How To Succeed In Punk Rock Without Even Swearing
Source: Bam
Date: May 30, 1997
 

Stormy Shepherd is the eighth wonder of the punk rock world. Why? Well, at the young age of 26, Stormy operates her own independent booking agency that handles 27 of the biggest and best names in punk rock--the Offspring, Rancid, L7, Auntie Christ, Lunachicks and Stone Fox, just to name a few. But that's not what makes her so unique. Even though Stormy has staked her claim in the punk rock profession, she doesn't schmooze, drink, smoke or even swear. So what the fuck is she doing in this
business? Read on...

It all started while Stormy was a teenager growing up in Salt Lake City, UT. Because many touring bands skipped her hometown, Stormy grew more and more frustrated about missing out until she finally did something about it. On her own accord, Stormy rented out various local halls and invited bands to play. At first, the shows only attracted a handful of friends. But after a few months, the attendance grew to over 1,000 people. Without the aid of promoters or ticket agencies, Stormy managed to pull in such talent as Fugazi and Rocket From the Crypt. And this was all while Stormy was still in high school.

One local punk band, Insight, were so impressed by Stormy's accomplishments, they asked her to book their tour of the U.S. With only a few contact numbers written on her Pee-chee folder, Leave Home Booking (named after the Ramones album, of course) was born.

Two years later, Stormy relocated to LA where she handled a few punk bands, including the then-unknown Offspring. Within months, the Offspring were catapulted into the punk rock stratosphere and found themselves an overnight success. But even though the band were barraged with offers from larger and more established booking agents, they stuck with Stormy. "I told Bryan [Offspring vocalist "Dexter" Holland] that he should go with someone who had more experience," Stormy says. "but he refused. Because of
his loyalty, I was able to get invaluable experience that, in turn, enabled me to continue working with bands like Rancid and NOFX."

When you take into account Stormy's hard-driving work ethic and her natural "mother hen" tendencies, it's not surprising that the bands have remained loyal. Above all, Stormy knows it's her job to make sure the bands' needs are always tended to. "I don't think a band should have to worry about the business end of things," she says regarding her professional policy. "They already have so much to think about. I just want them to be able to go onstage, play their music and not have to worry about anything else."

Currently, Stormy's in the midst of what she claims is her biggest accomplishment: the Offspring, L7 and A.F.I. tour. Because she represents all three bands, it's quite a challenge. "I have two tours right now," states Stormy. "the Offspring tour, which I book into these huge venues, and then on the other side of the spectrum, I'm booking the [Berkeley-based] Criminals into tiny punk clubs and squatter gigs."

But the job does come with occupational hazards. Stormy recalls one situation: "Once I booked a tour that was a benefit show for the people of a Native American reservation who were being evicted from their land. When I went to collect the money from one of the promoters, he pulled a gun on me and said he wasn't going to pay the charity."

So what did a nice girl from Utah do?

"Well," she replies matter of factly, "I asked him if his gun was registered. He looked at me with a puzzled expression and then forked over the dough."

Now that the popularity of punk rock has peaked--within the mainstream, that is--have the newer trends like techno and electronica taken a bite out of the business? "Definitely not," she answers adamantly. "A lot of people are still going out to see live music. In fact, the bands are even getting paid a little more. Besides," she adds with a smile, "the raves don't start until after the shows are over, anyway."