When on tour, tour managers get emails from management for interviews or photo passes. I see many bands doing interviews for some 13 year old fan (nothing against the 13 year old) and then the band is complaining that they could have been doing something else. Bands have to do a ton of interviews on a daily bases and it’s up to management and tour managers to filter which interviews to do (mostly so bands do not get burned out) when I see an artist get up at 9am to supposedly do an interview on camera and when the artist gets there he finds some 13 year old fan with a video camera and she has to ask the personal assistant of the artist to film for her, it shows a lack of consideration for the artist. Doing that interview is not the point but maybe doing that interview means that some other MORE important interview could have been set up. Actually better yet the artist could have rested to do the show that night, the 4 meet and greets and the Rollingstone’s phone interview.

The more research is done with these interview and photo passes request the better it is for the artist. They don’t have to get upset when they find out its not a real interview and real photographers are not left out because you gave all your photo passes to some kids that are fan and have those picture wasted on some Facebook post that say “He is so hot!”

As much hate as I’ll get for this, interviews are for magazines, radio, newspapers or for successful music blogs. Having someone do an interview so only her 4 friends can sit in a circle and giggle at question number 3) Why are you so hot and can we get married when I grow up? Is just a waste of time for everyone involved because the more successful the band the more people it takes to get that band ready for interviews.

Do your research. The day will come when you as a manager will need your artist do a lot of stuff (interviews, phoners, tv stuff) and because of you not doing your research in the pass your own artist won’t take you seriously.

This is my opinion and only an opinion.

I spoke to the artist tonight because she seems bummed out. I asked her what was wrong she said sometimes it doesn’t matter how hard I try to please fans I seem to not be enough. Even for things that are not under my control or a little crazy. I asked her for an example and she said “Every day I do a radio interview, go to the radio station I’ll sing a song, answer fans questions, reply to my fans on twitter, do Meet & greet before the show, do a show, another meet & greet after the show, shower, get something quick to eat, run to the bus, sign more stuff for fans that are waiting outside my bus, drive for 10 hours to do it all over again”. I understand that it’s my job and it comes with the territory the thing is none of that bothers me. What bothers me is…lets say during that day when I finally get to sit down to drink a coffee and someone comes over to ask me to sign something, pose for photos, talk to their friends on the phone, listen to their stories, after that is done and I jumped over every hoop they asked me to, when I come to them and say “Thank you but now I would just like to drink my coffee” they have the audacity to say that I am a stuck up or in their case a bitch. “What is it with people?” what do artist need to do to not offend anyone or be offended? Not do any of this Stuff? Do a show and go home? It’s just seriously disappointing.

Well after listening to that I ask “Do you really want me to give you an answer?” She said “I don’t know what I want what I don’t want to is find people trashing us or thinking its ok to behave like that. All I said to that artist was, Sometimes you have to worry less what they say or think of you and do what makes you happy. Example when your work starts taking over your love for music you need a step back and think, is it really worth it for you to start hating what you love to do? If the answer is “NO” then create your music, enjoy life because some fans will turn on a dime on you because they don’t really care about your music they care more about themselves.

People seem to not realize what artist go through, its a daily struggle of trying to please everyone, which is a losing battle.

A few minutes ago I posted on twitter “There is a difference between being a fan and being crazy town” and my phone blew up by fans and crazy towns alike asking what are the differences were. Well here is a small list. Have in mind that if you fall on either side of these two you’re still fun to deal with just one of you needs to be in a straight jacket (ha ha) NO seriously…a straight jacket.

Well I wrote these quickly so both Crazy and fans can have a laugh and at the same time get help if you have done all ten of these on the Crazy town side.

1) Fans travels hours to watch the band, Crazy town travels to move next door to the band.

2) Fans draws pictures of the band, Crazy town draws fans away from the band.

3) Fans comes to several shows on a tour, Crazy town goes to all of the shows on a tour.

4) Fans may have a tattoo on their skin of the name of the band, Crazy town want to wear the skin of the band.

5) Fans may call themselves MR or MRS. (Last name of the band) Crazy Town changes their legal name to the name of the band.

6) Fans dont get upset if the lead singer cuts his/ her hair. Crazy town threatens to kill the hair dresser that cut the hair of the lead singer.

7) Fans buy or pay tribute to the band by making their own concert shirts with the bands name. Crazy town pays tribute to the band by making a church with the bands name.

8) Fans love the members of the band, Crazy town wants each band members member (read it slowly you will get it)

9) Fans show their support when the band is going to rough times, Crazy town just wants to show the band a rough time.

10) Fans sing the lyric at shows, Crazy town gets mad when fans sing the lyrics at the show because the lead singer was singing only to them.

Which ever side you’re have fun with it, without hurting anyone. Remember it’s your right to enjoy the show, a Crazy town has the same rights of the fans to enjoy the show. So be crazy be a fan just dont let your emotions of devotions turn into destruction.

While back someone asked me who I thought was one of the most under rated artist. Well here is one his name is Raphael Shaadiq. He has a lot of success working for others as a producers and has played on stage with some of the biggest names including Mick Jagger. He has won Grammy’s yet many people do not know who he is. This is an artist you won’t find on the Radio and by the way I had the pleasure of meeting him about 5 years ago and is one of the coolest guys I have met.

Bands need to take a stand,
to labels that dont understand,
how being unique is good for a band,
Touring has turned into a clutter,
of bands that are cookie cutters,
with No one to blame but bands willing change just for the promise of fame.

This is my opinion and only an opinion

This is @Trixie_Whitley you probably haven’t hear of her. It’s not because she cant sing or play an instrument. Its because good music like this you only find playing live touring somewhere down the road and not on the radio. Yes, this music isn’t for everyone its just for people that like real singers and real musicians.

Take care and enjoy this little studio session and if you are in SXSW you might find her playing there. I have zero affiliation with Trixie or Black Dub. but ill tell you one thing you will find me in one of their shows if they are ever in the same town I’m in.

Many bands are all excited about being on Warped Tour. Warped is usually a platform for get their music out to a larger crowd.

The one thing they need to remember is that their crews will be working long hours specially Merch dudes/girls so while you are all excited about playing Warped Tour take some time and buy your Merch dude/girls a good Merch Cart and ice cooler. Remember they have to push this cart full of Merch, a tent and all this other shit across grass, kids, assholes even in the rain just to get the name of your band out there.

It may cost you couple of hundred dollars but it’s the difference between having a unhappy Merch guy/girl representing your band or a happy one making your band extra money because he/she has these two tools that will make a hard job just a little easier.

PS. It won’t hurt if you fill this cooler with water, beers and some sodas as well.

I have only gone to Warped Tour one day as a fan and my hat goes out to the bands, crew and Merch people that are doing it or have done it for years. I have never worked Warped Tour (I’m to much of a Pussy) but I have many great friends that will be on that tour and I’m sure they would appreciate your small investment that will pay you back ten folds with your Merch sales.

If you a Merch dude/girl and the band you’re working for follows your blog or twitter it might help if you reblog this so they FREAKING READ IT! Good luck to everyone working Warped!

This is my opinion and only an opinion

Looks like my “Lot Lizard” comment may have offended someone. Which was not the point of my post. Actually the contrary women are very important but when some don’t act like a woman or a lady and don’t respect themselves it’s a different subject.

Example, ladies that support an artist that smacked a woman. Why would any woman support one of the most degrading things a woman can go through like getting beat? If my comment came across as sexist well you don’t understand the term “Lot Lizard” or the term “Groupie” or “Bitch” which many girls seem to take pride in calling themselves these days. The worst thing that is happening these days is young girls thinking that acting like any of those is ok. You can see it by the 100’s of girls that self summit their naked photos to websites to gain so called “fame” or “followers” now tell me isn’t that some of the saddest shit you ever seen?

I am a married man that respects his wife and many other women that i work with. So calling me sexist is the farthest thing from the truth. I believe that many of these girls that are acting the way they are , are the worst thing that can happen to the many woman that respect themselves, are independent and strong. Which by the way are all way more attractive qualities to have than posting your boobs on a website.

So understand I am not the one putting women down the sad thing is other women are putting down the ladies of the world. Hope you understand now where I was coming from.

PS If you take the time and look at my blog you will see that I am one of the biggest supporters of women on tour.

This is my opinion and only an opinion.

Change is just a part of growing up, bitching at each other online is just childish

So a crew guy friend of mine took this Oasis song and redid the guitar, bass and drums over the original singers voice. These are the things that crew guys can do. So never assume a crew guy does not have talent.

Everyone knows that the music business is full of people that take advantage of their position to get attention, girls or steal money from those that work very hard to get in the business. I have been blessed that the people I deal with are great and the reason is because those that were douchebags do not get another chance in my book. I have met many in my years of touring from label executives to other Merch guys and I have never hold back letting them know if I think they are full of shit.

I was once a on tour with an artist an his label rep was an asshole in my humble opinion. I told the artist “That guy is full of shit and all he cares is to say he has work with or for you” the artist looked at me and said “Merch dude I know, but what he doesn’t know is that while he thinks he is using me I’m actually using him and I have my eye on him, when the right time comes he will pay ten folds what he has done to me” that stuck with me. Years later that artist is still making platinum records while no one ever heard about that label guy. Actually I take that back a year ago I was having dinner with that artist and we bumped into that label guy. The label guy remembered me because I told him to his face he was a dick. he then told the artist at that dinner “wow he stills works with you” the artist then looked at him and said “no he is my friend and he was just giving me advice on how to deal with dick heads like you” needless to say the label guy walked away before he could take our dinner order.

So in a industry full of douchebags focus more on getting them away from you while the great people in the industry will always look out for you.

This is my opinion and only an opinion.