#i wanted to let you all know yesterday evening after the abq ritual

[sleepanonymous]

I need to update this post with my experience from Phoenix and Albuquerque.

TLDR: Giving presents to the Sleep Token's Crew (they wear black shirts with runes spelling "crew") while they're working Sleep Token's merch table is 100% the best way to get a gift or letter to the band during the Teeth of God tour.

In Phoenix, my friend planned on giving a lyric book she hand-bound to Vessel. My group lined up at 5:30 in the morning, and ended up being 4-10th in line over all, guaranteeing us a barricade spot. We were early enough that we saw Sleep Token's and Empire State Bastard's busses roll up but never saw any crew (specifically recognizable crew like Adam, Thom, or Sam) despite making regular trips around the venue.

After soundcheck, around 4pm, we did spot three crew members standing near the line chatting with each other. I pointed them out to my friend, and recognized one but didn't know his name. Thinking we still had 2ish hours, she decided to wait, but we didn't see crew after that.

Inside the venue, while waiting to get into the pit section (people who bought a Fast Pass were let in half an hour early to the merch/concession area) we once again saw two of the three same crew members that were spotted outside a few hours prior, but my friend was nervous about trying to talk to them and leaving the line at the doors leading to the pit area.

She waited until after the set, after the last song, deciding to try to hand the book to Vessel directly, since all of us were right in front of his mic stand. We called out for him, but after bowing he started to walk away and we assumed he just didn't see or thought it was a sign and not a gift for him (he was having slight vision problems all night, so no salt towards him).

Then we spotted Adam at the back of the stage so we all called out for him and he stopped and looked, if I remember correctly he even did a double-take and pointed at himself. When we pointed out the book, trying to ask him to take it he gave us the saddest eyes ever and apologized before walking backstage. Sam was still out, so we tried him next, but he was either hardcore ignoring us or had something going on in his in-ears (most likely the later, he was working after all).

The venue's head of security said they couldn't hand anything off (which was expected) but he suggested that we head around toward the busses and wait there to see if we could catch any of Sleep Token's crew, so that's what we did next. We didn't have a lot of time, plus we had all been awake since before 4 in the morning, so that was also a bust.

The next night, at Albuquerque, I was alone. Another friend asked if I could get her a shirt, so my gameplan was to buy merch then stand near the back for Sleep Token and try to get a good view of II (since the new mic stand is my arch nemesis and was constantly hiding him from view for the first 2 rituals). While waiting in the merch line I saw one of the same crew guys from Phoenix working the merch table, along with two other crew members I was unfamiliar with. I was lucky enough to be helped by the crew guy I did recognize.

While waiting in line I gathered the courage to ask him why the band wasn't accepting gifts, expecting a brief "for their security" answer or something similar. Instead, he told me that if I had a letter or present for Sleep Token he could take it, as long as it wasn't food/edible. I mentioned that a friend had tried giving the band something in Phoenix the previous night. I think he thought I meant directly to the merch booth crew, and told me they weren't working merch that venue. I don't remember who was working the table, just that it was insanely crowded in Phoenix, but I think they were in white shirts, not black. But I can confirm that this specific Crew guy was not working the merch table in Phoenix because I saw him elsewhere.

I mentioned bringing something to Red Rocks (my next and last ritual) but he said Sleep Token crew working merch at that ritual was iffy, just like at Phoenix. I brought up pop-ups as well and he said they're already looking into places for Denver and New York, but that's iffy as well (locations being difficult to find).

Regardless, he was 100% willing to take a gift for the band and I wish I had his name or Instagram handle or something for you all. A basic description is he's tall (over six feet easily), has short brunet hair, a nose ring, and tattoos including one or two on his face. He's literally one of the nicest guys ever, so if you spot him don't be nervous and ask him to hand off your letter/gift. Also, ask for his name because I'm dying trying to find it lol.

This is my guess as to what happened in Phoenix: If we had gone up and asked the guys in the black Crew shirts we would have definitely gotten the lyric book to Vessel. After the ritual Vessel simply didn't see us, and both Adam and Sam were incredibly busy after the ritual.

Do you know what's the best way to get a letter or something of the sort to the guys? Try to hand it to someone during one of their concerts or is there some other (better) way?

Hello Anon, ty for the ask 🖤 I do know of a couple ways to get a letter or item to Sleep Token, yeah. Letter-wise, this might be your best bet. It's a fanmade compilation of letters to Vessel specifically, that a couple of really awesome fans are creating. The link to that post has an FAQ about what is allowed and how to submit to the project, and you can also follow the #thelovevesselneedsbook tag here on Tumblr.

Another option, especially if it's a letter for one of the other band members or a gift, would be to seek out one of the tour crew. If you're going to one of the Australian or UK rituals, then you can try handing the item off to the band's photographer Adamross. He's been fairly chatty with fans in the past and I'm sure he's been asked to give the band notes and gifts before. His Instagram handle is @adamrosssi (but I think he's more active on his TikTok).

If you'll be attending the Teeth of God tour this May, you're in luck because the band's touring MUA, Shevy Marie, has been vocal about wanting to meet fans as well as offering to accept and hand off gifts and letters to the band. Aside from stage costumes and makeup, she helps run the merchandise booths, so you can find her there. Her Instagram handle is @shevyymariee if you want to give her a follow. She's typically vocal while on your and posts to her stories, but you might also be able to chat with her on one of her lives and ask her directly about handing off a letter or gift.

If you don't happen to run into either Adam or Shevy, you can still try to give the letter/item to whoever is working the merch booth for Sleep Token, just be aware that they are working and there's most likely going to be a long and impatient line behind you.

The last way that you might be able to get a letter or more specifically a gift, to Sleep Token would be by handing it to them directly while they're on stage. Obviously, this will only work if you're on the barricade or trust the crowd around you enough to pass whatever you're gifting up to the front. I can also almost guarantee that the security/bouncers between the barricade and stage will not accept and hand off gifts from fans unless specifically asked by the band or crew. I don't recommend this option, since it would be such a high-variable situation, but this is how fans have gotten things such as notes/letters/signs, stuffed animals, silly hats, and jewelry to the guys (but also, for the love of god, please do not throw things on stage, especially directly at one of the band members or their crew).

One last thing (and I know this wasn't part of the question at all but I'm seizing the opportunity to go off on this tangent): Whatever you give to the band, remember that they have to travel home with it. They're essentially living out of a tour bus and hotel rooms while on tour, and already have limited luggage space. On top of that, they'd have to pack the gift and get whatever it is through customs when they get back home to the UK.