Buzz Bake Sale 2008

Written by: Carla Wright
Photos by: Carla Wright




 Avenged Seven Fold headlined the annual Buzz Bake sale in West Palm Beach this year.

Fan reaction to the announcement was positive, that was, until the band dissed their south florida hard-core fan base at the show. Meet and Greets are common place at a concert; Avenged Seven Fold was no exception.

However, when Avenged Seven Fold decided to not meet and greet with fans (for unexplained reasons) one fan in particular, Michelle Myott, sat down with me at the Livenation booth and gave her recollection of the event.

Michelle : Buzz Bake sale made meet and greet passes available to meet the bands at a tent with the purchase of the bands CD. So I bought the CD and got the wrist band and their singing was at 6:45 and I got there before 6:00 and there was already a huge line. So we are waiting there and then at 6:55 some guy comes on the microphone and announces that the band will not be signing anything because they didn't feel like it.


Carla: Did he give any other explanation besides "they didn't feel like it?"


Michelle: He said that it was up to the band if they wanted to do or not and the band right before the signing (not even early in the day) when everyone was waiting, decided that they didn't want to it anymore because they didn't feel like it. So they didn't have too. So the announcer said he didn't know why but they just didn't feel like doing it anymore.


Carla: How many people would you say were waiting in line for the signing?


Michelle: I would say 200 people because that's how many wrist bands they sold. So I'm sure they sold out. Even after they announced it there was still people in waiting in line because when we left there was still a huge line of about 100 people still waiting in line.


Carla: So, what was the fans reaction?


Michelle: Completely chaos. A7X (Avenged Sevenfold) went on stage to do an interview where they should have been doing the signing so the crowd was chanting and rioting for the band to sign their stuff and that they were sell outs and what not. The band was pretending that they didn't notice but it obvious because everyone was cursing them out.


Carla: Who was conducting the interview?


Michelle: 103.1 the buzz.


Carla: Do you know who exactly?


Michelle: Ross I think.


Carla: Do you think this affected their fan base a little or do you think it had no impact what so ever.


Michelle: I really hope so. Because it obvious that a lot of people who were at the concert were there for avenged seven fold or were wearing A7X t-shirts and the line of people was hard-core dedicated and for them to call their favorite band a sell out and to curse them out definitely. changed their fans impression of them, especially mine. I have no more respect for them. I hope now people in southern fl. Think of them differently.


Carla: Did any other bands do meet and greets at buzz bake sale?


Michelle: All of them.


Carla: All of them came out for the meet and greet?


Michelle: Correct.


Carla: Except for Avenged Seven Fold, the headliner?


Michelle: Yeah.


Carla: Where were you sitting for the concert?


Michelle: I was on the lawn.


Carla: Did it look like people left during avenged seven fold?


Michelle: I think a lot of people (from the line) went over to the lawn because I heard a lot of people booing the band from there but I do think a lot of people did leave but mainly I think they moved over to the lawn because they didn't care anymore.


Carla: Would you buy another ticket to see A7X?


Michelle: No! Hell no! Because it was 12 dollars for the wrist band to meet them, so no.


Carla: Oh, they charged for the wrist band?


Michelle: Yeah! You had to buy the CD there and then they gave you the wrist band with the purchase of the CD.


Carla: Oh ok. So they made you buy a product and then you got the wrist band.


Michelle: Yeah and if you went to an FYE store they will give you a refund, but it's not like they are going to contact every single FYE in Miami and let them know (since the show was in West Palm) and it's a pain because I don't know where one is around here. So, pretty much everyone got their money robbed by them (the band).


Carla: So you had to pay 12 dollars to get their CD and then because you got their CD you got the wrist band to meet and greet them?


Michelle: Yeah and also a lot of people paid 20 or 22 for a live DVD instead. You could either get the CD for 12 or the live DVD for 22 but I think I lot of people got that.


Carla: So there was 2 options, a live DVD or a CD? Was there a notice anywhere on their product that said, "buy this product and you will meet avenged seven fold?"?


Michelle: There was a external notice given when you buy a CD they give you a wrist band and they say these wrists bands are for the signing of the band and at the tent they had posted the times of each band signing. So, when you get the wrist band they tell you that this wrists band is for the signing of the band and you get it when you buy the CD.


Carla: So, essentially people are buying the products now to get that wrist band for the meet and greet so they can meet the band so they can get signed what they just bought.


Michelle: Yeah it has nothing to do with the CD it's about meeting them. I don't think anyone bought the CD just to have it.


Carla: So, basically you are purchasing goods and in return are suppose to get a service. But instead you purchased the goods and never got the service! You could have bought that CD or DVD at anytime! Probably for cheaper!


Michelle: Yeah and you want to know the funny thing that they said? That they would do? The announcer said the band didn't want to leave us empty handed so the buzz said if you called into the radio station (which is a waste of time because it's always busy) you call in and they will send a autographed poster of avenged seven fold if you don't get your refund back. Which is stupid because they don't get the wrist band for the autograph they get it to meet the band.


Carla: So the Buzz was like, oh sorry about A7X, we will try and compensate you in some way.


Michelle: Yeah. I think it was A7X idea too though because they didn't want to leave you empty handed, so they gave the Buzz 200 autographed posters to give away to people that call in for them; assuming you take the time to get through the lines to the radio stations.


Carla: Anything else you want to add?


Michelle: Flogging Molly!!! They were the only good thing about the show.