is hard to do. If it's not the heat that gets you (as it did unfortunate soul), then it's the lines at the port-o-potties, the overpriced beer swill, the crowds, and, if you're me, it's the lines to get into the Comedy Theatre.

The Comedy Theatre seats a defying 1,600 folks, and was packed to overflow capacity for the majority of the showcases (especially Conan O'Brien 's two shows, and Aziz Ansari 's four shows). Kids queued up as early as 7 a.m. for Conan's first show, scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday. They weren't even queuing up for actual seating -- they were staking their claim to a little orange admission ticket that would allow them into the tent when it was time to seat. For Conan's shows, overflow kids were relegated to the neighboring Cinema Tent for a live feed of the performance.

Unfortunately for media (and especially, impatient, sunburned media), there were no special in/out privileges for the Comedy Tent. It was strictly first come, first serve. I was able to catch a few peeps performing in the tent, and some random around-the-fest spottings. Otherwise, the inside of the air-conditioned tent remained a stranger to me for a good majority of the festival. Judging from the lines that existed from morning until night for all scheduled performances, festival-goers were excited to take breaks from the Tennessee sun and the music stages to take in some truly world-class comedy.

As for surviving Bonnaroo, here are a few of my learned tools:

• Exit in and drive through the town of Manchester and meet up with the line of cars queued up from the Interstate. Proceed directly into the campground from there. Don't tell your camp neighbors who waited in line for eight hours to get into the campground that it took you all of 20 minutes.
• Immediately scout a place to pop a squat near your camp. You're going to need this spot in the morning/late at night.
• Know exactly where your camp is on the map before setting off for the day.
• Just bring your own toilet paper with you.
• Head lamps are more useful than flashlights. Especially for nighttime port-o-potties.
• You don't need that many granola bars.
• Wear boots. Do not walk around Bonnaroo in sandals, or, God help you, bare feet.
• Be press and hang out in the press compound. It's super rad.
• Invest in an open air tent. Make sure the windows stay open. Don't sleep on the East side of the tent. The Tennessee sun is relentless, beginning at 7 a.m.
• Sunscreen, for God's sake. Ladies, make sure you get your entire chest region. Even if you think you're covered up adequately with your sundress, you are not.
• Bandanas are very cute on everyone. Cover your scalp.
• Water, of course. I needn't spell that one out, correct?
• Forget about not sweating. Just go with it. It's like a perverse detox.
• Leave the morning of the last day. Plan the route, pack your SUV, and ram through the throngs of hippies to get the hell out.

And even though I didn't have a photo pass, I still snapped some shoddy photos. Here is my visual proof that I did partake in some of the Bonnaroo Comedy Offerings:

The Comedy Theatre of Bonnaroo

Baron Vaughn emceed some shows

Inside the tent

JB Smoove opens up the comedy portion of the festival.

Margaret Cho, Reggie Watts, Jessie Bayun, Sarah Jarosz, and Scott McMicken discuss their past festival experiences.

Margaret Cho - Part of the show is taped for her upcoming music video. She's spotted elsewhere throughout the weekend, including on stage with the Flaming Lips and GWAR.

Rob Cantrell

Fresh off the Team Coco tour, Reggie Watts

Even from afar, Tenacious D rocks our socks off, discreetly. Conan O'Brien introduces his old pals.

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