[This post is courtesy of Paul Peck, President and Co-Founder of Fandiem. -Ed.]

I started seeing Phish a long time ago. Back when I was a high school kid. My early shows were formative experiences and showed me how inspiring live music can be when a group of friends and like-minded half-strangers come together to share something powerful. It's the kind of thing that can't be explained but for lack of better words, feels like a shared journey that brought us to some place unexpected and beautiful. If you’re reading this, you likely know what I mean. To say those early adventures propelled me into a career in the live music industry would be the understatement of the century.

A great Phish show is an explosion of good energy and is among other things, so utterly inspiring. Led by four virtuosic conduits, united as one with their fan community to spark and fuel a musical adventure of creative exploration and nonlinear musical storytelling. The concept of community forming around a source of inspiration to share something indelible has guided my career which started during my college years in New Orleans. When I first moved there, I had very specific tastes. New Orleans offered new experiences that awakened my capacity to connect with so many different flavors. This led to more magical experiences that inspired me in different ways and shaped so many aspects of my eventual career producing concerts, festivals, and Superjams. Chasing that magic that I first learned existed through Phish. The best ideas and the strongest action come from those genuine moments of inspiration and connection. This is what I chase when I go to see live music, hit festivals, and why I always return to Phish. They continue to evolve, surpise, and deliver inspiration that propels us forward to think about things in a new light and drive our desire to share that good energy with others. I learned from Einstein that when energy is created, it has to go somewhere.

Waterwheel is the physical manifestation of that good energy, created in those live moments of connection. Waterwheel supports grassroots organizations doing charitable work in every area the band plays. And just as Phish activates and amplifies the power of community, so does Fandiem which makes sense because I created Fandiem with my friends to do that exact thing.

We each give a little of what we can to help Waterwheel impact real peoples’ lives, leaving positivity in our wake. From a great show, we all walk away with something positive. Waterwheel creates something permanent out of that, every time and everywhere the band plays.

The physical manifestation of good energy remains for others to enjoy and pass on.

So with all that in mind, Fandiem has worked with Waterwheel over the past few years to amplify the shared mission. Every fan that donates is entered to win an insane prize donated by the band. This is a gift to one person and their friend (each winner gets a +1), made possible by the generosity of this community. Quick examples: At Sphere, the winning fan was Michael. He’s been going to shows for decades. He donated $10 and won amazing seats for all four nights, flights and hotel, and a band-signed Sphere poster. For Dick’s last year, the winning couple were the first fans in each night. Prior to that, a fan won an incredible curated experience to Mexico for Riviera Maya.

This summer there are multiple prizes, including an unimaginable Mondegreen experience with some elements that simply can’t be bought. First fan into the venue for the night of your choice, pre setup glamping tent with climate control and other amenities, Foundation passes for all four nights, and so much more. The band has also donated tickets for every run this summer with great, different reserved seats handpicked for you each night. You can choose which prize you most want to win.

This ain’t the lottery. There’s not millions of people entering. At the end of the day it’s our community. Someone like you or me is gonna win, likely someone you’ve crossed paths with or shared dancing space with (hopefully minimal stepped on toes) is going to have a life-changing adventure. And it’s all for the best cause, run by the best people. It’s like the old saying goes: buy the ticket, take the ride. And as all of us who have been paying attention know, the best band on the planet is borderline on the top of their game at this exact moment in time. So join us in creating and leaving behind something to signify the magical moments we shared together to show that the good energy we created together isn’t fleeting, it’s permanent.

Be part of it at https://fandiem.com/phish

See you out there this summer!

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