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Warped Behavior: Sexual Violence On Tour

Every now and then we stumble across articles online that blows us away. The following post is an example of one such article, and it was written by Paul Adler for the audience at Medium. If you like what Paul has to say, please head over to his Medium profile and click through the rest of his work.

The Vans Warped Tour has become an American institution. But like many American institutions, it has a problem. That problem is one of sexual violence.

Every summer for the past 21 years, the Vans Warped Tour, universally acknowledged as an itinerant “punk-rock summer camp,” has brought the best, most in-demand alternative music to fairgrounds, arenas, and racetracks all across the country. Artists like Blink-182 and Katy Perry have jump-started their careers on the tour, propelling themselves to TRL-level adulation. The tour also boasts a more diverse bill every year, expanding lately into hip-hop and EDM. Mostly, however, alternative luminaries like NOFX, Every Time I Die, Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, and The Bouncing Souls continue to anchor this Brobdingnagian tour package.

But over the past half-decade, a handful of alternative-scene, so-called “Warped Tour” bands have found themselves accused of sexual misconduct with minors. Musicians have been convicted of crimes, and other bands have been condemned for their apparent advocacy of physical and sexual violence, especially toward women. Of course, the bands and the tour are separate entities, and Warped isn’t legally responsible (moral responsibility is another matter) for the actions of its acts. Nonetheless, it’s tempting to let these scandals color the general perception of the tour. More difficult is untangling the nuances of this new age of opprobrium.

“I’m gonna speak the truth til I die. We saw @botdfmusic Dahvie bring under age [sic] girls to his hotel rooms an [sic] do sexual things. 100% ILLEGAL,” tweeted Jeffree Star. The cotton candy-pink-haired Internet icon, makeup artist, and would-be diva was responding to a 2010 wave of allegations leveled at Dahvie Vanity, founder of the electropop group Blood on the Dance Floor (BOTDF). Vanity, also known as David Jesus Torres, had collaborated with Star on several BOTDF releases, but the two had had a recent falling out. That year, Blood on the Dance Floor played Warped Tour in its entirety.

For his part, Star appeared to be offering some damning testimony to buttress the widespread claims of sexual misconduct continuously made against Vanity over the previous six years. In October 2009, Vanity was arrested in Centennial, Colorado on a charge of first-degree sexual assault for apparently bedding a fifteen-year-old girl.

The charge would end up being retracted, though it was hardly the only allegation of sexual malfeasance to emerge over the past half-dozen years. Pages dedicated to telling the world of Vanity’s suspected criminal behavior abound online. A Tumblr page entitled “The Truth about Dahvie Vanity” has a so-called “allegation roundup” delineating an array of claims against the singer. The roundup is full of jarring screenshots purporting to show texts and tweets from Vanity to young girls. The exchanges are lurid, to say the least.

Then there was the blog post from Ashley Costello, singer of the band New Years Day. The band, also Warped Tour participants, had frequently toured with BOTDF until Costello decided to speak out against Vanity in a lengthy, now-deleted jeremiad, saying, in part: “I have never met a bigger bully in my life. I have never felt so uncomfortable. I have never been physically attached [sic] and abused, until now.”

Costello continued, “Ive [sic] seen girls cry because they have been taken advantage of and made to do things they didnt [sic] want to do. I have seen horrible and disgusting things done by a man on a throne that does not deserve to be there… Showing you [sic] ass to kids? Having kids grab your dick on stage? Telling 12 year olds your [sic] going to come on their faces? Making derogatory comments to me on stage. Hitting fans on the head with equipment? Telling my friends they are band whores ON STAGE because they wont [sic] say into the mic his cum tastes good? Watching the cops get called on tour because he was with someone under the age limit. That is just A TINY TINY TINY TINY portion of [what] I had to watch every night. Not to mention what was done to me and done to so many other girls. It is a fucking disgrace. Its [sic] disgusting.”

Another member of Blood on the Dance Floor, singer Jayy Von Monroe, has been chronicled taunting fans with threats of rape and rape “jokes.”

While the accusations against Dahvie Vanity are a well-publicized example of bad behavior on the tour, they’re but one instance in Warped’s history of showcasing bands that have engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior toward minors. This past January, 23-year-old Jake Mcelfresh, who performs under the moniker Front Porch Step, came under fire when several young women began posting screenshots of text message conversations they had with the singer-songwriter.

“In the last two weeks, a growing number of accusations have surfaced online against Mr. Mcelfresh, 23, asserting that he engaged in inappropriate text message and social media relationships involving at least half a dozen teenage girls, including, in some cases, the exchange of sexually explicit pictures,” the New York Times reported in January. Days before that article was published, Mcelfresh dropped off Warped Tour—thanks in part to aChange.org petition—and announced he was suspending his 2015 tour schedule.

However, the most extreme case of sexual degeneracy with a connection to Warped Tour makes those of Front Porch Step and Blood on the Dance Floor look tame by comparison. In 2012, British rockers Lostprophets spent the full summer on the tour. Several months later, singer Ian Watkins was arrested and charged with a spate of crimes. In November 2013, he pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under thirteen.

“Watkins also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children, and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal,” the BBC said. The singer had, on two different occasions, filmed himself having sex with sixteen-year-old girls. Worse, he had attempted to rape an eleven-month-old baby, which hedescribed as being “mega lolz.” Information regarding the allegations about Watkins might have ostensibly been available, as his ex-girlfriend told policeshe had attempted to “raise the alarm” on several occasions dating back to 2008.

In addition to these suspicions and proven crimes, Warped Tour has seen its bands come under fire for espousing violence toward women.

“Some bands are so breathtakingly stupid they tumble forward into a kind of genius,” writes Alternative Press’s Phil Freeman, reviewing About That Life, the fifth studio album from “Atlanta deathcore knuckle-walkers Attila.” Sounding like somewhat of an apologist, Freeman writes, “There’s an undercurrent of misogyny that pops up from time to time and threatens to spoil the fun. But if/once you get past lines like ‘punch that bitch,’ you’ll be hoisting beers and throwing fists in the air in no time.”

Atilla’s Warped tour mates, Emmure, also have their own special brand of misogyny, which they sell to fans from behind their merch table every summer. “What self-respecting girl would respond positively to a guy wearing a shirt like this?” writes Robert Pasbani of Metal Injection. Pasbani is talking about Emmure’s and Atilla’s selection of t-shirts, some of which read things like “Keep Calm and Ask Your Girl What My Dick Tastes Like,” and “I Will Find Your Fucking Bitch And Fuck Her Right In Front Of You.”

They’re just t-shirts, you might say. And of course, it’s anybody’s right to sing about domestic assault if they so choose. But why should the women who attend or work on the tour have to contend with such immediate violence and hatred?

“I can assure you none of these matters have been taken lightly,” says Kevin Lyman. “All are dug into thoroughly once they are brought to my attention, which is usually after I book someone, so that should dispel the reason I put them on is because they are controversial.”

If Warped Tour is a giant, punk-rock summer camp, Lyman is the camp’s director. Under his purview are hundreds of musicians, administrators, volunteers, audio engineers, stage managers, roadies, and drivers, all of whom make Warped Tour what it is. Lyman has worked for over two decades to transform Warped Tour from a traveling circus into a cultural movement.

Lately, he’s had to protect the tour in the face of these accusations and aggressive litigation. When Lyman, looking to keep fans from injury and stave off lawsuits, announced in 2013 that bands were no longer allowed to prompt crowds to mosh, form circle pits, or stage the dreaded “wall of death,” he received pushback from fans. “That’s half the fun, the bands encouraging craziness,” a fan tweeted at him. “But in America that leads to many lawsuits, ever sat in one I have been through many, no fun and costly,” Lyman responded.

Kevin Lyman seems beleaguered, always on guard. “If someone wrote some misinformation regarding this I think I might not take it so lightly,” he says. “I read how many false things are thrown at me on a weekly basis.” It may not be fair that Lyman has to face down critics more focused on the bad behavior of bands than on the good Warped Tour strives to do. The tour plays host to non-profit organizations, blood drives, food drives, and environmental initiatives. On off-days, Lyman prompts his staff and artists to volunteer. He’s been awarded for his philanthropy and was cited as Humanitarian of the Year by Billboard in 2009.

“Warped stands for what it always has and does not tolerate artists who do wrong,” he says. “They will be dealt with when there is proof but I cannot judge by the court of the Internet.” It’s well known that Lyman hosts a personnel meeting at the beginning of every touring season where he cautions his staff and bands against any inappropriate interactions with underage fans. Noting a decrease in the age of the average Warped attendee, Lyman has also taken the step of allowing parents into the tour free of charge.

But is Lyman doing enough to discourage the culture of violence threatening to metastasize within the Warped community?

One Warped Tour staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, doesn’t think so. “I think Kevin understands there are a lot of artists on that tour that don’t align with its core beliefs,” she says. “Where does Warped draw the line?” She says she feels “like Warped Tour has educated a lot of people about community and standing up for what you believe in,” but wonders, “when is Warped going to stand up and say, ‘we’re going to educate you [about violence]?’ Just because you’re in a situation with someone you admire doesn’t mean you’re safe.”

This Warped vet understands the responsibility for fans’ safety falls on the artists they’re paying to see, but equivocates when it comes to parsing out matters of intent. She acknowledges that people like Dahvie Vanity and Ian Watkins are sexual predators but insists, “There’s a difference between de facto pedophilia, where [artists are] going after attractive people who happen to be underage, and pedophilia [proper], where they’re preying on children because they’re children. If you’re 20 and you’re into a girl who’s 16,” she asks, “are you into [her] because she’s 16? Is it her youth that attracts you? I don’t think so.”

These bands may not necessarily be attracted to these young girls because of their age, but if these girls weren’t 15 or 16, would they be engaging in the sort of idolatry that forms a mutual attraction between fan and artist? Probably not. And any argument about intent is semantic. Pursuing and engaging in sexual activity with a person who legally isn’t old enough to consent is objectively criminal.

Perhaps Warped Tour’s issue with violence is a problem of community. “Where is #PMA?” the Warped Tour staff member interviewed for this piece wonders. She’s talking about “Positive Mental Attitude,” a hashtag/platitude that pervaded the alternative scene half a decade ago. “I feel like I don’t experience it in the Warped world anymore. The message that was part of Warped Tour has, little by little, been eroded and there is no message anymore.”

“People aren’t coming together to have a conversation about the world around them and how it’s perceived by people living and experiencing an alternative lifestyle. The community is so split up by the violence inside and outside the music. How can the alternative community come together in order to combat violence? The question isn’t whether there’s a problem. Yes, there’s a problem, but the question is, why isn’t anybody addressing it?”

To be clear, the swelling tide of physical and sexual violence in the music industry is not exclusive to Warped (think R. Kelly, Chris Brown, and Ted Nugent). And it’s not Warped Tour’s fault, but it is Warped Tour’s problem. At some point, more aggressive measures against the presence of physical or sexual violence may need to be enacted. At some point, someone’s going to have to take a stand.

Is a pattern of untoward band behavior a reason not to buy a ticket to Warped? No. Is this a problem with most or even a large portion of bands on the tour? Absolutely not. But it’s something to think about next time you’re having difficulty deciding what merch you’re going to spend your money on. If you’re a young girl, maybe you’ll think twice about crowd-surfing or accepting an invitation onto a tour bus.

For now, rock’s biggest circus is still kicking, and every true believer out there, every fan who’s ever walked through a set of festival-ground gates on a hot summer morning, ready to see a collection of his or her favorite bands, clutching a fistful of cash to spend on merch—they’re all rooting for Kevin Lyman and Warped Tour. Warped isn’t too big to fail, but to the rock scene, it’s too damn important.

Like what you just read? Follow Paul Adler on Twitter.

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6 Essential Tools For Booking a Tour

Hello, everyone! We hope your final week before Christmas is going well. The post your about to enjoy is actually a guest piece from our friend Andrew Jones, founder of Checkered Owl Media. He helps us out from time to time, and in turn we hope you’ll check out his work. He’s quite possibly our favorite Canadian.

This site exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

No matter how you slice it booking a tour, is a lot of hard work. It requires time and dedication. However, there are certainly things you can do to make it a little easier on yourself. Here are 6 tools I use on every tour I book:

1. Spreadsheet
Adding a spreadsheet to my workflow has been one of the most helpful things I have ever done for increasing efficiency on booking a tour.  Many computers have software built in, if yours doesn’t you can always grab “Open Office” for free. I personally use “Numbers” from the Apple iWork suite.

I have 10 columns in mine: Date, Weekday, City, Venue, Promoter, Style (club, coffee shop, church, theatre, etc.), Pay, Confirmed (yes or no), Notes, Media Contacted

It is such a huge help to have that all sitting on one sheet.

2. Google maps

This may sound obvious but Google Maps takes an ENORMOUS amount of hassle our of routing a tour. Put in your target markets, check the distances between them if it’s over 6 or so hours, zoom in look for markets in between your targets, re-arrange until you find a solid route, use that as your template. https://maps.google.com/

3. Indie On The Move

This has probably become my most indispensable tool for booking a tour (US only). It’s super simple to search any decently sized city in the US; when you do, you’ll see a bunch of venues, click into them, see their calendar, contact info and even ratings from other bands. You can even e-mail the talent buyer right from inside their site. I can’t recommend this site enough; check it out! http://www.indieonthemove.com/

4. The Indie Venue Bible

This has long been a favourite of mine and have built several circuits from it. It requires a little more effort than Indie on the move, but includes Canada, it also costs you a few dollars. However you get a GREAT pdf directory organized by state (or province) of a ton of venues, with a small guide to what genres they book. Click on the venue and you are taken either to their web page or contact info. Make the phone calls, and make it happen. http://www.indievenuebible.com/

5. Database

Once you have interested contacts, you don’t want to lose them. A database lets you keep all your contacts well organized for future contact. Some people use the spreadsheet for this, but I find a database to be much more robust. I personally use Bento, everything goes in there, from show evaluations, to promoters, to media contacts, I even print my contracts from Bento. I think it’s well worth adding to your arsenal.

6. Hustle

Ultimately it all comes down to this, if you want to book a tour, get ready for more phone calls and emails than you have made before, don’t give up. Hustle is what separates the pros from the garage bands. If you want this, work harder than everyone else.

This post was written by Andrew Jones, editor of Checkered Owl. It originally ran on his blog, but we loved it so much we felt it deserved to shared once more on ours. If you like his work and want to read more of his writing, or if you want to be super cool and offer him full time industry employment, reach out and connect with him on Twitter.

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MERCH ADVICE: Six Tips For Lowering The Cost Of T-Shirts

Hello, everyone! Thank you for finding some time in the midst of your assuredly hectic schedule to spend a few minutes on this site. The post you are about to enjoy was written with independent artists in mind, but the information being shared may be of use to record labels and signed musicians as well. Merchandising is a very important facet of life as an artist today, and we’re here to help ensure you keep your costs low.

This site exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

There are many ways to get attention for your band, but regardless of what tips and tricks you may have picked up throughout your experience in music there is nothing that can impact your career like a great hook or brilliant melody. This is not a theory or a thought, but rather proven fact that has worked for artists trying to make it in every corner of the music business. Everything else that follows, from touring to merchandise, must take a back seat to songwriting. 

All that aside, artists still need to make money. Music sales have dipped across the board over the last decade, and with streaming services like Spotify and Rdio on the rise it seems like the amount of money most artists see from their new releases will continue to dwindle for the foreseeable future. Great music still sells, yes, but only a fool would rely solely on the strength of their music sales to support themselves in the entertainment business. Merchandising beyond albums and singles is an absolute must in today’s music business, and the one item every artist can use to generate income while trying to craft that perfect song is a t-shirt. There are a billion ways to customize shirts, some far more expensive than others, but by considering the following tips you can keep costs low while furthering your marketing efforts:

——————  SUPER BASIC TIPS —————— 

  • Two-sided designs costs more than those with a design appearing on either the back or front.
  • Shirts requiring the use of many inks (colors) will cost more than those created using a single ink. 
  • Dark fabric often costs more than light fabric because more layers of ink must be applied in order for the design to stick

—————— THINGS TO CONSIDER —————— 

Large designs can make a big impact 

Why incur the cost of creating a two-sided shirt design when you can make a bigger, more cost effective impact with a large, single side design. The vast majority of printers charge the same rate for a design measuring 3”x5” as they do for those measuring 12”x12”. That said, not everyone is a fan of big designs, so it would be wise to check with your fan base prior to moving forward with any design.

Stop printing on both sides 

The occasional two-sided shirt design can be cool, but trying to cover both sides of every shirt you create will only raise the overall cost of merchandising. Using the knowledge you gained from the tip above regarding design sizes, artists should think twice before incurring a potentially unnecessary extra expense.

Use fewer ink colors

Fans of alternative and punk music have been one of the leading forces behind a recent trend toward more color-heavy shirts. Bands like A Day To Remember and Asking Alexandria have found great success with shirts featuring cartoonish designs and many bright colors. Similar branding efforts may work for smaller artists as well, but those musicians should first consider the additional costs incurred from use of multiple inks. The number rises with each color, and unless artists plan on ordering a large quantity of shirts up front (500+) the up front cost may be more than some are willing to pay for a few extra color. Our advice is this: Keep it simple. Try and use one color whenever possible unless you know the idea you have is going to be a hit with listeners.

Order larger quantities of shirts

We touched on this a bit in the tip above, but one way musicians can lower the cost of their merchandise is to increase the number of shirts they order at one time. The price due up front will increase, but the cost per unit will drop, which in turn raises the revenue potential for your order. 100 shirts are better than 50, but 500 shirts at a time would be an ideal place to start. Of course, if you don’t have an engaged audience large enough to support such an order then you should keep things small.

Consider offering shirts for a limited time only 

One way to cut out essentially all costs from merchandise orders is to create the exact number of items needed. Most print shops will tell you the per unit cost on whatever design you wish to print, as well as the number of units you must purchase in order to lower that cost. With this information in hand, artists can launch shirt designs that are available for a limited time as pre-sale only items. Once the purchasing period ends, artists can order the exact amount of shirts needed without having to make any investments out of pocket.

Think twice about upgrading your shirt choose to a fashion brand

One determining factor in how well your merchandise will sell is how comfortable that item is perceived to be. There was a time not that long ago when artists with shirts printed on any type of fabric would sell, but in an age where brands like American Apparel exist this is no longer the case. There is demand for high quality fabric, and if you meet that demand you will give listeners another reason to consider purchasing your 

—————— —————— —————— 

We have plans to share additional merchandising tips for bands in the weeks ahead. If you have an idea for a column, or if you have a question about merchandising and branding that you want us to answer, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We look forward to hearing from you.

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The Show Must Go On

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the first Advice column of the week. These posts usually involves lists or input from guest contributors, but today we are offering an editorial about lessons learned while watching on of the greatest living rock bands perform in West Michigan for the very last time. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

I traveled halfway across the country a few weeks back to see a concert I could have very easily witnessed in my home city of Boston. It was the opening night of Motley Crue’s final tour, however, and I could not miss the opportunity to be present for the beginning of the end for one of America’s most iconic and outrageous bands. The show was incredible, spanning more than two hours and featuring songs from across their 33-year career, but it was not a night without fault. In fact, there were so many flaws that many people in the arena started to leave. I learned a lot though, including why so many people respect a band that has prided themselves on debauchery for over three decades.

The night started out with an hour-long set from Alice Cooper that flew by without fault or failure. Cooper stuck to the hits, which worked out just fine considering he has a few dozen to choose from. Fans cheered, chants occurred, but it was all an appetizer to wet attendees’ palettes for the main event. 

Shortly after nine at night the light in Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena dropped. A short musical interlude played in the dark and then, accompanied by a burst of light and sound, Motley Crue appeared on the stage. Their first three songs went off without a hitch, and during their runtime the group introduced go-go dancers, pyrotechnics, and a lighting rig meant to resemble a giant pentagram. It was everything you could hope for in a Motley Crue show for almost fifteen solid minutes, but things quickly began to fall apart from there.

Just before the fourth song of the evening began, drummer Tommy Lee commented to Vince Neil that he believed he may have broken his drum kit. Fans laughed at first, but a minute later the band was still waiting for Lee to figure out what was wrong with his kit. Nikki Sixx left the stage a few minutes later, followed by Vince Neil, and the people manning the boards decided to turn on a few of the arena lights. Mick Mars stuck around for a few minutes to entertain the crowd with a guitar solo, but as his efforts neared the five minute mark he too gave up and disappeared back stage. The show had come to a screeching halt less than twenty minutes after it had begun, and the crowd of thousands who had spent the previous two hours drinking themselves into a rock and roll fit were not happy about the delays.

An additional twenty minutes passed before the band was ready to perform again. When they hit the stage, however, things quickly fell back into place and began to go off without a hitch…For about two songs.

Within fifteen minutes of starting the show a second time, guitarist Mick Mars had difficulties with his gear that required immediate, show-stopping attention. The band apologized, claimed everyone was witnessing ‘typical first night problems,’ and spent another ten minutes backstage while a sold out arena sat in silence, waiting to see if the men behind “Girls, Girls, Girls” would ever make it through their set.

The third time the show resumed I could have sworn it was going to be the last time Vince Neil would be forced to apologize for bumbling the last chance the crowd in front of him would have to watch Motley Crue perform. One song into their performance, however, Lee’s kit had a second technical setback. It was not a complete show-stopper, but the news that there would be yet another short delay sent waves of groans and drunken complaints rippling throughout the crowd. After 33 years of rocking crowds to worldwide acclaim it seemed like the members Motley Crue had never even thought to run through their farewell tour stage production before hitting the stage. 

Things were so delayed by the time the show resumed a fourth time that the group was forced to shorten their set list to work with a performance curfew enforced by the host city. They did not mention this outright, of course, but instead would stop between each and every song for up to a minute of dead silence while they reset the stage (and themselves) for whatever classic track would follow next. There was no flow or consistency anywhere to be found. Eventually, after all the hits that could fit in a show with more than forty-five minutes of delays had been played, the show came to a close and people filed into the streets with a story to tell.

I’ll be the first to admit that I left Van Andel Arena after the opening night of Motley Crue’s tour ready to throw a fistful of dirt on the band’s grave. Having paid nearly $100 per ticket to witness what could best be described as half a performance I was ready to write off the “Dr. Feelgood” creators once and for all. As things tend to go, however, a few days later I began to see the events of that evening in a whole new light. Hell, I even began to respect Motley Crue for sticking it out the way they did in spite of everything that was going wrong around them, and you want to know why? It’s simple: They gave it their all.

Life is filled with unexpected events, and that goes double for anything you attempt to create and share with others on a large scale. You can practice and plan all you want, but there are some things that happen in this universe that cannot be prevented or otherwise stopped. They can, however, stop you if you are not prepared to take the blows life throws out of the blue.

Motley Crue may not have put on the best show of their lives that night in Grand Rapids, but they did pour everything they had into entertaining fans when the equipment they were working with would allow them do so. Vince Neil belted his lungs out, Tommy pounded the drums, Mick worked the guitar like it was an extension of himself, and Nikki attached a flamethrower to his bass so that he could shoot fireballs into the sky every time the crowded chanted during “Shout At The Devil.” If you could remove all the delays and downtime you would have witnessed a thrilling, albeit surprisingly short headline set from one of the greatest arena rock bands of all time. That may be harder for some to understand than others, but it’s the truth. Motley Crue gave their all and hopefully in time those who left the venue disappointed that night will realize that fact in the days and months to come.

Your band may not have the kind of elaborate stage production Motley Crue is currently taking with them on the road, but that does not mean your live show is without risk of random setbacks. It’s kind of amazing that more shows do not end in disaster. There are almost always people moving around, sweat dripping from ceiling fixtures, wires and equipment scattered across the ground, and a general ‘who gives a crap’ vibe in the air that theoretically could spell disaster at every turn. You can do your best to prepare for the worst, but the truth of the matter is that there will come many days and moments that catch you completely off guard. The best thing you can do is clench your teeth and fight through whatever troubles come your way. Play as well as you can, sing as loud as possible, and don’t walk off the stage until you have given your audience everything you have inside. The show may still be far from perfect, but they will respect your hustle. Sometimes, that means more.

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Things to Remember When Selling Merch This Summer

Hello and welcome to the final artist advice column of the week. We have been planning to run this article for a while, but with Warped Tour kicking off this weekend it seemed no time could or would be more perfect than this afternoon. Whether you have a full tour planned this summer or a single show, we believe the information below will improve the likelihood of fan retention while also increasing merch sales. If you have any questions about the content of the blog, or if you would like more information regarding the distributional services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

We are less than two weeks from the official start of summer, but thanks to the crazy weather of 2014 most of the United States has only recently begun to feel the heat of the impending season. The vast majority of our population has spent the better part of the last eight months indoors, keeping themselves company with the glow of their laptop or smartphone screen. If you’re in a band, you probably also spent this time mastering your online marketing skills. If so, bravo! This post is for you.

In the time since summer last gave way to fall you have gained hundreds of digital followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr, not to mention having finally found a way to network with the people who run some of your favorite music blogs. People are tweeting about you and posting photos of the merch they ordered from your online store, which you love and gladly reply to because you’re not a heartless artist expecting money from strangers (and it requires next to zero effort on your part). You probably even have a summer tour in the works, or at least a handful of dates with a festival appearance or two. You may even be on Warped Tour. If so, again, bravo! You are well on your way to turning your digital buzz into real world success, but in order to do that you will need to shed the safety net of digital engagement and learn to interact with customers, as well as potential customers, in a real world setting. Be it slinging merch at an upcoming show, or working the line outside a major festival, there are several things to keep in mind if you want to maximize the impact of your time and marketing efforts.

1. Prepare in advance. Be quick and efficient whenever possible

It’s relatively easy to plan for on site marketing and merch sales, but being prepare to act on those plans is another story entirely. Before you ever step foot in a venue or on festival grounds you need to make sure you have everything you need organized in a way that makes accessing it quick and easy. If you’re selling merch, make sure to count stock, organize and arrange you product prior to arriving on site. If you’re working lines or festival grounds with music, make sure your iPod has battery life, additional chargers, and at least two sets of headphones. If you need signs, make them the day before. Time spent setting up or dealing with unorganized merch is time lost with music fans. 

2. Remember no ones like a hard sell

When you’re an up and coming artist depending on merch sales to get to the next town, let alone eat, it can be very tempting to try and push your merchandise on music fans. RESIST! You may have the best music in the world that no one has heard, but it’s never going to go anywhere if people feel like they’re being sold something the moment you begin speaking with them. If you come across as friendly, helpful, and knowledgable you will have a far better likelihood of gaining (and retaining) consumer interest. Share with people why you do what you do, and what it is about your music and message that sets you apart. Leverage your authenticity to make yourself more appealing to customers, but be careful to not push too far and come across as cocky or overly confident. People need to know you believe in yourself, but no one wants to support someone who likens themselves to a god.

3. Think of every interaction as a new opportunity to network

It’s great when people buy things and ask for more information about your music, but even if they walk away from their initial encounter with you and your art empty handed they can still aide your longterm marketing efforts. You never know who they may know, and being a generally likable person will go a long way towards leaving a good impression. Also, person-to-person interactions are a great way to learn about your fan base, as well as the regional scene as whole. Do people support unsigned bands in this area? Are there a lot of venues you could play at on future tours, or is this more of a one basement town? These things matter, and the best way to get accurate insight on the climate of any music scene is from the people who help it thrive day in and day out. 

4. Try and get feedback, even if it’s not what you want to hear

This bit was written more to those sharing their music with first time listeners than those selling merch, but it can and should be applied to both. Wherever you go, make it a point to listen to people as much, if not more than you speak to them. If you’re sharing your music, ask them what they do and don’t like about it. Ask them who they think you sound like and whether or not they could see themselves catching your live show at some point in the future. Take the wins with the losses, and always do your best to be polite. There may be people who treat you like crap or speak ill of your art, but it is of the utmost importance that you find the power within yourself to rise above and treat that the same way you would a regular fan. Music, like everything creative, is subjective, and they are not wrong or bad simply because they do not like the art you create. By accepting that fact and taking the time to hear their complaints, you open yourself up to the possibility of seeing, hearing, or otherwise understanding your own creation in a whole new light.

5. Smile and be polite

Following the point made above, kindness is next to godliness in this world, and the quickest way to win over the heart of a consumer inundated with advertising is through being a generally decent human being. This probably goes without saying, but people are for more willing to engage with people who seem friendly and inviting than those who look pissed at the world or out to make a buck. There was a time when businesses could succeed through deception, trickery, and wordplay, but in the modern age you need to forge a relationship with consumers they can trust and that is best accomplished through kindness.

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Job Board News

Lessons from the Tour Bus

Hello, everyone! It is a beautiful Thursday here at Haulix HQ, and we could not be more thrilled to share with you a very special advice column. This feature was created with the help of Zach Stepek, a professional music photographer and freelance writer who has spent traversed many American miles while seated on a tour bus. We reached out in hopes of sharing his insight from his time on the road, and his response can be found in the paragraphs below. 

You spend nearly every waking moment of your life away from your family in order to pursue your passions, risking everything on the possibility that you’ll achieve success doing something you love. You work more than you do anything else, and everyone you know thinks that you’re crazy for giving up the stability of a “normal” job. But you can’t help it. You either jump, or you wallow in the misery of mediocrity and conformity that’s been causing you to lose your mind in your dead-end job.

If this describes you, then you are an entrepreneur. Whatever your passion is, you’ve chosen to pursue it as your career, building something from the ground up with your skill, knowledge and tenacity. It’s hard to take that initial jump off the metaphoric bridge; I’ve done it many times, and it’s always equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. The rewards far outweigh the risk if the various pieces come together correctly. Sometimes, you just have to leap and hope the parachute appears.

From my experience, nobody leaps with more abandon than musicians. Most entrepreneurs go “all in” by spending a ton of time at the office. Musicians go all in by leaving their friends and family behind for months at a time to live on a tour bus or in a van with their business partners, sleeping in a different city nearly every night.

I personally feel that I’ve learned more about business from observing musicians than I have from reading countless books. I’d like to share a few of those observations with you:

Have A Plan

Like any entrepreneur, musicians spend their days selling their existing products, doing research and development for their next product launch, handling the press and interacting with their customer base. Most don’t just jump in and hope for the best every day, though. They have a day sheet that contains their plan for the day, and normally it’s divided into a couple of main sections; interactions with the press and production for that night’s show. Before they get on stage, they have a set list in place that details the game plan for the show. They follow these plans closely to make sure that everything runs without a hitch.

Build A Dream Team

Like a company, bands are only as successful as the teams they build. Every band starts with a core, founding team, and normally it’s comprised of the people performing the band’s primary function, playing music. As a band grows, though, they add people to the core team to supplement their own abilities. Touring requires juggling a lot of moving pieces, and the larger the tour, the more pieces there are.

Most entrepreneurs only have to see their employees for, at most, eight hours each business day. Musicians, on the other hand, spend a ton of time with their team, especially their tour support staff. Band managers, tour managers, stage managers, audio engineers, lighting technicians, drivers, instrument techs, booking agents, public relations coordinators, record label executives, marketing and creative services, social media managers, commercial licensing specialists, producers, recording engineers, photographers… the stronger the team, the stronger the brand.

Partnership is Stronger than Competition

The other people in your industry aren’t just your competition, they’re your peers, your brothers and sisters. Don’t tear them down. Strive to lift them up and help them achieve their goals and dreams. This is especially true when bands tour together. The level of camaraderie that I’ve observed between touring bands is amazing. It provides a sharp contrast to the backstabbing, kill or be killed mentality we seem to have adopted in the corporate world, both internally between co-workers and externally among competitors. I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen in the music industry, it just seems to be less common.

Research and Adapt

Musicians perform constant market research, testing not only their existing products, but also their prototypes, with focus groups, the fans and potential fans who attend their concerts. Many constantly change their pitch, or set list, to see if they get a better response from their fans. A vast majority have a very vocal feedback loop in place, because they’re experts at converting customers into raving fans. Music awakens passion in much the same way that our favorite products or brands do, and musicians know how to cater to their target demographic.

Success Takes Practice

When musicians aren’t on the road, they still spend time together regularly to practice. This is where they hone their craft for the road, preparing for the next time they’re on stage pitching their product. Practices don’t always go smoothly, but they’ll power through the same song, verse, measure or note until it’s right.

The only way to get better at being an entrepreneur is to put yourself out there and do it, day in and day out. Sure, you’re going to break a string in the middle of your solo, or somebody is going to decide that your pedalboard is a great place to put the contents of their drink, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t good at what you do. Learn from your mistakes and continually improve yourself and your business.

Zach Stepek is the founder and editor of Rock Insider Magazine, which plans to launch a fully redesigned website in early May. He loves photography, touring, and talking about ways to better optimize your readers’ experience. Follow him on Twitter because that’s how people show support in 2014. You should also follow Haulix.

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News

Advice: The Advantages To Focusing On Music Over Image

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the first of what will be eventually two new Advice columns this week. We are always on the lookout for new ways artists have found to navigate the industry, and whenever possible we do our best to have them share their journey in their owns words. If you know of an artist or group currently doing something unique in music, please contact james@haulix.com and share their story. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

If your band is a business and your music is the product your efforts produce, then all the artwork, photos, and merchandise you create to promote that product falls under the category of packaging. The problem many bands face today is that they become far too obsessed with the packaging aspect of things to focus on the quality of their product. The results of these misguided efforts, unfortunately, is that many of these artists must learn the hard that no one buys a well packaged product twice if its contents are underwhelming.

Your image is only as good as the music behind it, and that is exactly why you need to put your music before everything else in your career. You need to create the best product you possibly can, and only after you feel that is accomplished should you set your sights on finding the best way to share that product with the world. The instant gratification that comes with earning new followers from witty messaging and eye-catching imagery via social networking can only build and sustain your transparent ‘buzz’ for a small amount of time, but a well-written song can live on forever. Music hooks people in a way basic marketing tricks never will because it forges an emotional connection that goes deeper than surface level interest, and it’s in forging those connections with listeners that lasting, sustainable careers in music emerge.

Recently, our friends at The Catalyst Publicity Group turned us on to a rising alternative rock band known as REACTIONS. For more than a year after inception the members never showed their face, choosing instead to focus on building awareness online with the strength of their music. When the time did come to tour, they were met in cities across the country by lines of music fans ready to support people they had never met or even seen, and that trend continues today. People follow REACTIONS because they have a quality product, and that product is catchy rock music that keeps you coming back for more. They don’t need a trendy look or obnoxious artwork to sell people on their band because the music does the work for them, and in the paragraphs below you will learn from the members themselves how it all came together.

The title of “musician” has taken on more and more responsibility in recent years. Due to a rough economy and tanking industry, those who seek a career in being an artist have to face many challenges. From starting out being your own manager and booking agent,to being the face and voice of a brand. It seems like these days, musicians cling to what “works”

Unfortunately, with any sort of entertainment career, trends and gimmicks are inevitable. These can sidetrack and derail from the true nature of being an artist: create, perform and inspire. 

Reactions has been a band for a few years and through our journey we have had our fair share of drawbacks. Just like many bands, we have been suckered into trying things and persuaded to change. Although we have gone through our fair share of setbacks since forming, recently we have taken a step back and reevaluated what we want. On our upcoming self titled EP, we have tried to focus more on the music and what we want, rather than fit a trend or a look inside the music scene.

In 2011, when first starting REACTIONS, we decided to have a band mission statement. This statement was simple, “REACTIONS is about the music, not the image”. We were determined to start a band strictly about the music. We launched a “faceless” campaign within REACTIONS, never showing our faces online and changing our online names. From 2011 to 2012, we did not play any shows and remained “faceless”, focusing on our online presence. After reaching thousands of people online and launching what we called “The Rebellion”, we decided to start touring. The response to our first tour was incredible.

 As we played in cities we had never even been to before, kids were coming out to see us with lines down the street. As we continued, it became evident that we had a connection with our fans. We connected with our music, as well as on a personal level. We were reaching kids that were the “outcasts” and the kids who didn’t fit in. When we were driving home from our last date, we decided as a band, we needed to become role models for our fans. We wanted to show them that it was okay to be yourself and you don’t need to “fit in”. That is when we decided to release what we looked like and stand up with them, by their sides. 

The “faceless” campaign helped us connect with a lot of fans, online and on tour. Although, ir also helped REACTIONS grow and become better musicians and people. We realized that we need to be true to ourselves. Play the music we want to play and never try to fit the trend or latest fashion. The REACTIONS EP is the most honest music we have put out as a band. We wrote and worked on songs for over a year, perfecting each song until we were completely happy with them. We believe that being true to yourself and not “looking like that band” or “playing shows like this band” will help you become more successful as a musician and person. 

In the recent years, we have seen the music scene go from bad to worse. It seems that fans are so hung up on the looks of band members and artist crushes, they don’t even listen to the music. REACTIONS main goal is to bring the fans closer to the music. We want them to connect with the music. At the end of the day, the music is the only thing that matters. Everything else is extra. 

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News

How To Kill Your Band #3 – Road Burn

Hello again. We may only be five days into March, but we have a good feeling this month is going to be something special. Our features thus far have been fairly exciting, and this afternoon we are rolling out the third – and perhaps best- installment of Eric Morgan’s How To Kill Your Band series. We run this column every other week and encourage anyone who enjoys the material found below to visit previous editions of HTKYB they may have missed. If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

An Introduction:

I’ve been in the music industry as an artist for nearly 10 years now. In that decade I’ve achieved nearly all of my childhood music dreams, but I’ve also made just as many mistakes that run over my mind before I fall asleep each night. A wonderment of how a few different decisions, rerunning in hindsight, would work out in some alternate universe. This ever creeping determinism is a fallacy I’m quite aware of but one that I will never completely shake, though it’s these experiences I’ve learned the most valuable lessons. These are the things I’d like to share in a series of mini-blogs I call How to kill your band.

#3 – Road Burn

In my last post, I discussed my ‘$200 Hump Theory’ and how breaking through that barrier signals the difference in a band’s financial outlook. However it can take a few, if not many, $100/night tours to get to that point. In that post I mentioned how important it is to tour smart, and now I’m going to give the five most important money saving tips I’ve learned during my time on the road.

1. Stick to water.

Probably the most overlooked facet of tour is it’s effect on your health – fast food, limited sleep, and catering exclusively from Little Caesar’s every damn night wrecks your entire body. Not to mention living and sleeping in a cesspool of germs that take advantage of your weakened immune system. All these things work together to do one thing – make you feel like shit. And when you’re under the weather, it’s a lot easier to justify superfluous purchases on comfort items like junk food and soda which only perpetuate the problem.

This simple rule is by far the hardest for me personally, but it really does make a difference. Not only does sticking to water make you feel better in general, it saves an easy $5 per day. A little trick I learned from Patrick Jeffers during AHAF’s touring days was to fill your water bottles up whenever you stop at gas stations. All the soda fountains carbon filter their water and we’ve never been given trouble from owners, though I reckon spending hundreds of dollars of gas at the same time helps.

2. Free Breakfast

Skipping a meal is an easy way to save money but it’ll just make you hungrier later and that only ends up countering your first move. Plenty of bands do their best to sleep through breakfast but we learned early on that there was a much (well, not that much) tastier trick – continental breakfast. Rather than sleeping in a Walmart parking lot, we always preferred the more serene quarters behind a Hotel Inn Express. In addition to not being tempted all night by Walmart’s endless spoils, there’s the benefit of being just a 30 yard walk from hot free breakfast. Even though the front desk clerk that watched you plow through their parking lot isn’t usually the same one working in the morning, you should still be smart about how you walk in – mainly don’t all half dozen homely looking dudes walk in at the same time. Stagger it.

This might sound sort of like stealing…and well I can’t really argue that. However in four years of touring, I’ve only ever been kicked out of one hotel breakfast. While I’m sure more managers figured out what we were doing, being a courteous and clean definitely keeps you from getting the boot. In fact we’ve befriended some pretty cool people working at these hotels, several of which even ended up coming out to shows.

3. Grill the fuck out.

We first learned the art of tour bbq from Dr. Acula on the RAGE Tour but it took a while for us to start grilling ourselves. A couple years ago my girlfriend gave the band her old portable charcoal grill and that was the spark we needed to finally start cooking on the road. From grilled wieners n’ beans to marinated chicken with roasted vegetables, we never ate better fourth meals than tours with the grill Not only was it delicious, but it ended up being significantly cheaper for all of us to pool our money on bulk items.

For touring bands, that fourth meal is more important than dinner in most cases. On your typical day the band loads in by 3pm, gets “catering” (Little Caesar’s) at 7pm, but doesn’t finish packing and settling with the promoter until after midnight. By the time you’re on the road scoping out the next sleeping lot, it’s been 12 hours since your last bite. Grilling out to finish off the night is not only an effective way to curb the hunger pangs, but it gives you something to do with your bandmates. The boost in morale and camaraderie are pleasant side effects of saving money grilling out and something that helped us all unwind at the end of the night.

Looking back at my tips, I think there’s an obvious theme here: food is expensive. Other than gas, it’s the most costly aspect of life on the road. This also means it’s the area where your personal choices can have the greatest impact on your bottom line. Being smart with your food choices can mean a difference of hundreds to thousands of dollars over the duration of a tour. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but if you’re just starting out touring I hope it helps keep some cash in your wallet.

If you have any tips of your own, please let us know below.

This column was contributed by Eric Morgan. Eric spent a number of years touring the world as part of the Victory Records band A Hero A Fake. He’s currently developing a new project,Bornstellar, which plans to release its first EP later this year. Click here to learn more about Eric’s time in music.

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News

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: @TheMerchDude

Hello, everyone! Welcome to a very special edition of our ‘Industry Spotlight’ series featuring the first and probably only guest who will remain entirely anonymous.  If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

There is very little mystery left in the world of entertainment. Blame it on the internet or the near-universal desire many share to be famous, but there seem to be fewer and fewer professionals – artists or otherwise – who choose to keep their true identities secret. This is not a problem necessarily, but it does take a bit of the fun our of entertainment. Today’s guest is one of the last personalities to remain veiled in anonymity, and we’re beyond excited to share their journey with all of you.

Any aspiring industry professional with a Twitter account  is probably already well aware of the person known as @TheMerchDude. Hailing from wherever the tour he’s working happens to be on that particular day, this individual has risen to prominence online thanks to a brutally honest, insightful, and often hilarious Twitter feed. His name and the artists he’s joined on the road have remained secret while his popularity online has swelled to well over 30,000 followers, not to mention the success of his own merchandise line, and in the interview below he explains how it all came together.

It may seem a bit unusual to take career advice from someone who could literally be anyone working in the touring industry today, but there are lessons to be learned from @TheMerchDude that both artists and aspiring professional can apply to their own careers. If you would like to learn more about @TheMerchDude and his thoughts on life in the industry, follow him on Twitter. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.

H: Hey there, thanks again for taking the time to work with us. Before we get started, please state your name, job title, and where you’re contacting us from on the road:

TMD: I go by The Merch Dude because I like to stay anonymous. My job is going on different tours selling artist merchandise at shows. Right now im sitting at a beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico on vacation before hitting the road for most of the 2014.

H: We usually ask for real names and information, but we respect your desire to stay anonymous. Have you ever given thought to revealing your true identity?

TMD: I have thought about it but doing my blog, tweets anonymously makes things a little more interesting. I can say what I want without offending any artist or their fans of an artist.

H: Has anyone approached you on the road because they knew ’The Merch Dude’ was your alter-ego?

TMD: Actually every so often I be working at a show and someone will ask me “Hey have you heard of this dude called themerchdude?” I usually say yeah I don’t think he is real!

H: We like to begin these features by learning a little bit about each person’s history with music. When you think of your most formative moments with music, what comes to mind?

TMD: Going to a famous producers/artist son’s first birthday party in Malibu, California the who’s who’s of rockstars were all there. Watching all these rockstars just chilling with their kids and them wanting to know about what my wife and I did was very surreal. My wife didn’t blink that whole afternoon. I also remember I never took out my phone to take a picture with any of them.

H: What was the first album you purchased with your own money, and how did you discover the artist responsible for its release?

TMD: It was ACDC I discovered it while at a beach with a group of friends.

H: What was your first gig in the music industry (paid or unpaid, either works), and how did you go about obtaining it?

TMD: Well I used to work doing consulting for hotels and restaurants. A kid would come at night and play the piano in one of the restaurants. Him and I became close friends, one day before moving to another city I told the dude when you become famous call me and I will work for you. Four years later I got a call to come on the road because my buddy have gotten a record deal. That same day I quit my job and hit the road. Because of that kid now a man keeping his word and good word of mouth I been touring for about 12 years non stop.

H: There has been a lot of talk on the internet in recent weeks about local scenes and whether or not they are important in the modern music industry when so many are rising to fame through platforms like YouTube. As someone who spends their life in venues, where do you stand on this subject?

TMD: Oh the Internet It’s amazing what a local band can do nowadays (if they hustle) they can basically have fan base even before they have a record out. You see many bands are very smart they are using their online footprint to create a buzz. That can (again if they are smart) get them better deals (if they even want to get one) because it seems that not having a record deal is the best deal they can have. They can even record on a Mac, sell on iTunes or give it away for free to promote a tour. YouTube, twitter, tumblr and sound clouds are great ways to get your band notice (again if you are smart)

H: Speaking of living in clubs, halls, arenas, and everywhere in between – do you have a favorite venue to visit? How about somewhere you hope to never visit again?

TMD: I love many venues because I have great friends working at them and as a merch person you can relax a little knowing they are true professionals handling the merch. I love Verizon amphitheater in Irvine (great merch team) I love Radio City Music hall because I have been there more than 25 times with many different bands and the catering is great. In the smaller club area I love the 9:30 club one of the nicest security guys loved by many recently passed away (RIP my brother) The one venue I dislike even though the merch people are great is Wolftrap in PA they charge bands a whopping 35% merch rate!

H: The reason you initially came onto our radar for this column is because of your Twitter account, which at this point has several thousand followers. When did you start the account, and at what point did you notice your following beginning to swell? I have to imagine the initial burst of new followers had to be a bit of a surprise.

TMD: Yeah it’s crazy it recently passed 32k followers. I think I started it about two years ago. I started it as a way to vent. Basically I would write what many merch people wanted to say. Then I started to talk about bands and fans interaction (good and bad) then started to write about ways to increase merch sales. Then more and more bands started following. Most would send me messages because sometimes I would say things they couldn’t say for fear of fan backlash. At this point I go with the flow. I write about specific interactions with fans using a lot of sarcasm. I’m very outspoken about my support for gay marriage, my disliking of racist people, fan and band entitlement. I do curse once in awhile but not as much as I used to.

H: Social media is something seemingly every company is desperately trying to master, but you seem to have a formula for engaging and entertaining followers that consistently works well. Do you have any advice for bands or brands hoping to amass a digital following on Twitter or other services?

TMD: You see you gain some you lose some Don’t be that concern with losing followers as long as You’re staying truthful to what You believe in. Read a lot of responses and reply to some. You see my twitter is not for everyone. It not a place to see pictures of band guys. Actually I give the artist I work for their privacy. Bands please stop retweeting every compliment (the people that see those RT are people that are already following you) stop tweeting every single person individually on the planet to listen to you song spend more time practicing instead of twitting that way your song would probably sound way better.

H: We’ve reached a point in our society where people are making money for tweeting, including people with far less followers than you. Have you ever been approached about monetizing your efforts?

TMD: I have but none of the products are things I would use or believe in. I also been offered money to review albums but I rather keep my credibility than start reviewing positively shitty music for money.

H: There are a lot of people reading this today who are hoping to pursue a career in the music industry. What advice would you offer to help get them started?

TMD: Have a backup plan touring sound very glamorous to many until they come on the road and find out its work, sometimes very hard work. You see not everyone is built for touring being away all the time missing important dates and love ones is hard. I see many kids saying I don’t want to go to school I want to tour. If they only knew how hard it is to make touring a career. It’s hard even for established bands. So don’t close the doors to an education if you have the chance. Touring is not a hobby and you don’t chose touring, touring chooses you.

H: As someone who works on the front lines of the business every day, what is one thing you would change about the current state of the music industry?

TMD: The way music is presented to the fans. I believe instead of waiting a year to release an album I would release singles every 3 to 4 months. People buy singles way more than they buy albums. Illegal downloads are not going away so it’s up to bands not record labels (most are 8 years behind the times) to find a way to repackage the music experience. Last thing look at porn! Yeah, look at the way the porn business has embraced. Porn is free online (I was told by a friend) they found other ways to repackage it. Bands find your way to make money.

H: The debate over piracy continues to wage between consumers and labels, especially with reports now claiming a drop in digital sales during 2013. Do you feel there is any solution to be found?

TMD: Again embrace it because it’s not going away, people think it their right to listen to music even if its illegally. Some people are just selfish so you can’t count on them to change. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a small piece on my tumblr called “the pizza analogy” where a guy made great pizza had great ingredients but people ate his pizza at the restaurant and didn’t pay for it so instead of standing there and complaining the guy started charging for drinks. Hope People get that.

H: At this point, would you say it’s safe to assume you’re an industry ‘lifer’?

TMD: I hope so it’s been 12 years and 30 more to go.

H: What career goals do you have?

TMD: I want to continue to do my own brand like I have been at www.themerchdude.com i wish it would grow enough so I didn’t have to tour as much. We focus a lot on the quality of the shirts and great customer service. We have a new logo, a hoodie and two more shirts coming by the end of January. So far we have a very high customers return rate all by word of mouth and online presence. Have in mind I’m an anonymous Merch dude selling his own merch. That pretty crazy! The amount of support we have gotten by lovers of music, rockstars, popstars and friends is amazing.

H: I think that just about covers everything. Before I let you go, do you have any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

TMD: The greater you are the less you have to prove. We also want to give anyone that reads this article a 20% discount code on any merchandise at our store just use code word “HAULIX”

Thank you guys for the time. Be safe and be strong.

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News

Haulix Advice: Staying Fit While On Tour (Pop Evil Edition)

Hello, everyone! We told you this month would be littered with new ideas, and this afternoon we’re beyond excited to present another brand new column for your reading pleasure. The past few months our blog has mainly focused on the journalists and publicists who directly engage with Haulix on a regular basis, but what about all the artists whose releases are shared on our service? Starting today, they too have their own place to call home on the Haulix blog. From interviews to advice columns, artists are going to play an increasingly large role in our content moving forward, and we’re always open to new suggestions. If you have an idea for a future column or article, please do not hesitate to email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook. 

Josh “Chachi” Marunde has been playing the drums for a long time, but it wasn’t until earlier this year he was announced as an official member of chart-topping eOne rock act Pop Evil. Since then, Josh and his bandmates have been touring the world in support of their latest album, Onyx, and when their final tour date wraps later this month they will have performed well over 100 shows during the course of 2013. With a schedule like that it is easy to understand how personal health and fitness could be overlooked in light of other priorities, but Josh has made a commitment to do whatever he can to keep himself in shape while out on the road. We asked him how he keeps it together when he never knows what challenges he’ll face the next day, and fortunately for us he was kind enough to provide an in-depth blog about staying fit on tour. You can read his thoughts and advice below.

I like to think I am a fan of all genres of music, but there is something about great rock and roll that simply takes the cake. Pop Evil are an incredible band making great music for the right reasons and we’re beyond thankful that they were willing to help us launch our artist-lead advice series. If you want to find out more about their touring efforts, make sure visit their official website. Any questions and/or comments can be left at the end of this post.

It’s not the 60’s anymore. People, more than ever, are making a conscious effort to get healthy, stay healthy, and live longer, fuller lives. I’m embrace and advocate this movement. Being healthy and feeling great is imperative to my attitude, my life longevity and my day-to-day performance. But, new places everyday, expensive day passes to gyms; little to no buyout (or money of any kind), pizza everywhere and fast food seems to be the cheapest option for food. So, how do I stay healthy on the road? It’s no secret that it takes a discipline and commitment. A daily routine or outline is difficult to establish so I recommend a “workout buddy” to help keep each other on track. Making optimal health my goal, I’m not concerned with huge muscles or becoming the next Sly Stallone (though that’s also achievable). I focus on feeling my best and taking care of my body to achieve maximum performance and avoid injury. Let’s face it, playing 5-7 days a week, 250+ shows a year is tough on the body. So, here are some simple tips I follow to help take care of my body.

Diet – this is the most important factor. What you put in your body is going to directly affect the output. I stick to clean eating practices, eating lots of fresh produce, put fruit on the rider, and avoid fast food at all costs. For cheap, healthy options, try oatmeal, eggs, and bananas. No worries about the cooking process, you can purchase a multi-purpose skillet from a Wal-Mart for about $20. Drink lots of water, tea, or low sugar sports drinks. Avoid soda. Easier said than done, but even beer is a healthier option – especially craft brews and aged wines.

Active Stretching – So important. So simple. So often overlooked. Static stretching (google it) is a thing of the past. Nowadays, to warm up, you activate your muscles to prepare them for what you’ll be putting them through later that day/night. Deep, properly executed squats, arm circles, jumping jacks, inch-worm walkouts, “good-mornings”, trunk twists and lunges are some of my favorites. I do mine first thing, while sipping my coffee and again before show time.

Exercise – Without a gym, without weights, without anything other than your own body, you can get and stay in GREAT shape. Practice HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) methods, completing various exercises in a row with very little to no breaks. This will optimize fat burning, is low-risk of injury, and is easy to do with no weights. If weights are an option, even in the slightest, be efficient and use kettlebells and a jump rope. Hands down, two of the most effective tools available, even at a gym. A sample workout circuit might look something like this:

3RFT (rounds for time – as fast as possible while executed correctly)

– 10 pushups
– 20 squats
– 30 mountain climbers
– 20 burpees
– 10 lunges

The internet is an amazing place of reference for bodyweight workouts, movements, stretching, and more. I personally follow CrossFit, religiously. But, that’s a discussion for another blog post, haha. I hope this finds you well, and encourages you to take care of your body, out on the road. Have fun with it, feel great, and use all the extra energy to melt faces across the nation.

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