on the interstate. No Bonnaroo for you, dirty hippies. Their fashion crimes were far more egregious than any controlled substances they no doubt possessed
• @Anonymous I smell hippies
• @Israel Anthem Excited for Bonnaroo. Scared of the heat and 26% of Hippies.

When reached for comment, Joe Hippie said, “Dude, we were here first.”  Touché.

‘Roo Inspired Grub

Jiffy Burger’s Bonnaroo Burger and Ben & Jerry’s Bonnaroo Buzz have been making the rounds among the masses.  Mouths are surely watering over these festival-inspired foods!  We suggest you check them out if you’re in Manchester or near a Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop!

Experiencing Bonnaroo at Home

Numerous tweets and posts have made mention of the free Bonnaroo mix cds from Spin! Magazine and NPR online.  If you’re stuck at home, depressed that you’re missing out or just looking for a partial ‘Roo experience, they’re definitely worth downloading. Similarly, for those who prefer to watch from afar, YouTube’s Bonnaroo channel and NPR’s live streaming site have been linked in numerous posts.

KGB Spam?

Text message and online answer service KGB took advantage of the festival’s buzz by spamming Twitter users with messages telling users to tweet Bonnaroo to 542542 for special perks.  We’re all for free stuff and we’re sure your average ‘Roo-goer is, too.  That said, the approach was a bit over the top and felt like the feed was being bombarded.  Some tweeters we know (@thomasmcdonald) have un-followed people for less!

Everybody Loves the AP

Yesterday, the Associated Press posted a story entitled, “Bonnaroo Spreads the Festival Experience Online.” Everyone (seriously, everyone!), tweeted a link to this article.  While it’s difficult to track an exact number due to the variety of sites syndicating the piece, it’s popularity was undeniable.  In crude terms, it rehashes the YouTube, Fuse and NPR streaming that will be happening this year and makes the claim that, due to this online presence, attendance is no longer necessary to enjoy the Bonnaroo effect.  Clearly, we disagree, but it will be interesting to see whether such a message has validity.  Other festivals like the Jazz Festival and Coachella will surely be watching as well.  Is this a glimpse into the future of festivals and concerts in general?  Perhaps things are starting to look like they did in Demolition Man, with Bonnaroo offering itself up as a formaldehyde-soaked piglet to be dissected by the masses.  Here at Feedback, we have our scalpels ready.

That’s our wrap-up for today!  As we said before, be sure to check back with us for daily Bonnaroo-related content  from Feedback HQ, as well as highlights and experiences from our Field Team in Manchester, not to mention all the latest news from the world of social media and beyond!

— Feedbacker Thomas McDonald (@thomasmcdonald) and Intern Brittney Trimmer (@bntrim)

Keep up with us on our Feedback Facebook page and follow @feedbackagency for the latest on Twitter!