July 12, 2011

On Bands Following the Warped Tour

krissynh:

earnityourself:

by Sarah Saturday

I have had many debates in recent years about whether or not bands following the Warped Tour to promote themselves in the parking lot is “right” or “fair.” From my first summer on the tour until now, I have fought hard to prevent “leech bands” from sucking the lifeblood out of the tour. However, it’s a tricky subject that has many different points of view. Warped Tour is back on the road and I’m getting reports that the parking lot bands are worse than ever this year. So I decided it was time to voice my opinion about this epidemic and hopefully get people thinking about what it actually means to follow a tour like Warped, or to support the bands who do it. What does “following the Warped Tour” mean? Bands will tag along in their vans and hang out in the parking lot outside the venue each day, passing out flyers, peddling their CDs and tee shirts, and even trying to weasel their way into the show so they can rub elbows with bands and production in an effort to get a pass so they can continue their wheeling and dealing inside the show. I’ve even seen bands get inside and then start begging to be put on a stage! I see this entire act — from selling stuff in the parking lot to sneaking inside without a ticket — as stealing. These bands are stealing money from ticket-buyers who are there to support the bands that have actually been booked on the tour, and they are stealing money from the people who are trying to put on an event that requires ticket sales to cover costs, like paying bands who were actually booked on the tour. The parking lot bands have not been invited, and therefore should not be taking money that could potentially be spent supporting the bands on the tour. In short, I view parking lot bands as: (A) stealing money from the bands on the tour; (B) stealing money from the founders of the tour; and (C) taking advantage of the tour to make money for themselves in the future. HOWEVER, I think there is a way that bands can earn the right to follow the Warped Tour and reap the benefits that it have made possible. It’s a crazy idea, I know, but the idea is to BUY A TICKET. If every member of your band is buying a ticket for every single day that you are there at the show, handing out flyers and promoting your music, then you are not just TAKING AWAY something from the bands, fans, and founders of the tour — you are GIVING BACK something as well. You are showing your respect and earning the right to be there along with everyone else. If you are contributing something of value in exchange for what you are taking, even though what you are taking is more valuable than what you would be giving, it would still show that you have thought about what you’re doing and realize your place. You are not special or different at the Warped Tour, just because you are in a band. There is no reason you should not have to pay for a ticket like everyone else, in order to be there, no matter who you are or what your reasons are for being there. Until your band is invited by the tour to play on a stage, you are nothing more than a group of fans with flyers.

THANK YOU, Sarah.

Sigh. I don’t agree with sneaking in. That isn’t right.

But as for bands selling stuff in the parking lot—they’re not STEALING from the bands on the tour. Or from Kevin Lyman (I can assure you, he is doing just fine). I just think that people have a right to spend their money in whatever way they want. Just because they spend $5 on a CD in the lot does not mean they won’t buy things from bands on the tour.

To me, this is just a smart business move for smaller bands. But I remember when I went to the tour—I never ever bought stuff from bands walking around or standing in the lot selling stuff. I had other things to do. I chose to spend my money inside the tour.

I wonder what the numbers are: how much bands outside the tour actually make and what percentage of people actually break in and how much they make. Then compare those numbers to how much the tour and the bands on the tour make.

I wonder, for those who have been on the tour—what does Lyman think about the parking lot bands?

Granted, I never worked on the Warped Tour so I don’t have the insight that my good friend Krissy has, so maybe I’m off base.

/143 notes /10:49 AM

143 Notes

  1. cellphonereviews2012 reblogged this from earnityourself
  2. carseatreviews2012 reblogged this from earnityourself
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  9. compact-digital-camera-2012 reblogged this from earnityourself
  10. compact-camera-reviews-2012 reblogged this from earnityourself
  11. fullhd-camcorder reblogged this from earnityourself
  12. gannehanrahan reblogged this from missjaderockmyworld
  13. iluvconcerts3 reblogged this from earnityourself
  14. wwolvvess reblogged this from earnityourself
  15. rosemaryfrances reblogged this from staysafe---staystrong
  16. cindyirl reblogged this from earnityourself and added:
    completely agree Sarah’s post!! If you are a band local...line that’s not
  17. zachctc reblogged this from jakesonaplane and added:
    awesome read. every band should consider this at some point in their career.
  18. il0vec0ncerts reblogged this from earnityourself
  19. fiapwns reblogged this from earnityourself and added:
    very interesting argument here. Plus, if you...your own? Hmm…
  20. laurapainemaas reblogged this from krissynh and added:
    Sigh. I don’t agree with sneaking in. That isn’t right. But as for bands selling stuff in the parking lot—they’re not...
  21. dustyfeeney reblogged this from earnityourself
  22. lastyearsghost reblogged this from missjaderockmyworld
  23. punkprincessnc reblogged this from earnityourself and added:
    Here’s a bigger problem — Earn it Yourself is...so much a “music business education”...
  24. invitetobealurker reblogged this from earnityourself
  25. misselexus reblogged this from missjaderockmyworld and added:
    What a FANTASTIC point. My question to any band that comes up to me this year might just be “so, do you have a ticket to...
  26. lovelifemusic reblogged this from earnityourself and added:
    RIDICULOUS. This was...reaction: This post coming...stands...
  27. helmerfan43 reblogged this from jakesonaplane and added:
    I respect the bands that do this. It takes a lot of courage to ask strangers to listen to your music and it must suck...
  28. sea-fence reblogged this from poorghosts and added:
    she’s such a hypocrite. i was going to attend the EIY meetup at warped, but this woman is obsessed with trying to revive...
  29. thatsjustrachel reblogged this from jakesonaplane and added:
    I couldn’t agree more with Jake’s post. Very articulate, and some excellent points are made. Bottom line is, if I really...
  30. prettysongsaboutlove reblogged this from lovetheinfatuation
  31. poorghosts reblogged this from jakesonaplane and added:
    I may be wrong, but I feel like plenty of the bands getting booked to play Warped Tour nowadays got their start or at...