BEHIND THE SCENES: WARPED TOUR EDITION (RYAN SWEENEY)

Summer is officially here! With Warped Tour starting in 4 days I decided to do a few ‘Warped Tour Editions’ of my series ‘Behind the Scenes’ with some Warped Tour veterans to try to get an idea of what really happens, and what really goes into working this very long, very hot, tour. This will give you some tips on what to wear/ where to eat/ how to get involved with the festival/ the do’s and don’ts of Warped Tour and some bands you should check out while there. Let the countdown begin!

Here is Ryan Sweeney who has created Hope In Music; an organization devoted to helping people who struggle with addiction, depression, eating disorders and self-injury.

Position(s) held when on Warped Tour:

Guitar Tech (From Autumn To Ashes) Brand Ambassador (Conan The Barbarian)

How many summers on Warped?

One full Summer in 2011(Conan) and two or three weeks in 2002, 03 and 04 (FATA)

How did you first get involved with the tour/ any previous experience?

Well in the early years I was on tour with From Autumn To Ashes and that just happened to be the tour we were on at the moment. In 2011, I had been trying to get back on tour since I hadn't been touring for a few years and my boy chuck hooked me up with the Conan gig.

 

Describe a typical day working the tour:

Waking up super early (for a touring dude) eat some breakfast, set up everything and wait for doors and then mess around with kids and make the most out of a long hot day. When working for bands it's a little different. Wake up find out your set time. Set up your guitar world change strings, fix anything that needs fixing and hang until go time.

Survival tips for Warped Tour (for both crew and fans):

Crew; drink lots of water, make friends with your stage manager or if you are in sponsor world make friends with Danny, Kate and Alison.

Fans; drink lots of water and enjoy your day. Check out new music and be open minded!

Do’s and don’ts of Warped Tour:

Have fun, make friends, be awesome.....don't be a dick.

What to wear/not to wear:

Wear sunblock...don't wear fur!

Best live performance(s) you have seen at Warped:

Snapcase,Vision Of Disorder, Hatebreed, Glassjaw and Thursday.

Best and worst part about working Warped?

The worst part is just how long the day is and how hot it can get...the best part is you are working with a bunch of amazing people from Kevin to the interns everyone is typically really rad.

Was it/is it what you thought it would be like?

It's everything I thought it would be.

Favorite city and/or best venue Warped Tour stops in?

Venue; the gorge

City; Long Island, I rep my hood.

Best place(s) to eat while being out on the tour:

Watercourse in Denver, Colorado.

Favorite Warped Tour memory/ story/experience:

My early Warped Tour years where in a drugged out daze so I probably shouldn't talk about that. 2011 was a rough year on warped I found out my friend Danny Bobis went missing while surfing and later found out that he had died.  The love I got from the warped crew was overwhelming so yeah that love helped me deal with it

Advice for first timers (for both crew and fans):

Crew; don't piss off people its lame (don't be a young me basically).

Fans; you are in for an awesome time so just open your ears and take in the sounds!

If someone wanted to work on Warped Tour how would they go about it?

You know I unfortunately don't have a good answer for this question

What are you most looking forward to this summer on Warped?

Not being on it.....I'll be on Mayhem Fest head banging to Slayer instead of crying to Taking Back Sunday

Anything else you’d like to share?

Yes! Make sure you check out everything Warped Tour has to offer; bands you love and the ones you don't know yet. Check out the amazing non-profits out on the tour and say hello to Floyd who will be slinging merch for Bayside.