Front Gate

[Baron Doune]

Bristol has four folks at the front gate.

The whole thing is really meant to protect those going to the faire, and with that I have no problem.

If you're out of control, you really shouldn't be drinking.

[Lord Figaro]

Wise words Baron *cough cough*. I think it's like anything. They'll enforce the rules when there new to look like they are doing their jobs, but over time it will probably fall off. When Jack got popped with his flas he wasn't even displaying it. The guy looked at his pack on the belt and asked about what he had in it. Jack replied "my pipe" and the guy saw the flask so he asked him to put it back in his car. Give it time and it won't be such a big deal after a while. It's like the whole "no belly button rule". I haven't heard one word about it this year. 

[Celtic Lush]

Last week, I took my flask off my belt and left it home. At the gate I was asked if I had a flask. Today I had my flask back on my belt but empty and was never asked about it. Go figure!

[TheFerret]

I can't imagine that it's easy to enforce on everyone just because there are more people coming in then there are watching. I've passed through a couple of times in the morning after dealing with things at B gate just so I could take a gander.

[MissBubu]

With the amount of people trying to get in, it's hard to catch everything. We have a new gate supervisor this year and have been having some of the cast fill in on shifts. You might be dealing with new people who are just trying to remember what they're supposed to be looking for, or a front gate vet that can check people with a glance. I'm somewhere in between the two. At least they didn't change any of the rules this past weekend.

I'm not looking forward to Friday morning. Some of those kids can be real brats.

[Charlotte Rowan]

I entered through front gate yesterday with my tankard full of water. I had just filled it up in the parking lot.  I nearly always enter through B, so I kind of forgot about the whole outside beverage thing until I heard one of the gate workers yell "No outside beverages, including water!"  I decided to take my chances, figuring since I was entering on a site pass they would go easy on me. They did. No one said a word.

Just out of curiosity, was I just lucky, or are employees generally allowed to bring (non-alcoholic) beverages in through front gate?

[TheFerret]

Just out of curiosity, was I just lucky, or are employees generally allowed to bring (non-alcoholic) beverages in through front gate?

You know, I've been wondering the same thing... And what about employees with flasks? Are they actually allowed?

[MissBubu]

I didn't check flasks or mugs for pass holders yesterday. I figure most of us are smart enough not to drink alcohol (or use moderation) until after hours.

[Ethel]

Employees are not supposed to drink between cannons, through a flask or otherwise.

As for outside beverages, we're not supposed to have anything showing in a non-period container.  I often, for example, bring up soda from my tent or from a vending machine, but it's in my mug.  Same if I buy soda or lemonade at a booth...it goes in my mug. 

[Sitara]

When being trained for being an ale tender, we are told entertainment, SS and CKC are not allowed to drink.  Crafters can drink but rarely come to a pub.  Jaycees are allowed to drink, but most of us manage to do so with moderation, those that don't have been getting weeded out especially hard this year.  We have pulled several peoples passes who just didn't seem to get it.  I regularly bring in outside beverages, but like Ethel, it goes in my mug.  I also come through C gate so my mug never even gets checked.

[Charlotte Rowan]

Yeah, there was never any mention of independent food workers such as myself not being allowed to drink. I drink rarely at Fest, even more rarely when I'm actually working, and always in moderation. I always bring in outside beverages (non-alcoholic) but I was just wondering if I'd run into trouble trying to do so through front gate. I don't want to cause any trouble to the workers there, but nor do I want to have to dump out my water or coffee!

[TheFerret]

Thank you guys for clarifying. I've never heard either way and I work in a booth. I don't drink anymore so it's not been an issue but I was curious.

[Will Gamwell]

So I just have to give Kudos to MissBubu and anyone else who works Front Gate.  I covered a shift on Sunday afternoon in order to help out.  I have to say that it was a blast and that I had fun interacting with the paytrons in that way.  All at the same time, you guys end up dealing with some of the same stuff that I always had to deal with as a site walker for SS.  People who are just plain rude, indescent, and you just want to slap them.  I was tempted by two paytrons to just tell them to go away and not come in.  I mean seriously!!

So definately, Kudos to all the people who work front gate.  From someone who has worked professional armed security as well as SS, you have my utmost respect.

Sean

[MissBubu]

Thanks, Sean! I'll pass on the compliment to the others.