Parrotheads
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parrotheads is a commonly used nickname for fans of Jimmy Buffett. The term parrothead was coined during a Jimmy Buffett concert at the Timberwolf Ampitheatre outside Cincinnati, Ohio. At that show, Jimmy commented about everyone wearing hawaiian shirts and parrot hats, who keep coming back to see his shows, just like Deadheads. Timothy B. Schmit, a current member of the Coral Reefer Band and a former member of both Poco and The Eagles, replied with the term Parrothead.
The common stereotype is a person wearing a hawaiian shirt, flip-flops, board shorts, and drinking a margarita, however many fans are members of parrothead clubs. The general theme of being a Parrothead is one of relaxation and being on a permanent mental vacation, even while working. Some prefer the spelling Parrotthead, reflecting the double t in Buffett.
The more "professional" aspect is to wear high-end tropical vacation clothing, such as Tommy Bahama, though this is likely seen by many as a departure from the "true tenets" of being a Parrothead as it points to a more expensive lifestyle than is commonly associated with being a tropical beach bum. However in places such as Florida such clothing is likely to be accepted in an office setting because many Parrotheads have jobs.
These groups 'party with a purpose', and hold fundraiser events for different causes. Events range from single act concerts or happy hours to the annual Meeting of the Mindsin Key West, Florida, which attracts approximately 3,500 parrotheads each year. The several day event, sponsored by the Parrot Heads in Paradiseincludes live music, but also a Toys for Tots drive, a blood drive, raffles and other events to raise money for charities. Some regional groups will focus on one or two key charities, while others may switch between several. Environmental causes, cancer research, alzheimer's research and the march of dimes all have received large donations from parrothead organizations. In 2005 2.2 million dollars was raised by these organizations, along with toys, blood, canned goods and many hours of manpower to support various charities in the US and beyond.
