By Waldo L. Jaquith
11/08/01

On Sunday, October 21st, VH1 aired an hour-long episode of their semi-regular show, FanClub, devoted to Dave Matthews Band fans. The show focused on four fans, though the most time was spent on uber-fan Sarah Bay. Sarah, a student at the University of Colorado, wasn't merely interviewed, but actually got to meet Dave Matthews backstage at a concert. For many viewers she really stuck out, notably because of her experience as a Junior at Columbine High School at the time of the shootings on April 20, 1999, and how the music of Dave Matthews Band helped her get through it. We are pleased that Sarah took the time to speak with us and subsequently submit to this fairly lengthy interview.

nancies.org: You started out a regular fan, and now you're recognized as one of the biggest DMB fans in the country. What was the process for getting on the show? Why you?

Sarah Bay: It seems so silly to me to now be recognized as one of the biggest DMB fans in the country. I don't feel that I am as qualified as others, but for whatever reason, VH1 thought my story was unique.

As far as the process is concerned, initially, I filled out the same form as the rest who visited the nancies.org site. A few weeks later, I received an e-mail from a person at VH1 asking me to send them a video about how DMB influences my life, and to talk more about at my "fandom." At this point, I sort of just blew it off. I didn't really want to take the time to do a video, just to be turned down as soon as I sent it in. Also, I was moving and starting a new job. I simply didn't have the time to do it. So a couple weeks passed, and I received a second email from VH1 asking if I was still interested in doing the video. I figured that they really wanted to see something from me, so I quickly recorded myself talking about DMB and their influence on my life. A few weeks after I sent it in, they asked me for another video, this time interviewing friends and family and talking about the band and their influence in my life. Once I sent this video in, they e-mailed me with some logistical questions, like what dates would work best with my schedule, etc. About three days after that, they called me at work and told me I was one of four people chosen for the show.

Why me? I am not exactly sure. VH1 wanted to show a small sampling of all the fans that DMB has. Personally, I think it is hard to define what the biggest fan of DMB is. There are so many facets to the fans that it is impossible to show it all in a single person. VH1 tried to have a cross-section of fans, because it would be boring to show four fans who collected all the memorabilia, went to all the shows, etc. I think I appealed to the emotional side that each fan has with the music. To a certain extent, the music affects us all on an emotional level, and we can link an event or every minute in our lives to a song or songs. My story, from what I heard, definitely had an emotional impact on people.

n.org: What went into the actual recording of the show, doing the interviews, working with VH1 and all that?

SB: It was a two-day process that involved three carloads of people; the producers, the technical crew, and myself. We filmed at my house, Red Rocks amphitheater, the cemetery where Rachel was buried, my workplace, and on the University of Colorado campus. The overall process was very professional, but only having two days to record everything that DMB meant to me was not long enough and I felt slightly rushed. Some of the interviews were a bit forced, but most of that was not shown. It was hard to act normal with a microphone on and a camera crew following me everywhere I went. Put in that situation, I always wanted to say something smart or profound, but I feel that I ended up sounding ridiculous (at times). I think it was a good experience for me to work with VH1 and to understand all that goes into putting on a show like this. I am just glad that I didn't have to take the 10 tapes of interviews for each person and condense them into 15 minutes.

n.org: When you ended up talking to Dave in private, with the cameras turned off, what did you two talk about? Did it feel like a real discussion, or like you were being humored?

SB: First of all, Dave really wanted the cameras to be turned off. After telling him about Rachel and writing the quote on her casket, his eyes sort of welled up. He turned to the producer and asked how much of this (meaning Dave and I talking) they really needed on tape, and asked that the cameras be turned off. When the cameras were turned off, we talked more about what was going to be played that night. I asked if "Bartender" was going to be played, and he told me that it was. Then Dave went on to tell me that "Bartender" is probably one of the best songs he'd ever written. So, we talked about that, and how music is such a healer in times of trouble. I am not exactly sure what all we talked about, because the meeting was so surreal. You can't exactly have your game face on when about 10 other people are in the room listening to every word you are saying.

After talking for about 15 minutes, Dave told me that he had to go introduce Wyclef, but he told me that he wanted to talk to me without everyone around. He asked for my phone number, and I gladly wrote it down for him. I wasn't expecting anything, knowing how busy Dave is, but he called me the next morning. Again, it was a surreal experience, having Dave call my house at 8:30 in the morning, and I don't remember all of the conversation. I wished I had a tape recorder or something so I could remember more of the conversation! We talked about the show and he wanted to make sure I had enjoyed myself. Then he told me that "Two Step" was added to the set list for Rachel and I. To have Dave tell me that was an incredible feeling. My story must have really touched him in some way.

I am glad that I was able to reach Dave, because I felt that in some way I gave back to him what he had done for me. For the rest of the twenty minute conversation, we talked about how music is one of the best things for coping with tragedy, and he told me that he knew the world was in good hands after seeing the way that people like myself coped with Columbine. I have to admit that was such an ego booster, and it also helped me close the door to a very difficult chapter in my life.

Before we hung up, Dave told me that this was not the last time our paths would cross. Then we said our goodbyes. At no time did I feel that I was being humored. I felt that Dave was genuinely interested in me, and what I had to say.

n.org: Did you feel that any aspect of the final show misrepresented you?

SB: Well, I feel that my categorization of the two types of Dave fans was a bit out of context. I should explain that I have friends on both ends of the spectrum, and I respect and love all of them for being fans. It sounded like a bad thing, but when I was asked a question about the types of fans at a DMB show, it was sort of hard not to categorize them in that way. I want to make sure that everyone knows that I didn't say it with negative intentions at all.

Also, the segment when I met Dave seemed so staged to me. That wasn't the case at all. Those were real tears, and in any other circumstance I would have not been such a bumbling idiot.

n.org: Have you read any of the discussions about the show or about you on any message boards?

SB: Yes, and at first I was kind of frustrated with some of the people who posted. I had to realize that the negative comments and attitudes came mostly from people's frustration for not being chosen for the show, and they weren't directed at me personally. They were just directed at that girl on the TV screen.

One of the things that was posted about and I want to clarify, was being "that guy," meaning the person who wears a shirt of the band whose concert they are at. I was told by the producer to wear a DMB shirt. I wanted to wear something else, but the producer was insistent that I wear the shirt to reiterate the fact that I was a fan, I suppose.

Also, I am frustrated with people on the message boards trying to judge who the biggest fans are and who aren't. I think that we all are big fans, just in different ways. One can't classify a big fan based on the number of shows they have been to, how many bootleg CD's they have, or how much memorabilia they have. Each of us represents a lot of different things that go into being a fan, and it can't all be shown in just one or two people. However, I was happy with all of the people who defended me and everyone else on the show. I would just like to thank all of them for their support, acceptance, and recognition of the diversity in DMB fans.

n.org: Have you met or communicated with the other folks on the show?

SB: I have talked with Talicia, the girl from South Central Los Angeles, and she is awesome. She got my email address from one of my posts in the Warehouse. We talked about a lot of things, and we actually have some things in common, even for being so extremely different. In fact, after talking with her over AIM and the phone a few times, she offered to give me her extra ticket for two of the Gorge shows this year. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough money or time to go with her.

After FanClub aired, I felt really bad for her. Many people totally misread her story on VH1, and she took a lot of [flack] from people. Again, people tried to judge what a true fan was, and for whatever reason, felt that Talicia didn't do a sufficient job. Personally, I feel that her mission to convert the people in South Central to DMB fans was enough reason for her to be on the show.

n.org: Did VH1 compensate you for your time?

SB: There was no compensation for being on the show. However, getting backstage and meeting Dave was more than enough for me.

n.org: How has your life changed, whether in little or small ways, as a result of your experience? What are the effects of your newfound fame?

The experience has opened doors for me that I didn't necessarily know it would, just like this interview for nancies.org! I have learned a lot about what actually goes into making a television show. Being a broadcast journalism major at the University of Colorado, it is valuable for me to know that it just doesn't take a month to put a show together. Also, I may have the opportunity to do an internship with VH1 in the future.

The funniest thing for me was having people come up asking me if I was that girl on VH1 last night. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be singled out by people on a campus of 25,000+ people as "that girl on TV last night." It was quite amusing for me.

n.org: What's next for you?

SB: Right now, I am just going through the motions of school, and I plan to graduate in 2004. Afterwards, I hope to do something great with my life, but I haven't quite figured out what that is yet. I want to become a reporter eventually, and make a difference in people's lives.

If I can prevent a story from being covered the way the Columbine was covered, I think my mission would be complete.

nancies.org | November 8, 2001