The best way to show newbies the wonders of Glastonbury festival on first day?

[Guest musiclove123]

I will be with 3 newbies next year-one is a girl-friend who has been to V festival, one is a guy who has a moderate dirty toilet and crowd phobia (!) and one who is my boyfriend.

I have been to Glastonbury 3 times before and was wondering if anybody has had a little 'plan' for the first day when showing them round. I want them to see the best features of the festival (obviously the Stone circle) but can anybody suggest other little bits and bobs to take them to during that first wonderful Wednesday? I really want them to realise just how much better Glasto is than V, Leeds, Download and Creamfields put together.

For people who have taken newbies to Glasto-where did you camp for best views etc and what was the thing that really made them amazed by Glasto? Due to my male friends toilet phobia he is taking his own portable one which really made me laugh. I said to him 'you wont be able to rush back to the tent when you are on the other side of the site' (he really doesnt realise just how big it is)!!

Edited December 17, 2009 by musiclove123

[5co77ie]

Can't beat a quick overview of the place on the monorail

[Mel & Claire]

Just wonder round I guess, you can see most things in a day, including time to sit around and watch all the tents set up from the stone cicle or Flagtopia.

[Red_Eye_Jedi]

Just walk around in a daze, first time I went.. EVERYTHING blew me away. A good thing though, sit down infront of the pyramid with a pint of brothers and if they've ever watched glasto on tv they'll be like WOAH, or maybe that was just me! Then its time to take them to the places you wouldn't see on tv, well to sum it up.. Just wonder around in a half drunk daze! Good luck!

[VCK]

[Pinhead]

Arcadia, Trash, Shangri-La - show them the things that differentiate Glasto from other festivals. Show them things that demonstrate its scale . . .

You know, just thinking about it now I just had one of those 'moments of clarity', when I realised that I'll never, ever tire of Glastonbury or ever forget it for the rest of my life. It feels like more of a home town than anywhere else I have ever been or lived.

[Glastoboy]

[fowls]

I really want them to realise just how much better Glasto is than V, Leeds, Download and Creamfields put together.

[amfy]

To be honest I think the best way is to let them discover it for themselves. Part of the joy is the discovery - not being shown around. I drove my other half nuts the first time i took him because I wanted to show him this and that, and he drove me mad by wanting to wander off in a different direction every time something good was coming up! In the end we went our seperate ways for about 3 hours and when he came back he had had the best time, and totally got it, without seeing anything I would've shown him - my macho northern boyfriend returned in a hat and a skirt sying "apparently i've got an exceptionally small head!"!

I recommend the top of the stone circle view thing - just for sheer scale, but other than that I think a "bearings" walk is most useful, and then let them explore for themselves for a bit. I mean - show them the railway line (because that's the key to not getting lost in a way that just wastes time and tires you out, rather than an exploring way), & let them know some of the things that might be off in different directions from that.

Don't be tempted to show someone Glastonbury in a day - it isn't meant to be like that!

If theres any one "must see" thing that they haven't got to towards the end of the weekend - drag them there then!

[amfy]

Oh I just thought as well - it can be frustrating, but letting newbies lead can be a great way of re-dicovering the festival. You get tempted to head for the things you loved last time but there'll be a whole load of other stuff to love and they might just help you find that!

[llcoolphil]

Suggest that they stay inside the big metal fence. Then leave them to wander and find it for themselves. You follow them and see what delights you've previously missed!

[Guest musiclove123]

Ah, where would Glastonbury be without patronising festival snobbery?

[G1T]

To be honest I think the best way is to let them discover it for themselves. Part of the joy is the discovery - not being shown around. I drove my other half nuts the first time i took him because I wanted to show him this and that, and he drove me mad by wanting to wander off in a different direction every time something good was coming up! In the end we went our seperate ways for about 3 hours and when he came back he had had the best time, and totally got it, without seeing anything I would've shown him - my macho northern boyfriend returned in a hat and a skirt sying "apparently i've got an exceptionally small head!"!

I recommend the top of the stone circle view thing - just for sheer scale, but other than that I think a "bearings" walk is most useful, and then let them explore for themselves for a bit. I mean - show them the railway line (because that's the key to not getting lost in a way that just wastes time and tires you out, rather than an exploring way), & let them know some of the things that might be off in different directions from that.

Don't be tempted to show someone Glastonbury in a day - it isn't meant to be like that!

If theres any one "must see" thing that they haven't got to towards the end of the weekend - drag them there then!

[Billy09]

Show them the basics, the main stages, the railway line, the greenfields, the late night spots.

Then burn their guide and programme, and confiscate their watch.

Everything will fall into place.

[MrMac]

Assuming they're the sort who'll be up for wandering off on their own at some point, then a guided tour of the routes to the various stages would probably be a good idea.

[Buddhafish]

Show them the basics, the main stages, the railway line, the greenfields, the late night spots.

Then burn their guide and programme, and confiscate their watch.

Everything will fall into place.

[timbrass]

Also a large part of Glasto is not so much the places as the people. Everyone there wants to have a good time! Use the Wednesday to talk to people you wouldn't normally get to meet. For me it's the wierd people and obscure conversations that you remember most...

[Alzeefest]

To be honest I think the best way is to let them discover it for themselves. Part of the joy is the discovery - not being shown around. I drove my other half nuts the first time i took him because I wanted to show him this and that, and he drove me mad by wanting to wander off in a different direction every time something good was coming up! In the end we went our seperate ways for about 3 hours and when he came back he had had the best time, and totally got it, without seeing anything I would've shown him - my macho northern boyfriend returned in a hat and a skirt sying "apparently i've got an exceptionally small head!"!

I recommend the top of the stone circle view thing - just for sheer scale, but other than that I think a "bearings" walk is most useful, and then let them explore for themselves for a bit. I mean - show them the railway line (because that's the key to not getting lost in a way that just wastes time and tires you out, rather than an exploring way), & let them know some of the things that might be off in different directions from that.

Don't be tempted to show someone Glastonbury in a day - it isn't meant to be like that!

If theres any one "must see" thing that they haven't got to towards the end of the weekend - drag them there then!

[toffeeal68]

Ha ha well I have been to V, Leeds, Creamfields and some others and none of them (for me) compare to Glastonbury

[rexclark]

Well I'm going to be a newbie next year and I'm quite happy to go exploring. I'm so looking forward to just wandering around taking in the sights and sounds. I know it's impossible to see everything but I'm not too bothered, I might have a few must sees but apart from them I'll just be taking it easy.

[Ashaz42]

I'm taking a few people for their first time this year and I only insist on taking them to Trash City, Shangri-La, Stone Circle and Arcadia. The rest, is up to them. Plus I need to see more! Like the Green fields! Need more of that.

Edited December 17, 2009 by Ashaz42

[barnaby cringle]

Ah, where would Glastonbury be without patronising festival snobbery?

[LondonTom]

I take it you've never been? That's not snobbery, that's fact! That's akin to calling someone a snob for preferring Cadbury to Tesco Value chocolate.

[llcoolphil]

, Glastonbury fufills all your needs

[Kyelo]

This is true, to go off topic but going from your post, with tesco value chocolate I need more to get that chocolate fix, I need to have nearly a whole pack of there bars, Wheres one bar of cadbury can quite satisfy me.

I guess its like festivals, Glastonbury fufills all your needs, others you need to go to another to get everything you hoped for.