If it is anything like last year, The Venue will have a 30 minute line of people getting their IDs checked while the first couple of bands play on Friday night.

so walking over from Ringers at cg at 6.50 is save to get into the venue in time for aws? or do people get in line even before doors open?

by the way in I even dare to ask, who is it with smoking/ smoking areas in any of these venues?

I think it is OK in most venues that serve liquor, not OK in any other venues, especially the all ages ones.

My guess is that you'll be fine, especially if you leave CG straightaway and get right in line at The Venue.

Smoking is unregulated in bars and clubs. You and everything you wear will smell like an ashtray at the end of every night. The Venue (main stage) is slightly less smoky than the other clubs, for the simple fact that it is a huge space with a very high ceiling.

Damnit, I forgot smoking was allowed in venues.

Thats definitly good to hear.. I wouldn't mind to go to a seperate room, but getting out and back in line because of smoke would have sucked

Damn, after what you guys are saying about lines and what not I don't know if i'll be able to see all the bands I want to after all. For example Friday night ninja gun ends @ 9:20 at CG and Ann Beretta sarts @ 9:20 at the venue. is it highly unlikely i'd be able to see most of those two?

I think The Venue didn't know what to expect and got overwhelmed last year. It took them way too long, but after they saw the line wrap around the block they got some more people to check ID's.

Thing is, Fest lines are kind of like traffic- VERY hard to precisely predict. You might walk right in when you expect a line, or vice verse. On the other hand, waiting in a Fest line is WAY more fun than sitting in traffic.

That said, 9:30-ish on Friday night is definitely 'rush hour', and if you're planning on going from CG to the Venue at that time, then there are probably at least a hundred or so other people with the same idea. Prolly a good idea to cut out of the one show a few minutes early, just to avoid that surge. Then again, if YOU'RE cutting out early, then there might be at least a couple dozen other people with the same idea....

The most important thing to remember is that each club will check your ID and then issue you a wristband for the night, in addition to your Fest wristband. Once you have that, it is easier to get in the next time, cuz all they have to do is check that you have a wristband. So, ideally, you'd swing by The Venue early and get wristbanded, thus expediting any subsequent entry. If they don't have separate lines set up, then you still might have to sit in line on account of other people getting carded, but you will eventually hit that sweet spot towards the front of the line where one of the bouncers will spot your wristband and wave you in. In previous years, I just made it a point to visit every club early in the night, so's I could just tear around like a drunken maniac later on. That strategy really paid off when I lost my ID in the pit....

Anyhow, you should just make your plans and be optimistic that they'll work out, and don't automatically assume that you'll be shut out or stuck in line. You'll still be stoked if and when that happens, anyway, because, shit, you'll still be at the Fest and all that.

near the end of the night especially on Saturday once The Venue bands are done the places fill up fast

the general rule that I always went by was that if I really wanted to see a band I need to show up at least one band before if not 2 for places like Common Grounds and The Atlantic. for Bomb The Music Industry at 1982 don't expect to get in unless you've been there since before Star Fucking Hipsters

media pass holders excluded jeremy?

you only get to skip lines if your working the venue for that show (volunteering, scheduled to take photo's, video)

yeah, common grounds killed me last year. trying to get in to see savage brew and the waste. i sat in the line for 20 minutes, didn't seem like i moved an inch and said fuck it.

signal, i have now watched your signature 50 times or so and I have to say that is one of the funniest Obama cartoons ever.