I'm sorry my idea didn't work for you. Refer to page 2 and read Eros' experience. It did work for him/her. Maybe he/she could add some additional advice based on his/her personal experience at JL.
I would add to think about
where you park in advance and how it will affect your exit. Strategize.
The first couple of times I went to a NASCAR event, I stayed until the end, and then was stuck in the lot and then traffic for hours. Since then, I've been strategic about where I parked and when I departed and have not had a problem. Same thing for the shed where I saw concerts growing up (in upstate NY) and Wolftrap.
Regarding other things in this thread:
I think the State Theater occasionally has a decent show. But to favorably compare it to the 9:30 Club is silly.
And the best food is at Wolftrap. where you can bring your own food and alcohol.
And I've lived in MD (Baltimore and DC bubrbs), VA and DC. I'll take both VA and MD over DC@!
RHETT - I did leave before the last song. Even walked out third to last song, BEFORE encore! We knew to get out of there early. Took the long walk, jogged a bit to get a head start to the car -- yet, others did too. The staff opened the gates, we were behind it, it was a cluster*, we asked them to move the gates multiple times to help us, they didn't, even laughed, and by then the show was over. Then the encore was over, and the next thing you knew even the street was backed up. Geez, do I have to tell you allll the details so you don't call me an idiot? The place is messed up whether I stayed for the last song or not. If I had decided to wait for others to leave, it wouldn't have mattered - I would have sat there for five hours. What venue have you been to that you need to wait 3-5 hours for the crowd to drain out?
I'm sorry people criticize you all day and you need attention that you feel inclined to call names and judge others for things that you have no experience.
Stayng for the entire show at MPP? I've experienced 15-20 min. with a helpful staph waving us goodbye. 30 mins one time but that was a huge festival years ago. so it may have only felt like 30 min. ;P