2006 Kinetics, Miserable Failure

Kinetics is supposed to be one of the greatest events in Boulder. Over the years it has turned out to be the worst.

Last year featured long gate lines, poor crowd planning, and overly aggressive and rude event staff and security.

For some reason I thought that they might, just might, listen to all of us who had such negative experiences last year. Nope, dead wrong.

This year featured long gate lines, poor crowd planning, and overly aggressive and rude event staff and security.

I really wanted to see John Butler Trio. They are one of my favorite acts, and my main reason for going to Kinetics. It was advertised for a 11:30 start time (for Los Lobos or John Butler Trio). I decided better play it safe and show up for the 11:30 time. I got to the gate on my bike at 11:15, 15 minutes before the Trio was set to start. Enough time, right? No, oh no.

It seems the brilliant organizers for Kinetics thought that four people would be able to efficiently sell tickets, search bags, check ids, and take tickets. Last year they were equally brilliant, and it took over an hour to get in the gates. This year it took an hour and a half. By the time I got into the stage, John was playing his final chord. I missed the entire show because someone thought that putting 80 event staffers on making sure an underaged kid didn’t take a sip of beer seemed smarter than actually getting the crowd in.

The event staff that was in the facility was pretty damn rude all around.

So pathetic and embarrassing for the organizers/ organization of Kinetics (and the sponsors KBCO and Miller Lite).