I couldn't wait for the summer and the Warped Tour

[Amy Sommers]

Well its that time of year again. The Vans Warped Tour (http://www.warpedtour.com) is heading to a town near you this summer. This is the 10th anniversary of the tour and I am hoping to see all of you out at some of the shows. Please come out to support this tour and remember that for 10 years the Warped tour has brought you so many of your favorite bands and has been such an influential part of the music we love. That being said I also want to let you guys know that this year I am going to be posting journal entries from a very well known Warped Tour Employee who shall remain nameless. I will be posting these entries all summer long and I hope it will give you all a humorous and entertaining look into The Warped Tour and everyone involved. Check out the replies section for the very first entry.

[Amy Sommers]

Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Greetings from this years Warped Tour! Well not actually from the Warped Tour quite yet. Today, music lovers and supporters from across the world will be heading to Houston for the tenth year of punk rock summer camp. My name is D. Pikkens and I am your apdotnet reporter. My goal is to send in journal entries every other day. Hopefully my writing will be unbiased and entertaining for you to read.
Many of you probably dream of working on Warped Tour. How could it not be fun, one million bands on 6 plus stages, hanging out with your favorite musicians, traveling the world (or US and Canada to be exact) and just having a plain good old time? Although it may look like all fun and games, I assure you it is not. Let me take you through the day of your warped tour employee. After driving all night from the previous show, you tend to roll out of your bunk or van (for the truly insane VWT bands) somewhere between 6 and 7am. The ball busting production people will usually already have an hour or two on you, beginning the preparation for the days event. At this ridiculously early hour of the morning you will see the stage set-up people, catering crew, the merch and sponsor people, the production office world, the roadies and techs, tour managers, and more. We build stages, merch tents, move heavy equipment around, make sure the sound is right, lift heavy boxes, cook food for the tons of people on the road and more. The early birds get to work bringing to life the world that you will be spending your day in.
After hours of setting up, the doors open and your fun begins. Being that I am really not at the tour yet, as it still has a few days until it starts. I don't want to write too much, but I will give you some facts and advice. Please read below:
The Warped Tour takes many many months to organize and a lot of hard work by truly dedicated people. These people would countless hours to bring you the best entertainment that punk rock has to offer. We love the production office, the booking agent, the sponsors, and all the people that make this possible.
The set times aren't decided until roughly one hour before the doors, usually it's later. You can have the grand masters of punk rock opening the show, while the next big thing will be headlining. To make sure you get to see everyone you want, you should really show up early for doors. You don't want to miss the bands you paid your hard earned dollars on.
When coming to Warped Tour, you should really bring the following items: chapstick, sun block, sun glasses, a hat and good shoes. Although flip flops are comfy, I guarantee you your feet will be very pissed at you by the end of the day. If you do forget these important items, they will be available at the general store. Stop by and get yourself some goodies.
The merch people who help you with your favorite bands swag really don't deserve to be treated like shit. The people work incredibly hard for low dough and in wretched working conditions. Pay attention when buying merch, read the signs and don't ask stupid questions, like how much is that shirt, when the price is properly displayed right in front of you. They want to help you and have a good time too!
Trying to get backstage is pretty lame. In all honesty there really isn't a backstage. It's just a bunch of buses. If you do make your way back there and perhaps onto a bus remember this cardinal rule you can't shit on the bus, and no paper items are allowed in the john as well. Please don't drop a deuce in someone's bus and make their life miserable.
Don't get in fights. The best thing about Warped Tour is it promotes equality and understanding. Together we are a world of people who should respect each other. Getting pissed because some guy is trying to jock your honeys hyde isn't cool. Save that shit for the high school hallway.
Clean up after yourself. For the love of all that is holy, there are garbage cans every 10 feet; I really don't think you cant walk your shit to the can. Don't be a lazy bastard.
Don't throw shit at the bands on stage. It's so damn stupid. How would you like it if someone chucked a water bottle at your head?
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, if you are 18 years old and are not registered to vote, stop by the punk voter tent. Register to vote and do something with your natural born right upon election time. You may be young but you need to be heard, we all do! If you aren't 18 yet, make sure your parents, sisters, brothers, teachers, mail person, doctors and all of the people you know that can, do vote!
Well with that said, I will leave you to prepare for your summer of fun at VWT. You will be hearing back from me often, so make sure you come back to read more. We all look forward to seeing you in the pits. Be good, be safe and ROCK ON!
Yours,
D. Pikkens

[NFGmoviestar]

i'll be hitting the tour this friday. first stop is in houston biotch.

its a good read. but you forgot to mention to help people up. i dont how many people get hurt every year because people decide to be assholes and not help people

[bossman calling]

i might be at the houston date as well. dallas for sure, plus mc5 show at trees that night. ah, vacation.

[puNk_tHeoRy]

I'm going to the houston show as well. so i'll be seein' you kids there! :)

[Sureshot182]

warped tour!!! i'm going july 22 in indianapolis! i can't freakin wait!

[ShoeSh1ne]

Ahh the price you pay for listening to music for three months. I need to register to vote, I might as well do it at warped.

[fATEwORKS2wAYS]

i'll be hitting the tour this friday. first stop is in houston biotch.

its a good read. but you forgot to mention to help people up. i dont how many people get hurt every year because people decide to be assholes and not help people

exactly, it sucks when you fall, and get injured and the kids around you just stand there looking at you like "why the eff did you just do that?"

[XPrettyXWasteX]

Ha, that was a good message. I'm goin to the VA beach date.. maybe DC too.

[PunkyChicken]

I get to work at the Cincinnati Date, but that's not until August 16, I hope I can work back stage...I may try to go to the Indy date so I can actually see full sets, not just a song or two as I'm scanning tickets. I worked at Riverbend last summer too and the warped tour last year was really fun, I stood behind the main stage and checked passes. It was awesome, everybody walked by, at least everyone on that stage did...AFI, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, the Ataris, Andrew WK, maybe some more, I can't remember...I just wished I could have seen some performances.

[birdman]

I get kind of burned out on the Warped Tour. Going to the Warped Tour sounds fun in theory and I have been to many Warped shows and had a great time. But within just a few hours I get all tired and beat. My feet hurt, water is 4 dollars so I am broke, my body is all broken and beaten, and I usually just want to leave. Warped is a great experience when you are younger, but once you start to get a little older you might find yourself getting exhausted really easily.

Also, every Warped show I have been to since turning 21 I have gotten drunk at. BAD FUCKING IDEA!!! The alcohol and the sun will DESTROY YOU!!! Not worth it at all.

One more thing, and I want some feedback on this. Does anyone feel like the band schedule for the shows should be decided a little farther in advance? I just think it should either stay the same for the whole tour or be decided at least a week before the show. That way you can plan your schedule around the bands you want to see. I just hate getting in the doors after waiting in line for an hour and realizing I have already missed two of the bands I really wanted to see. Anyone agree?

[octobernightRSL]

www.purevolume.com/7hourdrive

think of what you will be missing if you dont click it

[bossman calling]

I get kind of burned out on the Warped Tour. Going to the Warped Tour sounds fun in theory and I have been to many Warped shows and had a great time. But within just a few hours I get all tired and beat. My feet hurt, water is 4 dollars so I am broke, my body is all broken and beaten, and I usually just want to leave. Warped is a great experience when you are younger, but once you start to get a little older you might find yourself getting exhausted really easily.

Also, every Warped show I have been to since turning 21 I have gotten drunk at. BAD FUCKING IDEA!!! The alcohol and the sun will DESTROY YOU!!! Not worth it at all.

One more thing, and I want some feedback on this. Does anyone feel like the band schedule for the shows should be decided a little farther in advance? I just think it should either stay the same for the whole tour or be decided at least a week before the show. That way you can plan your schedule around the bands you want to see. I just hate getting in the doors after waiting in line for an hour and realizing I have already missed two of the bands I really wanted to see. Anyone agree?
I do know what you mean about being burnt out on the whole thing after so many years. This is the least excited I've been to go since my first one in 1999. But I figure where else am I gonna see The Vandals, Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, and the band that got me into rock and roll so many years ago, Bad Religion, all in the same venue. Yeah, the secondary lineup is pretty much the weakest they've ever had...but those six make it all worthwhile to me, even if I've seen them all at least twice before.

You're a retard for drinking before warped, lol sorry...I'm a tad bit of an alcoholic myself, but even I know that's a horrible idea. :)

The band schedule thing is just one of those things thats always been and you come to accept it. Yeah, it sucks ass sometimes (one year I remember they had bigwig, the used and thursday, all bands i wanted to see, especially bigiwg, ALL playing as the gates were opening). Just get there early, and get in line. Otherwise, go to a few different cities if you wanna make sure you catch everyone. Make a low budget road trip out of it, kinda like phish heads do haha. I've always had fun doing that.

[JTrain12]

yup, ill be at the VA Beach show this year too...hopefully I can get in free again :wink3:

[NFGmoviestar]

I get kind of burned out on the Warped Tour. Going to the Warped Tour sounds fun in theory and I have been to many Warped shows and had a great time. But within just a few hours I get all tired and beat. My feet hurt, water is 4 dollars so I am broke, my body is all broken and beaten, and I usually just want to leave. Warped is a great experience when you are younger, but once you start to get a little older you might find yourself getting exhausted really easily.

Also, every Warped show I have been to since turning 21 I have gotten drunk at. BAD FUCKING IDEA!!! The alcohol and the sun will DESTROY YOU!!! Not worth it at all.

One more thing, and I want some feedback on this. Does anyone feel like the band schedule for the shows should be decided a little farther in advance? I just think it should either stay the same for the whole tour or be decided at least a week before the show. That way you can plan your schedule around the bands you want to see. I just hate getting in the doors after waiting in line for an hour and realizing I have already missed two of the bands I really wanted to see. Anyone agree?
i remember my first tour. most of it was spent "dying" by the skaters from exhuastion. warped tour is tiring when ur not in the pit. i always get my energy back when the bands start playing. but you dont remember the heat and exhuastion when you get home. all you can think about is what to bring next year.

i dont drink so i dont have that problem. but i've seen it suck

when you dont know the schedule it sucks and it doesnt. its fun to not be able to expect anything. plus the reason they do it so late is because they're always last minute bands. and i would want them to add my band if they could