myrlacat
member
Joined: 03/05/09
Location: Kansas
Posts: 11
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Okay. To preface all of this word vomit - I'm a creative writing major, so I write a lot - I have been working in the marketing/PR/professional Street Team thing for over 10 years now. I have toured with a band, selling merchandise across the south and midwest/east. I have sold merch at tons of venues across the contiguous 48 states. I used to see ~250-300 concerts a year for a few years out of the 10+ I've been working. I was thoroughly impressed by the way KC's M&G worked out - there were whiners there too, don't get me wrong, but we were able to tune them out and have fun.
My BF, being the awesome person that he is, surprised me by donating $300 so we could go meet NiN, maybe other bands. I am a kindhearted person. I donate to a lot of places even though I don't have a lot of money. I just (literally, the week before) spent almost $1k on bills, and I didn't have the money when the original M&G was announced. I told him that I thought it was an awesome idea, i wish i had the money because yes, we got to meet NiN, but it went to a good cause. He did - he took it out of his vacation fund, so we skipped doing a couple other things, and did this instead. (and it was worth every penny) We both decided while the $1k thing was awesome, it wasn't for us - we had 2nd row, great seats anyway, and we were content with getting an item signed and meeting the band.
1. At the KC show, the $300 people did not get a pass of any sort. the $1k people got what's called a "local access pass" by those who have worked venues. At good venues, or places where it's less chaotic, all the security venue people will know that certain areas are for those passes, and what goes where. This can't always happen. There are lapses in knowing. Most venue people make maybe 1 or 2 bucks more than minimum wage (I made $6.50/hr working at Sandstone Amphitheater near Bonner Springs, KS back in 2001-2, $6.50 an hour to get called things I wouldn't repeat in a room of sailors, much less on a message board. $6.50/hr to get harassed, pushed, concussions, sprained ankles, covered in mud, black eyes, etc.) It's not a glamourous job, and the 2 years I worked there, I worked backstage ONCE in that entire time frame. Most security people aren't let in on all the details of everything, due to simply how many people there are, or how big the event is, etc. Oftentimes I was just told "okay, lower seats, between 3 and 4" and that was my duty the entire night.
2. We DID get to meet NiN, their awesome security guy (thanks again for all the info you provided me with, personally), the awesome girl who was helping coordinate (and who stopped by us more than once in line to commiserate and chat). I did, in fact, get my copy of the Fragile signed, Justin threw me off when he complimented me on something, and I didn't mess up on what I was going to say to Trent. I'm a writer and I had it all planned out. Rehearsed it. I was nervous I'd screw it up. Not because I think Trent is a demigod, not because I worship him - but because I honestly wanted to thank him, from the bottom of my heart, for everything he has done. And I did. And he smiled. And that's all I hoped I would get. Not expected. Not wanted - wanted has a kind of ring to it and that's not what I meant. I hoped. And my hopes came true. And the picture is awesome. (and Trent, I meant what I said, I'm working on getting you a copy of the tape now)
3. I have liked NiN for a very long time. I don't get nervous around "stars", i don't get "starstruck". You have to realize that each one of these guys is a real human being with emotions and feelings. Most likely a day on their tour consists of:
-not enough sleep
-travelling from city to city
-radio obligations, answering official emails
-load in early, soundcheck, go back to the hotel, change, get ready (mentally and physically), get back, venue stuff, myriad of stuff to do before the show, eat, play,
-catching up on email, twitter, family, friends if there is time.
-laundry, if they have time at a city
etc.
rinse repeat. You all get the idea. I worked for a small band, and in a 24 hour period i maybe had 2-3 hours to myself every day we were touring. Trent and company are giving up some of their only free time during the day to coordinate and meet everyone who are kind enough to donate. Yes, there are people that are donating just to see Trent, but there are quite a few who are doing it BECAUSE they appreciate it. Honestly, if it wasn't going to Eric, I wouldn't have cared to donate. The fact it IS going to a good person - whom I have not met, but by all accounts is someone who is a nice guy - is what did it for me.
4. No one out there, except family, and close friends, and people who work on the tour, should get an official laminate. Anyone that's expecting one of those, i'd laugh in your face. I've gotten maybe 3-4 in 10+ years - most of which was working in festivals, just because security there is so chaotic. If you get a temporary day pass/local pass, that's awesome. I have a few of those - but again - not very many. We didn't get one for donating $300, and I wish we could have simply because they look AWESOME.
5. Just because you are backstage, and get a pass, doesn't mean much of anything. For you, this is an entertainment venture, a concert. For these people, this is THEIR JOB. This is how they make their living.
6. No one "owes you" anything. Not the guy that originally started this, not anything. Trent could (and, it's a credit to him and the rest of the band and staff) simply yank all the M&G remaining due to all the BS that is currently going on.
7. Fans are scary. Superfans are scarier. I worked with a band (that is still touring to this day), and I helped run their street team. There were some fans that caught wind I was going to a show in Chicago at HoB, and they started pelting me (i was on the floor) with rocks, trying to knock me out so they could step on my camera and break my glasses. These same "fans" sent ME death threats, written, to my house, to my PARENTS HOUSE, stuck on my car at shows, at my place of work outside of shows... I was tripped, I had drinks "accidentally" spilled on me at a winter show when the wind chill was 15 degrees and suffered hypothermia because of it.. The band? did nothing. They washed their hands of it. To this day, I will never purchase a ticket, cd, or anything to do with them that would make them money. And neither will a lot of my friends. I am very sorry that Trent and his soon to be wife are having to go through this. I am very angry that people think they are entitled - and yes, that's the correct usage of the word - that they can wreck someone's real life just because they didn't get their way.
In summation - Trent, for what you and yours are going through, I am very sorry. I appreciate from the bottom of my heart what you have done for all of us this tour. Being able to tape without having my gear stolen, pissed on, thrown around, kicked out of the venue meant was absolutely one of the most meaningful shows I've been able to tape (in my 400+ shows I have taped). You also reunited me (albeit indirectly, as he's on these boards too) with someone that I used to go to shows with and that was a friend that i missed.
I for one will miss your ranting and raving on twitter or anywhere about things, but I *completely* understand why you are going to disappear. For the time you are spending around us fans, I thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart.
Anyone who's read it this far: please remember that while you may worship the ground all these guys walk on, they are human like you and I, and they have emotions and feelings the same as you and i.
"You shall take all sides, and filter them from yourself." - Whitman
Thanks for reading. I hope everyone enjoys the shows from here on out. I wish I could go to more, but I can't. My BF and I had an amazing time at our first concert together, and I thank the band, staff, and event staff at Starlight for making it so.
(@myrla_cat on twitter)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2009 10:06AM by myrlacat.
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