I used to be in a band that had a deal with a company called Split that made skate/surf clothes. They would send us boxes of cool pants, shorts, shirts, baseball caps, etc. We were just expected to wear them on tour and in photo shoots. It was a pretty sweet deal. Funny how the system works. I read a quote from Flea that said "When I couldn't afford decent gear no one would even cut me a break on the price. Now that I can afford any gear I want, I have everybody throwing free stuff at me."
It is a sick irony.
Funny thing. An old roommate of mine who teched for many, many different bands (from Local H and Poi Dog to 3 doors down and Smashmouth) was a great talker and put together a black book of phone numbers of companies that created anything.
When he wasn't on tour, he would call different reps and tell them a popular band he was working with was wondering what was new in their sunglass line, guitar strings, clothes, etc. We would get packages Fed Ex'd to us filled with $200 sunglasses, cool clothes, Cases of guitar and bass strings. You name it. The hook up is a wonderful thing.
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