Maplewoodstock: updates for tents and blankets

To our fantastic Maplewoodstock audience:

We have been asked to work with the town and the MPD to incorporate some of our own evolving crowd management guidelines with local township ordinances now being enforced. Please read, all who plan to bring a tent, canopy or blanket:

Blankets and Canopy Policy

Your enthusiastic support of our festival has grown over our 13 years to a point where we attract a daily crowd of nearly 7,000 people.   That growth requires us to continually re-assess our policies so that we can provide a safe, enjoyable, and family-friendly event.

Over the last few years, we’ve had larger and earlier-arriving crowds – including (a) an ever-growing number of canopies (including tents, gazebos, and umbrellas) and people spreading down the hill towards the stage and (b) an increasing amount of people are placing down blankets to “hold a space” early in the morning, but not actually occupying the space until later in the day, or even the next evening.

In order to ensure fair views and access for all, we have established this policy for our 2016 festival.

1.     We will establish a “Canopy Zone” -- a clearly marked area on the hill in which canopies may be set up.  No canopies (including tents, gazebos, and umbrellas) may be situated outside the Canopy Zone or prior to the Zone being established.  We reserve the right to re-mark or adjust our zones at any time during the festival to improve safety and visibility. In addition, in accordance with a town ordinance now being enforced, unless you are a contracted food or art vendor, ALL canopies and tents must be removed after each evening – audience members can no longer leave a tent up overnight- it will be removed per the Maplewood Township administrator. Just “breaking down” or collapsing your tent won’t be sufficient. No set up of tents or canopies will be allowed until Saturday morning after 8AM.

2.     To ensure sightlines, only open-sided canopies are allowed.  Close-sided structures of any type are prohibited.

3.     No canopy or blanket may exceed a 10’ x 10’ area.  In addition, to ensure sightlines, canopies must be raised to a height of no less than 7 feet (ground to bottom of canopy top).

4.     Arts, Food, and Kid Zone vendors will not be affected by this policy.

5.     Small personal and compact canopies (e.g. attached to the back of a lawn chair) or umbrellas (in hand) will typically be fine.

6.     If you’re not there, expect to share. If you are not present, but are simply holding a space with a blanket or canopy to come back at a later time, others may temporarily and respectfully occupy your space in your absence.  Upon your return, they will be expected to move on.  This is a common practice and policy at other similar music festivals.

7.     We will establish 3-4 (clearly-marked) aisles of passage down and across the hill that will remain absolutely free and clear of any furniture, blankets, or any other material.

8.     As always, all blankets, canopies, chairs, coolers, etc. are left on the hill during the festival at the risk of the owners.  Maplewoodstock is not responsible for any loss or movement of anything left on grounds before, during, or after our event.

9.     We ask for everyone’s cooperation.  Our audiences are always great, but please know that Maplewoodstock and the Maplewood Police Department will proactively enforce this new policy as necessary.

Our aim is to ensure that everyone can enjoy the festival with equal access. As we continue to evolve, we strive to provide our community with an increasingly amazing festival experience. Thank you for your continuing support of this wonderful, free community event.

Thank you for sharing this! Just one thing to clarify...in your first point you indicated that canopies could be set up the evening before the event, but then in the second it seems that they would need to be removed Friday night? So can you set up Friday evening, or no? Thanks

TarheelsInNj said:

Thank you for sharing this! Just one thing to clarify...in your first point you indicated that canopies could be set up the evening before the event, but then in the second it seems that they would need to be removed Friday night? So can you set up Friday evening, or no? Thanks ">

Exactly what I was going to ask. I have a feeling that first phrase was an older one from last year and needs to be deleted but only Drew and company can answer that. 

I was wondering too  

Just including/reminding the tent folks that have showed up on Friday years past while we're setting up the venue (we have never encouraged it-fest doesn't start til Sat). No overnights any night unless you are a contracted vendor/worker. 

Yeah, this: 

We will establish a “Canopy Zone” -- a clearly marked area on the hill in which canopies may be set up the evening prior to the event.

Needs to be clarified.

YAY for this. Thanks. 

ridski- like last year, signage and spray paint lines will define tent zones. Worked well last year. We'll attempt to get an aerial map out there too if we can.

drewdix said:

ridski- like last year, signage and spray paint lines will define tent zones. Worked well last year. We'll attempt to get an aerial map out there too if we can.

As others have said, the second half of that sentence says we can set up canopies on Friday night "in which canopies may be set up the evening prior to the event". If that's not the case, as you seem to be saying, that has to be clarified, or people are going to think it's okay to do so.

Drew,

ridski said:

Yeah, this: 

We will establish a “Canopy Zone” -- a clearly marked area on the hill in which canopies may be set up the evening prior to the event.


Needs to be clarified.

Clarified. Not OK to set up Friday or anytime before Sat morning. 

Okay, got it. I'll set up Thursday.

"Canopy Zone" is a great band! What time are they playing?

Thank you for confirming!! Looking forward to another fantastic Maplewoodstock.

How do you define "morning?" Can I be there at 1am?   

Thanks, Drew. I just didn't want people to start pointing to a possible loophole! 

TarheelsInNj said:

Thank you for confirming!! Looking forward to another fantastic Maplewoodstock.

How do you define "morning?" Can I be there at 1am?  " src="/res/static/common/plugins/redactor/emoticons/1.0/images/4.gif" unselectable="on"> 

Excellent try! However: "No set up of tents or canopies will be allowed until Saturday morning after 8AM."    

wendy said:

TarheelsInNj said:

Thank you for confirming!! Looking forward to another fantastic Maplewoodstock.

How do you define "morning?" Can I be there at 1am?  " src="/res/static/common/plugins/redactor/emoticons/1.0/images/4.gif" unselectable="on"> 

Excellent try! However: "No set up of tents or canopies will be allowed until Saturday morning after 8AM."   "> 

I can just see people lining up with their tents like it's a hot estate sale. Are you giving out numbers at 7:30?

Is there any prohibition against creating an intricate underground tunnel network from our basement to the beer tent?

marylago said:

I can just see people lining up with their tents like it's a hot estate sale. Are you giving out numbers at 7:30? ">

I thought the same thing. That's totally going to happen.

As long as your tunnel exits in the area outside the entrance to the beer garden, you should be fine.  You will still need to buy tickets in order to be served.

Official policy also posted on our website at http://maplewoodstock.com/dam/docs/maplewoodstock-blanket-canopy-policy.pdf

What about something like this? 

Height wise, it is usually just high enough for an adult to sit in a chair  without hitting her head. 

SuzanneNg said:

What about something like this? 

Height wise, it is usually just high enough for an adult to sit in a chair  without hitting her head. 

2.     To ensure sightlines, only open-sided canopies are allowed.  Close-sided structures of any type are prohibited.

Looks like No.

joan_crystal said:

As long as your tunnel exits in the area outside the entrance to the beer garden, you should be fine.  You will still need to buy tickets in order to be served.

Haha nicely done Joan!

There goes the crazy, carefree-but-voluntary-courtesy that was Maplewoodstock.  Gentrification comes with rules.  

I'm really looking forward to being there - with a chair and a cooler. Maybe some sunscreen. I'm not sure why people need any more than that. The hot sun a problem? Wear a hat and long sleeves. 

All the tents and blankets and lean-to's and canopies (and canapes) and sleeping bags, and platforms and the rest just take up room, make the festival more crowded than it needs to be and make moving through the crowd more difficult. The folks who lay down huge blankets and then don't show up 'til later in the day are just selfish as far as I'm concerned. 

"When your full party is here, we will seat you at your table. In the meantime, feel free to have a drink in the beer tent."

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:


"When your full party is here, we will seat you at your table. In the meantime, feel free to have a drink in the beer tent."

Ha!

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

I'm really looking forward to being there - with a chair and a cooler. Maybe some sunscreen. I'm not sure why people need any more than that. The hot sun a problem? Wear a hat and long sleeves. 

All the tents and blankets and lean-to's and canopies (and canapes) and sleeping bags, and platforms and the rest just take up room, make the festival more crowded than it needs to be and make moving through the crowd more difficult. The folks who lay down huge blankets and then don't show up 'til later in the day are just selfish as far as I'm concerned. 

"When your full party is here, we will seat you at your table. In the meantime, feel free to have a drink in the beer tent."

I totally get this perspective. Just to share ours, we were the fortunate moochers of a friend's canopy last year and having that "home base" made all the difference with being able to stay and enjoy the festival for a long time with our kids - not just the shade but the room to bring crap and snacks. But it wasn't like there were 2 adults in the tent. At minimum there were 8 of us including the kids, but more often closer to 12 or even 15 at some points. So the space was well utilized!

This is the second thread I have read today. Interestingly enough it is an appropriate response to some of what is being said on the other thread about the lack of a need for rules and regulations.

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/id/127344-Trade-does-not-cost-jobs-immigration-does-not-cost-jobs#comment-3271924

As long as the rules are applied fairly; i.e., no platforms are set up on Friday night for the enjoyment of some.  @maplewoodstock, can you confirm please?