WHAT HAPPENS IN..... YOU GET IT RIGHT?

Stays In Vegas is a band that plays hard rock and alternative rock music. Their sound ranges from gritty rock, grunge fueled anthems, erie dream songs to metal infused rock. With a sound that ranges from Nirvana, Green Day, Helmet, Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots, they're stage shows are energetic and interactive.

Their first album, Faces For The Moment. is a 10 song LP that has a array of sounds. Their second album, Revelations, is a 15 song LP effort that takes the bands sound from gritty rock to grunge/punk to alternative flare. Both albums are available at iTunes, CDBaby, Amazon, Spotify and on their webpage at www.staysinvegasofficial.com. They are currently working on their third studio album titled Kings of Queens and were recently nominated for three 2018 IMEA Rock category awards.

1.Introduce yourself and your band and tell us why we should listen to you.

Im Christopher Fulmer, vocalist and guitarist with the band Stays In Vegas. And I think you should listen to Stays In Vegas because we offer a different mix of sounds all in one band. From hard rock to grunge and punk to alternative all in one album. Something for everyone.

2.What do you classify your sound as, Who do you tell people you sound like?

We are a mix of genres and sounds. Most people say we sound like a mix of Helmet, Nirvana, Black Sabbath and Green Day. But have also said we sound like Deftones and Queensryche, but I don’t hear that haha

3.With digital music in today's world would you vote to keep or eliminate physical media?

I think physical media should stay, cause there are still people out there that believe album covers are considered art work and that the sound of having physical media like vinyl gives music its character. It is also much harder to sell our music at shows if its digital. Weve sold more CDs then the digital media download cards.

4.What is the reason you decided to be a musician and has that reason paid off?

Music is in my DNA, my grandfather and great grandfathers and unlces were musicians so its something Ive grown up with and around. And its an outlet for me, creatively, so its not really something I do but its who I am. So regardless, its paid off.

5.How do you feel about females in metal getting special attention? Do you feel it is fair?

Absolutely its fair, because women in metal rock!! I think female fronted metal and rock bands have always been, and will always be, more passionate and stronger!! Ive always gravitated to female fronted bands anyway cause the writing and sound seems to have more passion and emotion in it, and music is just emotional interpretation. Bands like Halestorm, Joan Jett, The Pretty Wreckless, Arch Enemy, Evanescence, Jinjer, Flyleaf, Guano Apes, Gin Wigmore, all seem far and away more passionate in their songwriting and you can feel it in the songs.

6.In the world climate with hatred being at an all time high and metal being an “ angry” music

Do you think your music contributes to anger and hatred?

Not at all. I don’t think our music projects anger or hatred, but the opposite. I think with some of the songs they may address the underlying issue that can cause hatred, which is depression. But most of our songs we try to influence the positive effect or tell how the negative was overcome rather than succumbed to. But I do think there are some artists that their songs and words could be interpreted as contributing to it, but metal and rock has always tried to influence positivity not negativity and hatred. And the metal community is a tight knit fmaily, always has been and they support each other. Ive seen mosh pits get pretty rough and then after you see them all hugging and laughing and that’s pure metal love!

7.Are you opposed to religious beliefs or politics being used in music?

Not at all opposed to it. Weve actually addressed religion or god in a few of our songs. Music is expression and it’s a way to express views on politics and religion. Bands like Rage Against the Machine have helped to bring political needs and issues to light that some people might never have known about otherwise. It’s the write of the artist to express their feelings through music, its also the listeners right to either keep listening or to not.

8.We have dive into some pretty deep issues here do you think your music sends a message and if so what is it?

I don’t personally think our music sends a certain message, but I do hope our music can effect some people in a positive way. Either letting them know that they are not alone and that there are others out there feeling the same way, regardless of how they feel and hopefully it can motivate them to make it through the tough times.

9.The market has changed and many bands believe that record labels are a thing of the past, with many labels now charging bands to “sign” how do you think a band can make it in todays scene?

I think the record labels are still needed, as big labels still have a way and means to launch bands further and promote and push bands further than they could themselves. But with social media and internet radio, bands don’t need major labels to be heard worldwide and that’s amazing. But I do think the market is more set for Indie labels to help bands more. With management, promotion and distribution most new bands don’t have the structure or understanding on how to properly manage and promote their sound, and indie labels can help with that.

10.Why with the thousands of options including netflix , sporting events everything on demand

Why do you think people should take the time to listen to what you have to say in your music?

Thats a great question, and not sure I can answer that because what we have to say, or specifically what I have to say in my lyrics, is basically just whats inside me coming out. Im not necessarily trying to say anything except this is what Ive gone through, maybe it can help you. Even with everything on demand, people still need outlets and need connection to others. Music helps us connect more than tv and other outlets. Going to shows and live music events allows large groups of people to connect emotionally. And leaving a music event youre usually pumped, connected, have meet and danced with new friends and old, and the energy lasts for days…you don’t get that anywhere else.

11.How do you feel about pay to play? Do you think it is fair for a band to have to pay money to play?

This is something that I hear a lot lately from fellow bands and also something we discuss a lot internally in Stays In Vegas. My viewpoint, and this is totally my viewpoint, is that there is a place for pay to play…but it depends on the return of a bands investment. A band is a business, plain and simple. For an up and coming business lets call the band a business) the key is to get their product out into the world and to market and promote that product the best they can. So for the first couple years a huge chunk of their operating budget is on advertising, promotion, and marketing. That’s commercials, doing events, giving out free samples, discounts, etc. A new beer company will send their prodcut into bars and offer free trials or $1 drafts and pay venues to market their product. For a band it’s the same thing. If you pay $500-$800 to buy on to a huge festival and get an afternoon slot, you paid $800 to get your product into a market that it never would have gotten into. And if there are 1,000 people that hear your music that day, you just paid basically $0.80 per person to hear your song and possibly like you page, download your music, buy your shirt. And if you are there handing out free downloads at a 50,000 person event and 10% of the people download your song…that’s 5,000 downloads. Would you pay $800 to market your music to 50,000 people? Absolutely.

As a vendor, some business will pay $1,000-$1,500 for a booth at a large industry event or to sponsor that event…its marketing and promotion. Then they give out free SWAG with their logo. Bands have the same opportunity with pay to play. You can either stay playing your local venue in front of 2-100 of your friends and locals and make $50-$100, or you can pay $500 or more and play at a huge festival in front of 1,000’s of potential new fans and get in front of potential market. That’s a no brainer. But you have to play it smart…some events, tours, buy ons are not profitable.

12.It is fact that you are the talent and the entertainment explain what you think is the most important key to success?

Getting out in front of people, playing and honing your craft, and making smart decisions. Playing the same venue in the same town 10-20 times a year is digging yourself into a hole. Branch out, play venues out of town even if it doesn’t pay, get in front of new fans, do show sharing with other bands and promote each other. Don’t try to compete with other bands but become family and make it a music community. That helps everyone grow.

13.In country music and even in some cases rock music is written and performed by different people would your band perform a song written by someone else?

Ya, absolutely. If it’s a great song and it fits our band. Every band has played someone elses song. Weve all played cover songs before, and made it our own. Using another songwriters song and making it your own is basically the same thing.

14.If you are pro female in music are you pro using sex to sell your music?

Yup…sex sells and we are all in music to make money. As long as its tasteful or funny, then we would no problem. But not if its negative, or degrading.

15.What is your view on the lawsuits against people saying lewd or unprofessional things to women or men and how does that affect an art described as sex drugs and rock n roll ?

The whole sex, drugs and rock and roll viewpoint has changed with rock for sure. Its still engrained in the industry and in the art, absolutely. But not as flamboyantly advertised that’s for sure. Not like it was for the 80’s hair metal bands. But we are animatedly against any aggresion towards women and men in that way, it has no place in any industry.

16. Ok lets lighten up a bit. What is your favorite band of all time and why?

For me, my favorite band of all time is Nirvana. I know that seems cliché now, but their music helped me emotionally, physically and musically and it connects to me more than any other band. And there is not a single song I don’t like. In Utero is my fav album ever and I think its perfect.

17.What would you be doing if you were not in a band?

What Im doing anyway which is my day job (safety consultant) but also doing solo acoustic shows which I do touring across the country when Stays In Vegas is on downtime.

18. Do you have a favorite sports team?

Arkansas Razorbacks…college football. But I think Im the only sports fan in the band. I know the other guys, Glen and Blake, are wrestling fans but not me.

19.If you could get on stage with anyone dead or alive who would it be?

Chris Cornell…think that would be amazing.

20.This is your shot to let loose, Throw down your biggest complaint about the music biz

I think the biggest issue with the music business is that it focuses mainly on one genre at a time and they close themselves off to other genres that are just as impactful. If you look at award shows like the Grammys, VMAs, etc its mostly Pop, Rap and Country and they leave off rock, alternative, etc and keep saying its dying. But Foo Fighters sell out Wembley stadium to 100,000+, events like Reading, Lallapalooza, Riot Fest, Rock in Rio…all show that rock is far from dead and still deserves a place up front!