To Plan or not to Plan

[port]

Every time, I spend all day wednesday and thursday planning...............and every friday, sat, sun I spend all day bimbling......................not this year though

[Homer]

Roughly how many bands do you end up seeing per day? Also, do you catch many surprise acts you would never have gone to see?

[worthyraver]

Just pick one band you want to see, maybe two and see those. That said I did that last year, the band in question was The Fun Lovin' Criminals, playing the Friday night at Jazz world I believe, however I completely forgot, I can not even remember to this day where I was instead. However I was having a fecking good time wherever it was.

This year I am rather optimistically planning for three bands, Kasabian, The Boss, Madness and of course Rolf should he play, we want Rolf, we want Rolf , we want Rolf.

[scudetto_boy]

You should at least try to plan a bit (which bands you want to see) however, only go to the one's you really, really ,REALLY want to see. I used to spend hours at the Pyramid watching bands who i only knew 2 songs of, a bit of a waste when there is so, so much more to see & do.

[flibbitybob]

Well last year was my first. I think it's probably a common beginner's mistake to plan carefully, with various trips between the stages. I didn't bring my plan or anything, but had it all in my head. As soon as I arrived and saw just how much there was I just thought "screw it"... and actually ended up having an amazing time seeing bands that I NEVER would have chosen myslef, but that I just happened to be there for. Only real mistake was Goldfrapp instead of Eddy Grant.

This year I reckon I'll plan because it's something to do when I'm all excited, but I have no intention of actually sticking to the plan I make... I'll just pick a few must-sees for the entire weekend.

[grumpyhack]

We have a great debate when we sit down with our first drink after putting up the tents about who is worth catching.

I then plan using the pocket programme mainly to ensure I don't miss the 'little' bands like Biggles. The headliners will take care of themselves.

By Friday the plan will have evaporated in the chill as the pace of life slows to a standstill and from then on it's go with the flow.

[Tugger2k]

This cropped up on the Q Magazine thread and I thought it deserved its own thread.

Do you like to plan every last band on every day on every stage? Was Halvin your favourite man in the world last year? Do you run from stage to stage trying to get the most performances out of your ticket price?

Or, do you think this cuts against the grain of Glastonbury Festival, best enjoyed bimbling across Worthy Farm, being surprised by some brilliant little act you'd never have planned to see. What you want to do is relax. You may decide whether you're going to see the headliners or not, but that's about it.

Personally, I like to do BOTH! I meticulously plan where I want to be on every stage at every minute and then take great pleasure in ignoring the vast majority of my plans. It's satisfying in the same way that knocking down a house of cards can be. Plus, when I am bimbling find myself at a loose end for a second, all those weeks of study allow me to know intuitively which stage to go over to next. I might not make it mind, perhaps if I encounter someone on stilits playing didgeridoo, my plans will go down the toilet again!

Which are you, planner or bimbler or something else altogether? Discuss!

[mandypants]

Planning is part of the excitement for me when I go to fests, I write lists, re-write them, assess them, then re-write em before actually packing anything. Then I get it all back out and re-pack, just to make sure I've got everything on the list Planning the bands I want to see is also part of it, but I know Glasto is going to be very different from my previous experiences at Leeds, so I'm not going to have a huge list of bands, just a few of the ones I REALLY want to see. I really want to spend my time soaking up the atmosphere, seeing as much as I can, experiencing what makes Glastonbury unique. I have definately promised myself an alternative therapy session at some point

[K8P]

I have a rough idea of what am going to do but It never seems to go that way so I just bimble along and stumble across things that I had never of expected of seeing.

I am sure its best to go with the flow.

[sufcmatt]

I couldn't decide wether to see Kings of Leon or The Cribs Last Year (Friday Headliners)

flipped a coin last minute... ended up with The Cribs

[dj267]

The time when Bands are on is a time for planning, as far as I'm concerned; I make sure that I can get round to see as many of the acts I like as possible. This takes planning, in particular if you have nice great big eclectic tastes like me, and thus want to spend your time diving around the miniture areas and smaller stages. They're far too complicated to just wing out, if your interests lie anywhere near mine.

If you have pyramid tastes, or like the idea of chilling out with a pint from the Brothers, you have no need to plan.

[yasgursfarmhand]

I enjoy watching the person in the newbie group near us as we're pitching up, sitting down meticulously highlighting the programme, in their brand new wellies, discussing how they will see so and so at 2.00pm on the Pyramid, then so and so at 2.50 on the other stage. What beautiful naivety, i think, you lucky gits, the joy of your first Glastonbury. You will be battered into submission by 4.00pm, Friday afternoon.

[tylerdurden]

I couldn't decide wether to see Kings of Leon or The Cribs Last Year (Friday Headliners)

flipped a coin last minute... ended up with The Cribs

[scaryclaireyfairy]

i aim for 2 must-sees a day but don't always manage that. i have no idea what i do with my time actually.

i do like to spend an hour on the wednesday fantasising about who i'll go to see though. build tent, open cider, make futile plans. it's just what you do.

[godders1966]

All I can say is.... PPPPPPP

"Perfect Planning Prevents Pathetic Piss Poor Performance"

The British didn't create their Great Empire by simply bimbling about without any real plan or organisation. Plans are great. Plans are essential.

Plans Rule OK!

[mario man]

You can't beat a bit of pre-Glasto planning in full knowledge that whatever you decide now will have no effect whatsoever on what you do when you get there!

I think its nice to have a grand plan to start with, just to smash it to pieces within hours/minutes of arrival. All part of the build up!

[cavelier5]

It really depends how much weed I've smoked, which at Glastonbury is usually a lot.

I've missed loads of bands that in hindsight I can't believe I didn't make more effort to see (PJ Harvey a couple of years ago, James Brown, Super Furries a while back). But I've also seen plenty that I had no interest in seeing that I enjoyed immensely, usually because the group I'm with are going to a different stage or I'm stuck in deep very stupid conversations with people so just follow them around like a little sheep for a few hours forgetting all my previous best laid plans