The Coachella Music and Arts Festival has wrapped up after running for two weekends at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. And while there has been plenty written about the performers, art, booze, and food, I wanted to take a quick moment to give props to seven groups who deserve some credit for making the music festival the best in the world.
Law Enforcement
I can’t imagine all that goes into keeping festival goers safe at a festival of this size, but the Indio Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies do it and they do it without making the festival any less fun. At one point, I was having a beer and looked up and noticed an officer, unnoticed by everyone keeping an eye on things in the shadows on top of a structure. I was thankful he was there.
The Grounds Crew
Every year they put out trash cans and every year thousands of festival goers just choose to totally ignore them. By the end of the night, the grounds of Coachella are trashed (literally) with cups and food and broken flip flops, but by the next morning, it is once again pristine.
Whoever Decided to Redesign the Grounds
This year, things worked so much better at Coachella. Changing the layout, moving and reconfiguring the Sahara tent, and staggering the start times of musicians’ sets made getting around the festival so much easier.
Stagehands
The sets at Coachella keep getting bigger and more complicated and these people keep finding a way to get them set up in a very limited amount of time.
Everyone with the Do Lab
The Do Lab is a always fan favorite but midweek winds destroyed the structure – but, crews were able to get it back together in time for Weekend Two and even threw a party backstage to promote their own Lightning in a Bottle festival next month.
Shuttle Drivers
Spending a weekend driving around some loud, buzzed concert doesn’t seem like the most enjoyable time, but these people did it – which helped eliminate vehicle traffic, cut down on DUIs, and make things safer on the roads.
F&B Workers
Without them, everyone would’ve been starving!! From the lemonade stand workers (who must be so strong after juicing all those lemons all weekend long) to the food service peeps to the bartenders – it’s not easy working a shift around a pizza oven in 95 degree heat, but they did and, hopefully, they are still counting all that tip money that they definitely deserved.
I am sure that I neglected to mention someone. Let’s discuss in the comments.
All though your list good..You forgot emts/paramedics and fire fighters dealing with all the injuries and health concerns …in alot of cases drunks and overdoses..
You forgot security …who work for minimum wage on the front lines handling alot OF the stuff first hand..
I’m glad you acknowledged law enforcement but on that same note most are on mandatory overtime and will make over 10k this month..security has to work 15 plus hours a day at minimum wage with no benefits.. same with emts .. and they do most of the work out of the ac with little resources …
I’m glad you mentioned those that get the stage setup…but those guys also make way more then minimum wage .. you hit some of the low end wage guys …but missed some key players …people that make 10k or more …meh their discomfort is padded a bit …