bicycle-powered rock tour
Contributing your skills to a bicycle-powered rock tour
Reply to: comm-776679300@craigslist.orgDate: 2008-07-30, 7:16PM
Thanks for your interest in sustainable touring.
A lot of groups talk about saving the Earth. Most do important work, but often fail
to minimize the real impact of their travel, using hybrids, biofuel vehicles,
jets or even regular gas hogs to move. The Ginger Ninjas are trying to practice the
preach and raise the bar in earth friendly gigging.
We just returned from touring 5000 miles from Northern California to Southern Mexico
on bicycles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZbAIiTZ9bk), unsupported by automobile
and using no wall outlets for power. We carried all instruments (even a full drum
kit) and sound reinforcement equipment on our bikes; all electricity to power the
sound was generated by audience members pedaling and harnessing the energy of the
spinning back wheel, using a system we designed.
We are now setting out to spread the word about the high energy, low impact bicycle
lifestyle to a broader audience. In September, October, and November, we will be
cycling around the East Coast on the first leg of our Pleasant Revolution World
Tour.
We travel and work in a grassroots style and rely on the support of our friends,
family, and community. We look for volunteers who want to be part of one of the
coolest music events and environmental actions in a long time. All of us who toured
Mexico know it as one of the most profound personal experiences of our lives; it
would be a blessing to share more of the same magic with you.
Here’s a taste of what needs to be done in each city for a successful tour:
• Securing local sponsors (financial and in-kind)
• Local press outreach (radio, newspaper, tv, bloggers)
• Networking with Local Environmental and Bicycle Organizations
• Online and Design Teams (Myspace, emails, web/pod casts, design flyers, etc.)
• Street Team (pass out flyers, put up posters, etc.)
• A local bicyclist to escort us into and out of town
• Lodging
• Meals
“One of the best concerts of my life.” - Arturo Garcia, Meretrices Literary Review
“With each number the crowd got louder, larger and more appreciative. Between songs,
a man wearing riding chaps and a Stetson came up and said that he never liked
American rock music-until now. For the rest of the set people were practically
fighting each other for the opportunity to pedal-power the band.” - Stanford
Magazine article about the Mexican tour
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www.myspace.com/gingermyninja
www.myspace.com/crystalstafford
www.pleasantrevolution.net
www.gingerninjas.com
www.sonicbids.com/thegingerninjas