A Conversation With Gummi Bear DIY: Inside The Making Of Boonton Warped's Two-Day Takeover
- Jay Castellano
- 9 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Amanda is the force behind Gummi Bear DIY, a promoter identity she built after years of booking DIY shows since 2019. What started as smaller gigs and the mini-fest Femme Fatale grew into Boonton Warped, a full two-day weekender featuring dozens of bands and vendors, all built around community, collaboration, and giving artists of every size a shot. We asked her about how Boonton Warped came together and what she looks for in the artists she books.
JC: Thanks so much for talking with us! How did you first get inspired to work in the music industry? Are you a musician yourself?
GB: I first got involved in music as a musician and through being part of the DIY scene. My first show was at Boontunes in Boonton in 2019. I didn’t really know exactly what I was doing yet, but the night went so smoothly and was such a rewarding experience that I fell in love with hosting shows. From there, I kept learning and growing as a promoter, which eventually led to Gummi Bear DIY and Boonton Warped… I’m also still an active musician. My primary band is Indeyevid, my secondary project is Teddy Grump, and I was previously in Bride Riot. So definitely check out my bands when you get the chance!
JC: What is Gummi Bear DIY? Are you involved in any other projects in the music industry? GB: Gummi Bear DIY officially started around May 2025, even though I’ve been hosting shows since 2019. For some reason, it took me that long to actually give myself a promoter name and title. Gummi Bear DIY gave an identity to all the work I was already doing and helped me build a reputation around it.
That’s my main project outside of being a musician, but I also co-host and help other promoters with their events whenever they need it. On top of that, I manage and play in my own bands, so I stay pretty involved in different parts of the DIY music scene.
JC: When and how did Boonton Warped begin?
GB: Boonton Warped started after I hosted a smaller festival called Femme Fatale. I love shows of all sizes, but I noticed that the more bands and people you bring together, the more opportunities there are for networking, meeting new faces, and building community.
After Femme Fatale, I decided I wanted to go bigger and create a full weekender with as many bands and vendors as possible, all centered around supporting each other and collaborating. The first Boonton Warped was just last year in 2025, and it went really well. Every year I learn from the last one, so my goal is to keep making it better and stronger each time.
JC: Why did you choose Boonton?
GB: I chose Boonton not only because it’s where I hosted my first show, but because I’ve always loved the environment and energy of the town. There’s so much spirit, so many cool local businesses, and a real sense of community. I wanted Boonton Warped to be a part of that. Whenever I’m in Boonton, it feels like home to me.
JC: What are your top 5 tips for artists hoping to perform at the next Boonton Warped?
GB:
Be present. Attend shows even when you aren’t playing. Show face and make it clear you want to be part of the community, not just get booked.
Promote your shows. Post about them, share flyers, and make sure people know when and where you’re playing.
Support other artists. Stay for other bands, shout them out, meet new people, and play with bands outside your usual circle.
Put effort into your presence. Social media isn’t everything, but how you present your band matters. Show that you’re active and that you care about what you’re doing.
Have music available. Give promoters something to listen to and, more importantly, give people who enjoyed your set something they can listen to afterward.
Band size or popularity isn’t one of my requirements. I’ve booked bands of all sizes because I think everyone deserves a chance.
JC: What is your process for finding artists to book? Do they come to you, or vice versa?
GB: It definitely goes both ways. If I see a band doing a lot, showing up, and being active in the scene, I might reach out to them directly. I also get inquiries from bands, but I pretty much only take booking inquiries through email now at gummibeardiy@gmail.com. Making the effort to send a proper email goes a long way and definitely gets noticed.
JC: What is your advice for building a community in the music industry?
GB: Be ready for challenges and understand that you’ll meet people from all different backgrounds and experience levels. Patience is extremely important. Stay cool, calm, and collected, and don’t get worked up over things you can’t control. Learn to go with the flow, adapt when things don’t go as planned, and never let negativity take away from your drive or motivation. A strong community takes time to build, so keep showing up and stay focused on why you started.
JC: What was your booking experience prior to Boonton Warped?
GB: I’ve been booking shows since 2019, usually putting together four- to five-band bills, sometimes more and sometimes less. Once I started booking, I never really stopped. Over the years, I’ve continued organizing shows consistently, gaining more experience with each one and eventually working my way up to something on the scale of Boonton Warped.
JC: What is your favorite show you have ever coordinated and why?
GB: Maybe not my favorite, but definitely one of my most memorable. It was actually a show I wasn’t even hosting. Long story short, we drove hours to a festival only to find out the spot had been shut down by the town. There were more than five bands already there and ready to play with suddenly nowhere to go.
I started calling local bars and venues, managed to secure a bar in the same area, and basically rebooked the entire show on the spot. My own band members didn’t even make it out in time, but the show happened, and those bands still got their chance to play.
That experience really stuck with me because it showed me that you never know what you can make happen unless you try. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have, figure it out, and make it happen.
JC: Are you solo, or do you put together events within a team?
GB: I organize and book everything solo, but I have some great friends who support me with band suggestions, input, and promoting. I’m also lucky to have friends who volunteer their time to help run sound, work the door, and handle other things during the shows. I really appreciate them because their support helps everything come together.
JC: What do you find to be the most difficult part of coordinating these events? And your favorite part?
GB: The most difficult part is trying to accommodate everyone and make sure everyone is happy. With 28 bands and 20+ vendors, there are a lot of individual people involved, all with different needs and expectations. I try to be as fair and supportive as possible, but it can definitely be a challenge. Staying positive, transparent, and communicative, and providing as much detailed information as possible, is the best way I’ve found to handle it.
My favorite part is giving everyone a memorable experience and getting to be part of a community. Seeing all of these different bands, artists, vendors, and people come together makes all the work worth it.
JC: What can we expect to see at this year’s Boonton Warped?
GB: You can expect even more vendors this year and, of course, an amazing lineup of bands as always. We’re continuing to grow while keeping the same DIY, community-focused atmosphere that makes Boonton Warped what it is.
JC: Thank you for your time!
GB: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me and for giving me the opportunity to share my experiences! I really appreciate it.
Keep up with Gummi Bear here!
