The Vans Warped Tour means summer for many rock, punk, and ska music fans. This music festival travels across the US and Canada for two months to hundreds of bands and entertainment acts near the city. Each night of the tour completes with a BBQ for all the Warped Tour bands and staff, and a few friends and supporters who get their hands on a VIP Pass to get lucky.
So How Do You Get A VIP Pass To Warped Tour?!
It’s easy!
There are tons of organizations, bands, and record-labels that depend on dedicated fans to help. Some organizations that rely on volunteers include, but are not limited to;
Warped Reporters – a group of enthusiasts Warped Tour fans who fill out surveys starting from two months before the start of the tour. The survey gives feedback to the production company and help to make the price the best it can be. It’s an online community for Warped Journalists where people can sign up, take surveys and expand their social network. They can also view exclusive interviews with Warped Tour bands (www.youtube.com/warpedrepoter) and get the latest. I know From all Warped reporters who complete all surveys, up to 500 winners will be randomly selected to receive a VIP pass – 10 winners per show. The winners will receive a plaque, which gives them free access, stage access, and will be taken to the main stage to see the band of their choice. As of 2/25/08, the official site is still not open yet, but for info and alerts on Warped Reports, check out their MySpace page and add them as a friend (www.myspace.com/warpedreporters)
Eco-Initiative – part of the non-profit organization of the festival informs people about the benefits and needs of recycling and care for our environment. Volunteers meet at the venue, sign up for around 9:30 am, pick up the arms that give them free access and stage access, and are taken on stage to see their favorite band. During the day, volunteers will help the environment by picking up recyclables that were carelessly thrown away, such as water bottles or soda cans. As an added bonus, whoever collects the most recyclables throughout the entire tour wins a free trip – in 2007 they went to the Florida Keys!
Street Teams– many record labels and even a few bands depend on their fans to help them spread the word. Labels like Fueled By Ramen, Victoria and more call for two-way teamers to come through the show in the morning and fly posters and posters around the venue promoting their bands. Street teamers get free admission with a wristband, and are also usually taken on stage. Many approaches take the stage. Add street signs teams, bands and labels on MySpace and write through their official pages. Please email them before the tour if they need any help.
Non-professional organizations– part of what makes the Perverted Tour a great and well-rounded festival is the opportunity to educate in entertainment. Part of the corrupt education system is a for-profit sector, full of organizations that want to raise money and/or awareness for causes close to their hearts. Some of these booths need volunteers to come in and organize their space for a few hours to give the actors an official booth break! Some organizations usually take 1-4 days to help choose volunteers, so try to contact them about a month before the tour through their official websites or MySpace. Some of the organizations that use volunteers include Arms for Love, Girlz Garage, Save the Breast, and IV Breast Mounted. Cancer.
Music Saves Life– auction site oft a pair of VIP plates, which are useful to the whole. This could empty the pockets, so if he tried to pass or volunteered and you didn’t hear, this could be the last one.
Stay There!– volunteers cook each day based on who is on the front line! If I’m there around 9:00 or before, you have the opportunity to serve lunch to the rockstars and the tour staff. It takes volunteers on stage to see the band of choice. Many other Tour staff who need a last-minute extra hand go out to the front line early to help search for volunteers. Don’t worry about this, it’s a lucky thing.
Those are all the ways I know of VIP passes to Warped Tour. And don’t bother. If you contact someone, be respectful, mature, and understanding. If you don’t get back to you, try again after a week or two has passed. Don’t flood the boxes because it doesn’t show maturity. VIP winners who pick up the winners are responsible, so don’t pick up people who lack self-control or people who are only interested in getting pictures and autographs and don’t do the work.
good luck!
