Interview with Tiffany Mink of Warped Tour

Tiffany Mink, known by many as Minkus, reached out to thousands of music fans as the pit reporter for Warped Tour 2009. Her pit reports gave little snippets of information regarding the goings-on of each date of the tour, while providing behind-the-scenes videos and photographs. Recently, Minkus revealed that she’ll be back for Warped 2010, and also revealed that the first band announcements will be on WarpedTour.com on December 18. I spoke to Minkus about how it is to live on a tour like Warped, some secrets about next summer’s tour, and her advice for getting into the music industry. Read the whole interview after the jump!

- How was it being a part of such a huge tour like Warped Tour almost straight out of college? How did you react when you found out that you would be the pit reporter?

I’ll be honest- I almost didn’t even apply. I wanted it so bad that I couldn’t imagine applying and watching it go to someone else. When Paul from the office called me, it was like a 45 minute conversation and I was pacing around in my front yard while my mom, sister, and friend were laughing at me. And getting that job two months after I graduated college? Never would I have ever thought that would happen to me. It just fell in front of me at the most perfect timing. Not to sound sappy, but it just seemed like it was one of those “meant to be” moments because Warped was something I wanted to be a part of when I first went in 2003.

-Was it a big adjustment to be living on the road for the duration of Warped?

Um. Yes. Ok, think about living out of a suitcase. Then put your suitcase under a car. It’s like that. Buses are crowded, messy and cramped but holy crap it’s awesome and like nothing else I’ve ever done. You make a whole new family out there because you are forced to. Living with so many people in that little space, you learn alot [sic] about yourself. Luckily for everyone on that tour, Kevin works with the best so you are always going to be in good hands and with good people. And people who won’t make fun of you for taking a baby wipe shower.

- How is the general environment of Warped Tour? Can it get stressful at times? Boring? Do all the bands/musicians get along?

It’s mind-boggling how it can be both stressful and boring. No, Warped isn’t boring by any means. The place is different, the fans are different, the bands can be different. But in order for everything to run smoothly, there has to be some sort of routine. There are moment where it’s like “same stuff, different day” but those are few and far between. Granted it’s still pretty hectic out there because everything gets put together that morning. It’s really stressful for most jobs out there. Mine depended on bands schedules and since they aren’t figured out until that morning, I can’t plan ahead. But everyone respects everyone else because there’s a mutual understanding of how hard everyone is working.

- What were some of your favorite bands that played during Warped ’09?

Gallows, Sing It Loud, TAT, Therefore I Am, InnerPartySystem, Less Than Jake, The Ataris, Bayside, The Architects, POS, Alexisonfire, The AKAs, and 3OH!3. All just great people and solid bands. I love a good live show, and all of these will sure as hell give you one.

- Congrats on being asked to do the Pit Reporting for Warped Tour 2010! When did you find out about this?

Thanks! We were already talking about me coming back mid-tour last summer. I took the role further than it had gone by really pushing the social media networks, staying focused on getting content for every day and being as timely as you can out there. I felt like I had to prove myself and I think it was during the last week of the tour, myself and production wanted me to be out again for next year. They knew how hard I worked and knew I could come up with even more ideas for next summer.

- With the announcement that you’d be coming back as a the pit reporter, the dates of Warped 2010 were announced, as well as the news that band announcements would be made very soon. How early does planning start for Warped Tour?

Kevin literally starts planning next year as soon as the tour ends. Because Warped is so massive with the duration, number of bands, sponsors, vendors, different venues, all the staff, etc etc you have to get an early start. There’s very little down time from one to the next. Keep in mind Kevin also does 2 other tours and is starting a new one next year- that actually ends just 2 days before Warped starts. I don’t know how he does it!

- Are you doing anything else for Warped Tour during the planning stages? (helping pick talent or venues, communicating with sponsors, etc.)

I help run the Warped’s Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Stickam accounts. I also brainstorm and help develop marketing and promotional ideas with the office. I also like to create content before the tour to keep fans informed with the bands and other on-goings with the tour like ticket on sale date. This year we are talking about more videos from me before the tour. I don’t have anything to do with the production side of things, just social media.

- Have all the bands been booked yet, or are there still more bookings that need to be done?

The majority have been booked, yes. There is still some talk with some bands, but we have the bulk of everything ready to roll. I heard the list today and it’s pretty extensive but Kevin still has some bands in the works.

- Could you possibly give us a hint towards a couple of bands that are on Warped 2010?

Nope. Sealed to secrecy until it’s announced. But I will say that from my personal tastes, I’m extremely excited for this summer. It includes a band who I’ve listened to for almost a decade and haven’t had the chance to see yet.

- Is there anything about Warped Tour that fans may find surprising? (odd rituals or good luck charms, random facts, or anything of the like?)

Most people who are into Warped want to work on it, but their idea of what it’s like on tour is typically different than what it is. Everyone pulls 12 hour shifts in that heat- even merch guys are setting up at 7am in the morning. There are shining moments and it’s fun, no doubt, but I think many people underestimate how demanding the tour is for staffers. Most people I know are in their bunks asleep before 11pm that night!

In terms of other surprises, bands you wouldn’t think would ever become friends actually do. Fat Mike [of NOFX] loves Jeffree Star. True story! There’s a lot of support for bands from other bands and you’ll see them watching side-stage. Rituals and stuff are really more for the bands. Chris 2 of Anti-Flag brushes his teeth backstage before his set everyday.

- Do you have any advice for readers who may want to break into the music industry without being in an actual band?

Start early and start networking. Make plans and learn everything you can from anywhere you can. It’s something where you have to keep your eye open all the time, make everything you can an opportunity and hope you happen to fall into some luck. Most importantly, you gotta have passion. Because it’s so demanding and cut-throat and everyone wants your job, you have to have that to make you [appear] as a stand-out. I was once told that there is always someone who will do your job for free. It’s true, so you have to stay on your toes and really want to be there.

- Would you like to add anything else?

In terms of getting into the industry, I think there’s something that people need to know. It loosely relates to my job, but every other aspect it’s crucial. Whether you like it or not, if you want to somehow work in the music industry, you sometimes have to look at music as commodity. A band can only stay a band and get their message out as long as they have the means to do so. A majority of those means is money. If a label doesn’t have money to help a band tour, then that band’s music can’t get everywhere. See what I mean? All of the people who work for Warped Tour love it. It is about music, it is about the bands, it is about the kids- but it can only keep doing it because it funds itself. There’s a bottom line to everything, in every job, and this is no different. It’s just a perspective you have to keep in mind.

Want more advice from Minkus about getting into the music industry? Read her blog in which she discusses her experiences from Warped Tour and how she got to where she is here: http://www.tiffanymink.com/blog.html