ZooTunes virgin - how can I best enjoy the experience? for Questionland Seattle

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ZooTunes virgin - how can I best enjoy the experience?

I've never been to a Woodland Park ZooTunes show before. But I bought single tickets for two shows since they are acts I really like but that I haven't seen live in over a decade (Lucinda WIlliams and the Go-Gos).

I kept hearing and reading negative things about the shows there and so now I'm filled with trepidation.

Will I actually enjoy these shows?

- I just want a decent, somewhat close spot to hear the music and see the performances.
- I likely will be attending by myself, so I won't be sitting around chatting with others and picnicking and all of that.
- I likely won't be drinking it up.
- I won't be having a chair to lounge in.
- I may get annoyed if lots of peeps around me are yakking away during the show.
- I may get annoyed if there are lots of frolicking kids around me during the show.
- I'm not a zoo member so I won't get early entrance etc.

stinkbug asked in Music/Bands/Venues 11 months ago | Report

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Tracy M

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Well, it's a giant field full of people picknicking and many do bring kids (as youngsters get free admission, I think). So they will be around. But that being said, it's still a venue that I really enjoy and I think you will, too. It's a chance to sit in a lovely field.

If being up close is important to you, getting there the earlier the better is helpful. Yes, members get early admittance, but there is still lots of room after they're seated. As with all field concert seating (The Gorge, Bumbershoot, etc) you can generally weave your way through the crowds and find a space to sit between already seated folks, ya know? Especially as you are just a solo person, this should be easier. While I don't think bringing a chair is necessary, I think you will be MUCH more comfortable if you bring a blanket to sit upon, and maybe a pillow to help cushion your seat...as you really are just sitting on the ground. Also, bringing a blanket will help you CLAIM YOUR SPACE. Others will respect the boundaries of your blanket, but if it's just you sitting on the ground, other groups may end up squeezing right up next to you. So stake your claim with some fabric. *smile* AND, your later seating should allow you to better scope out potential neighbors.

While there tend to be lots of children around, I've found that everyone is generally respectful and quiets their conversations once the acts begin (not always true for the opening act, but for the main performer, people tend to quiet down). We've asked, politely, once or twice, for our neighbors to curtail their chatting, and they've always complied.

We tend to sit towards the back, and in my observations, it's seemed that families with kids tend to sit towards the front and the sides (that way folks send their kids to run around on the edges of the crowd)...so maybe the front-center will give you a better seat with less likelihood of frolicking nearby. Honestly, the field isn't that large, so even sitting towards the back you're not too far from the stage.

I respect that you're not really interested in the picnic/drinking scene, but I'd encourage you to at least pack some snacks, if not your dinner. Sometimes other people eating bothers me (MOUTH NOISES!!) but if I'm chewing on my own food, it doesn't irk me so much. So maybe some trail mix or something? *shrug*

I think you'll have fun. Lucinda should be great (I'm going too!!). It's a pretty casual venue, and it's family friendly. The volume levels are not AS high as other concerts, because zoo staff are trying to strike a balance between the concerts and animal discomfort.

Also, IF you are interested in chatting with strangers, it's the type of event where people often will talk to their blanket-neighbors. But it's also Seattle, so folks should totally leave you alone, if you prefer.

Good luck! There will be some vendor booths around the field with free samples, information, and then some food options, too, if you'd like to purchase something (your blanket also helps here, to save your spot while you can wander around). And, worst case, if you end up with crappy concert neighbors, you can generally move without too much trouble (once we were next to some 40-somethings HEAVILY drinking the wine and talking loudly who were crazy rude, so we just picked up our blanket and found a new place to sit).

Tracy M answered in Music/Bands/Venues 11 months ago | Report

3 comments by Tracy M, stinkbug, and Tracy M…

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Although this afternoon's forecast may help you out. I'm guessing that many families with children of frolicking age will skip it due to rain. This should make finding a good patch of lawn easier, and give less kids to worry about. Although there may end up being umbrellas blocking your view now. *shrug*

Tracy M commented 11 months ago | Report

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A belated thanks for your answer. The Lucinda Williams show was pretty decent.

Some general observations:

- I ended up not trying to get there that early, even knowing that it would affect my seating choices. I was at a Mariners game earlier in the day and stayed for the whole thing, opting to relax at that game instead of stressing out about getting a decent show seat.
- The signage for people arriving via bike could be better. It took me a little bit to locate the newer covered bike parking area.
- I parked my bike and then walked all of about 10 feet to the end of the line (this was at about 4pm I think). I don't know if that length of line at that hour is average or not.
- It's a complete land grab in there. Thankfully, since it was just me I was able to grab a thin section between two blankets (a little to the left of the "VIP" seating area).
- Directly in front of me was a guy who had his seat on a 8'x10' blanket. He was the only one on the blanket for the duration of the show.
- To my left were two big blankets and a kid napping/covering them. Eventually, once the show started, two moms and an endless supply of kids showed up in their area. Not too annoying, but having to hear things like "Harper, stop pulling down your pants!" while listening to a song about a suicide was not ideal.
- To my right was a group that had a second home, er a second blanket, up towards the front. They would take turns a few at a time going up to that closer space. Kinda ridiculous.
- Two in front of me was a guy with a snazzy chair (that had to have been over 24"), a portable end table, a kindle, some big smartphone, some nice camera (often kept in a waist case), his special drinking containers, big blanket, etc. For parts of the show he just read his kindle while Lucinda sang some amazing songs. Thankfully he wasn't blocking my view or else I probably would have been annoyed.
- Lots of people seemed to be there just for the picnic atmosphere and didn't seem all that interested in the music. I'm not against that, but in my ideal world they would sit more towards the back.
- It was nice that people were finally standing for the last three or so song. That allowed me to get a lot closer and it felt more like a regular show at that point.
- I'm still curious how the Go-Gos show will go. Lucinda Williams' music is more laid back and sitting back in a chair soaking in the music makes some sense. If that exact thing happens during the Go-Gos I might go crazy. Should I expect a bunch of people to stand up towards the front? Ideally I'd like to be up there too. Or will I once again be sitting behind hundreds of bloated season pass type people who chat through most of the show?

stinkbug commented 9 months ago | Report

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Hooray for mushrooms!

To the right of the stage, in front of the "zootunes merchandise" booth, is a general standing/dancing area. There's ususally 20-40 people here. So if you're looking to stand and dance and have more of a typical concert experience, that's probably your best bet. There is a bit of an aisle-way beside the VIP seats that leads to the stage, but if people start standing/dancing there early in the show, seated patrons get really grumpy...but it tends to fill up by the encore, at least.

I was at KD Lang this week, and people did rush the stage and dance for her final two songs and then through her TWO encores. But that's the first time I've observed that. Normally the main group of folks doesn't stand until the encore...but the standing/dancing folks to the side by merch table do look to be having fun. Good luck at Go-Go's. (Being such a different energy band, there may be more dancing in general).

I've never heard of anyone moving between different blankets before...how annoying. (At KD Lang there was a quite rude and inebriated and loud group in front of us, who really refused to quiet down despite several folks' requests. I was with some pals who have a newborn so they were not interested in relocating (too many bags/stuff to move). It made me a bit grumpy. But towards the end of hte evening when one of them fell into their picnic spread, I did take some small glee in that moment. :P

Tracy M commented 9 months ago | Report

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I've only been to one ZooTunes, and it was to see They Might Be Giants in about 2005 or so. I was annoyed, just because 90% of the crowd was on blankets trying to watch the concert, and 10% was dancing directly in front of the stage, so that it was impossible to see the band at all. If you wanted to see them, you had to stand up in the middle of the field.

Everyone on the blankets was yelling at the dancers for being in the way. The dancers were yelling at the blanketers for being buzzkills. Everyone was mad at someone. The band was just sort of bemused by the whole thing.

It was 6 PM, I was tired, and I wanted to lie on my blanket and listen to Particle Man. I wanted the dancers to go away. It made me feel old and crotchety.

Sacrelicious answered in Music/Bands/Venues 11 months ago | Report

3 comments by Sacrelicious, Tracy M, and Sacrelicious…

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Sorry, I guess that didn't really answer your question. I guess: it depends on the band and on the demographic of its listeners. That still doesn't help much, but if you go, have a good time!

Sacrelicious commented 11 months ago | Report

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I was AT that show...I almost mentioned it in my answer, but it was already getting too long and rambling. I've been to 1-2 zootunes each year for over a decade, and that TMBG show was one of the worst. Honestly, while I love the Johns, I felt that they contributed to the problems. They kept encouraging people to get up and dance, but they were touring having just released a CHILDREN'S ALBUM, and so there were lots more families on blankets at the front. Any time someone stood up to dance, they'd block the view of the children, which is lame. But the band made several complaints about people not dancing (and thanking the few dozen who were) and they complained several times that they weren't able to turn up the volume on their amps as much as they'd like. While I still enjoy TMBG, it was a total disappointment for me. I felt that they came off as whiny and that the audience vibe was contentious/un-fun! That being said, that's the only show where I ever saw this happen. :P

Tracy M commented 11 months ago | Report

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Wow! You remember way more about this than I do. Well, I'm glad to know that it wasn't just me, and I'm glad to know that the concerts aren't usually like that. A friend of mine went to their show in Vancouver that night and apparently they complained about us onstage.

Boring fact: my brother and his wife had their first date at that concert. AND I happen to be wearing the band shirt I bought there right now.

Sacrelicious commented 11 months ago | Report

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