Accidental VIP: The Weird and Wonderful Backstage Life of a Musician

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Last week, Crimson Veil played a festival in Germany called Burning Pants. We knew it was going to be a fetish event, but it wasn’t until halfway through the day that we fully realised: we were basically playing a sex club’s summer party.

As usual, our artist passes gave us “Access All Areas” wristbands, so instead of heading back to the hotel, we stuck around for the afterparty. The club was full of weird and wonderful rooms and contraptions—a kind of playground for adults. We found a spot in the beer garden to hang out and waited for night to fall. Observing it all from a slightly detached perspective was fascinating—until a random naked woman sat down beside us. That was our cue to call it a night.

The Strange Perks of Accidental VIP

As a musician, this kind of situation is surprisingly normal. You often find yourself in places that make you uncomfortable, and the irony is, plenty of people would kill for your VIP pass—meanwhile, you’re wondering how you ended up at a party you’d honestly rather skip.

This wasn’t my first, and probably won’t be my last, fetish party. I’ve played at all kinds of strange and beautiful events, and that’s part of the magic: you never know where your music will take you next. Life is never boring.

Being backstage has become second nature. I’ve performed at intimate weddings, private parties, and NDA-covered events. You learn quickly: be cool, be respectful, be discreet.

When Your Heroes Become Your Colleagues

One of the surreal perks of the job is seeing famous musicians—sometimes quite literally—behind the masks. Backstage, it’s just normal people in dressing rooms, hanging out. I used to idolise the band Combichrist as a teenager, so touring with them was kind of a big deal for me. I was starstruck for about ten minutes before I settled into the rhythm of being their peer and just got on with the job.

You adapt fast in this line of work. Last year, I played a care home and a strip club on the same day. Another time, I rushed from a wedding to a rock gig. Not much phases me now.

One of my favorite odd gigs was at the Amex Stadium in Brighton for a Blind Veterans event. Mish and I had adapted perfectly to the event, but my violin case is plastered with stickers—including one from my friend Jason that says, “fuck pro tools.” In the lift, a guy stared at my case, paused, and just said, “Good-oh.” Sometimes, that’s all you can say. Good-oh.

The Price of Getting Paid in Fun

One thing I’ve come to realise: musicians are often paid in fun. There’s always a fridge full of beer. People constantly want to buy you drinks. And you find yourself in situations that most people only experience a few times in their lives. It can be easy to get swept away in it all. It’s taken me years to learn how to navigate that without losing myself.

When I’m at these wild events, it feels like there are two versions of me running side by side: the inner child whispering, “What the fuck, this is so cool,” and the adult saying, “Okay, time to get to work.” Growing up, I always felt like an outsider. Even now, part of me still feels like I’m sneaking into places I was never meant to be.

That said, I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything. The stories alone are priceless. I plan to write an autobiography someday because there’s just too much I don’t want to forget. It’s been a wild ride so far.

🎤 Question of the Week:

What’s the coolest backstage/VIP experience you’ve ever had?

Hana: At Cognac Blues Festival in France, we got treated to a full cognac tasting experience after our show, with endless cocktails and even an expensive bottle to take home. I remember thinking, people would pay serious money for this! (The rest of the night’s story is best left off the internet!)

Mish: During the Lordi tour, I was backstage while someone was testing these giant vampire wings for Mr. Lordi. It was so surreal. The crew member caught me staring and just said, “Just another day at the office.” And it really was.

😤 Weekly Whinge: Backstage Isn’t Always Glamorous

Mish: Boundaries, please! At Burning Pants, someone tried to hand me a GoPro mid-song—right in the middle of a delicate section. People expect you to go along with whatever they’re doing because they’re having fun. Sometimes you stop and think, hang on a minute — everyone’s having a good time. But am I having a good time?

Hana: Sometimes you’re the VIP, but you’re also “the help.” Like when I played The Hunger Games premiere. On the surface, it was glamorous, rubbing shoulders with celebrities. But eating Tesco sandwiches next to the bins in a cramped security office was a sobering reminder: we were just there to do a job.

Final Thought:

The life of a musician is a constant dance between surreal privilege and everyday grind. One minute you’re sipping top-shelf cognac backstage, the next you’re eating a soggy sandwich by the bins. You never quite know where you’ll end up—but you know you’ll have a story to tell.