www.EarnItYourself.com

4:00pm - 6:00pm: FREE all-ages Scene Meet-Up

• Sarah Saturday presents: The Earn It Yourself philosophy and movement
   
• Q&A and round-table discussion about your local music scene
   
• Distribution of Warped Tour promotional materials and street team pledge cards
   
• Swap meet: bring something to share with the group (CDs, flyers, business cards, etc.)

6:30pm - 9:00pm: All-ages Vans Warped Tour showcase

• For the EIY Spot on the 2011 Kevin Says Stage at your local Warped show

• Local bands nominated by local music fans and other bands in your local music scene
   
• One band in each city will be chosen to represent their scene on the Vans Warped Tour this summer
   
• Come out to show your support for the bands in your community

Following the success of last yearʼs debut of the EIY “Scene Meet Ups” during the Vans Warped Tour, organizers have announced a continued partnership with the launch of the first-ever EARN IT YOURSELF SPRING (INTO ACTION) TOUR presented by The Vans Warped Tour, hitting US cities this May. The tour will bring a music scene meet-up for anyone interested in working with the Vans Warped Tour, an interactive EIY workshop, and a nightly showcase of the best local artists in each city.

Created and cultivated by Warped Tour veteran SARAH SATURDAY, the Earn It Yourself movement and EIY Scene Meet Ups were the sleeper hit of last summer's tour, giving fans, musicians and future music business leaders unprecedented backstage and behind-the- scenes access. The group participated in panel discussions with Warped tour founder Kevin Lyman, tour manager Lisa Brownlee, and a daily assortment of special guests, including author of Tour:Smart, Martin Atkins and a revolving list of artists, managers, agents and promoters. Fans interacted with the panel, asking questions and engaging in round-table conversations that included topics such as the local music scene, personal experiences from industry veterans, and brainstorming sessions by the group addressing individual questions and offering advice.

Some of the music industry experts that participated in the EIY Meet-Ups include Mike Shea (Alternative Press Magazine), Dave Weier (Fuse), Paul Tollett (Goldenvoice), Bill Armstrong (Side One Dummy Records), Lou Plaia (ReverbNation), Rob Hitt (Crush Management), Randy Nichols (Force Media Management), Darryl Eaton (CAA), Mike Kaminsky (KMGMT), Eddy Numbskull (Numbskull Productions), Stephen Chilton (Psyko Steve Presents), Lisa Johnson (Photographer), Russel Hornbeek (Music Saves Lives), and members from such bands as Polar Bear Club, Bouncing Souls, Four Year Strong, H20, River Boat Gamblers, Terrible Things, Fishbone and more.The group even got a surprise drop-in from Tom Morello, who told meet-up attendees in San Diego about the early DIY days of Rage Against The Machine.

"We had such a great response from everyone who attended the meet-ups on last year's tour, that we decided to have a little Warped Tour reunion before this year's tour, and give everyone a chance to get more involved at the grassroots level,” explains Lyman. "The EIY meet-ups on Warped were a terrific opportunity to meet with kids all over the country who are struggling with the same issues that we have all struggled with,” describes Martin Atkins. “Sarah really cares about all of this and didn't just do a great job of bringing together a group of kids to sit down with a very busy Kevin Lyman every day, but she also worked tirelessly on EIY and her own music, creating merchandise on the floor of the bus, stitching, printing, talking, organizing, meeting and performing each day. She is an inspiration to anyone that really wants to do it.” Veteran tour manager Lisa Brownlee says of her experience: “The EIY meet-ups gave me a renewed sense of what it means to give back to the music community by sharing my life experiences. The EIY ethic is how I was able to start at the very bottom in the music industry 20 years ago and then work my way to the top. Through hard work, determination, ability and time, I was able to break through the typically male dominated industry to find myself tour managing some of the biggest festivals in the US today. The music business has changed quite a bit since I started my quest to succeed, but the path to that success will never change. I was fortunate enough to have a mentor such as Kevin Lyman who believed in me and now it is my turn to try and guide people just like myself to their goals no matter what obstacles they may see ahead."

Saturday and her team of programmers and designers are launching a new Earn It Yourself website in correlation with the tour. Plans for the new site include expanding on the Scene Feed functionality that shows usersʼ posts and events from their own communities; adding a personal blog for Sarah to post articles, advice, interviews, and other resources; expanding on the current Venue Database, and creating a mobile phone application for users to interact with the site through their smartphones. The site will continue to be not-for-profit as it has been since its launch in 2006.

"The purpose of the EIY philosophy has been developing for nearly ten years, as I have personally gone through all different types of experiences within the music industry," Sarah explains. “After spending a year on the road in 2010 -- both performing as a DIY solo musician and holding these meet-ups with people all over the continent -- I now realize that EIY's purpose is to bridge the gap between the old guard and the up-and-comers in the underground music community. Teaming up with Warped Tour after the amazing success of the EIY meet-ups on last year's tour is an incredible opportunity for music supporters all over the place to start working towards rebuilding and supporting their own local scenes. I owe so much to Kevin Lyman, and I am honored to be spear-heading a grassroots street team effort for this summer's Warped Tour."

Sarah has been helping deserving local bands get on the Kevin Says Stage on the Warped Tour since 2004, creating the "EIY Spot" on the stage in 2008. In the past, the submission process for this coveted spot was held strictly online. This year, bands will get the chance to bring their fans and perform live at the EIY Spring (Into Action) Tour, for a chance to represent their scene on the Kevin Says Stage in 2011.

But there's a catch: "Band contests are so self-centered these days, and there is already too much competition among unsigned bands," says Saturday. "I didn't want to put bands through the usual self- nomination ringer this time around. One of the most important things I want to encourage through EIY is the importance of bands working together and supporting each other within their own community, so this year bands are going to be asked to nominate one band from their local scene who they think deserves a chance to play Warped Tour this summer. And it can't be themselves."

For all the details on how to submit, go to www.earnityourself.com.