Telluride Jazz Festival VIP Review & Photos - 2007

The VIP package, which the festival calls the Patron Pass, cost me $675 and here is what was included in the price.

• VIP Main Tent – Tent was huge and in front of the Main Stage about 25 yards away. Had plenty of tables and chairs as well as the bar and buffet line. In addition , there was a smaller tent with just chairs about 20 yards from stage. The VIP tent was open from when the grounds opened till it closed. Due to the intermittent rain, it was great to have some cover.

VIP Main Tent

Bar Area under VIP Main Tent

• Food – We had appetizers with champagne and dinner on Friday, lunch and dinner on Saturday and brunch and dinner on Sunday served buffet style. This was by far the best food I have had at a festival this year with most of it cooked on site and very fresh. Different types of salads, usually two entrees with sides and desserts as well an assortment of cheeses, raw vegetables and other appetizers.

• Off Site Food - An Opening Party at the Elinoff Gallery with champagne, wine and hor d’oeuvres and a Patron Party with a dinner buffet and margaritas at Los Montanas on Thursday. Saturday night there was a reception at Azadi Rugs with more wine,champagne and a selection of heavy hor d’oeuvres. Closing out the festival was another Patron’s party at Los Montanas with a buffet as well as several choices of alcohol beverages. Yes, my waist line took a beating, but well worth it….

Food area under VIP Main Tent

• Drinks - No limit to the drinks, but being at 9,000 ft. of elevation I tended to watch myself a bit. Kendall-Jackson winery was a sponsor so you had your choice of a variety of red or white wines. Finlandia Vodka was also a sponsor and you had your pick of any of their flavors of vodka as well as gin, whiskey and other spirits. Korbel Champagne was available as well as Tuaca liqueur ( went well with coffee). Also had a couple of local beers on tap, soft drinks and Evian water as well as plenty of coffee. Most generous drink area of any festival so far….Gotta love it….

Wine and champagne at the VIP Main Tent

Well used bartenders at the VIP Main Tent

Coffee station (came in handy for fuzzy head in the morning)

• Viewing of the Stage – At the Main Stage, you could stand about 6 feet away which made for great picture taking. Never was crowded down in front as most people sat in the chairs close to stage or in the tents. The only festival this year I was this close to the stages was at Wakarusa. This was a sweet perk…..

VIP Seating Area at the Main Stage

• Music at night - Patrons had priority access to several venues in town at night as most of the musicians who played at the festival during the day also had shows after the sun went down. Most of these shows went for $20-$30 so getting in first to get a seat for talents such as Roy Hargrove and Esparanza Spalding was worth it.

• Extras – We recieved a Telluride Jazz Festival cloth bag filled with lots of schwag such as a seat cushion, several Clif protein bars, couple of water bottles, small bottle of Tuaca liqueur and a poster and info from the Telluride tourism board.

• Camping – It was not part of the package, but the campground was less than a five minute walk from the festival grounds. It was $35 for a camping permit and $50 for a car permit for the weekend and it was not crowded as most people stayed in hotels or condos. Hot showers were $2 for five minutes and bathrooms were cleaned daily.

This was the most expensive VIP Package I bought this year for a festival, but it was well worth the price. You were never crowded, the food and drink were plentiful and the music was of the highest caliber. I have no problem either recommending this to any music lover or coming back next year. I am returning for the Blues and Brew Festival in September and was told that the VIP treatment is very similar…Nice…..

The festival is contemplating a move to the 1st weekend of June next year to avoid the on and off rains they have had during the 1st weekend of August for several years. I learned a long time ago when I first started going to JazzFest in New Orleans that you have to roll with the flow as far as weather, but it might be a good idea to make a change and will probably result in more attendance.

If all of this does not convince you to come for 2008, then I leave you with a few pics of the views from the festival grounds.

In and around the festival

 

In and around the festival

 

In and around the festival

 

In and around the festival