We are the promoters and producers of The Governors Ball Music Festival - New York City's premier music event. The 2014 event features over 80 acts, including Outkast, Jack White, Vampire Weekend, The Strokes, Phoenix, Skrillex, Axwell & Ingrosso, Interpol, Foster The People, TV On The Radio, and MANY more. Ask us anything about the festival, the bands, how we do things, and what's in store for June!

We've announced this IamA via our website: http://www.govball.com

Comments: 774 • Responses: 76  • Date: 

termina11ychi1149 karma

First of all, congrats on the amazing lineup! One of the best surprises for me was The Strokes. What kind of black magic did you use to get them out of hibernation?

TeamGovBall69 karma

We have tried to book The Strokes every single year that Gov Ball has existed. They essentially have had an open invite to play when they wanted. We got a call from their agent at the very last minute, saying that they wanted to reunite and play at the festival. Dream come true for us. We're New York City kids, and they are the greatest NYC rock band of our generation. BOOM -JW

T0NYPERKIS26 karma

Have you considered implementing something akin to Bonnaroo's "Superjam" (where a couple of acts that will be there get together to play on stage together)? I'd die happy if I could see Big Boi and Earl Sweatshirt go back and forth on a verse with a hook from Julian Casablancas...

TeamGovBall18 karma

YES. GREAT MINDS SIR! -JW

baskarrohit18 karma

what day are vampire weekend and disclosure playing??

TeamGovBall64 karma

Bold question. VW on Sunday. Disclosure on Saturday. -YR

Granto8616 karma

Were there any serious inquiries into getting Daft Punk? If so, what was their official response?

TeamGovBall24 karma

For sure. Last summer, they said no dates in 2014. A month or so ago..it was 'not looking at dates till after the grammy's." they're cool though. much love to them. -JW

keeber116 karma

I noticed there are a lot of acts on the line up this year that have collaborated on tracks, such as:

OutKast and Killer Mike (Run the Jewels), Disclosure and Alunageorge, Chance the Rapper and James Blake

Any specific plans to bring any of these collaborations live at the festival?

TeamGovBall19 karma

For sure. But we don't want to ruin any secrets ;) -JW

TylerTerrapin15 karma

Would you guys ever consider getting a jamband?

TeamGovBall15 karma

Absolutely. No genre is off limits!!

General_Tso_Handsome15 karma

WHAT DID THE BIGGIE & TUPAC PICTURE MEAN?!

TeamGovBall27 karma

Ha, this got a lot of feedback from folks and much of that feedback was totally unexpected. We posted the picture right after Coachella posted their lineup, and it was a gesture to the old East Coast vs. West Coast days in hip hop. For the record there will NOT be any holograms at the event, and we apologize for any confusion about such a thing! - T

thehouseofmenthol13 karma

Was it difficult to have the festival at Randall's Island again, considering the deaths at Electric Zoo last September? Was there any special requests from the city so that something like this wouldn't happen again?

TeamGovBall15 karma

The tragic events that occurred at Electric Zoo have lead to new protocols and additional oversight from the City of NYC and the Parks department. More city agencies (and more folks from each agency) are involved in our planning meetings, and we are required to do many additional things, mostly safety related. That being said, the city has been a pleasure to deal with and they have been very professional and practical about things. Safety is their number 1 priority, and we feel the same way, so our interests are aligned there. - T

ZaddyZack12 karma

I just wanna say thank you for that payment plan option! I wouldn't have snagged 3 day tickets without it! This is my third year going, super excited to see Interpol and The Strokes!

TeamGovBall7 karma

Thanks so much for your support! We understand money can be tight, so we do what we can. -YR

Max53211 karma

What did you think last year when you first heard about the possibility of the storm? Have you made any changes this year in case of a similar situation?

TeamGovBall24 karma

When we first heard about Tropical Storm Andrea it was 8 days out from the first day of the fest. By that time we have a Meterologist on call 24/7 to give us updates on the storms track, it's potential impact, etc. and we used that data to prep the site as much as we could for the coming rain. Unfortunately everything we did to prep the grounds was entirely negated by the massive amounts of rain we received. It was the most rainfall NYC has gotten in a 36 hour period EVER. That being said, during our repairs we did add in a new drainage line to help deal with rainfall, and we have had many convos with all city departments about how to address expected rainfall in the safest and best way possible. We have a new Weather plan which the City of NY have helped with, and we are better suited to deal with rain in 2014. That being said, and just being totally honest here, if we get 6 inches of rain in 36 hours again it will be another crazy year. However, let's think positive - it's gonna be beautiful and sunny and awesome! - T

mrbrinks10 karma

What was it like negotiating with Outkast, given their push to seemingly appear at every major festival this year?

TeamGovBall20 karma

We have their exclusive NYC market performance. Considering that New York City is the birthplace of hip hop...this is a very big deal!

AllCircles9 karma

There's 4 headliners on the poster and only 3 days - are Vampire Weekend and The Strokes co-headlining the same day? When will the days and stages be announced?

TeamGovBall31 karma

None of the 4 headliners' sets will overlap. Don't you worry. -JW

AllCircles9 karma

I'm travelling all the way from the UK for this! Got a couple of boring questions:

  • How much does food and drink cost there? (talking burgers and pints, nothing too fancy lol)

  • What ID do I need to take to buy drinks? I don't want to take my passport and lose it so would a UK drivers license/passport scan be accepted?

  • Is there anything you'd recommend doing in NYC aside from the more obvious tourist attractions?

TeamGovBall13 karma

Cost of food will depend on what you get (lobster rolls vs burger) but we try to keep prices reasonable. They'll be cheaper than what you'd see at a sporting event at MSG, for example.
Cost of beer last year was around $7-$8. Again, we try to keep it reasonable considering the cost of a beer in NYC. You'll need whatever ID proves you're above 21. This is obviously a very strict rule. A valid UK drivers license will work. Regarding recs for NYC - we work with partners like Cultivora to put together city guides. Keep your eyes peeled for that in the future. -YR

salthehuman8 karma

June 6th is my girlfriends prom & I already bought my Gov Ball ticket. What do you guys think I should do?

TeamGovBall36 karma

Friday's lineup is very, very strong. Not sure how strong the Prom band/dj is, but we guarantee you will dance harder at Gov Ball than prom. We are a little biased however...-T

AtrumTalio7 karma

What's it like working with Julian Casablancas and The Strokes? Also, would you tell them I said hello?

TeamGovBall9 karma

I'll tell em you say what up. Jules and The Strokes are awesome. They are beautiful New Yorkers, through and through. Just like us ;) -JW

TheChairman19927 karma

What date do you estimate that 3-day GA tickets will sell out by?

Edit: spelling

TeamGovBall14 karma

Last year 3-day tix sold out in early April. Sales are stronger than last year, and we anticipate being sold out in early spring. - T

jdym006 karma

When will you announce settimes and single day lineups?

TeamGovBall2 karma

in the coming weeks

LesPlaycool6 karma

Back in 2012, you posted a picture of Phish during their New Years Eve run on Instagram. I haven't given up hope that one day you will have them booked. They've played Roo, ACL, and OSL since their 2009 return, and I hope to see them at Gov Ball one day!!

TeamGovBall8 karma

One day...-T

TeamGovBall6 karma

We're workin on it dude! -JW

TylerTerrapin6 karma

Would you guys be interested in having a festival blog? I'd love to help contribute, and help get people pumped for the festival.

TeamGovBall7 karma

Email us at [email protected]. Would love to hear more about what you're thinking...

blocke316 karma

How were you able to convince The Strokes to play their first show in almost 3 years at your festival?

TeamGovBall8 karma

I answered this below. But basically we've said from Day 1 that if we could book one band for Gov Ball...it'd be The Strokes. They knew Gov Ball was the right place to stage their grand comeback! -JW

TeamGovBall5 karma

I answered this below. But basically we've said from Day 1 that if we could book one band for Gov Ball...it'd be The Strokes. They knew Gov Ball was the right place to stage their grand comeback! -JW

listerinebreath5 karma

So, Ive been the last 2 years, and one of my biggest complaints is the beer selection. Basically choosing between Miller (boring) Fosters(gross) or Summer Shandy(feminine). Any chance of getting some good craft beer this year?

TeamGovBall3 karma

MillerCoors is our beer partner / sponsor, so we try to offer a variety of their product line. As a craft beer fan myself (I personally love Bell's Hopslam and everything Creature Comforts in Athens does), I'm working with the good folks at Miller to see what's possible. Although sometimes on a nice sunny day a High Life really hits the spot. It is the champagne of beers, after all. -YR

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhno5 karma

If it's not too personal, would you mind me asking how you guys got into this business? I just graduated with a sport/entertainment management degree and am having difficulty getting off the ground and into a similar line of work. Any advice would be appreciated!

TeamGovBall11 karma

Each of the three partners got into the music business by starting as interns at various different companies. One of us was an intern at Superfly Productions, who do Bonnaroo & Outside Lands, and he ended up getting a full time job there at the conclusion of his internship. Another was an intern at Atlantic Records and then get a job at Paradigm, a major booking agency. The third partner worked at various festivals around the country and then went to business school. Each of us had different areas of expertise (one was operations & production, another was booking, and the last was marketing & sponsorship). We learned as much as we could from our respective jobs and then once we hit our ceilings we decided it was time to start our own shop. - T

Reverce10 karma

[deleted]

TeamGovBall8 karma

We are! Email [email protected]. - T

gustavoperez5 karma

Will there be overlapping sets?

TeamGovBall11 karma

It'll be just like last year. 4 stages and two acts performing at any one time. So you'll always have two choices. We do our best to counterprogram as well. -YR

TeamGovBall3 karma

yes

TOMER255 karma

I don't have a question, but I just wanted to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Governor's Ball last year was my first musical festival and it was the most amazing experience of my life. I will be sure to return this year and as many years after that you guys keep conducting such a fabulous time. Thank you again and I look forward to seeing you in June!

TeamGovBall5 karma

Thanks so much for your support. We love you long time. - T

ADHDWV5 karma

Any after-shows?

TeamGovBall7 karma

TONS! And they're gonna rule. Info coming soon! -JW

Young_Germ5 karma

My friend was convinced that you were going to have Phish play last year in the final spot before you announced Guns N' Roses. Was Phish ever a legitimate option and may we still see them in the future?

TeamGovBall3 karma

Phish will be at Gov Ball at some point. For sure. -JW

ashfordrats4 karma

[deleted]

TeamGovBall6 karma

It's a huge, constantly moving puzzle. On the artist side of things, it's putting together a lineup that is unique and awesome enough to get people to commit to a full weekend festival. On the operations end, it's dealing with city gov't officials. There's tons more too! -J

Frajer4 karma

Do you ever have bands contact you saying they want to play or do only you do the contacting? How do you choose bands?

TeamGovBall14 karma

Some artists submit themselves and ask to play the festival. Some we reach out to and we ask. As the festival has grown in stature and popularity, we certainly get more and more artists asking to play. Choosing the artists is basically a combination of art and science. You want to book acts with a proven track record of selling tickets in the market. You want to book acts that haven't played the market in a while, and people are drooling to see them again. You book acts that have a new record coming out, and thus will have their own marketing push behind them. You also want to book some young, lesser known acts that you believe in, and think will become bigger come festival time. And sometimes I just book an artist because I love them and I think they are awesome :)

iantee4 karma

Last year, you guys had the clearly defined three headliners in GnR, Pretty Lights and Kanye. This year, looks like you more or less have 4 (Outkast, Strokes, Vampire Weekend and Jack White). How do you plan on balancing that, or will two of them end up playing around the same time?

TeamGovBall10 karma

It's a delicate balancing act. But luckily, none of those 4 artists will overlap their sets. -JW

sbags4 karma

Have you guys established a time period rule, where a band can't play the festival if they played in the last year or two? For example, I was totally expecting Phantogram to be there this year (with their new album, new hype, connection to Big Boi) but then I realized they played in 2012.

TeamGovBall2 karma

No established rules, per se. We just like to keep things fresh over here, you know? Empire of the Sun played the first Gov Ball back in 2011. They're back this year. Just depends... -JW

Xtdx4 karma

Any details on what VIP for the weekend will get us?

TeamGovBall3 karma

You can see the info on our tickets page, but: - VIP viewing areas located at each stage that will provide a comfortable, close, and rockin' viewing experience. - VIP lounges at each stage will provide fans with access to an exclusive, shaded area, and limited comfortable seating. - A cash bar (credit cards can also be used), offering not only beer and wine, but also spirits. Whereas GA ticket holders can only buy spirits at the liquor lounge. - The VIP lounges will also provide special and much more comfortable air conditioned restroom facilities. -YR

stomple4 karma

What made you choose Eventbrite for your ticketing? How does a ticketing service help/hurt the Festival?

TeamGovBall3 karma

We chose EventBrite because of the people who work there and the strength of their technology and ticketing platform. Their on-site operations person is an old friend of ours and incredibly smart and we knew we could trust ticketing on-site if it was in her hands. Additionally their sales guy was also an old friend of ours and he bent over backwards to get us a deal we thought was most fair. Lastly, and arguable most importantly, their technology/ticketing system and the data you can pull from ticket purchases was unsurpassed by any other ticketing company we talked with. If you have good people you can trust, you're in good shape, and if you have a platform that can get you data that can help understand your consumers, you're in fantastic shape. - T

goldla4 karma

Any ideas on how long Interpol's set would be? I'm traveling all the way from LA for this, and dont want them getting shafted with a 40 minute set or something :/ Give the hometown heroes at least an hour, pretty please?

TeamGovBall4 karma

they are closing their stage, and playing an approx 75 minute set. holler. -JW

aguios763 karma

I've tried looking up more info than what is available on the website in regard to VIP. My main concerns are where are the viewing areas located? Thanks, you guys ROCK.

TeamGovBall3 karma

The viewing areas are close to the stage, slightly just off to the side. We'll provide a map as soon as we can, but try googling gov ball 2013 map for reference - they won't be much different than last year. -YR

icanhe3 karma

Hey - just bought my tickets! I studied music & business in college and am currently in the application process to go to NYU for their music business graduate degree. While I work full time in fashion, what can you recommend to get my foot in the door with music industry companies (specifically those relating to live music, as it's been my passion since I can remember).

Thanks for doing the AMA - looking forward to the festival!

TeamGovBall6 karma

Get an internship. In fact get a few. Work for companies that you think you may have an interest in, get a feel for that side of the industry, see which one you like the most, and then get aggresive in that space. Be the first one in, the last one out, prove your value/worth, and people will see it. -T

br3058933 karma

What act is each of you most excited to see this year?

TeamGovBall23 karma

DIARRHEA PLANET!! -JW

TeamGovBall7 karma

The Strokes. - T

bartr903 karma

Did you guys talk to Julian Casablancas? How is he? They're so misterious as a band..

TeamGovBall5 karma

Jules is doing great. Just got into yoga and badminton. -JW

pistonsfan783 karma

What day will Damon Albarn be playing?

TeamGovBall7 karma

friday!

mr34mj232 karma

How far in advance do you begin booking acts? Have you already started booking for 2015?

TeamGovBall5 karma

I'm already booked 2016, my friend. It never stops! -JW

jessietg2 karma

Have you guys tried to book Rage Against the Machine?

TeamGovBall2 karma

We have inquired about their availability before but have not made an offer...

andrewredcolor2 karma

ANY CHANCE OF U2 EVER PLAYING GOVBALL?!?!?!

TeamGovBall3 karma

never say never....

skenn0242 karma

When you booked Kanye West for last years headliner, did he have any ridiculous demands that he required in order to play?

also any chance you could please give me free tickets for this years festival? pleeaassseeeee????

TeamGovBall26 karma

Kanye was a true gentlemen. He was a pleasure to deal with, through and through.

slayer20032 karma

Was it difficult dealing with the crazy flooding and all the turf that got ripped up on the island last year? You guys mentioned that you had put some new infrastructure in place to prevent it from happening again; care to elaborate? Despite the weather I had a great time last year, thanks for all your hard work!

TeamGovBall5 karma

It was incredibly difficult! The island and park has a lot of requirements in terms of what we can and can't do to protect and repair the grounds, so we had to work within a bunch of parameters. Additionally, there was SO MUCH rain on Friday of 2013, that it pretty much negated all of the work we did to prepare the grounds from the rainfall. During the renovation, we worked with the city and parks department to repair the grounds in such a way that the grounds could better handle heavy rainfall. This includes putting in an additional drainage line on the west side of the field, which had the most flooding. Thanks for coming last year and braving the storm with us. Like Jersey, we are STRONGER THAN THE STORM! - T

UnfunnyWoman2 karma

Thank you for doing this AMA. Two logistical questions: I am unfamiliar with NYC but got a place in Harlem for this event. Will I be able to take a bus or subway into Randall's Island Park or should I purchase one of the ferry tickets? Second question: Are there any unannounced bands you plan to add to the line up?

TeamGovBall3 karma

You're welcome! Here's your best bet - http://governorsballmusicfestival.com/getting-there/ But from Harlem you can either walk over the bridge (depending on how close your are the to east side) or take the MTA bus from 125th St on the east side. You can always take a cab as well. There are no unannounced bands, no. -YR

BucketOfBacon2 karma

What's your favorite US festival, outside of the ones you promote/produce?

TeamGovBall8 karma

Bonnaroo, or Outside Lands -JW

TeamGovBall7 karma

Bonnaroo and Jazzfest. - T

screechingpandas452 karma

I'm very interested in attending, but it's a 3-day thing and that commitment is big. Is there any way to find out which acts are playing when, so I could schedule it accordingly. On the same note, if it turns out all of the bands I'm interested in are playing on one day, is there any way to get a one day ticket, rather than the $230 3-day ticket? Thanks!

TeamGovBall6 karma

We'll be releasing single day tix in the coming weeks, yes. We'll release the by-day lineup a couple days before then as well, to allow you to plan and decide whether you want to go all 3 days or just one, etc. -YR

mdelatt102 karma

With four headliners and only three days, which two acts will be playing at the same time?

TeamGovBall5 karma

None will be playing at the same time. One will be playing directly before one other though...if that makes sense? -JW

vedris2 karma

What are some artists that you guys absolutely wanted to play at Gov Ball but couldn't due to logistics or otherwise?

TeamGovBall16 karma

Pearl Jam Drake Eminem The Beatles.

-JW

TeamGovBall8 karma

Less Than Jake for me, but i just love me some old school punk & ska. - T

zzzzrez2 karma

when will the volunteer program be active? the website's "in the coming weeks" is killing me.

TeamGovBall6 karma

Sorry. We're currently still putting this volunteer program together and "in the coming weeks" is the best I can give you right now. Hang tight though and thanks for your interest. -YR

EagleSkyline2 karma

After last year's torrential downpour, how will the island be equipped now to combat potential flooding and mud? Will there be shade for those waiting for ferries?

Who was the artist who was hardest to get this year?

TeamGovBall3 karma

We added a drainage line to the west side of the park which will allow for much better drainage in the event of heavy rainfall. Additionally, we have worked with the parks department to repair the grass so that it is stronger and better equipped for patron traffic and the outside elements. And toughest artists to get was definitely The Strokes. - T

reptiliaa2 karma

first off, thank you SO much for booking the strokes! my overall favorite band ever. that billing was enough for me to buy a three day pass on the spot. (as well as the rest of the lineup, but really...) just a couple questions:

  1. when do day by day lineups come out? i have a friend visiting from out of town who can only take one day off work to visit, so she wants to know which day she should come ASAP (she's leaning towards whenever disclosure is playing) also, any idea how much they'll cost?

  2. will julian be playing his solo set the same day as the strokes?

thank you so much for making an affordable festival with a solid lineup! can't wait.

TeamGovBall4 karma

We love you too.

Jules and The STrokes will be on different days. -JW

MCSwell2 karma

I'm currently completing a combined degree in electrical engineering, computer science, music industry, recording techniques and production at my university and am looking for internships and jobs. Do you guys have a need for engineers to intern/work at all or is it strictly business oriented? Also how does it look out there for an engineer who's looking to work in the industry?

TeamGovBall2 karma

Our interns are really geared more toward the business side of things rather than technical stuff. Regarding working in the industry as an engineer, we suggest you reach out to companies where you would like to work (i.e. If you are into sound engineering, reach out to a company like 8th Day Sound), and see what they have available. - T

billy8222 karma

Hey there just wanna say keep up the good work at Governors Ball, you guys are killing Coachella.

I'm an photographer from NYC, lived here my whole life. One my ambitions is to one day photograph a large scale concert such as Governors Ball. Basically who do I have to know to pursue an opportunity to do that or where can I apply?

TeamGovBall2 karma

Thanks for your kind words! For photo stuff, email [email protected] with a link to your work/portfolio. - T

DoctorSweettooth1 karma

What was the single biggest finding/learning from the 2013 festival?

TeamGovBall10 karma

In the words of OutKast "You can't predict the weather." -T

mrbrinks1 karma

Any specific act you were really gunning for this year for couldn't fit in?

TeamGovBall11 karma

Pearl Jam. They already had plans to be in Europe for their summer tour. Next time!! Also, Jagwar Ma. They're an awesome up and coming young act. They already had plans to be in europe as well. They rule. - JW

braj881 karma

How did the mud last year affect things? Business wise and for the fans.

TeamGovBall2 karma

We spent high 6 figures repairing the park from all the mud last year. During the repair we made some capital improvements to the park to help better deal with heavy rainfall, so the park is better prepared to deal with extreme weather. Obviously with the massive amounts of mud we had last year, many folks didn't have the best time. Unfortunately weather/rain/mud is the nature of the beast when it comes to music festivals and we all have to embrace it to a certain degree. On our end, as the producers, we will continue to improve our responsiveness to cases of extreme weather so fans can have the best time possible, no matter what the conditions are. - T

jaychuck_1 karma

How do you guys go about scheduling all the acts? Over 80 acts is a lot to handle. I would imagine the bigger acts get the later time slot than the smaller acts, but how do you figure out who goes where and when they perform and if it's during another similar act that people will be upset to miss? Is it all in your hands or do the artists have any say in the matter?

And with that said, when can we expect to see the full daily schedule?

Also thank you for holding and growing this festival over the years for the east coast. This is going to be my first music festival since Warped Tour 2007 and I'm assuming a lot has changed since then, but I'm very excited.

TeamGovBall3 karma

It's a constantly moving puzzle...and it can get stressful as all hell to solidify. Acts will scratch and claw to get the best possible slot. Ultimately, I decide what i think is the best way to present the artists. I also try to counter program. I don't want Tyler the Creator and Earl playing at the same time. That makes no sense. But perhaps having Janelle Monae and Kurt Vile on at the same time will make more sense for the fans. Also, a lot of it comes down to 'the bigger the act, the later in the day they'll play' -JW

sbags1 karma

  • Should we expect any surprise appearances / other additions?
  • Whatever happened to Death From Above 1979? Is there a chance of them playing the festival again?
  • Will there be whiskey at the festival?
  • Also, not a question, but a request - please, please, pleeeeeasssseeee don't put Jack White and The Strokes on at the same time. That would be considered torture for the high school version of me.

Can't wait for the festival!

TeamGovBall15 karma

-YES -They had to cancel last year due to an album delay -Yes -Strokes and Jack might be sharing the same stage... -JW

aldennn1 karma

Just want to say thanks for putting on an amazing festival last year, despite the rain. You guys really made the best out of a bad situation, and I'll never forget all the amazing performances. 2014 is going to be even crazier!

TeamGovBall5 karma

Thanks so much for the support! We really appreciate it. It's fans like you with your positive attitude who help us create the music festival that NYC deserves. -YR

sillydaroga1 karma

I know the website says no "professional" cameras are allowed, but what about just...standard DSLR cameras? I use a Canon Digital Rebel with the accessories it came with in the box. No giant zoom lenses or anything, but I'd hate to have it taken away. I just wanted to know what constituted a "professional" camera. Thanks!

TeamGovBall8 karma

You will be fine. We put that on our website to discourage folks from bringing in nice cameras, but we tell our security to allow them in. - T

minutemaid43211 karma

What act at the bottom of the card are you most attached to and hope that we all go to see? And why.

TeamGovBall8 karma

Half Moon Run for me. Because I love their music. You should see them. -YR

TeamGovBall8 karma

Diarrhea Planet, Haerts, Ratking, Deafheaven...actually....all of them. I book the festival and i love every band playing :) -JW

mrbrinks1 karma

What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about booking acts for a festival? How does this change when working with big acts verse small acts?

TeamGovBall3 karma

One of the bigger misconceptions is that people tend to think booking a band for the fest is similar to inviting someone to your birthday party. There is a TON more to it than that. NYC is a very important market to 10 out of 10 artists, and they need to choose their play very carefully. Timing, slot, billing, money, etc all come into play. -JW

quijotudo1 karma

I've honestly never heard of Governor's ball before, but why should I attend your event contrary to some other big names like Coachella or ACL? I'm nowhere near any of them :)

TeamGovBall5 karma

Interesting question. Frankly I'd say the lineup is probably the answer. Otherwise Gov Ball is set in NYC, so you have the opportunity to explore all the other wonderful things this amazing city has to offer. -YR

DoctorSweettooth1 karma

What is the daily "capacity" you've set for the venue?

TeamGovBall5 karma

Currently set at 45,000/day. We work with many different agencies to make sure the capacity we set is safe and also provides for a comfortable experience. We also are aiming to expand the grounds and take on more space than we did last year. -YR

Broville1 karma

Who's been your favorite artist to work with thus far?

TeamGovBall2 karma

Turf War : )

mrbrinks1 karma

Do you enter into 'booking season' with a certain idea on the numbers of acts you want in each genre? Or is the focus on getting specific acts? For example, do you guys take the approach of "we want one rock and one edm headliners" or "we want Jack White"?

TeamGovBall6 karma

We wanted Jack White - JW

svuu1 karma

[deleted]

TeamGovBall12 karma

Watching people have the f*cking time of their lives... -JW

mrbrinks1 karma

Which act are you most excited for this year?

TeamGovBall12 karma

I'd say Deafheaven and Diarrhea Planet... -JW