this is horribly depressing. sounds like someone went to a lot of trouble to get that van, as if they knew it was going to be there.

sucks...even though i never heard of them.

as someone in a band that tours in a van, I can't even begin to express how much this sucks. especially considering the size of the band, we all know they don't have a ton of money to just go out and replace it. this scares me for my upcoming tour, but mostly I just feel terrible about this happening to them, or any band. good luck film school! If you have a benefit in NYC I'll throw down 20

these people need to stop leaving their shit out where it can get stole

wow how do you saw through a Club? and if somebody can do it in short amount of time, it kind of begs the question if they're worth the trouble at all.

What else could they possibly have done save for sleeping in the van?
Someone obviously knew exactly what was in there to go through all that trouble. Probably someone who was at their show the night before. Terrible.

What else could they have done? Um...maybe BROUGHT THE GEAR INTO THE HOTEL?

Look for a local Philly band to come out with some tracks that sound exactly like Film School

According to an update email the band sent last night, "As for the rest of the tour, here's what's happening:

Wed-DC - cancelled;
Thur-Providence - cancelled;
Friday-Wellesely College - cancelled;
Sat-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Sun-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Monday- Memphis - ???;
all SXSW shows are still on."

According to an update email the band sent last night, "As for the rest of the tour, here's what's happening:

Wed-DC - cancelled;
Thur-Providence - cancelled;
Friday-Wellesely College - cancelled;
Sat-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Sun-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Monday- Memphis - ???;
all SXSW shows are still on."

According to an update email the band sent last night, "As for the rest of the tour, here's what's happening:

Wed-DC - cancelled;
Thur-Providence - cancelled;
Friday-Wellesely College - cancelled;
Sat-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Sun-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Monday- Memphis - ???;
all SXSW shows are still on."

Wouldn't the owner of the lot be liable for any loss in that case?

According to an update email the band sent last night, "As for the rest of the tour, here's what's happening:

Wed-DC - cancelled;
Thur-Providence - cancelled;
Friday-Wellesely College - cancelled;
Sat-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Sun-Mercury Lounge - still on;
Monday- Memphis - ???;
all SXSW shows are still on."

as a member of a band that has gone on tour and played in some sketchy cities: no matter what, two people sleep in the van at all times. we switched off through the whole tour and we never had a problem. if you're on the road and pretty much all of your wordly possessions are in one little van, you better damn well make sure it's not going to get stolen.

1998. My band was signed to a Very Cool Label. Our spring tour took us to Chicago. I slept in the van because that night we couldn't park in a locked lot. Around 4 a.m. I was rudely awakened to some asshole BREAKING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. yeah, you think that startled me? How about when I fucking yelled at him and he ran, but not before SHOOTING A FUCKING TIRE.

Yeah, that was a great night.

yo heather, shut the fuck up

hey heather...what's the scoop, hun?

I remember bands getting their vans stolen once every six months or so in Philly a few years back..but then again, they had their vans parked on random street corners...

Sorry for the multiple posts. Having computer trouble.

Good lessons above on sleeping in a van - but another good rule of thumb is having an equipment inventory written out and kept in a safe place, in the event thievery does take place.

hi all, i was curious as to what's happening with the rest of their tour?

this is about 20th band this year to get their shit stolen ! ~ someone needs to do something about this fucking situation

Guaranteed the lot attendant was in on this. Doubtful you're getting through a closed fence without inside help.

Hotel is probably not liable, as they likely disclaim all liability when you book the room.
Same as clubs with their 'Not responsible for lost or stolen articles' signs at the entrance.

A killstart switch for the engine would've been a good move- next time.

they found the van

Jeezlouise, every time a band gets decimated by robbers a bunch of people post here second guessing what they coulda-woulda-shoulda done. If they were rational about everything they did, they would be working on Wall Street. Thank God they're not! They're artists! That's why they need mommies, girlfriends, insurance policies, and lawyers. Why don't all you mousepad altruists contact your favorite bands Before they get robbed and offer them advice on how to not get their vans stolen on tour? They will probably greatfully send you a t-shirt.

here's what i woulda done: set up a decoy set of instruments out in another area of the parking lot...maybe under some tarp... using cardboard acoustic guitars, toystore keyboards and whatnot. and tie a bunch of sleighbells to the fake instruments so that when the crackhead robber tries to snake em, it makes racket, and you can call the cops on their faked-out asses, meanwhile they're standing there baffled, and they drop what they're doing and jet, or maybe they break down crying because they're crackheads and under emotional strain.
my point is, get creative guys, you know? that's how you gotta be in this life. but that's just my 2 cents.