Sappenin’ Podcast with Sean Smith EP. 380 - Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour)
Mar 6, 2026
Kevin Lyman, founder and longtime producer of the Vans Warped Tour and college professor, walks through reviving Warped and teaching students through the reboot. He talks lineup changes, keeping tickets affordable, booking early-career stars like Eminem and Katy Perry, backstage culture, touring folklore, diverse new acts, and wild on-site stories—all in short, high-energy storytelling.
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Eminem Booking Sparked Fan Backlash And Realisation
- Kevin recalled his first major backlash when he booked Eminem and received death threats from upset fans, marking the moment Warped became personal for attendees.
- The 1999 Eminem booking showed how passionately fans claimed ownership of the festival's identity.
Build New Events On Established Festival Foundations
- Study existing festival foundations and reuse successful mechanics instead of reinventing everything when building events.
- Lyman recommends respecting proven practices (billing, scheduling) then tweaking them to create something new.
Katy Perry And Eminem Were Low Paid Early Warped Acts
- Kevin told how he booked Katy Perry early in her career and paid emerging acts very little (Katy around $500 a show) while protecting their Warped Tour experience.
- He contrasted that with Eminem ($5,000 a show) and described letting artists stay on the tour bubble to build live skills and fan connections.