Nervous About Backstage Passes Help!!!

[ChumWithA BottleOfRum]

Hey all,
Well my wish has finally come true and I stumbled across second row tickets and backstage passes from a family member who is very good friends one of the band members ( I have to keep secret). He gave us the band members cell phone and we are going to call him when we get in there. He said we are going to party, drink and have fun. We do not know the band member personally I have a few questions for those of you who have been backstage.

1.How many guests are usually backstage beforehand?
2. Are the band members friendly?
3. Where the hell do you begin to make conversation with any of them?
4. What are the odds of actually talking with Jimmy?
5. Anybody been to the after concert party?
Any other advice or info would be well appreciated!! I am hoping to just not turn into a wallflower!!
thanks all

[flipflopgirl]

I have never had back stage passes but i have met several of the band members..including Doyle MANY times, Mac 3 times and this weekend i got to hang out with Michael Utley and Robert Greenidge when they played with John Frinzi and i can tell you they are SUPER NICE people!!!!!!!!!

i have heard that you get to hang out with the band and have some food and drinks but Jimmy does not come out....that is just the experience friends of mine have had.

have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Hey all,
Well my wish has finally come true and I stumbled across second row tickets and backstage passes from a family member who is very good friends one of the band members ( I have to keep secret). He gave us the band members cell phone and we are going to call him when we get in there. He said we are going to party, drink and have fun. We do not know the band member personally I have a few questions for those of you who have been backstage.

1.How many guests are usually backstage beforehand? Bunches. You're not truly backstage but in the hospitality tent/area.
2. Are the band members friendly? Very, yes, but be sensitive to the fact that they're also talking with *their* guests and don't necessarily want to be taking loads of pictures.
3. Where the hell do you begin to make conversation with any of them? Talk about their music and what projects they're working on besides playing with JB. If you don't know their music, do a little research ahead of time.
4. What are the odds of actually talking with Jimmy? Zero. He doesn't come out to hospitality. It'd be a zoo. Enjoy your time with the band members.
5. Anybody been to the after concert party? Not me, nope.
Any other advice or info would be well appreciated!! I am hoping to just not turn into a wallflower!! Pace yourself. You don't want to go in to hospitality stumbling drunk and embarrass yourself or your host. Whichever band member you've been put in touch with, do make sure to learn a little about him/her and their music. Google and iTunes are your friend. Get some insight from your family member. Chill. Be cool. Have fun.
thanks all

[flipflopgirl]

GREAT ADVICE JEN!!!!!!!!!!!

[East Texas Parrothead]

I totally agree with what Jen said. Have a great time and soak it all in.

[jbphan1]

I agree with the others advice. Band members are friendly and willing to take pictures. Like Jen said, band members are interested in speaking with "their" people, so it depends on the city and what friends are there.
My friend and I have been able to meet most of the band members, but never Jimmy. We keep hoping one day we'll meet him, but it won't be at the tent party.

[karat]

A friend of mine got back stage passes for th last night's Pittsburgh concert and was to see Jimmy - never saw anyone.... This was Tom Watt, Jimmy's stand in for Hoot

But an old co-worker that was there got back and of course was with Jimmy....He knows the full band well - where I used to work, does things for the band.

I would have to say it is - who you are. Good luck I hope you get back and meet some of the band...They are SUPER NICE

[dnw]

Have fun!

[HD18JBGuy]

Have fun!

Exactly...why be nervous? As someone else mentioned, just don't stumble around with a half empty handle of Wild Turkey, Cheez Wiz all over your face, and a hotdog sticking out of your pocket, and you should be ok.

I met a couple of the guys in Chicago the week before the Wrigley show in 2005. They are genuinly nice people and for the most part, unrecognizable to the average person.

Have fun with it!

[Little Miss Magic's Mama]

Wow! After reading this, I want to meet the band! They sound great!!

[springparrot]

I've met 4 of them....3 were sooooo nice
We spent the afternoon off and on during an event.
They couldn't have been nicer

Met another one at another time
Also very, very nice

[citcat]

What after-concert party ? The band members have a party after the concert ?
Where ? It must be very private.

[ParrotHeadInThe Making]

Hey all,
Well my wish has finally come true and I stumbled across second row tickets and backstage passes from a family member who is very good friends one of the band members ( I have to keep secret). He gave us the band members cell phone and we are going to call him when we get in there. He said we are going to party, drink and have fun. We do not know the band member personally I have a few questions for those of you who have been backstage.

1.How many guests are usually backstage beforehand? A lot of folks are their, and you will be hanging out in the hospitality area.
2. Are the band members friendly? I met Mac, Ralph McDonald, and Robert Grenage. They were very nice to me, and I have a wonderful picture of Mac with my friend and I. Mr. Utley was a few feet away from me, and I would have loved to have met him, but he was otherwise busy, so be sensitive when they are surrounded by their friends and family.
3. Where the hell do you begin to make conversation with any of them? I totally concur with those who say talk about their work. I had to tell Mac that I love You First. They get asked enough about playing with Jimmy. Research their outside projects if you are inclined.
4. What are the odds of actually talking with Jimmy? Zilch.
5. Anybody been to the after concert party? Nope.
Any other advice or info would be well appreciated!! I am hoping to just not turn into a wallflower! Hey, just have fun. Go back stage with no expectations. Pace yourself, mingle, and enjoy the atmosphere. For me, it was so nice just to have been invited back stage. !
thanks all

[baadbobby]

Great advice from SGH.

I met Mac, and he is about as cool as a cucumber. I met Bubba, but not at a "regular show" he was brief, but cordial.

There is nothing to be nervous about; they poop just like everyone else.

[Bwana Paul]

The times that I have been, it means a few stale sandwiches...but you do get to talk to some of the Coral Reefers...which is cool.

But, the most fun you will have is in the parking lot.

That's what you want.

[NCphan]

We have met Mac, Jake, Ralph, and Nadirah. Mac struck me a actually kind of shy condiering his line of work, but he was out beside the stage in Charlotte a couple of years ago. Like someone mentioned, most people walked by and didn't know who he was. Nadirah stopped for a quick moment for a picture with the kids. We spent a good 5 minutes or so the times we met Jake and Ralph. Jake is one of the nicest people I have ever met, hands down. Met him after soundcheck in Wakiki and he even help my wife's beach bag while she dug for the camera! Ralph is laid back and we spent a while taking about music, family and such. When we told him our kids like music, he encouraged us to let them learn it and even said to tell them he said hi.

[AlbatrossFlyer]

been introduced to most of the band, but i was there to see my friends who invited me. it's pretty laid back since the invites are pretty much family and friends of the band and staff. not the place to be pushy but everyone has always been very friendly. there's a time and place to introduce yourself.

never heard of a aftershow party. jimmy's on his plane before you're out of the parking lot. yes really.... the rest of the band is not far behind.

[Spicoli]

I had the chance to go backstage on the hot water tour when it made it to Sydney and SGH pretty much nailed the experience. I was given tix and passes by Bobby Liberman, JB's road manager at the time, and it was a great experience. Got to talk to most of the band; Rita Coolidge, Steve Cropper and the Memphis Horns were really cool. Tons of great food, socializing with the band as they mingle, munch, and begin to relax after the show. Chance of meeting JB - absolutely ZERO. You'll have a better chance of a random, dumb luck encounter when he's out on his own and not in the surroundings of a show. Everybody was super nice and a great experience.... something for the parrothead bucket list for sure.

have a great time.

[TommyBahama]

They are human beings like us , don't be star struck...met a few......but never backstage!!!

[land_shark3]

never heard of a aftershow party. jimmy's on his plane before you're out of the parking lot. yes really.... the rest of the band is not far behind.

Sometimes they are even out before Jimmy.

Depends on the city and where the next show is, but yes after most encores they are off to the next location. Jimmy has been known to change his mind and stay in Vegas for an extra night if there are other artists in town.