Wolf Trap - Never Again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, Op. You had a bad experience. It sounds like you got there too late and therefore had to park far out and there was not much lawn left to spread a blanket on. I’ve only ever purchased pavilion seats, but have been to other places where lawn ‘seats’ are catch as catch can and folks who get there early get very protective of their claimed space. This year though I found that the police and ushers were oozing with niceness. The police lady told us where to park to exit quickly after the performance and a thoughtful usher actually radioed to the gift store to see if they sold an item before I mad the trek up the big hill. Another usher was friendly and helpful when it rained. He shared with us that they get training and recognize that everyone wants a good time. We had a really awesome experience and an amazing time with very excellent customer service.

Sounds like you work in Wolf Trap's public affairs dept. No matter what you say, OP had a bad time and it is not all her fault.

Not PP, but also went this summer and had a perfectly pleasant experience on the lawn. Every staff member and volunteer was perfectly nice and we had no problem seeing from where we were. I’m sorry OP had a negative experience, but that’s not universal.

[Anonymous]

OP you got there too late. And why on earth would you pay $50 for a lawn seat? Idiotic! This is your own fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$230 for lawn tickets, but they clearly oversell, because there’s literally nowhere to sit. It’s completely packed like sardines. And for some of it you can’t actually see anything. Ironically the weather cleared up and was fine but that’s about all I can say for it. The place is totally disorganized. Everyone I tried to ask a question or for directions was rude. Fairfax police directing traffic (or really just standing around yelling at people) were so rude that my 9 year old asked me why the policeman was mean. I hate to write this because I can see it’s a cool venue or could be with better management, but people should know that lawn tickets are not worth it - unless I guess you get here hours early. We ended up leaving, so nearly $230 out the window and rude treatment to boot.I really would not recommend and would not come back.

Why is good weather “ironic?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have great memories of sitting in the lawn with a picnic and wine for an ani difranco performance 15 years ago. Did it used to be nice? I had a really good time back then and it wasn’t filled with jerks. Unless I was one of the jerks? I don’t think I was.

You were younger then and less fussy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Literally no spot left to sit as in there was a crowd of people standing behind the lawn because they couldn’t fit? Or no spots big enough or far enough away from people to suit your preference?

I can’t imagine paying that money, spending the time and effort getting there, and then forcing my kid to leave (unless it was truly packed like sardines and dangerous). Plus if this was the princess show, you missed a great show! My friend was there with her daughter and sent me a few videos. Looked like so much fun.

It was truly packed like sardines. And I was actually just saying to my husband what would happen if there was an emergency- it would be a stampede. It was not fun. Kid did not want to stay. It was not the Princess show. We were at that show in the seated section on Wednesday night. That was wonderful. Thus, with that experience and having never done the lawn, it never occurred to me that this experience would be so atrocious. If the venue capped lawn sales at half or 2/3, it would be lovely. This was awful and yes, it felt unsafe. It was jam packed. I also feel that $50 a ticket for that is too much - now that I’ve seen what it is. $20 maybe. My two cents - it’s a money grab.

I know you've taken your toys and gone home now -- sorry, meant to say, you've exited the thread -- but...

If you were there for the princess show in the seats, you surely saw the lawn layout. But you didn't realize that from the lawn, unless you're seated at the very front closest to the building, you wouldn't be able to see the stage? Did you not see a crowded lawn behind you, when you were there for the princess concert? I can't imagine the Studio Ghibli concert lawn was MORE packed than the lawn for the uber-popular princess concert, unless it was actively raining during the princess show.

Well, dig deep into that imagination of yours because….it was. Much more packed. It was completely sold out seats and lawn. Princess concert was not. We were front center at princesses and could see all the building behind us. Princesses was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full, seated. Lawn had a lot of people but nothing like tonight. That was why I was totally unprepared for the mess that was tonight. I, unlike you apparently, was actually at both events.

Also, you sound like a moron above with toys thing. Grow up.

Knock yourself out defending the place. But it was not a good experience, and people should know what they could be in for going there. God, even just trying to walk back to the car, which we ended up parking on the side of the road back into a neighborhood- in the pitch dark - dangerous and so not worth it. No thanks. Sure, you might luck out and get a good night like princesses, but you could also end up with a mess like tonight. No thanks. And now for real, good night and good bye.

"And now for real, good night and good bye" -- so you're going off in a huff a second time.

And no one who tosses off "moron" at someone else should be telling anyone else to "grow up." You seem very sensitive about how not everyone is backing you up here. I agree! Your experience for one show was bad for you. And your experience for another show was good. You seem fixated on shouting about the negative. Next time something you want to see is at this venue, you now know: Seated tickets or don't go.

[Anonymous]

I am another person who will never sit on the lawn again. But in reality that means that I don't go to many shows at Wolf Trap because by the time tickets go on sale the non-members, for good shows lawn seats are all that's left. But I agree lawn seats are miserable and I won't do it.

[Anonymous]

I guess I am a boomer(although don’t feel like one) and love the venue. I always arrive early just to ensure I get a parking place and always leave before the end (this is key - follow the set list) I have been to Wolf Trap for countless shows but have never sat on the lawn. I took my son to shows when he was little but he wanted to leave early because he is young and rather be at Tyson’s Lego store. The venue is great at night after it cools down and the acoustics are magical. Don’t give up on Wolf Trap. I never realized how much I miss it since I moved from dc. I recommend going to the orchestrated movies there - that my boys loved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am another person who will never sit on the lawn again. But in reality that means that I don't go to many shows at Wolf Trap because by the time tickets go on sale the non-members, for good shows lawn seats are all that's left. But I agree lawn seats are miserable and I won't do it. [/quote

I think it is worth buying a membership, the lowest, as I always got amazing seats, even front row.

[Anonymous]

I love the lawn. I saw Tori Amos and it was great. I take kids to the movies and NSO stuff all the time. Sorry you had a bad time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$230 for lawn tickets, but they clearly oversell, because there’s literally nowhere to sit. It’s completely packed like sardines. And for some of it you can’t actually see anything. Ironically the weather cleared up and was fine but that’s about all I can say for it. The place is totally disorganized. Everyone I tried to ask a question or for directions was rude. Fairfax police directing traffic (or really just standing around yelling at people) were so rude that my 9 year old asked me why the policeman was mean. I hate to write this because I can see it’s a cool venue or could be with better management, but people should know that lawn tickets are not worth it - unless I guess you get here hours early. We ended up leaving, so nearly $230 out the window and rude treatment to boot.I really would not recommend and would not come back.

You should really specify in your op that the $230 is for 4 tickets (which truly is a steal these days) and not per ticket.

At those prices you absolutely need to plan to arrive at gate open to get decent seating (especially for 4+ people together) and expect to be squished/not get any handholding from security.

It’s not a steal if you can’t see the show. Noted on the “handholding.” I’d settle for civility. Better yet I think I just won’t return. We do after all have the Kennedy Center and various other venues— at none of which have I been treated so rudely or had such an unpleasant experience as tonight, and Kennedy Center has great shows appropriate for elementary schoolers for $25-$30. So yeah, $50+ to maybe sit, maybe be able to see, have you get there more than anm hour in advance,
and maybe get rained or hailed on is a rip off.

Yes, it sounds like the Kennedy Center is a much better fit for you and your children. It’s great that we live in an area with so many entertainment options for different personalities, budgets, and tastes! Enjoy the shows!

Nah, staying at home would be a better fit for OP. I wonder why people like OP would leave their home in the first place

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$230 for lawn tickets, but they clearly oversell, because there’s literally nowhere to sit. It’s completely packed like sardines. And for some of it you can’t actually see anything. Ironically the weather cleared up and was fine but that’s about all I can say for it. The place is totally disorganized. Everyone I tried to ask a question or for directions was rude. Fairfax police directing traffic (or really just standing around yelling at people) were so rude that my 9 year old asked me why the policeman was mean. I hate to write this because I can see it’s a cool venue or could be with better management, but people should know that lawn tickets are not worth it - unless I guess you get here hours early. We ended up leaving, so nearly $230 out the window and rude treatment to boot.I really would not recommend and would not come back.

You should really specify in your op that the $230 is for 4 tickets (which truly is a steal these days) and not per ticket.

At those prices you absolutely need to plan to arrive at gate open to get decent seating (especially for 4+ people together) and expect to be squished/not get any handholding from security.

It’s not a steal if you can’t see the show. Noted on the “handholding.” I’d settle for civility. Better yet I think I just won’t return. We do after all have the Kennedy Center and various other venues— at none of which have I been treated so rudely or had such an unpleasant experience as tonight, and Kennedy Center has great shows appropriate for elementary schoolers for $25-$30. So yeah, $50+ to maybe sit, maybe be able to see, have you get there more than anm hour in advance,
and maybe get rained or hailed on is a rip off.

Yes, it sounds like the Kennedy Center is a much better fit for you and your children. It’s great that we live in an area with so many entertainment options for different personalities, budgets, and tastes! Enjoy the shows!

Nah, staying at home would be a better fit for OP. I wonder why people like OP would leave their home in the first place

Or maybe Wollf Trap should just do better.

[Anonymous]

Wow, people on this thread are so unkind. Is it really hard to believe that OP genuinely had a bad experience? For some of us $250+ is a lot of money. I'd have been disappointed not to see anything, too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Literally no spot left to sit as in there was a crowd of people standing behind the lawn because they couldn’t fit? Or no spots big enough or far enough away from people to suit your preference?

I can’t imagine paying that money, spending the time and effort getting there, and then forcing my kid to leave (unless it was truly packed like sardines and dangerous). Plus if this was the princess show, you missed a great show! My friend was there with her daughter and sent me a few videos. Looked like so much fun.

It was truly packed like sardines. And I was actually just saying to my husband what would happen if there was an emergency- it would be a stampede. It was not fun. Kid did not want to stay. It was not the Princess show. We were at that show in the seated section on Wednesday night. That was wonderful. Thus, with that experience and having never done the lawn, it never occurred to me that this experience would be so atrocious. If the venue capped lawn sales at half or 2/3, it would be lovely. This was awful and yes, it felt unsafe. It was jam packed. I also feel that $50 a ticket for that is too much - now that I’ve seen what it is. $20 maybe. My two cents - it’s a money grab.

I know you've taken your toys and gone home now -- sorry, meant to say, you've exited the thread -- but...

If you were there for the princess show in the seats, you surely saw the lawn layout. But you didn't realize that from the lawn, unless you're seated at the very front closest to the building, you wouldn't be able to see the stage? Did you not see a crowded lawn behind you, when you were there for the princess concert? I can't imagine the Studio Ghibli concert lawn was MORE packed than the lawn for the uber-popular princess concert, unless it was actively raining during the princess show.

Well, dig deep into that imagination of yours because….it was. Much more packed. It was completely sold out seats and lawn. Princess concert was not. We were front center at princesses and could see all the building behind us. Princesses was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full, seated. Lawn had a lot of people but nothing like tonight. That was why I was totally unprepared for the mess that was tonight. I, unlike you apparently, was actually at both events.

Also, you sound like a moron above with toys thing. Grow up.

Knock yourself out defending the place. But it was not a good experience, and people should know what they could be in for going there. God, even just trying to walk back to the car, which we ended up parking on the side of the road back into a neighborhood- in the pitch dark - dangerous and so not worth it. No thanks. Sure, you might luck out and get a good night like princesses, but you could also end up with a mess like tonight. No thanks. And now for real, good night and good bye.

"And now for real, good night and good bye" -- so you're going off in a huff a second time.

And no one who tosses off "moron" at someone else should be telling anyone else to "grow up." You seem very sensitive about how not everyone is backing you up here. I agree! Your experience for one show was bad for you. And your experience for another show was good. You seem fixated on shouting about the negative. Next time something you want to see is at this venue, you now know: Seated tickets or don't go.

We are not corporations' cheerleaders we don't need to speak "positively" about them, no obligation to do that. More gaslighting here. Yes the OP can make a choice to go or no go again, but you seem so so offended that she is expressing her thoughts. It doesn't matter what you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dang. We've never done lawn seats but got them for Sting (all that was left)....

I've been to many shows at Wolf Trap and almost always do the lawn seats. I've always had a great time. Nothing better than a picnic blanket, some munchies, and a bottle of wine, amongst friends surrounded by good live music with great acoustics in a beautiful setting.

Went to Sting with lawn seats last year, it was fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We are not corporations' cheerleaders we don't need to speak "positively" about them, no obligation to do that. More gaslighting here. Yes the OP can make a choice to go or no go again, but you seem so so offended that she is expressing her thoughts. It doesn't matter what you think.

Just an FYI -

Wolf Trap is a National Park with a foundation (501c3) running the events and shows.