A backstage pass is an employee pass which allows its bearer access to employees-only areas at a performance venue. They are most commonly associated with rock music

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 groups.

Such passes are usually a laminated paper worn on a lanyard, or on chain link or key chain holder at the belt, or a simpler "stick-on" applied to one's clothing. Plastic or paper wristbands may also be used. However, some elaborately designed backstage passes have been used by Bill Graham

Bill Graham (promoter)

Bill Graham was an American impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death.-Early life:...

 Productions/Winterland, Beaver Productions and many other regional and local promoters. To deter counterfeiting, passes often include holograms or color-shifting properties.

Some venues (including the House of Blues

House of Blues

House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...

 venues and Irving Plaza in New York) require their own passes to be worn, even by laminate holders for the tour. Large music festivals, such as Ozzfest

Ozzfest

Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...

 and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival also usually issue their own passes.

Backstage passes sometimes become memorabilia sold to die-hard fans, especially when the pass is signed by a performer.

The term "Backstage Pass" is now used by companies like Yahoo! and television, radio and magazines for their reference to an area that highlights certain musical groups. Backstage Pass is also a management and production company that manages up and coming talent and established rock acts such as Alt-Rock band Sinch.

Types of passes

There are a number of different types of backstage passes:

• All Access passes allow the bearer unlimited access to the performance venue. Such passes are generally restricted to the performers, their crew and management, and management of the venue.

• Stage Crew passes are used by those who set up the stage. If used by local, temporary help, such passes are usually valid only during this part of day, and not for during or after the show.

• Other employee passes for people who work specific jobs in support of the act, such as catering, security, and merchandising personnel.

• Passes for media, such as press reporters and photographers.

• Limited Access passes are usually intended for specially selected fans that get to "meet and greet" the performers, and can also be used for guests of the band in order to give them VIP status. Sometimes these passes will actually have VIP printed on them. These passes are often issued for afterparties
  Afterparty
  The term afterparty, after-party, or after party refers to a phenomenon in modern culture often seen in the hospitality or entertainment industries and among college and high-school circles in society, which involves a planned celebration following a significant event attended by guests associated...
  
  .

• Backstage passes are also given out by the band and band's manager to selected fans who want to hang out with the band. These passes are commonly associated with groupies, and are frequently issued for afterparties.

Otto and PERRi are well known as the two largest manufactures and designers of passes up until 2003. Reno, Nevada has become the largest source for bands to have their passes printed. Otto is still printing passes and is the oldest printer of backstage passes.