How do I get backstage wristbands for 2013?

[kellycolleen88]

Hey all! This year was my 2nd Coachella (AMAZING! TUPAC!) and something is just gnawing at my brain: how do you get the backstage wristbands (they had the hearts on them this year) that let you into the areas right in front of the stage? For a while I thought that you just had to know someone or be in the industry, but I saw far too many totally normal looking people (and teenage girls...) with them to believe they are that hard to come by. Can you buy them on the coachella website during the normal sale time? Do you get them directly from Goldenvoice? Is there a super-secret handshake I have to know? I am interested in trying to get one for next year and want to know if anyone has the info. Thanks!

[tigermilkboy]

You could get a job for GV or AEG. You could get a press job. You could form a band that becomes big enough to play Coachella...need I go on?

[JustSteve]

For a while I thought that you just had to know someone or be in the industry, but I saw far too many totally normal looking people (and teenage girls...) with them to believe they are that hard to come by.

what the hell does that even mean? what should we look like, ms. judgmental?

[kellycolleen88]

Didn't mean any disrespect, I just meant that I saw A LOT of people with them, far too many for those wristbands to seem totally unattainable. Didn't mean to step out of line, I'm just looking for some info guys, not trying to start an argument or cause any problems.

[theGold]

Friends/family of the band, GV or AEG employees, employees of the sponsors, look like you and I. Add up all of those people and you get a pretty sizeable group.

[Stickjohn]

even Grant had one his first year.

[captncrzy]

GV just called me and told me that they don't want you back there. Sorry.

[guedita]

NO NORMIES

[frazzles]

Drop a couple grand on a Safari tent.

[CoachellaVet09]

Suck dicks. It will get you everywhere in life.

[gmfortner]

Drop a couple grand on a Safari tent.

This is the way to go. The people up in that front area had wristbands with S (safari tents), A (artist), P (production), a heart (artist guest), or some roman numbers (empire pass ???). I think I may have seen a F wristband too, but I am not positive. Might have been others I missed. All I can tell you is that I didn't see any VIP bands. Give how packed some of the VIP areas were I can't imagine that they had access or it would have been packed.

[cooperb1]

Drop a couple grand on a Safari tent.

this is true think the safari tents where $6500 and up to me it,s not worth the $$$$$

[Strike III]

Yeah the XIII was for Empire Polo Fields members. They had a sheet that explained all the wristbands and access levels. The F was for Film crew. Top tier was P, F, A, and XIII. The Guest passes only let you go to the guest viewing area and maybe backstage. I'm pretty sure Safari has higher access with onstage and backstage everywhere.

[TomAz]

Suck dicks. It will get you everywhere in life.

This is the best advice.

[JustSteve]

The Guest passes only let you go to the guest viewing area and maybe backstage. I'm pretty sure Safari has higher access with onstage and backstage everywhere.

you get backstage with guest, into the artist compound, etc. safari has access to actual stages, but only until a certain point. stages are usually locked down once the sun goes down for the headliners and subs.

[amyzzz]

Drop a couple grand on a Safari tent.

This. I wish I could do this.

[Sexecutioner]

you get backstage with guest, into the artist compound, etc. safari has access to actual stages, but only until a certain point. stages are usually locked down once the sun goes down for the headliners and subs.

Hey Steve, you gonna be there this weekend? I'll be rollin with an artist wristband and would love to buy you a beer in the top secret ultra important person area.

[JustSteve]

free cans of heineken in the artist compound, at least earlier in the day stock up! free bottles of water, too.

and no, won't be there this weekend, bummer. thanks, though!

[Sexecutioner]

hell yes on free beer/water. bummer you won't be there though. i still owe you for those dvds. never got a chance to pay you back that year since my friends were in a hurry.

[gmfortner]

you get backstage with guest, into the artist compound, etc. safari has access to actual stages, but only until a certain point. stages are usually locked down once the sun goes down for the headliners and subs.

I was safari and had access to the stage except the headliners. Specifically, I was on stage for some of the Shins. Probably shut down for SHM too.

[Mishella]

Safari "passes" are no longer going to provide all the same befits as last year.
Most viewing areas will only be accessible to those with Artist passes or Artist guest passes

To receive these you have to know a band or someone at a label or someone eps who is provided a guest list.

I have one extra Artist pass per weekend as someone I was taking has cancelled on me.
Let me know if you are interested
You can look up all the amenities, summary being backstage, statist areas and all VIPs benefits.

[blueduck]

Safari "passes" are no longer going to provide all the same befits as last year.
Most viewing areas will only be accessible to those with Artist passes or Artist guest passes

To receive these you have to know a band or someone at a label or someone eps who is provided a guest list.

I have one extra Artist pass per weekend as someone I was taking has cancelled on me.
Let me know if you are interested
You can look up all the amenities, summary being backstage, statist areas and all VIPs benefits.

Do i get to meet daft punk with this access?

[ThatGirl]

Safari "passes" are no longer going to provide all the same befits as last year.
Most viewing areas will only be accessible to those with Artist passes or Artist guest passes

To receive these you have to know a band or someone at a label or someone eps who is provided a guest list.

I have one extra Artist pass per weekend as someone I was taking has cancelled on me.
Let me know if you are interested
You can look up all the amenities, summary being backstage, statist areas and all VIPs benefits.

This isn't true. Safari attendees get artist guest passes. I'm going Safari and that's what we get.

[Y0UNGBL00D]

i was just curious the other day...do the bands get passes to give friends and fam for the whole festival or just their set i wonder? like, bottom tier bands...how much pull do they have getting people in?

[JustSteve]

Most smaller bands barely get enough wristbands to get a couple roadies in.

Also, it is not an "Artist Guest" pass. It's just called a "Guest" pass. For anyone who is not an artist, but is above a VIP.

[adam_at_coachella]

Most smaller bands barely get enough wristbands to get a couple roadies in.

Also, it is not an "Artist Guest" pass. It's just called a "Guest" pass. For anyone who is not an artist, but is above a VIP.

hmmmm

[marceverds]

My sister and I got "Empire Passes" and I'm just an average person that likes music alot and happened to make friends with the right people. So ya you have to know "someone" but that someone doesnt have to be Anthony Kiedis...

[joshc]

tell us more about these "right people" ... always wondered about the keys to the empire passes and that secret garden.

[JustSteve]

They are passes for family and friends of the guy that owns the polo fields, Alex Haagen.

[elChurro]

Backstage pass or not, it's highly unlikely you'll ever meet Tupac backstage at Coachella or otherwise.