Q. Why do we have to fill out an application?
A. The reason we have an application process for bands to try to get on the Kevin Says Stage, rather than having a battle of the bands or just booking the stage with bands we know personally or like, is that we want to represent the local music scene in each region we visit with the tour. Having an application online for bands to fill out and submit is a way for us to give all bands a fair chance. Instead of letting people vote, we pick bands based on very specific criteria and we look for bands who not only impress us musically, but also impress us with their work ethic and values as a band. By choosing bands through the application, we can rest assured that we are picking the most deserving bands from each region, and hopefully contributing to each region's scene by doing so.

Q. Is the entire stage line-up just bands who have submitted applications?
A. No. The stage usually has eight-to-ten bands per day, and only a handful of these are bands chosen from the application process. The other spots are reserved for bands we like, or contest winners like the Sabian Spot and Hot Topic winners, or up-and-coming bands on labels.

Q. How long does the application stay open?
A. The application process usually ends around May 1st, but sometimes we close it down earlier if we think we've already found our bands for each city.

Q. Does it matter if we get our application in right away?
A. No. It is not a race. Just because so-and-so band go their application in one hour after it went up does not mean that band has a better chance of getting picked. It's all about the answers, so take your time and answer the questions thoughtfully and seriously.

Q. When are the chosen bands announced?
A. We start announcing bands at random. All the bands are announced before the tour starts.

Q. How will we know if we got picked?
A. You will get an email from the tour. We will also post news on the site letting everyone know when the application is closed, and when we have started contacting bands. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time to email every single applicant to let them know whether or not they were picked, so we only contact the chosen bands.

Q. What is the most important factor you consider when you are choosing bands?
A. Honestly, it changes from band to band. Sometimes it's based only on music, sometimes it's based only on work ethic, but mostly it's a combination of both.

Q. Do KSS bands get paid?
A. We usually don't offer guarantees, but we do let bands keep 100% of their merch sales, and we usually feed them. (This varies from year to year.)

Q. Do KSS bands get to hang out backstage?
A. No. KSS bands get a limited-access pass that allows them to get in and out of the venue, and back to the production office and catering. Because there are already hundreds of people backstage, we have to limit the number of people wandering around.

Q. Our band has applied for the last X number of years and hasn't gotten picked. Why?
A. There is no rhyme or reason to who gets picked. It's all about your answers and your music. The best thing we can tell you is to keep working hard year-round, building up a following in your area, touring, and getting your name out there. The application should be the last thing on your list of "Things To Do To Get Your Band On Warped" -- you should have started working on this back in August.

Still have questions? Send them to questions [at] kevin says stage [dot] com