| In this new era of developing digital, virtual relationships | | | | members from the audience up onto the stage or |
| with fans, it's becoming more important to understand | | | | moving himself down into the audience. This has |
| what fans truly want. Fans today want to feel like they | | | | occurred during numerous events including the Live Aid |
| know you personally. They want legitimacy. They | | | | concert in 1985 where he jumped off the stage and |
| want to be able to take an authentic look at the | | | | chose a woman from among the masses to dance |
| people behind the music they enjoy. | | | | with her as the band played "Bad", and in 2005 during |
| Personality, genuineness, a real look at the people | | | | U2's Vertigo Tour stop in Chicago, where he pulled a |
| behind the music... These are the thing that move the | | | | boy onto the stage during the song "An Cat Dubh / |
| casual fan to consider themselves true fans of a | | | | Into the Heart". |
| particular person or group. | | | | Bono has often allowed fans to come on stage and |
| How do bands keep their fans connected, making | | | | perform songs with the band. |
| them feel as though they matter to them on a regular | | | | Fans of U2 and Bono at their recent '360 Tour' at the |
| basis? What are some of the things that bands or pop | | | | Fed Ex Field in Washington, D.C. in September 2009 |
| stars have done to make sure their fans realize how | | | | were given an exceptional and unanticipated delight. |
| important they are? Some bands do it better than | | | | As Bono sang his landmark hit "Sunday Bloody |
| others. Here are a few notables that stand out. | | | | Sunday", Amp Singh Bains of New Jersey, a fan that |
| FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH announced their winter | | | | Bono spontaneously selected out of the swarming |
| tour with a special twist for their female fans: The first | | | | audience and invited onto the stage, joined him and |
| 100 ladies in line get in free at every show. That's right! | | | | two together belted out the song over a single |
| This January and February, ladies are to receive the | | | | microphone, to the obvious delight of the sold-out |
| special "Five Finger Discount" at all their scheduled | | | | stadium. All the while he sang, Amp waved an |
| venues. | | | | American flag that Bono handed to him as he helped |
| Five Finger Death Punch is a heavy hitting band based | | | | the fan onto the stage. |
| out of Los Angeles known for their completely house | | | | THE BLACK EYED PEAS made their Grammy |
| wrecking live performances, and they have used that | | | | Nominations Ceremony preparations a total interactive |
| energy to earn the right to be called one of the most | | | | event involving their fans on December 2, 2009, by |
| influential bands of current metal music. | | | | inviting webcams to tag along with them backstage at |
| Newcomers to the scene just three years ago, Five | | | | the occasion. |
| Finger Death Punch now treat every stage like their | | | | The band had arranged to carry out their preparations |
| personal dojo, destroying all that would stand between | | | | live for websites Ustream.tv and and invited fans to |
| them and success. Because of that level of | | | | 'tweet' them right up until show time. During all the |
| commitment to excellence in all they do, they now play | | | | pandemonium backstage, Black Eyed Peas star |
| to mad dog loyal fans, who they lovingly refer to as | | | | will.i.am turned impromptu interrogator and grilled the |
| "Knuckleheads," at sold out shows, are the headline act | | | | Jonas Brothers and rapper T-Pain in their dressing |
| at major festivals and have built a world wide fan | | | | rooms for any last minute behind the scenes info. |
| base that any band a decade older would be envious | | | | The massive hit maker also answered casual 'tweets' |
| of. | | | | from fans, and even asked them to help pick out his |
| Rising L.A. rock band BLACK VELVET DELUXE | | | | clothes for the nomination announcement show. |
| employs their signature fan appreciation every show; | | | | During the first 15 minutes, 12,000 fans signed on to |
| giving ladies deluxe gifts in black velvet pouches. | | | | watch will.i.am and his band mates "taking you places |
| Though they never announce what the gift will be | | | | you ain't supposed to see," backstage at the Nokia |
| before the show, prior concert gifts have included | | | | Theatre in Los Angeles. |
| jewelry, Victoria Secret's cherry bomb lip gloss and the | | | | Mixing soul, jazz, and even a little country twang, |
| band's favorite perfume for their own ladies. After all, | | | | Harlem's CARLA LYNNE HALL is a singer/songwriter |
| what woman doesn't love these items? | | | | doing pop music her way. The Manhattan Mirror has |
| Black Velvet Deluxe, still soaking up the accolades | | | | described Carla's music as "Norah Jones meets Sade |
| from being chosen among the top 12 indie rock bands | | | | for tea on their way to visit The Beatles". A visit to |
| to watch in 2010, takes you straight back to rock's | | | | Manhattan's Hayden Planetarium inspired Supernova, |
| pure roots. Great hooks, mesmerizing drum beats, | | | | the title track of Hall's third CD, released on her |
| driving chords & powerful lyrics pay homage to | | | | independent label Moxie Entertainment. From the |
| the pioneers of sleaze rock. New fans are lured in and | | | | spellbinding "My Body's Keeper" to the feisty "Left Side |
| die-hard rock fans are intrigued as Black Velvet | | | | Blues", Hall's Supernova brashly confronts such diverse |
| Deluxe redefines raucous, gritty rock-n-roll. | | | | topics as friendship, addictions, and motherhood, and |
| SIN CITY SINNERS has quickly become one of Las | | | | gives an ideal platform to the captivating vocal style |
| Vegas' favorite local rock bands, and with good | | | | that has garnered comparisons to Roberta Flack and |
| reason. What started out just a couple of years ago | | | | Sheryl Crow. |
| as just weekly "let's have some fun" jam sessions at | | | | One way Carla shows her fans how much she truly |
| a local dive bar, has sky rocketed into SRO shows | | | | appreciates them is by creating one-of-a-kind holiday |
| that regularly treat their fans to surprise appearances | | | | ornaments for them. Carla gathers a selection of |
| from some of the hottest musicians around. On any | | | | photos of herself, and then cuts them into holiday |
| given night, you are apt to find Gilby Clarke of Guns N | | | | shapes, (Christmas trees, stars, dreidels, etc). She then |
| Roses, Bruce Kulick of Kiss, Phil Lewis of L.A. Guns, | | | | laminates the photo cutouts, or places them between |
| Simon Wright of AC/DC, or a myriad of other | | | | sheets of clear Avery labels, and then trims away the |
| musicians and performers joining Sin City Sinners on | | | | extra plastic. After punching a hole at the top, and |
| the stage. | | | | stringing ribbon or yarn through the hole for hanging, |
| You might be surprised to learn that the band has one | | | | these charming ornaments are ready to hand out all |
| hard line rule for any place it performs. Their shows | | | | during her holiday season concerts, to pleasantly |
| must be free for their fans. Las Vegas' own SCS are | | | | surprised and grateful fans. |
| more than a just a high-end cover band jamming with | | | | SISTER HAZEL is an alternative rock band based in |
| mega well-known industry friends. They are more than | | | | Gainesville, Florida, whose style fuses elements of folk |
| just from Vegas. They really are Vegas. They really | | | | rock, pop and southern rock. Even with seven albums |
| rock from a place that is becoming Vegas' own music | | | | to their credit, band members Ken Block, Drew |
| scene, and when they release their first album this | | | | Copeland, Jett Beres, Ryan Newall and Mark |
| February, even more fans will burst forth to join the | | | | Trojanowski have never felt the need to develop rock |
| party. Their original material purely rocks. | | | | star egos. One way Sister Hazel has continued going |
| Pop star LADY GAGA treated her fans to $1,000 | | | | strong over the years is their unique relationship with |
| worth of Papa John's pizzas while they stood waiting | | | | their fans, the most zealous of who are called |
| in line at a West Hollywood Best Buy for her | | | | Hazelnuts. They have a reputation for never turning |
| autograph. A huge number of people had gathered at | | | | away a fan that has been waiting for an autograph |
| the Los Angeles area Best Buy, where she came to | | | | and they are always available to take photos with |
| promote her second album, 'The Fame Monster'. The | | | | every fan after every show. |
| 23-year-old star decided to treat her fans with pizza | | | | Sister Hazel is known as a song driven band, but I |
| so that they wouldn't get too hungry while waiting in | | | | defy you to check out a live show and not be blown |
| line. "Sending all my little monsters little pizzas for | | | | away by their sheer musicianship. Ryan is a fiend on |
| waiting all night for me at Best Buy," she Tweeted. "I | | | | guitar, Ken and Drew harmonize just about perfectly, |
| hope you're hungry... eat up I love u!" The CD signing at | | | | Mark is one of the most dexterous drummers around, |
| Best Buy took place on November 25, 2009. | | | | and Jett is the kind of bassist that bands dream about |
| BONO has won numerous awards with U2, including | | | | finding. Sister Hazel is going to have an enduring career |
| 22 Grammy awards and the 2003 Golden Globe | | | | in rock music because they are they are true |
| award for best original song, "The Hands That Built | | | | entertainers and they care about their fans. |
| America", for the film Gangs of New York. | | | | Well, no rock star or band may ever surpass Elvis in |
| He is among the mega stars to nearly always stop to | | | | the "treat your fans right" department, but giving away |
| sign a few autographs, and chat for a bit with some | | | | over 200 Caddies is extremely generous. |
| fans. This tends to be based on whether it is a | | | | In these days of virtual friend lists, maybe bands should |
| swarming mob scene, in which case he usually does | | | | take special notice of their fans when they have some |
| the wise thing, and waves while diving into the waiting | | | | time to spend with them in person. A small gift, special |
| vehicle, or whether it is a small, more manageable | | | | access to insider information, caring about their needs, |
| group, and that is when he will spend some time giving | | | | these are all great examples of musicians who really |
| of himself. | | | | seem to care about their fans. And when bands care |
| During concerts he attempts to intermingle with his | | | | about their fans, the fans care about the bands. |
| fans as much as is feasible and is known for pulling | | | | |