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…
RIDICULOUS.
This was my reaction: This post coming from an organization that stands for supporting independent artists is kind of baffling. I’ve met a lot of great bands in parking lots that, a couple years later, were on a Warped stage. It’s just the same as promoting outside Chain Reaction - what’s their harm? They’re working their butt off to get heard and that’s what it’s about right? Not all bands “know” the right people to get on Warped, or have the money for tons of publicity/advertising/fancy website design/etc. The hustle of getting your band heard is part of being an independent artist, so how can you call that stealing? Asking people to listen to their music and buy it if they like it, isn’t taking away from anyone else on the lineup.
Not sure why this made me so upset, but it really did.
