Lessons from Bonnaroo 2010

Photo by Linda Nguyen // Buy this photo

Online intern Linda Nguyen poses outside the Michael Franti and Spearhead show performing at the Which Stage at Bonnaroo 2010 on Friday, June 11, 2010.

As an intern, I am always eager to learn. And at Bonnaroo 2010, I definitely learned a lot.

I learned the value of being prepared. I learned how to rock my face off. I learned the good and the bad. And finally, I learned that Bonnaroo is a place where people can come together and enjoy good music with good friends and be themselves.

Of course, I will not deny that it hasn’t been a challenge. I had to wade through muddy fields slipping in dorky rubber shoes. I was mysteriously splashed by a man doing a drive by spray-fan attack. I got mooned and flashed by several people of all shapes and sizes (Seriously, you don’t come back from that). At one point, I was blinded by my own sweat trying to film Julia Nunes’ set in the blazing sun. Bonnaroo takes serious commitment (and this is coming from someone who’s survived the tropical weather of a third world country four times).

But after awhile, you eventually learn to embrace the heat and dirt. Everyone is dirty. Everyone is enjoying themselves. After all, when you’re surrounded by tens of thousands of people who love music just as much as you do, how can you not smile?

To be honest, there were some moments I was just in complete awe. Perhaps it was dancing madly with my mentor (online producer Lauren Spuhler) to Michael Franti, seeing the legendary Stevie Wonder perform live, or singing “Dope Nose” with Weezer and 80,000 people.

It’s true what they say: Bonnaroo can absolutely change your life.

Oh, and the best Bonnaroo lesson of all: I learned how to dance.

Dancing at Bonnaroo 2010

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