Jazz Fest Etiquette or How Not to Be a Complete Jerk: A Primer
The final countdown to the New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival has begun, with hundreds of thousands of music lovers set to descend on the Crescent City. The vast majority of fans, who throng to Jazz Fest at The Fairgrounds Race Course and Slots over two weekends beginning April 27, are well-behaved and well versed in festival etiquette But there is always a significant minority of folks who are clueless or just plain jerks who, if not contained, can ruin the experience.
So, here’s a primer on how not be a that guy (or gal) and how to get the most out of Jazz Fest that you possibly can without making everybody’s lives miserable – yours included. Let’s start from the beginning…
Get Over Yourself: You are not the center of the universe, and this is not all about you. Jazz Fest is a communal experience not only for festival-goers but also for city residents who are happy to share their culture and neighborhoods. Behave as if you were a visitor in someone’s home. The city is used to boisterous, obnoxious crowds who act like they are the only ones on the playground, but you don’t have to be one of them to have a good time. Afford residents and your fellow festival attendees the respect you would want them to show you.
Parking: If you are driving to the festival, park your cars in designated parking areas. Be aware that The Fairgrounds Race Course And Slots are right smack dab in the middle of several city neighborhoods. Please be neighborly and do not block driveways, park on lawns, remove barriers, or speed down streets. Just in case being respectful is not enough incentive for you, the NOPD and tow trucks are out in full force. If you’re staying in the city, take the shuttles provided by the festival, taxis, Uber, or Lyft, or carpool if you can.
Getting Into The Festival: Jazz Fest is one of the largest festivals in the world, drawing upwards of 400,000 people to the city. The lines to get into the festival can be trying and long. Getting there early helps, but if you do end up in a line that stretches for blocks, exercises a little patience and some common-sense preparation that will make entry faster. Have your ticket ready before you hit the gate. Be prepared for searches of bags, lawn chairs and coolers. If you’re unlucky, and security pulls apart your gear, don’t expect them to put it back together. Step aside with your stuff so that others can get by, and put it back together yourself.
Navigating Crowds: Be aware of your surroundings, and be kind to other festival goers. The grounds get packed, and trying to make your way through the crowds with a load of gear can be a challenge. If you’re loaded down like a pack mule, try to be polite and make your way as nimbly as possible without taking people out. And if you’re that person about to be taken out, let the pack mule get by, and you’ll be on your way in no time. Be nice to each other. Most people don’t mean to bump and jostle you. Everyone in this sea of humanity is in the same boat. Barreling though a tightly packed crowd at full tilt between stages is probably not the best plan. Allow yourself a little time to get from point A to point B.
Chairs and Tarps: This has been a hotly debated topic for years at Jazz Fest. Some want to ban chairs and tarps entirely after some exceptionally crowded performances at the Acura and Congo stages clogged walkways, making some areas impassable. Chairs and tarps are still allowed but were banished from the dirt tracks around the stages after Elton John’s 2015 performance drew tens of thousands of people to the Acura Stage, covering every square inch of useable space. The festival has since placed raised bleachers at the back and side areas of the more popular stages, alleviating some of the problem.
Chairs are now relegated to areas behind the soundboards; tarps and ground coverings can be no larger than 6×8, and please leave your ginormous beach umbrellas at home. It goes without saying that sprawling encampments don’t belong at the festival along with staking out huge pieces of real estate with stakes, poles and tape. If you do manage to claim a spot, leave enough space for your fellow festival-goers to get by or risk having your stuff and your person trampled on.
Totems: Well, now. Shall we open this can of worms? Totems, the bane of festivals for some, are ubiquitous at Jazz Fest. These tall skinny poles, topped with everything from simple, small flags to lawn furniture, are a means for people to find each other above the writhing, sweaty crowds. They can be fun and artistic and fine as long as they aren’t a nuisance to fans, performers, sound techs, security or the professionals trying to stage the fest. Basically, don’t make them too big, too tall, or swing them wildly, lest they be banned completely as other festivals have done.
Balloons, Beach Balls and Inflatables: As if the festival didn’t offer enough stimulation, some people have need to bring toys to entertain themselves. While batting balloons or beach balls by the dozens over throngs of people and toward the stage can be fun, this seemingly innocuous activity can become annoying or even a hazard to performers trying not to trip over them while on stage. Save the inflatables for the beach or your kid’s next party. There’s more than enough at the festival to keep you occupied.
The Running Of The Acura Stage: Each morning of Jazz Fest, a phenomenon know as “The Running Of The Acura Stage” occurs. It’s when literally thousands of festies race to the main stage to stake their claim on a prime spot. Some of them will do the absolutely douchiest things imaginable to other fans and musicians. They park themselves on the rail or other prime locations hours, or even an entire day, before their favorite stars take the stage. These cretins crowd out other fans of opening acts, ignore the artists, and talk through an entire performance. (Don’t even get me started on extended chatter during performances. That topic warrants an entire editorial unto itself.)
Please don’t be that douche. You’ll miss the entire point of The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which is discovering the heritage part along with acts you may have never seen and may never see again. You’ll have plenty of time to catch the big stars while attending the festival. Just don’t miss the parts that make Jazz Fest an international treasure. Visit the Jazz, Blues and Gospel tents, the Fais Do Do, Jazz and Heritage, and Lagniappe stages. Take in little-known artists from around the globe at The Cultural Exchange Pavilion, or join a second line or parade led by Mardi Gras Indians.
Lastly, be kind to those around you. Cranky and crowds go hand in hand. Remember that the vendors and festival staff are there to make your Jazz Fest experience the best it can be. Thank them for their hard work putting together one of the most phenomenal events in the world. Enjoy it with an open heart and an open mind. A little patience and a cold brew don’t hurt either.
Click here for a complete list of what’s okay and what’s not. For more information on Jazz Fest and to purchase tickets, click on the links below.