This past Sunday I attended the Forecastle festival in Louisville, KY. This was my first experience attending Forecastle and was quite excited to see She & Him, Spoon and The Flaming Lips and in general check out the festival. What I encountered was a festival that did not give much thought at all to the VIP attendee and I felt I was completely misled and slighted.

I sent the VIP department of Forecastle an email explaining my frustration. Hopefully they take a look at other festivals and learn how to provide a quality experience for all attendees.

I am unfortunately writing you because my experience at Forecastle with a VIP Pass for Sunday was completely horrible. I felt scammed and ripped off.

On my way through the gate I was told that I could not bring in my camera as it had a detachable lens, once inside I saw many VIP and non-vip festival goers with cameras and lenses. This is part of the reason I got a VIP pass, to take good pictures up close.

In addition, no re-entry. Really? It’s an all day festival.
Your workers at the gate are there all day anyways, can’t they just check me again if I leave and want to re-enter later?

I visited the West VIP area, not sure if there were other VIP areas, I got no map when I entered the festival.

Luxurious, air-conditioning lounges… one lounge, not luxurious, barely air conditioned.
Amenities, and services, what were those exactly? They were not in the form of nice bathrooms, free water, discounted food or drinks.

Organic food sampling? where was that?
When I pay double the price for a ticket, I expect to get true VIP service.
You have failed miserably. You need to look around at other festivals and learn how to do treat those that pay for VIP access.

- Stephen Scott Weber