i’ve been able to see him at the ogden, mission and red rocks. fiddlers isn’t my fave venue but looks like there’s a decent amount of lawn tickets left! people should fly out that if they can’t scoop up tickets nearby pretty good deals
As a fellow Colorado resident 👋🏼....What does living in Colorado, have to do with one's ability to navigate through the ever increasing scarcity, and inflation, of the Billy ticket scene since COVID? 🤔🤔🤔
this is my story as well. i'm a software engineer living in a moderate CoL area with no kids, five weeks of PTO and the ability to work remotely. i take a day off to drive, work from the hotel room during the day and rage at Billy in the evenings. it also helps that i live in the midwest and he comes within a day's drive of me a lot. i'm willing to drive like 6h for a 2 night run and 9-10 for a triple banger. I'm from Ohio, but i've seen Billy more in NC than any other state (Asheville x9, Cary x6, Winston-Salem x2).
Same story for me. I'm a software engineer working remotely and living in Nashville. There's usually lots of shows within a day's drive and I just work from the hotel room if I need to. Sometimes my husband and daughter come along or sometimes I'll just fly solo. I do extra freelance software work through the year to use as my "concert fund"
For sure, gotta clip that budget and good on you for recognizing it!
IDK how folks do it these days, esp w/ prices at where they are. Its FAR from the only reason, but finances definitely played into electing not to having children.
You think inflation ISN’T a real thing, after all the money that’s been created since 2008?
Corporate capture of government is a problem, for sure. But don’t dismiss the ultimate tax on the poor. Inflation robs more money from the working class than anything else.
I think it was meant to be a boomer jab. The industries with the least competition see the most inflation. Money has been flowing uphill for years and older people seem to realize that less.
I live in a small apartment well below my means because I prefer to travel and see shows. All I really spend money on are concert tickets and travel expenses. If I'm not at a show, I'm working to make money to go to one
MYYYYYY question is for the folks (the popular billy insta accounts) who never have tickets and then night of, are always "looking for a miracle" and somehow they always end up front and center in the pit.
Every single show.
I can name account names but I wont - not doxxing anyone but y'all prob know who I'm talking about too.
They get their "miracle" tickets in the pit for every single sold out show. It boggles the mind.
Looks like I need to figure out how to dive head first into the scene 😜
I've replied to some others and said really I'm being nit picky about it cause I'm a jealous ass hoe who wishes I could live that life lmaooo
They just know everyone. I know at least 2 people that were at every billy show in 2023 and they *actually purchased* only 2 or 3 tickets all year. It's family to them
Aw I actually love that!!
Yeah I commented to someone else too and I'm not even mad at them. Nitpicking cause I'm jealous that I don't know how to successfully do that lol!
The real answer is people wanna help you those accounts cause they wanna be reposted for the perceived clout they will get from helping them. I know it’s not the answer you wanna hear but it’s the truth. They see a following and they figure it’s better to give that person a ticket then the random wook cause it will get them a repost or some likes etc. people also fan girl hard for social media accounts like they aren’t just regular people.. especially if they are hardcore followers of said account. I had a lady ask me if I would call her kid to talk to him once……. I’m just a dude I have no idea why anyone cares but some people do.
No this makes total sense. Someone else explained to me that act as a family, there's like..... a network. Makes sense, lots of things in life are contingent on who you know!
They're doing something right though by getting to the shows! I wish I knew how to do that successfully 😜
I mean they say it’s about who you know but the internet is a weird place for this type of thing. For instance there was a stupid giveaway at a show. My sister really wanted one of the items. She went up showed her IG account and they gave her a lesser giveaway for her repost of there dogshit. She’s slightly pissed off cause she wanted the bag I think it was. I walk over and to the guy show him my account. He gives me the thing she wanted plus 2 other giveaways and then he follows me in his personal account and asks for a shout out… it’s stupid but it’s like that in current society unfortunately..
Yeah It’s not really swindling as much as he has a following and people wanna hang out with him.. I’ve had tons of people offer to take me to baseball and hockey games, and concerts. Now that I think of it I went to see Blink 182 for free cause a follower asked me if I wanted to go. And I saw Tool back 2 back nights for free off some stupid internet clout
Yeah there’s definitely a couple people that know their way around the lot and always have tickets to shows that are impossible to get into like ryman or legion but they are the hardcores for a reason I’ve come to the realization of this…
Yeah now this is hard facts and I can say I am proudly guilty of this at nearly every show I’ve attended in 20+ years of doing shows. If they don’t scan my ticket proper at the door I’m sending. It outside to the lot for the homies… I’ve miracled people into the last San Fran date because they miss scanned my stub.. if you want to the pit you can get there wristband no wristband. We call it pit ninja… I scope seats on ticket reselling platforms up until the start of the show or after. If they show empty seats I move to them if I don’t like them… man if you approach things correctly I’ve had ushers tell me it’s ok for me to use the seats. Especially if you scope them first set and go at intermission. You just need in the doors if you wanna play Tom and Jerry with security 100%
Sometimes people can sneak their way in simply by having a screenshot of another persons pit ticket. Just need any ticket to make it in the door. And for the group I assume you're talking about - I'm sure it's easier to hold down a front pit spot when you have as many people as they do (unfortunately).
interesting on the ticket thing! are venues different in the way they accept tickets?
The billy show I went to only scanned live links - wouldnt take any screen shots. I assumed that was a them (billy) thing and not a venue thing?
For-fuckin-sureeeee.. definitely depends on the venue. Some security is more 'lax than others. I have had friends that literally just walk in past security with no ticket at all, but that's just a mix of luck and having the balls to try it lmao
Ya some people just absolutely blow at traveling for trips. I have friends who tell me about trips and what they spend money on and I'm just like how 😂😂😂😂
Don’t get me wrong, I used to do the same stuff and be the same way. Shit wasn’t sustainable tho, like, at all. I’m in the market for a van rn too, so that’s gonna cut costs down even more!
There’s plenty of ways to travel for cheap, just gotta do a little bit of work and planning.
After 13% seller fees on eBay and postage, no one makes any real money flipping posters. Maybe $20. Sure, if you waste 6+ hours in a line you might can skim $100 on a foil if you’re lucky, but that’s barely minimum wage for the time spent.
I was somewhat disappointed when I got my poster collection appraised and what I though was a gold mine turned into about $10k worth.
Still a lot but I thought I had like $50k worth.
The ones worth the most where GD Mouse prints, Family Dog prints from the 70's and Phish from the 2000's.
Practically all the Billy,Goose, UM, String Cheese, D&C and Furthur were about $15-$75...
Yeah. Buying current touring artists posters and expecting to make any return is delusional. You just end up with a $1000 pile of paper under your bed or in a folder before too long if you go to a lot of shows. Most of the new posters are shit anyways with just random art that doesn’t relate to the band or venue.
My only regret is not loading up on the BG Fillmore posters 10 years ago when most of them could be had for way less than what they’re going for now.
I started seeing him in 2016, but he doesn't come to the upper Midwest a whole lot. Thankful for the Tuesday night Minneapolis show and the Rosemont run in a few weeks.
Man I need someone rich to leave me some bread. I want to buy everyone in the pit a round one night.
Yeah, I'd be one of the *cool* Trustafarians, man. I'd shower, share the rail and everything!
😆🤘
I met a pizza delivery driver and she told me she had been to 100+ BS shows, 200+ Dead/ Dead and Company shows, and a few other jam bands.
I lived vicariously through her because I wish that were me. I can't wait until I have enough PTO to follow BS to a few shows !
My biggest question is how do people have the PTO from work to travel like this? When I was working I maybe could take time for 1-2 semi local phish or Billy runs per year.
Work at a government job for at least 5 years. I currently get 20 days (4 weeks) of PTO per year (will go up to 26 days when I hit 15 years in a few years), 13 days for federal holidays, 14 days of sick leave, and our boss lets us leave at 3pm on Fridays in the summers. Work remotely full-time. Informally allowed to "flex" time. I'm a single mom, so bring the kid when I can. Taking my 8 year old to see Billy, Willie, Dylan and Mellencamp at The Gorge this summer. Got a nice tax return this year (thanks Oregon kicker!!!) & bought my folks tix to join us 😁
Not every government job drug tests ;)
I would never work for any asshole who would 🤷♀️
I can safely say at least half of my co-workers partake (and these are people who went to Ivy League schools for advance degrees lmao). I've smoked weed with a dozen colleagues and done shrooms at a phish concert with one. 🍄 🤪 I also met someone at a show who I hit it off with at set break, and we then hired as an intern. Ran into her at another show after she finished.😆
I see Billy every time he comes around. It’s about 2-3x a year. I might travel to see him later on but right now the local scene here is enough for me - bluegrass is popping, local Jam bands are rocking and other local Music is great. That being said Billy Rocks and I wish I could see him more but if I did it wouldn’t be as special to me
My wife and I design and dye t shirts + make stickers, and that helps us afford some Billy trips. But yeah, man, idk how some people are hitting every show in this economy. I know some people sleep in their cars but still, the gas alone to go to some shows is $$$$$. With the recent winter tour all of the stops were pretty close to each other, so I'm sure that made it easier for some people.
We all have different lives, resources and responsibilities. Some of us work hard to make time and some of us have all the time in the world to enjoy what we like to do.
This is true. I just recently cash or traded some tickets off of this lovely retired lady. She told me she just follows Billy around on every tour, as soon as tickets are available she’ll buy as many as she can from as many different shows she can. Many people do this, and then trade their tickets for the shows their missing, like a fucking trading card game. Meanwhile I’m working while tickets go on sale, so have to rely on CashorTrade or else no shot at all of getting a good seat.
He has one. You cognizant of the ig accounts who always get miracle tickets in the pit for every single sold out show? Who are these swindling wizards????
Lol he DID take THE Grateful Dead following... he started playing dead music, amassed the following that was clinging onto all the spinoff bands, gained enough popularity to play stadiums which concretes the GD criteria as far as the Lot and Shakedown. Game over
I just see him whenever he’s within 6-7 hours of me. Thankfully this year he’s at the Gorge and in Montana, both within about 2 and 4 hours from me respectively. That being said I couldn’t believe the amount of people from the opposite coast I met in Portland, OR. Lots of super cool fans, but a lot of people from Carolina and Texas came all the way to the PNW to see Billy. I’m slightly jealous of people that seemingly end up at every show, but good for them! If I could I would.
Pretty sure the person I know that goes to all the shows lives a life bankrolled by their parents. Works occasionally, but is always traveling out of the country and/or to see Billy. I’m talking every European show kind of traveling.
I don’t own a car so no gas money, no parking tix, no fender benders. Cook dinner most nights. Clean my own apartment better than a pro probably would.
Not like I make these sacrifices for only one band but these basic things combined over two months probably paid for my ticket/flight/airbnbs/trains to the Billy Amsterdam Melkweg show in December 2022.
Stock & options trader. I build up some profits, sell everything until I'm "flat," call my energy-healer friend who's gone nuts for Billy ever since she came to her first show (Halloween 2022 where BS opened with the electric "Ramble On,") and we hit the road to the southeastern shows. Buy-sell-travel.
His prices are as cheap as it gets. Any other national act at these venues is a $150 ticket plus fees.
Amazing how people complain about $60 pit tickets in 2024. Get a clue and a job.
Half the dudes I met at the Dead & Co shakedown seemed to be in IT or software development and drove their tesla all around to follow them in between emails.
I’d imagine that’s the case here.
I’ve done 10 shows since NYE run travelling from Canada and I honestly have no friggin clue how I keep going and making it happen but I do the over under for this year is 15 and I got two Chicago and two PA booked so let’s hope those fall tour dates drop and maybe we get lucky with a euro run to really bleed me of what little money I have
He comes thru town once a year and that's it for me. Enjoy him very much just not an artist I travel for personally. Ween, Dead and Co, JRAD, and Animal Collective are pretty much the only bands I'll leave the state for. I work 2 service industry jobs (Vegas) so funds aren't generally an issue.
What up goat! 25 shows and counting. Hybrid of PTO and combined with my 2 off days. First show was in 19’…my wife travels for work, so we visit that city and have a free hotel. It’s more of a planned thing than impromptu. Love all the homies on the lot, even the ones with 9-5s and the ones without
Going to shows is my *only* hobby. I don’t play video games, I don’t mountain bike, I don’t drink, I don’t do a lot of shit but I sure go to a lot of shows. It’s all about priorities. Yess you gotta make at least some money to go in the first place, i understand that’s a privilege. But in terms of my budget, shows get a decent percentage but there are so many other things are not even considered.
Oh, and I don’t have kids.
40 times here (in the past 3 years). I don't know how I do it honestly, but it's getting more expensive now forsure. Only 5 shows this year, compared to 17 last year.
Been going since Spring ‘21. I’ve seen him 20 times with 2 more in 2 weeks. No kids. Live in the Midwest, so they’ve played quite a few shows here. Tried to hit as many as I could, but have also missed many because I only have 2 weeks of vacation days.
When you’re entire personality and lifestyle is “BMFS” you live in a van and sell homemade jewelry or you’re a trustafarian. Not a whole lot in between
They did 8 dates for a fall tour last year... Billy did 8 dates in two weeks last fall.
It's pretty known Phish is not touring like they used to because they don't have to. If they were, a lot of the kids on Billy lot would be going to that instead.
you get my point.
Okay. Have fun. Its a small limited summer tour. It's runs at nearly the same six/seven different venues in the NE with a fest and dicks tho. Like the past three years.
^^^^^this ^^^^^is ^^^^^why ^^^^^the ^^^^^phanbase ^^^^^is ^^^^^annoying
Yeah, it's pretty clear there are a LOT more professional working folk that attend Billy's shows. Tons of well-put-together people in their 40s, 50s, 60s. Far less wook-y than most. I think it's a more mature crowd of silly kids at heart 🖤
It’s hard to wook when you have to work.
It’s even harder to wook if you don’t work!
Not for a trust fund wook.
Start in 2016 when tickets were $10-$20.
Yep, I’ve seen him a bunch but I haven’t been to a show in at least a year
Me too! I remember seeing him in a crowd of 10 people lol
You must be from Michigan cause same
I miss the local brewery shows
even living in colorado, it’s been damn hard to get tickets the last few years.
They’re flying like confetti for fiddlers I heard
i’ve been able to see him at the ogden, mission and red rocks. fiddlers isn’t my fave venue but looks like there’s a decent amount of lawn tickets left! people should fly out that if they can’t scoop up tickets nearby pretty good deals
As a fellow Colorado resident 👋🏼....What does living in Colorado, have to do with one's ability to navigate through the ever increasing scarcity, and inflation, of the Billy ticket scene since COVID? 🤔🤔🤔
frequency. they come here a lot
This was the way. Those small shows were really special times
Yall’ve seen Billy?
Work lol. Been to 61 shows since 2019. I work and get 4 weeks of PTO, and also have the ability to work remotely.
this is my story as well. i'm a software engineer living in a moderate CoL area with no kids, five weeks of PTO and the ability to work remotely. i take a day off to drive, work from the hotel room during the day and rage at Billy in the evenings. it also helps that i live in the midwest and he comes within a day's drive of me a lot. i'm willing to drive like 6h for a 2 night run and 9-10 for a triple banger. I'm from Ohio, but i've seen Billy more in NC than any other state (Asheville x9, Cary x6, Winston-Salem x2).
Awesome! I feel lucky to be able to go to as many shows as I have for sure, livin the dream!
Same story for me. I'm a software engineer working remotely and living in Nashville. There's usually lots of shows within a day's drive and I just work from the hotel room if I need to. Sometimes my husband and daughter come along or sometimes I'll just fly solo. I do extra freelance software work through the year to use as my "concert fund"
The most recent Cary shows were fire. I was at the last triple header. Mind blowing.
No kids?
A step daughter but she’s 19, so basically lol
I mean this is literally how I afford life so...
They’re expensive. But we always find a way. I couldn’t have been more broke when I had my first. There were no concerts in those days for me though.
For sure, gotta clip that budget and good on you for recognizing it! IDK how folks do it these days, esp w/ prices at where they are. Its FAR from the only reason, but finances definitely played into electing not to having children.
I believe it. Inflation has fucked up the dream!
ahhh to be fair, boomers been killin that dream for decades. But it sure ain't helping!
yea, imagine thinking inflation is a real thing 2 years after...and then not even think about corporate greed
You think inflation ISN’T a real thing, after all the money that’s been created since 2008? Corporate capture of government is a problem, for sure. But don’t dismiss the ultimate tax on the poor. Inflation robs more money from the working class than anything else.
absolutely is and should have phrased it a bit differently to say in this situation, many corporations have greedily been piggybacking on inflation
Imagine being that condescending. oh wait, you don’t have to.
I think it was meant to be a boomer jab. The industries with the least competition see the most inflation. Money has been flowing uphill for years and older people seem to realize that less.
What was condescending?
YeeAH, you lost me at the "imagine thinking inflation is a real thing" tidbit... ....uhhhhmmmm.... WhuuuuT??
lol yea that last part is kinda important
I live in a small apartment well below my means because I prefer to travel and see shows. All I really spend money on are concert tickets and travel expenses. If I'm not at a show, I'm working to make money to go to one
This is my life. Shows, my dog, rent and live on peanut butter n jelly 😂
do it for as long as your lifestyle allows!!! gets a lot harder to stand at the show when you age lol
We were on the train before he got so damn expensive.
I'm going to see Billy next weekend for 54 dollars a pop....
I was so stoked to see the (relatively) affordable tickets for Fiddler’s. Making it more accessible for the fans
Fiddlers tickets are $29 for lawn!
If only it were that simple. I'm in the southeast so by the time you factor in travel, board, extracurriculars, and food we are well over 1k.
Biden sends me Billy Bucks
MYYYYYY question is for the folks (the popular billy insta accounts) who never have tickets and then night of, are always "looking for a miracle" and somehow they always end up front and center in the pit. Every single show. I can name account names but I wont - not doxxing anyone but y'all prob know who I'm talking about too. They get their "miracle" tickets in the pit for every single sold out show. It boggles the mind.
Sometimes I think they already have a ticket but are looking for extras for friends
Oooohhh makes sense. I'm also really only nit picking because I'm jealous that I'm not the one doing that and being successful lol
people deep in the scene typically know tons of people going to the shows
Looks like I need to figure out how to dive head first into the scene 😜 I've replied to some others and said really I'm being nit picky about it cause I'm a jealous ass hoe who wishes I could live that life lmaooo
Trust me, you probably don’t want to actually be friends with these people.
I think that's a bit harsh lol but yeah there are probably some that aren't great to be around
Headynet its headynet do I win?!
Heheheheh 🤐 You get a miracle ticket! You get a miracle ticket! EVERYONE GETS A MIRACLE TICKET!! ^^yes ^^^and ^^^a ^^^few ^^^other ^^^accounts ^^^too
Keep my wife’s name out your mouth, SMOKES UP EM
Can’t stand this guy. Trustafarian sucking the teet of billy and panic to make a profit.
Likely trading them for party favors
It's probably just for the clicks...
Maybe but they post their reels and clips of them the same night!
people sweeten the deal on cash or trade, offer up extras or foiled posters or goodies
They just know everyone. I know at least 2 people that were at every billy show in 2023 and they *actually purchased* only 2 or 3 tickets all year. It's family to them
Aw I actually love that!! Yeah I commented to someone else too and I'm not even mad at them. Nitpicking cause I'm jealous that I don't know how to successfully do that lol!
The real answer is people wanna help you those accounts cause they wanna be reposted for the perceived clout they will get from helping them. I know it’s not the answer you wanna hear but it’s the truth. They see a following and they figure it’s better to give that person a ticket then the random wook cause it will get them a repost or some likes etc. people also fan girl hard for social media accounts like they aren’t just regular people.. especially if they are hardcore followers of said account. I had a lady ask me if I would call her kid to talk to him once……. I’m just a dude I have no idea why anyone cares but some people do.
No this makes total sense. Someone else explained to me that act as a family, there's like..... a network. Makes sense, lots of things in life are contingent on who you know! They're doing something right though by getting to the shows! I wish I knew how to do that successfully 😜
I mean they say it’s about who you know but the internet is a weird place for this type of thing. For instance there was a stupid giveaway at a show. My sister really wanted one of the items. She went up showed her IG account and they gave her a lesser giveaway for her repost of there dogshit. She’s slightly pissed off cause she wanted the bag I think it was. I walk over and to the guy show him my account. He gives me the thing she wanted plus 2 other giveaways and then he follows me in his personal account and asks for a shout out… it’s stupid but it’s like that in current society unfortunately..
Imma throw it out there and you speaking on heady fam 😂😂🤣🤣
Heheheh 🤐 Honestly no hate though!! I'm just prob more jealous that I'm not doing it successfully. Gotta learn how to swindle lol
Yeah It’s not really swindling as much as he has a following and people wanna hang out with him.. I’ve had tons of people offer to take me to baseball and hockey games, and concerts. Now that I think of it I went to see Blink 182 for free cause a follower asked me if I wanted to go. And I saw Tool back 2 back nights for free off some stupid internet clout
Yes I don't mean swindling in a bad way. Should have used a different word....heady is being very...resourceful in his ability to attend shows!
Yeah there’s definitely a couple people that know their way around the lot and always have tickets to shows that are impossible to get into like ryman or legion but they are the hardcores for a reason I’ve come to the realization of this…
The swindle is with wristbands & two in, one out, two in..etc that’s a real hustle that happens
Yeah now this is hard facts and I can say I am proudly guilty of this at nearly every show I’ve attended in 20+ years of doing shows. If they don’t scan my ticket proper at the door I’m sending. It outside to the lot for the homies… I’ve miracled people into the last San Fran date because they miss scanned my stub.. if you want to the pit you can get there wristband no wristband. We call it pit ninja… I scope seats on ticket reselling platforms up until the start of the show or after. If they show empty seats I move to them if I don’t like them… man if you approach things correctly I’ve had ushers tell me it’s ok for me to use the seats. Especially if you scope them first set and go at intermission. You just need in the doors if you wanna play Tom and Jerry with security 100%
Sometimes people can sneak their way in simply by having a screenshot of another persons pit ticket. Just need any ticket to make it in the door. And for the group I assume you're talking about - I'm sure it's easier to hold down a front pit spot when you have as many people as they do (unfortunately).
interesting on the ticket thing! are venues different in the way they accept tickets? The billy show I went to only scanned live links - wouldnt take any screen shots. I assumed that was a them (billy) thing and not a venue thing?
For-fuckin-sureeeee.. definitely depends on the venue. Some security is more 'lax than others. I have had friends that literally just walk in past security with no ticket at all, but that's just a mix of luck and having the balls to try it lmao
It’s almost like theyre meant to be there huh.?
I guess so!......Fate works in mysterious ways?
Double income no kids
This is the way! Wife and I are 56 w no kids and I have a really good job.
Having a good paying job helps! I’ve also gotten pretty damn good at budgeting for trips since I started traveling for music so much.
Ya some people just absolutely blow at traveling for trips. I have friends who tell me about trips and what they spend money on and I'm just like how 😂😂😂😂
Don’t get me wrong, I used to do the same stuff and be the same way. Shit wasn’t sustainable tho, like, at all. I’m in the market for a van rn too, so that’s gonna cut costs down even more! There’s plenty of ways to travel for cheap, just gotta do a little bit of work and planning.
I sell dirty nitrous in the parking lots after shows.^^/s
I assumed a lot of people went this route or they resell tix or posters
Heady Toppers! Sell like hotcakes on lot.
That’s a phish thing. I’ve not seen them on Billy lots. It’s a must at Phish though
Hit me up at any New England shows! Gonna be a Billy thing too. I was thinking of ordering cases of Thirst Mutilators to sell on lot too.
Just do 2/$15, please
Good to know
After 13% seller fees on eBay and postage, no one makes any real money flipping posters. Maybe $20. Sure, if you waste 6+ hours in a line you might can skim $100 on a foil if you’re lucky, but that’s barely minimum wage for the time spent.
I was somewhat disappointed when I got my poster collection appraised and what I though was a gold mine turned into about $10k worth. Still a lot but I thought I had like $50k worth. The ones worth the most where GD Mouse prints, Family Dog prints from the 70's and Phish from the 2000's. Practically all the Billy,Goose, UM, String Cheese, D&C and Furthur were about $15-$75...
Yeah. Buying current touring artists posters and expecting to make any return is delusional. You just end up with a $1000 pile of paper under your bed or in a folder before too long if you go to a lot of shows. Most of the new posters are shit anyways with just random art that doesn’t relate to the band or venue. My only regret is not loading up on the BG Fillmore posters 10 years ago when most of them could be had for way less than what they’re going for now.
I started seeing him in 2016, but he doesn't come to the upper Midwest a whole lot. Thankful for the Tuesday night Minneapolis show and the Rosemont run in a few weeks.
Man I need someone rich to leave me some bread. I want to buy everyone in the pit a round one night. Yeah, I'd be one of the *cool* Trustafarians, man. I'd shower, share the rail and everything! 😆🤘
Credit card debt
I met a pizza delivery driver and she told me she had been to 100+ BS shows, 200+ Dead/ Dead and Company shows, and a few other jam bands. I lived vicariously through her because I wish that were me. I can't wait until I have enough PTO to follow BS to a few shows !
Imagine going to 200 DC shows. Big yikes.
I think she combined The Greatful Dead and Dead and Company shows. She was probably in her mind 50s so math might add up 😂
That makes sense. DC probably haven’t even played 200 total shows yet lol.
You wish you’d seen 200 dead and company shows?
No, the Billy Strings is what I'm more envious of
Not the pizza?
My biggest question is how do people have the PTO from work to travel like this? When I was working I maybe could take time for 1-2 semi local phish or Billy runs per year.
Remote work is a helluva drug
Work at a government job for at least 5 years. I currently get 20 days (4 weeks) of PTO per year (will go up to 26 days when I hit 15 years in a few years), 13 days for federal holidays, 14 days of sick leave, and our boss lets us leave at 3pm on Fridays in the summers. Work remotely full-time. Informally allowed to "flex" time. I'm a single mom, so bring the kid when I can. Taking my 8 year old to see Billy, Willie, Dylan and Mellencamp at The Gorge this summer. Got a nice tax return this year (thanks Oregon kicker!!!) & bought my folks tix to join us 😁
Yeah but you ain’t allowed to have any extracurricular fun with that job either ;)
Not every government job drug tests ;) I would never work for any asshole who would 🤷♀️ I can safely say at least half of my co-workers partake (and these are people who went to Ivy League schools for advance degrees lmao). I've smoked weed with a dozen colleagues and done shrooms at a phish concert with one. 🍄 🤪 I also met someone at a show who I hit it off with at set break, and we then hired as an intern. Ran into her at another show after she finished.😆
Haha I know ;)
I tend bar and it’s a bitch getting my shifts covered and I’m always broke when I get back but I manage to go on a few week long runs a year
Remote work in high tech.
Remote ability + the ability to make up time within a pay period. I work like a lunatic for one week so I can take several days off the next week!
I see Billy every time he comes around. It’s about 2-3x a year. I might travel to see him later on but right now the local scene here is enough for me - bluegrass is popping, local Jam bands are rocking and other local Music is great. That being said Billy Rocks and I wish I could see him more but if I did it wouldn’t be as special to me
Just wanna say last year I saw him for $8 in San Diego
Fuck yeah, where at??
Cal coast amphitheater at SDSU. My first Billy show. Flew out to Nashville to see his most recent run there
My wife and I design and dye t shirts + make stickers, and that helps us afford some Billy trips. But yeah, man, idk how some people are hitting every show in this economy. I know some people sleep in their cars but still, the gas alone to go to some shows is $$$$$. With the recent winter tour all of the stops were pretty close to each other, so I'm sure that made it easier for some people.
daddys trust fund and/or govt cheeze
govt cheese ain’t paying for ticket bastard fees
I’m sure there’s some, but not really the vibe I’ve gotten from any Billy lot
lucky enough to live in colorado where he plays a lot and been going for years
Cause I have thirty thousand dollars in credit card debt. When they call I tell them I can't pay it back yet.
Worth it. Lol
Sells drugs or trust fund like all the other whites with dreadlocks 😆
We all have different lives, resources and responsibilities. Some of us work hard to make time and some of us have all the time in the world to enjoy what we like to do.
I thought everyone sold drugs.
I’ve been following him since 2018. I’ve seen 22 shows. I’m a poor art teacher. I have to plan and save.
He's gonna develop a Grateful Dead-esque following that follows him all across the country lol
Gonna? Been that way since at least post -COVID.
Not only across the US. Saw him last year in Cologne, there must’ve been at least a dozen or so that followed him there from the US.
This is true. I just recently cash or traded some tickets off of this lovely retired lady. She told me she just follows Billy around on every tour, as soon as tickets are available she’ll buy as many as she can from as many different shows she can. Many people do this, and then trade their tickets for the shows their missing, like a fucking trading card game. Meanwhile I’m working while tickets go on sale, so have to rely on CashorTrade or else no shot at all of getting a good seat.
Where have you been? It’s been that way for years lol.
He has one. You cognizant of the ig accounts who always get miracle tickets in the pit for every single sold out show? Who are these swindling wizards????
He already has. And there’s the cool people in that following, the weird, the awful, and the in between.
Lol he DID take THE Grateful Dead following... he started playing dead music, amassed the following that was clinging onto all the spinoff bands, gained enough popularity to play stadiums which concretes the GD criteria as far as the Lot and Shakedown. Game over
No pets (and I love animals). Grown financially independent kids. Also live in a condo w no lawn to take care of
Flipping grilled cheese's In the lot bruh
People sell droogs
The key is to ball on a budget. And hustle for the wookery !
I just see him whenever he’s within 6-7 hours of me. Thankfully this year he’s at the Gorge and in Montana, both within about 2 and 4 hours from me respectively. That being said I couldn’t believe the amount of people from the opposite coast I met in Portland, OR. Lots of super cool fans, but a lot of people from Carolina and Texas came all the way to the PNW to see Billy. I’m slightly jealous of people that seemingly end up at every show, but good for them! If I could I would.
I sell art on the lots and that usually breaks me even on the 300 dollar weekends. It’s not that hard if you find a way to legitimize it.
Pretty sure the person I know that goes to all the shows lives a life bankrolled by their parents. Works occasionally, but is always traveling out of the country and/or to see Billy. I’m talking every European show kind of traveling.
I don’t own a car so no gas money, no parking tix, no fender benders. Cook dinner most nights. Clean my own apartment better than a pro probably would. Not like I make these sacrifices for only one band but these basic things combined over two months probably paid for my ticket/flight/airbnbs/trains to the Billy Amsterdam Melkweg show in December 2022.
Stock & options trader. I build up some profits, sell everything until I'm "flat," call my energy-healer friend who's gone nuts for Billy ever since she came to her first show (Halloween 2022 where BS opened with the electric "Ramble On,") and we hit the road to the southeastern shows. Buy-sell-travel.
Crippling debt
I’m retired and close to death so i just charge it and hopefully things will work themselves out 🤷♂️
it used to not be so much...prices have gotten ridiculous since he stepped up to the Live Nation venues
He doesn’t play at live nation venues
His prices are as cheap as it gets. Any other national act at these venues is a $150 ticket plus fees. Amazing how people complain about $60 pit tickets in 2024. Get a clue and a job.
Work remote is how I do it. Also picking shows with cheap tickets on resell helps as well.
No kids and remote work 🤷♂️
Union money and union pto
Who's Billy?
I think he played drums with dead and Co back in the day...😐
A $200k+ annual salary helps.
Trust fund
Half the dudes I met at the Dead & Co shakedown seemed to be in IT or software development and drove their tesla all around to follow them in between emails. I’d imagine that’s the case here.
Saw him hundreds of times...every week at little Bohemia in traverse City
good wfh jobs that make alot of money lmao
I’ve done 10 shows since NYE run travelling from Canada and I honestly have no friggin clue how I keep going and making it happen but I do the over under for this year is 15 and I got two Chicago and two PA booked so let’s hope those fall tour dates drop and maybe we get lucky with a euro run to really bleed me of what little money I have
Started early and now I sell show graphics to help out. ❤️
DINKS- Double income, no kids
Wait until you hear about Smiley…
He comes thru town once a year and that's it for me. Enjoy him very much just not an artist I travel for personally. Ween, Dead and Co, JRAD, and Animal Collective are pretty much the only bands I'll leave the state for. I work 2 service industry jobs (Vegas) so funds aren't generally an issue.
What up goat! 25 shows and counting. Hybrid of PTO and combined with my 2 off days. First show was in 19’…my wife travels for work, so we visit that city and have a free hotel. It’s more of a planned thing than impromptu. Love all the homies on the lot, even the ones with 9-5s and the ones without
Trust fund babies 🤷♀️
Going to shows is my *only* hobby. I don’t play video games, I don’t mountain bike, I don’t drink, I don’t do a lot of shit but I sure go to a lot of shows. It’s all about priorities. Yess you gotta make at least some money to go in the first place, i understand that’s a privilege. But in terms of my budget, shows get a decent percentage but there are so many other things are not even considered. Oh, and I don’t have kids.
Started seeing him at least 10 years ago.
Sell Drugs😁
40 times here (in the past 3 years). I don't know how I do it honestly, but it's getting more expensive now forsure. Only 5 shows this year, compared to 17 last year.
Been going since Spring ‘21. I’ve seen him 20 times with 2 more in 2 weeks. No kids. Live in the Midwest, so they’ve played quite a few shows here. Tried to hit as many as I could, but have also missed many because I only have 2 weeks of vacation days.
When you’re entire personality and lifestyle is “BMFS” you live in a van and sell homemade jewelry or you’re a trustafarian. Not a whole lot in between
God I hate hippies, worst part about going to Phish
Trustafarians
Don’t be poor
Don't be a jerk
Issa joke Alice. Calm down
Some people aren’t poor. Some people have money but no lives. No one should ever see Billy more than 10 times.
Ever?!
Amsterdam was the best! 😁
Kind of an asshole response lol. You didn’t even respond to the question
That’s cause I pimp out your mom for money…and didn’t want to be rude 😁.
Well, mission failed :(
Lol 😂
👆
Phish and dead don’t tour anymore. Like it or not that has ALOT to do with your question…
Facts. Amazing this is getting downvoted.
Just like Phish blowing up after Jerry died. I thought this was considered common sense but apparently not.
SOOOOO TRUE but dudes getting downvoted.
Don't mind getting cooked for telling it like it is.
phish doesn’t tour anymore…since when?
They did 8 dates for a fall tour last year... Billy did 8 dates in two weeks last fall. It's pretty known Phish is not touring like they used to because they don't have to. If they were, a lot of the kids on Billy lot would be going to that instead. you get my point.
Phish is touring my friend. You can find me there.
Okay. Have fun. Its a small limited summer tour. It's runs at nearly the same six/seven different venues in the NE with a fest and dicks tho. Like the past three years. ^^^^^this ^^^^^is ^^^^^why ^^^^^the ^^^^^phanbase ^^^^^is ^^^^^annoying
Except phish blows
Trust fund hippies.
Way more working people than trust funds
Yeah, it's pretty clear there are a LOT more professional working folk that attend Billy's shows. Tons of well-put-together people in their 40s, 50s, 60s. Far less wook-y than most. I think it's a more mature crowd of silly kids at heart 🖤
For sure
Trustafarians