THE PEOPLE IN PRIME POSITION DIDN’T GET HERE BY CHANCE. THERE IS A STRATEGY PERFECTED OVER YEARS FOR RISA VOELKER. THE WAIT TO GET TO THE HEAD OF THE LINE BEGAN JULY THIRD. WHAT TIME? YESTERDAY? EARLY. RISA AND HER FRIENDS HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS. THIS IS MY 16TH YEAR AND THEY HAVE A PLAN. WE’RE A WELL OILED MACHINE. WHAT’S YOUR STRATEGY? AT NOON? WELL, YOU JUST GOT TO RUN. RUN LIKE THE WIND, YOU KNOW, THE GATES OPEN AT NOON AND THEN IT’S A WALK ALONG THE ESPLANADE DOWN TO THE OVAL IN FRONT OF THE HATCH SHELL. FOR THE FIRST FEW, IT’S A SPRINT TO GET RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE AND SPREAD OUT TARPS TO CLAIM A SPOT. IT’S A COMMITMENT. THAT’S REALLY WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FOUR POP UPS, ALL TEN BY TENS. WE PUT THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE IT MAXIMIZES THE COVERAGE TENT. A MUST HAVE SUNSCREEN, LOTS OF WATER. WE’RE JUST GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS. A PATRIOTIC PILGRIMAGE THAT TAKES PLANNING WITH A REWARD. THESE EXPERIENCED REVELERS SAY, MAKES THIS THE PLACE TO BE. THE CONFETTI. WHEN THAT CONFETTI POPS, THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. WE LIKE THE PATRIOTIC SONGS. UM, I COME FOR THE 1812, THE STARS AND STRIPES. THAT DOES IT FOR ME. STILL HOURS TO GO BEFORE THE SHOW, BUT THIS IS THE HOME STRETCH OF THE WAIT NOW. ALL WORTH IT AT THE HATCH SHELL JENNIFER EAGAN WCV
Getting the best view at the Boston Pops Fourth show: ‘We’re a well oiled machine’
Securing a prime spot at the annual event at the Hatch Shell on Boston’s Esplanade is a result of a well-perfected strategy, not chance, according to long-time attendees.”This is my sixteenth year,” Reisa Volkert said, whose group started waiting in line sometime on July 3 for their prime spot. “We are a well-oiled machine.””You just gotta run, run like the wind,” Patrick Duggan said when asked about his group’s strategy at noon, when the gates officially open to spectators. It’s a long walk, which also requires clearing security. When the gates open, spectators walk along the Esplanade, down to the Oval in front of the Hatch Shell. For the first few, it’s a sprint to get right in front of the stage and spread out tarps to claim a spot.”It’s a commitment, that’s really what it is,” John Bonaccorso, one of the attendees said. “We have 4 pop-ups all 10x10s. We set them up for maximum coverage.”The reward of this patriotic pilgrimage, according to these experienced revelers, makes it the place to be.
Securing a prime spot at the annual event at the Hatch Shell on Boston’s Esplanade is a result of a well-perfected strategy, not chance, according to long-time attendees.
“This is my sixteenth year,” Reisa Volkert said, whose group started waiting in line sometime on July 3 for their prime spot. “We are a well-oiled machine.”
“You just gotta run, run like the wind,” Patrick Duggan said when asked about his group’s strategy at noon, when the gates officially open to spectators.
It’s a long walk, which also requires clearing security. When the gates open, spectators walk along the Esplanade, down to the Oval in front of the Hatch Shell.
For the first few, it’s a sprint to get right in front of the stage and spread out tarps to claim a spot.
“It’s a commitment, that’s really what it is,” John Bonaccorso, one of the attendees said. “We have 4 pop-ups all 10x10s. We set them up for maximum coverage.”
The reward of this patriotic pilgrimage, according to these experienced revelers, makes it the place to be.
