Thank you! I was actually hoping the original article would get into the Shakedown "economy" that surrounds Phish and other jam bands. Not just the nitrous part, but people selling grilled cheeses, burritos, single cans of Heady Topper and unlicensed merch. Like what kind of numbers they actually do, how do they secure their spot, how do they deal with competition, are they hopping on other bands' tours, how many are Phans vs just there to make a buck, what does their typical non-tour life look like etc
It's wild how it pops up and disappears. Well not completely disappears because I went back the next day after a show and there was balloon debris and trash littered everywhere.
I have a friend who has seen 100+ shows and he knows people whose identity and lifestyle is following the tour. They scrap to make ends meet and live on the road. A contingent of shakedown merchants fit that profile. Of course, some are there just to make money and don't see the shows. And some probably take turns running the booth while their clan is is at the show that night
keammo1|11 months ago
baskinator|11 months ago
I have a friend who has seen 100+ shows and he knows people whose identity and lifestyle is following the tour. They scrap to make ends meet and live on the road. A contingent of shakedown merchants fit that profile. Of course, some are there just to make money and don't see the shows. And some probably take turns running the booth while their clan is is at the show that night