this is the tour bus my friends are using on their current arena tour (coming to target center in minneapolis tomorrow, so i get some virginia in my life for the day). the bus belongs to vinnie paul (pantera), but that isn’t why i am writing about it. i’m writing about the affliction wrap it has.
having music and clothing play such a vital role in my life, and starting a record label and subsequent clothing line in 2001, i have been around bands and gone through the ups and downs they experience as a unit. truth is, the majority of the bands i know aren’t making any money. they’re lucky if they are breaking even. for people such as them, a little bit would help a great deal. i have friends in bands who are sponsored by red bull, vitamin water, amp energy drink, monster energy drink… they get cases of free drinks in exchange for product placement in photos they take with fans and similar situations. that simple. and it is such a value principle in the sense that these giant companies aren’t sweating a couple of cases of drinks, but a band deems a case of drinks highly, considering they don’t know where their next meal will come from or if they will even shower this week. so while i am the hugest fan of companies sponsoring athletes, big and small, and large bands getting equipment sponsorships and such, i am an even bigger advocate of shedding light on the small bands who tour constantly to be heard, and who could take a brand and elevate it by the many miles they travel and people they meet. these bands are finally being seen as the greatest street team marketers a company can have. the bus above wrapped in affliction is going all over the country and parking out front at arenas. what is the value of a moving billboard going from east coast to west coast and everywhere in between?
some brands are getting it — such as taco bell and their contests where bands can win a year’s worth of free food or something similar, and denny’s doing the same thing and taking it further by titling food on their late night menu after bands. jump on board, would you.
