REV-TV Presents: Groupie 101
GROUPIE 101
Seeing as a Rock & Roll concert is not limited to the band, the roadies and male fans, REV-TV is proud to present to all the females out there in Rock & Roll land the highly informative GROUPIE 101.
This section is dedicated to the female fans who could use a little "inside" info on how to meet rockers, how to act backstage and other bits of wisdom gleaned from years and years of being on tour and the experience of being a fan at well over 500 live concerts.
Just because you have been to a bunch of shows does NOT mean that you know what is appropriate behavior in a backstage or other type of situation. Although these tips are geared towards the female fans, ANYBODY who is in any of the situations described can benefit from them.
Remember: FANS ARE WHAT MAKE STARS.
But, if you do not know how to act or if you have no common sense or even if you were invited - you need to be aware of the "Unwritten Rules". Even though this is aimed at rock concerts, these pointers are a good guideline when meeting any type of celebrity.
These tips are not listed in any particular order or importance other than the number of the REV-TV episode they were originally broadcast.
Unwritten Rule: DO NOT GET DRUNK
This is obvious, however when in a backstage situation, lots of times drinks are free and there are plenty of libations to imbibe upon. Should you find yourself in this situation, DO NOT try to "keep up" with the band, the roadies or anyone else for that matter. Nobody likes a drunk, especially if you are mean or a pain in the ass when you have been drinking. If you discover that you have had too much, excuse yourself immediately and go somewhere AWAY from everyone else (like a bathroom). Terrible things can and do happen to people who are not aware of what is going on around them. Don't EVER put yourself in that situation. Most likely, everyone is just going to have some fun, so don't get drunk and spoil it for everyone else. You don't want to be the one they remember as ruining the party. Besides, if you are so smashed that you can't see straight, how are you going to act if you get to meet the band, or even remember it?
Unwritten Rule: ALWAYS HAVE A PEN IF ASKING FOR AN AUTOGRAPH
"Hey, David Bowie! Wow! Man, can I get your autograph!?" "Sure, got a pen?" "Uh, no." "Well, too bad for you then." How much of a moron can you be to ask for an autograph if you don't have a pen and something to write on? This happens so often that you would think SOMEONE would catch on. I see this over and over, especially after a show when the band is out walking around or before a show when the band is out at dinner etc. Fan(s) rush up to rocker(s) wanting an autograph. Nobody has a pen or anything that can write OR they have a pen but nothing to write on. Now, by this time several seconds have passed and other people who may not be aware that there are "famous" people there are starting to gather. Now, everybody is asking for an autograph and instead of it being just a fan or three, there are about two dozen people there crowding all up on them. Somebody has a pen, but now there are so many people there that nobody gets anything. It is too chaotic and they have to leave. If you are going to ask for an autograph, be sure to have a pen and paper READY to hand them if they say OK. Don't wait and then have to dig through your purse for half an hour. Act like a Boy Scout and Be Prepared.
Unwritten Rule:
KNOW YOUR ROLE
Some girls think that since they have been invited backstage, they are due some sort of special treatment. This is NOT the case. The reason you are back there is that (hopefully for the band) you are fun to be around. There are usually others backstage as well, and the only people who will get the "rock star treatment" are the ROCKERS. NOT the groupies. Everyone back there was invited, and you should be aware of that. It does not matter if you don't get any "one on one" time with the band, you were lucky enough to get back there, make a good impression. These bands do come back to town, ya know. If they have a good time and there are no problems, you may be asked to the next show or be put "on the list" for backstage pass(es) the next time they come around on tour. Remember this: Backstage is where the rockers are in their full blown "star mode" and the absolute LAST thing they want is some chick acting like she is the reason the band is there to begin with. This brings us to our next Unwritten Rule ----
Unwritten Rule: ABSOLUTELY NO BITCHING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT OTHER GIRLS BACKSTAGE
The other girls were invited back (usually) by the same person that invited you. So, if you think that "she is a skank", well, then YOU ARE TOO, because she was asked back for the same reason as you. The band wants to have fun when they come back after the show. They do not want to hear ANY bitching or complaining from people they invited backstage. Lots of times, girls are backstage because they are friends of the band from way back. Maybe ex-girlfriends will be back there too, but keep in mind that unless you were explicitly told that so & so wants to meet you, there is no guarantee that you will get to hang out one on one with anybody. Be thankful that you were invited. NEVER, EVER complain or make snide comments about anyones lack of taste, their clothes, their looks or even their intelligence level. You have no idea who some of these people are (maybe the bassists fiance?) and as soon as you start talking trash, most likely the next thing you will see is the exit door. Nobody likes to hear other people talk bad about someone that they are friends with. This is multiplied when you are in a room with two dozen other girls who ALL think they are the best looking, most desirable and the "one" that has been asked back because so & so wants to talk to them. Hey, so & so wants to talk to EVERYBODY back there. So, know your role and NO BITCHING ABOUT OTHER GIRLS!