311 | Awards

When I received this from the band 311 almost a decade ago, it was the first award any band had ever given me. The merch guy on concert tours of any size generally works for a big merch company to which the band has signed over its tour merchandising rights to. I had worked for one of those companies and had never been recognized for my efforts on the road promoting a current album like this before. I am sure that the companies I worked for received awards from some of the artists sometimes, but not the road guy. I could not believe it! I was so pumped. Later I learned from Yonnie ( their tour manager) what a big deal it was getting the management to agree to send them to any of their road crew. I know that everyone who got one really appreciated it. I also know that over the years , those who did not, came to resent it. Any band relies on many people to help in the promotion, production, and distribution of a CD. To thank ALL of them whenever a CD goes Platinum, would be a major expense ( one which the band would pay the cost of. ) The band goes on tour to promote their CD and over the course of a few years ends up living with the road crew more than the "home" crew. So it makes sense that they'd want to thank the road crew in a very special way, like this. Since, I was one of 311's partners in a newly formed merchandise company called 311merchandising, and not just a swag guy from "Winterland/Brokum/NiceMan/FEA Merchandising" I really was honored by the fact that they'd thought of me too. Of course, for many years one hung in the greenroom hallway at the Howard Stern Show in NYC also. I guess he probably did as much a Trevor Cole to promote the Blue Album.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220070418342

and also http://stores.ebay.com/merch311days-Store