mjs :
from
somewhere with
posts since12.18.2004...
Offline
Posted:Thu, 02/04/2010 - 7:14am -- Subject:Taking Instruments to Grey Fox
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Thinking of going to Grey Fox for the first time. Can somebody who's been there and taken 1 or more instruments say a little something about how you stored them (e.g., during performances), kept them secure, not getting overheated, dry, etc.?
I don't know if Grey Fox is like Rocky Grass in Colorado, but I'm thinking they are probably similar. A lot of tent camping, tons of people everywhere, sun, heat, sometimes rain, etc....
I've been to Rocky Grass 2 times, and my friends and I just "trusted" that people wouldn't steal our stuff. I kept my dobro in the case, and stored it inside the tent covered up by a blanket. I think that's what most people did. The first year we went, we just stored our instruments in the cases and found a shady place under the overhang of a camper that was parked right next to our tent. That would also keep the rain off of them. Kinda scary I know, but I haven't heard of anyone getting ripped off.......yet. But I would've felt really uncomfortable if I would have had a more valuable instrument than what I had.
Both years we got to know our neighbors, and you tend to get a feel for who frequents your campsite. Everybody was really cool, and I didn't have any incidents, but my stuff could easily have been stolen if someone was really out to do something like that.
We had a car parked next to us, but it gets SOOOO HOT inside a car that I didn't really feel comfortable keep my Dobro inside a car. It's much cooler in the tent, with the window vents open to let the air in.
Other than that, there was no place that I knew of to "Lock Up" your instrument, unless you had a camper or truck bed, etc... Maybe some festivals have instrument lockers that you could rent. I'm not sure though. I've never seen anything like that.
If it were me, and I were to bring my New Meredith that I'm soon to get to a Festival like Grey Fox or Rocky Grass, I think I would get a WHITE CASE (to reflect some of the heat)...probably a Calton, and keep it locked with a sticker or some painting on it, etc to make it stand out from the crowd, and I would keep it close to me, or have friends keep an eye on it, or somehow attach it to the inside of the tent, covered up...to discourage thiefs.
Maybe if it's hard enough to swipe, someone would zip your tent back up and not bother messing with it.
You pretty much nailied it Troy, we have a pop up camper so we either lock it up in there covered up from sight or if its towards the evening, lock it in a car with the windows cracked. Knock on wood, we havent heard of, or had any bad experiences in the past six years we went to grey fox...
__________________
the artist formerly known as "DavePlaysDobro" ------------------------------------------------------ http//www.myspace.com/glimmergrassband
I am seriously thinking of coming to Grey Fox this year, I have a motorhome and would be happy to store instruments for those of you on the 'Nation. We used to do this at Merlefest, I put a key in an accessible but out of the way place so folks can get their instruments if no one is there.
How close is RV parking to the festival? And to tent camping?
Dave Plewa :
from
The Jersey Shore with
posts since12.23.2004...
Hey Damon, Hope you can make it... you can camp right in "pickers Paradise" IF you dont use your generator . otherwise there is s special area for that. but they dont have hookups.... go to the grey fox website and you can check out the maps of the area..
I'll be happy to bring Larry the Dobro Guy with me, but I'll have to leave him with you after the festival! We are visiting friends after the festival, then going off somewhere for our anniversary. He'd be pretty bored with us by then, I reckon!
I'll definetly be in the generator area, got to have my homemade cappuccino!
Dave Plewa :
from
The Jersey Shore with
posts since12.23.2004...
For the last few years at Camp Get a Clue, I've kept my truck in camp, and kept a pile of instruments in the the bed and left a key for my cap available for all who store instruments in my truck. My truck doesn't leave, but in the off chance that it does, everyone knows it and they take or leave their instruments as they need them. I made sure to keep the all windows open during the day too minimize heat damage, and close the windows at night to effectively eliminate rain and condensation damage. No worries at GAC!
Larry :
from
Benton, TN. with
posts since12.07.2004...
Offline
Comments
I'd seriously like to hear from the veterans on this as well.
I don't know if Grey Fox is like Rocky Grass in Colorado, but I'm thinking they are probably similar. A lot of tent camping, tons of people everywhere, sun, heat, sometimes rain, etc....
I've been to Rocky Grass 2 times, and my friends and I just "trusted" that people wouldn't steal our stuff. I kept my dobro in the case, and stored it inside the tent covered up by a blanket. I think that's what most people did. The first year we went, we just stored our instruments in the cases and found a shady place under the overhang of a camper that was parked right next to our tent. That would also keep the rain off of them. Kinda scary I know, but I haven't heard of anyone getting ripped off.......yet. But I would've felt really uncomfortable if I would have had a more valuable instrument than what I had.
Both years we got to know our neighbors, and you tend to get a feel for who frequents your campsite. Everybody was really cool, and I didn't have any incidents, but my stuff could easily have been stolen if someone was really out to do something like that.
We had a car parked next to us, but it gets SOOOO HOT inside a car that I didn't really feel comfortable keep my Dobro inside a car. It's much cooler in the tent, with the window vents open to let the air in.
Other than that, there was no place that I knew of to "Lock Up" your instrument, unless you had a camper or truck bed, etc... Maybe some festivals have instrument lockers that you could rent. I'm not sure though. I've never seen anything like that.
If it were me, and I were to bring my New Meredith that I'm soon to get to a Festival like Grey Fox or Rocky Grass, I think I would get a WHITE CASE (to reflect some of the heat)...probably a Calton, and keep it locked with a sticker or some painting on it, etc to make it stand out from the crowd, and I would keep it close to me, or have friends keep an eye on it, or somehow attach it to the inside of the tent, covered up...to discourage thiefs.
Maybe if it's hard enough to swipe, someone would zip your tent back up and not bother messing with it.
Hope that helps...
~Troy~
www.LESSONSWITHTROY.com ONLINE DOBRO LESSONS AND TAB/DIAGRAMS
You pretty much nailied it Troy, we have a pop up camper so we either lock it up in there covered up from sight or if its towards the evening, lock it in a car with the windows cracked. Knock on wood, we havent heard of, or had any bad experiences in the past six years we went to grey fox...
the artist formerly known as "DavePlaysDobro" ------------------------------------------------------ http//www.myspace.com/glimmergrassband
I am seriously thinking of coming to Grey Fox this year, I have a motorhome and would be happy to store instruments for those of you on the 'Nation. We used to do this at Merlefest, I put a key in an accessible but out of the way place so folks can get their instruments if no one is there.
How close is RV parking to the festival? And to tent camping?
Hey Damon, Hope you can make it... you can camp right in "pickers Paradise" IF you dont use your generator . otherwise there is s special area for that. but they dont have hookups.... go to the grey fox website and you can check out the maps of the area..
http://www.greyfoxbluegrass.com/general/camping.php
bring that Larry Guy with you too.. I think MB is trying to make it....
hope to see you there.
Dave
I'll be happy to bring Larry the Dobro Guy with me, but I'll have to leave him with you after the festival! We are visiting friends after the festival, then going off somewhere for our anniversary. He'd be pretty bored with us by then, I reckon!
I'll definetly be in the generator area, got to have my homemade cappuccino!
You could always dump him at the first rest stop on the thruway........ just kidding Larry...
For the last few years at Camp Get a Clue, I've kept my truck in camp, and kept a pile of instruments in the the bed and left a key for my cap available for all who store instruments in my truck. My truck doesn't leave, but in the off chance that it does, everyone knows it and they take or leave their instruments as they need them. I made sure to keep the all windows open during the day too minimize heat damage, and close the windows at night to effectively eliminate rain and condensation damage. No worries at GAC!
Dave - If Damon dropped me at a rest stop I'd just HAVE to go home with you and spend a coupla week!!!
Larry
No problem brother...... hmmm Moonshine at the Jersey Shore...
gotta nice ring to it..