Yahoomc: Hi everybody & welcome to Yahoo!Chat! In half an hour we're gonna be chatting with Hanson manager Christopher Sabec - and shortly after that you're gonna be talking to IKE, TAY & ZAC HANSON!!!!! Your questions are GREAT - keep 'em coming. Ike, Tay & Zac would like to know how old you are and where you're from so if you remember, try to add that info to your question! Hanson will be joining us tonight from the Seattle stop of their cross-country tour. For more tour info, check out the official Hanson site at www.hansonline.com. Thanks for joining us on Yahoo!Chat this evening! We'll be starting tonight's cyberchat with Hanson manager Christopher Sabec and Ike, Tay & Zac Hanson in 25 minutes.

Yahoomc: First off we're gonna be talking with Hanson manager Christopher Sabec for a crash course in Hanson-ology. THEN we're gonna be talking with Ike, Tay, & Zac Hanson!!! They're joining us tonight from the Seattle stop of their cross-country tour - and the concert hall is wild! They'd like to know where YOU'RE from and how old you are - so if you remember, let us know when you submit your question, 'kay? Thanks for joining us here on Yahoo!Chat tonight - we're gonna have a blast. Your questions are great, keep 'em coming.

Yahoomc: We're gonna start very, very shortly... Your questions are GREAT!!!!! Keep 'em coming - It's hot in Seattle where Hanson is waiting to do tonight's show... They're performing in the Key Arena there tonight. They've expanded their summer tour - Milwaukee's next. There are THOUSANDS of fans with their faces all painted with the Hanson colors waiting to see and hear them. But NONE of those fans are gonna have the chance to ask them the questions that YOU'RE gonna ask tonight!!! Christopher Sabec has just joined us. Time to rock & roll!!!!

Yahoomc: Christopher - ever do a cyberchat before?

Christopher Sabec: Christopher Sabec: No I haven't this is actually the first interview I've granted to fans -- EVER. I've participated in Cyberchats with Hanson, but never myself

Imthegrimreaper asks: What is it like to manage a bunch of girl magnets?

Christopher Sabec: It's a thrill to work with Hanson. i've worked with them for four 1/2 years. I don't think of them as girl magnets, but musicians and songwriters and generally nice guys.

Easycake_98 asks: Christopher, does Hanson come up with a lot of their own ideas or do they mostly go with what other people suggest?

Christopher Sabec: It's entirely Hanson's show. The guys are very creative and in charge of what they do...the records, the videos, they've created themselves. I just help them realize their vision.

Love14WI asks: Hey Chris! This is Anna from Sheboygan Wisconsin, and I'm 14. I was wondering, what were some of your first thoughts when Hanson came to you?

Christopher Sabec: Well the first day I met them was in Åustin TX and I was immediately blown away by their talent and wanted to work with them... It Started out as a dream of mine to take them to the next level and I'm really excited about the outcome.

Drummer13 asks: Chris, what was the first song Ike, Tay, 'n Zac sang for you that got you hooked?

Christopher Sabec: It was an accapella song called "Rain" that was on their first album Boomerang.

IMHaP2B asks: Did any other record companies want to sign Hanson before they went to Mercury?

Christopher Sabec: They ended up having 14 record labels pass on the band. Of those 14 labels there were people discussing it and exploring the possibilities of signing labels, but not one came like Mercury did. Although for the record, Mercury passed twice before signing Hanson.

Christopher asks: what is the best thing about being Hanson's manager??

Christopher Sabec: That's a tough question.. there's a lot of great things.. the travel's pretty amazing, working with 3 talented young people is an absolute joy, meeting the fans and experiencing the joy of the fans. I wake up every morning with the thrill of doing what I get to do each day

Jenn1022 asks: Did they ever get mad at you for anything?

Christopher Sabec: They haven't yet and I haven't gotten mad at them either. We all get along great.

Flirts_Lair asks: What's the best and worst thing about touring?

Christopher Sabec: Actually it goes back to the last answer: the best & worst thing is the travel. You go to new places and meet new people, but you're living out a suitcase and going from hotel to hotel and the bus can get really old.

Yahoomc: and what do you do to pass the time?

Christopher Sabec: We play games, read books, watch movies, check out locals sights and educational opportunities.

Flutloop asks: How has life on the road effected your family?

Christopher Sabec: Well I'm single, so as far as my direct family - my parents I see them more because I'm back east and travel there a lot I thrive on the road.

Girl_From_Ireland asks: Chris where do you see the band in a few years?

Christopher Sabec: I guess I see them doing the same thing they're doing now, writing amazing songs, recording timely music and continuing to create for the next several years.

Aphrodite_707 asks: What has been the favorite city you've visited while on tour?

Christopher Sabec: Wow! That's a great question...we try to make all the cities interesting in one way. We had a great time Fourth of July in Atlanta, going home to Tulsa is also a highlight, they've got a home in LA so they see a lot of friends there. Meaning LA's a second home to them... and we had a great time driving outside of San Francisco into the countryside of Marin County, and across the Golden Gate bridge. It's hard to pick one city.

UnderAHansonTrance asks: what type of vibes can we expect from your new album expected out next year?

Christopher Sabec: I can't really answer that...it's up to the guys and although they've started writing material, they haven't started recording it, and those types of ventures are really their own show.

Coll_Step asks: What is it like to get a lot of trash talk being a manager?

Christopher Sabec: Right now they're focused on getting the live video and live album out for Christmas.

Yahoomc: Christopher, what does managing a band entail???

Christopher Sabec: Basically, I take care of business aspect for the band and represent them in negotiations with various parties including the record label and television networks. Anything that needs done, I do it, or facilitate getting it done.

Yahoomc: How do you get to become a manager???

Christopher Sabec: Well the guys picked me, after meeting me and talking with their family. They had met me in Austin TX 4 1/2 years ago. They sang for me, the rest you could say is history...

HansonFanKatie asks: Hi Chris!! Thank you SO much for managing Hanson!!!!!!!

Stuck_In_Da_MOE asks: Mr. Sabec: what's your best advice for someone who wants to become a musician?

Christopher Sabec: Well, of course in the creative aspects, it's a lot of practice and dedication, in the business aspects you need to pay attention to details and find people you can trust. There's a great book that gives a basic primer on the music business, it's called "All You Need To Know About The Music Business" - it's by Don Passman, and it's a really amazing place to start.

Milwauke12 asks: what kind of music do u listen to?

Christopher Sabec: I listen to all kinds of music, right now I've been listening to the Verve and Radiohead, I like the Grateful Dead and Phish, I'm a great fan of Seattle bands like Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees - and of course Hanson...

TAYLUVR13 asks: HAVE HANSON CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST MET THEM?

Christopher Sabec: The only way they've changed is physically they've all grown up a bit, but they're all the same personality wise as when I met them.

Juniper14f asks: chris-- did they ever pull any pranks on you?

Christopher Sabec: Yeah, they play some pranks every once in while.. but so far this tour they don't squirt me with water because I've told them as far as that goes, I'm Switzerland.

EludingSunshine asks: Do you think any of your siblings will ever join the group?

Yahoomc: Er - I think they mean Ike, Tay & Zac's! Christopher Sabec: There's no plans for any of the brothers or sisters to join the band, but that's totally up to the guys, Ike, Taylor and Zac.

EJBad asks: Hey Chris - Do the fans ever ask you for strange things?

Christopher Sabec: All the time. They always ask me for my backstage pass.

Snickers_8 asks: Chris, has this been overwhelming for you? Were you expecting this kind of success?

Christopher Sabec: Well you can never expect this kind of success, it's only something you hope for dream of. The people who've been working for Hanson the last few years have been too focused, keeping their eyes on the ball. I've been too busy to be overwhelmed.

Starlight_song asks: what's the nicest thing a fan has done for you?

Christopher Sabec: I've had fans give me flowers and a bunch of fans remembered my birthday last year.

Yahoomc: Chris, are you a musician yourself?

Christopher Sabec: No I'm not. I love music and really appreciate music, but i don't play anything myself, I don't create music myself.

Chris asks: How old are you?

Christopher Sabec: I'm 33.

SUGAR12346 asks: Christopher, do you know what Hanson is doing at the moment??

Christopher Sabec: They are sound checking right now.

T_Town_Trio_Luver asks: Chris-- how has your life changed ever since Hanson has become famous?

Christopher Sabec: Just busy. I work a lot. I work 18 hours a day 7 days a week now.

Lindy_Lou_38 asks: Mr. Sabec what kind of changes have you made with Hanson?

Christopher Sabec: No, I just acted as a sounding board for them when it comes to the creative process. They're completely in control when it comes to their sound and creative process. Any changes originate with them.

Taylorluver14 asks: Have you been a manager to any other bands? If so is there any difference between managing them and Hanson?

Sweetheart_11213 asks: how is it like working for hanson?

Christopher Sabec: It's a joy. I feel like I'm the luckiest manager in the world.

Yahoomc: What's it like having bosses who are younger than you???

Christopher Sabec: It's sort of ironic, isn't it? I've been through college and law school and my bosses are 12, 15, 17 and wonderful to work for.

S_bekele asks: Chris do you see a problem between liking Hanson's music and liking harder rock too?

Christopher Sabec: I don't see a problem at all because they're not mutually exclusive. Hanson has always been about being a live band and playing original music and that's what attracted me to them.

Jbyerly1234 asks: what do you like to do in your spare time

Christopher Sabec: What spare time?

Yahoomc: If you HAD spare time, what would you do?? :-)

Christopher Sabec: I like to hike and mountain bike. I like to eat out. I really enjoy live music, going to see concerts.

Chris asks: what is the wackyest thing Hanson has ever done on the road?

Christopher Sabec: They do a lot of wacky things. Lately, a lot of water, Super Soakers, the trend of the day.

CookieCutter7 asks: Chris--Hey! Thanx for coming!!! I was wondering what the hotel arrangements are like when you travel with Hanson (How does the family divide and where do you stay)??

Christopher Sabec: I'd love to answer that question, but I'm out of time ...I want to thank everybody for their time, but I also want to introduce two of the guests tonight: Issac & Taylor

Yahoomc: IKe and Tay are sitting down in front of the computer now...they are BLOWN AWAY by the number of questions y'all are asking - and how GREAT the questions are!!! They have brought the super-soakers!!! Uh-oh.... Hi Ike! Hi Tay! First I gotta ask - do you guys go online very much? Do you like cyberchatting with fans??

Ike: We dont do it as often as we like to, but we love it when we get to.. The only screenname that we have is Mmmbop@aol.com, and it's the only one that we talk to people on. There are a lot of people who fake screennames, but it's not us... Taylor: so don't believe them.. except for Yahoo_Hanson [their Yahoo! ID].

Anna_Bez asks: You've mentioned before that you don't think of yourselves as celebrities. After a year's worth of star treatment have you adjusted to the fact that you guys are famous?

Ike: our opinion of ourselves doesn't change - it's only other people who think of you as something other than a normal person, and that's how we'd like to stay, we are just normal guys, slightly less normal, but basically normal lives.

SuchASaint asks: How did you chose the songs to cover for your first indie album, Boomerang?

Ike: Well, those were just songs that we had sung when we were performing live. Taylor: It's just like any album when you look at your bank of songs and that's what was going on right then in our lives, it's the evolution of our music, if you listen to 3 Car Garage and In The Middle Of Nowhere.

LittleRock14 asks: How do you like being home schooled??

Taylor: I guess the thing is, that's how we've always done it, that's what we're used to. Maybe we'd like school less, but that's what we've always done...for us it's perfect. Ike: We did do public school for a while, but I've found that home schooling allowed us to focus more on what we wanted to do. Of course home schooling isn't for everybody, but for us it's worked very, very well.

Bethany84 asks: Do you plan on going to college? If so, where?

Ike: I probably wouldn't tell you where I was going to college, 'cause everyone would come and that would be kinda scary. I'm looking at college and determining what one would be right for me. Right now, I'm focusing on what we're doing right now, what better job could I have than the one we have doing music because that's what I've always wanted to do. College is something I'm thinking about, but I'm focused on getting through High School and determining what to do next.

Yahoomc: Hey -- Zac's here! If he doesn't like your questions, he's gonna shoot the computer with his super-soaker - so ask good ones!!!

Hanson: Right now we're playing Rebel Assault 2.

_Hanson_ asks: What do you guys do for fun on the tour bus? Christine-Woburn, MA-15

Taylor: Really I think we just do anything... we read, draw, write letters to friends at home, play video games... Ike: Play cards, we have a magnetic chess board, we play chess alot. Anything to just pass the time and do whatever.

Erin14_02 asks: Ike and Tay: what are song of the artists that inspired you to be such great singers?

Taylor: Fifties and sixties music... Ike: That in the beginning, but we just listen to any music.. contemporary music also.. Taylor: From Radiohead to Aerosmith to En Vogue to Pearl Jam. Ike: [We listen] To anything.

Krstey asks: hey guys! first off, u guys rock. ok, i know you all have grown in the past year, so whos the tallest now? and whos the shortest?

Ike: I'm still about an inch taller than Taylor and Zac's a few inches shorter than Tay...I'm about 5' 10", Tay's about 5' 9" and Zac's about 5'5 5'4"

Tessy_1999 asks: What inspired you to do music and start a band at a very young age?

Taylor: The thing is music was always in us, so it wasn't that we said, "All right we're going to be a band". Ike: There was a very natural progression - there wasn't anything particular that inspired us. We were very young when we started doing music and we've always continued it...

Yahoomc: Is there anything special about tonight's show in Seattle??

Taylor: Well we're now officially announcing the recording of the live album and shooting the live video here in Seattle, so that's where we're basing those things, we're very excited about that.. We're working with Elliot Shiner who worked with John Fogerty, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles on their live records.. Ike: We're producing the record with him...and filming the performance in Seattle for the live video as well as shooting at all the cities we've been on tour.

Yahoomc: Why'd you pick Seattle to shoot the video?

Taylor: Really, we were just looking for an indoor venue so we'd have a controlled environment, although the outside venues were really cool like Red Rocks, we just wanted an indoor place ...... Ike: originally it was the last stop on the tour - now we've extended the tour to go for another several weeks, we're going to Milwaukee, Chicago, Nashville and Detroit... Taylor: We're doing Detroit once again. Ike: We're doing Hershey Park in PA.

Yahoomc: When will we be able to HEAR the new live performance CD and see the video??

Ike: Well they will probably not be released til.. mid sept/mid oct. Taylor:It depends on how long the tour ends up going, we may add more dates, we've had such a great time that had discussions to determine whether or not we'll cut it short to work on the video.

DavE_98_1999 asks: Do you have a favorite summer movie?

Taylor: Wow, that's a hard one... All the Lethal Weapon movies we're fans of... Ike: They're not really summer movies... Taylor: But they're action so that's summery to me.

Raba7 asks: Hi guys---can't wait to see your show Tuesday the 28th---do you get nervous performing?

Taylor: Sometimes you do, but once you get up on stage it's all very fun because you're so comfortable there it's like jammin' in your garage, except you have thousands of people in front of you

TaYsMyGuY9 asks: Do you guys pick out your own clothes...or do you have someone that picks em out for you?

Ike: We definitely pick out our own clothes.

__Katya__ asks: Hi Guys thanks, for coming. If you could live in any other time period what would it be??

Ike: Ooh wow... Well, I don't know... Taylor: I love medieval times, but that would be such a scary time... Ike: The fact that you could be maimed just walking down the street at any time... Taylor:It would kinda suck to die from a common cold.

Sonyamarie_ asks: Who is the warm-up band at your concerts? And how did u decide them?

Taylor: I wouldn't call them the warm up band, but the band playing before us called Admiral Twin, they're a band we knew from Tulsa, OK, so we thought it would be cool to have them on tour with us.

KeMiCaLLy_iMPaiReD asks: do you guys have many friends back home?? What do they think of your recent success?

Zach: We definitely have friends back home and they think it's cool. Taylor:We have lots of friends and they enjoy it, because back then we were just playing locally, to them we're just Ike, Tay and Zac, it doesn't matter much to them.

Coolsushi asks: What motivation do you guys use to write songs?

Taylor: Everything from taking a shower to breaking up with somebody.. from everything.

Yahoomc: What comes first - the melody or the lyrics?

Ike: Mostly simultaneous, it depends on the song, sometimes you have a riff on the guitar or keyboard and sometimes you have lyrics in your head. It pretty much comes at the same time, can't have one or the other.

Schair18_TXStar asks: What about your siblings, have they expressed an interest in joining the band?

Ike: They have expressed any interest in joining, people ask us that a lot, I'd be very surprised if they did. What we've done is pursue something that we wanted to do, and we hope they'll pursue what they want to do.

Yahoomc: Do they have musical ambitions of their own? Would they start their OWN band???

Ike: I really don't know, I'd kinda be surprised if they did.

Catbalooqt asks: I know this sounds weird, but what are your favorite animals?

Zach: We really love dogs, but I don't think we have any favorite animals.

Xdc4Ice asks: What would you guys do with a day off?

Ike: I don't think there's anything in particular we would do. Taylor: We always say it would depend on where we were - if Seattle we'd see the Space Needle...sometimes we go rollerblade, go eat, go see a movie.. I guess if we had lots of time off, we'd just go disappear and relax.

_CybeRGaL_ asks: Would you ever make an unplugged album?

Ike: There's an acoustic part of our show and there will probably be part of that on our live album. Taylor: And live video. Ike: We enjoy playing acoustically, it's really cool.

Toosexy79 asks: do you guys get along all the time?

Ike: Not all the time, we're brothers, you argue about certain things, but I think we get along very well, I think if we didn't it would be hard to be the band... Taylor: We hang out together and do things together a lot. When we have friends around we hang with them together.

MandyForYou asks: what is your dream date?

Taylor: That's another one of those almost unanswerable questions...we meet a lot of different girls at every show, so it's a hard thing, we see a lot of pretty women at each show...I don't think you can answer that, you never know when you're going to meet that one person.

Beatlechica72 asks: who usually writes the songs?

Taylor: The songs... Ike: ...Are very much a collaborative effort... Taylor: Every song, as Ike said earlier, is different, sometimes you start with a lick, sometimes with a melody in your head so there's no way to predict how a song will come out. Sometimes a song starts out one way and ends up another, there's no predictable way... Ike: Everybody works on the songs together

Superalec asks: do you ever feel like not doing a concert?

Ike: Not really. We really very much enjoy doing the shows, but unless you were deathly ill. Taylor: And you'd still have to do it even if you were.. Ike: We really enjoy playing shows, we're a band, that's what we do, we don't want to disappoint the audience. Taylor: When someone comes to a show, we want to give it to them.

Jmseidl asks: Do you think "MMMBop" is your defining song?

Taylor: a lot of people come up and say "Oh you're the Mmmbop band" and that's been cool it's allowed us to do a lot of things.. Ike: But I hope that no song defines a band. Taylor: Yeah, but if "MMMBop" is our defining song then that's alright, it's allowed us to do a lot of things.. Ike: There are a lot of different songs that we've written that are different than "MMMBop". There are songs on Middle of Nowhere that are different...there are cool differences, but I think you'll always know that it's Hanson, obviously.

ZacHansonsGirl asks: Isaac, I'm searching for the perfect guitar , what brand do you recommend I get? Ike: The guitars that I play are Gibson Les Paul's... those are Electric guitars...I also play the Taylor acoustic guitar. Taylor: A guitar is like what kind of car you drive or shoes you wear. I don't play guitar, but it's what you're comfortable with. Ike: If you get an acoustic guitar, I recommend you get a Taylor because they sound really really great.

Kels_12 asks: What different instruments can you guys play?

Taylor: In the show we all swap, I'll go to the keyboard or to the drums...we all play piano and the instruments you see. We're all best at guitar, drums and keyboard, the ones we play most.

MiDdLe0fNoWhErE asks: Taylor, why do you use 2 keyboards?

Taylor: One is a keyboard like piano sound that I like the best, the other is an organ - I try to find modules that I can work on one keyboard, but they're two different things. One of the things I use in the studio is a B-3 organ, that's what I'm trying to replicate on the top keyboard.

SnowYs asks: Can you tell us what an average Hanson day is like?!

Taylor: There's no average Hanson day, because you're in some other different city with some other different schedule.. or else you're just sitting around.. that's what makes it interesting...Who would've known we'd be chatting with you guys right now.

Aileen_666 asks: Will Zac and Ike have more leads in ur upcoming album?

Ike: In the live show, it's pretty evenly swapped.. ?! Taylor: I think what we've always said is Hanson is three guys who write, play and sing. On 3 car garage there are more songs that Ike is singing on. There really is no lead singer...it just depends. I think there are more songs from all three guys in the show. ?! Ike: I think we play an equal part very much in the live show.

Em815 asks: Zac....how may drum sets do you have??? Every appearance that you are on, you seem to have a new one!

Zach: I only own two drum sets, I have a wine one and a green one. They're both Pearl. And the other ones, we rent a lot of different drum sets when we're in different cities, because you cant always take your stuff with you, but we have all our own stuff on tour with us.

Pooglit_piglit asks: Is it hard making a music video?

Ike: Its more fun than hard. ?! Taylor: With every video it's different. "Weird" was probably the most extensive video. We shot 2 days in LA, and 2 days in NY. We shot in water, and in the subway, we had to shut down the subway for a night. It was the most expensive one and it was fun to get to have all those options. ?! Ike: We very much enjoy doing music videos and we've had a great time coming up with the concepts of music videos. They're a lot of fun for us.

Iluvhanson4ever asks: where did you come up with the names '3 Car Garage' and 'Middle of nowhere'?

Taylor: If you are a true fan, then you know Middle of Nowhere is from the song "Man from Milwaukee" which is the bonus track on the album and 3 Car Garage, because we recorded it in a garage & the three of us, it just became 3 Car Garage.

Babymama22 asks: Ike,what's your favorite guitar cord?

Ike: A chord is merely a chord, and you need them to make a song, and there are some very pretty chords but nothing in particular.

ZacFreak_22 asks: Zac i play the drums too are there any tips you can give me to help me get as good as possible?

Zach: practice alot! Practice alot!

AniBrat asks: What is the best thing about music business? Taylor: It's like any business there are very bad things about it and very good things about it...We love the making music part.

ZacLuva123 asks: What advice do you give young people who would like to become singers like yourselves?

Ike: Work really really hard, you've got to love it that's the only way to go...if you're in it for any other reason than you want to continue making music and you love making music, then you're in it for the wrong reasons... Taylor: It will all collapse behind you. Ike: We're in it to make music. So just get out there and try to play as many places as you can...that's one of the best ways to get fans and get your music heard. Play where ever your can.

Yahoomc: Where do you guys see yourselves in 10 years???

Taylor: We hope that we can continue to do music for a very long time, be the band for the rest of our lives, as long as you guys continue to buy the record and enjoy the music. It's up to you guys. If it were up to us we'd do it for a very long long time.

Ezzie01 asks: How do you guys handle the pressure of rock Stardom?

Taylor: Sometimes rock stardom is blown out of proportion, there are so many bands out there and we're just one of them.. The best thing about being a band is doing shows and doing records, meeting people is really cool too. Ike: It's quite wild people recognizing you walking down your street and when people show up at your house, that's quite scary, but we just enjoy getting to play our music and be out there and be the band.

Sophie1998_98 asks: What's the funniest thing a fan has ever done, said, or worn, at one of your concerts?

Taylor: We get some incredible things, everything from scrolls that are miles long, that just say "iloveyouiloveyou" on it, which aren't fun to read, because it's the same thing... to banners that are 8x10 feet that say Hanson on it, and pinatas. Ike: And letters from people sayijng very cool things, touched by the music.... Taylor: And it's really cool that everybody came to the chat today. Ike: One of the ways we try to keep in touch with the fans is thru a fan club called Moe and you can find out about that at Hansonline.com and you can find out what the bands doing, lots of good coverage about the tour, streaming video about the website. And thru Moe, you'll get exclusive articles and merchandise, like Dr. Food, which is something that you can't get anywhere else. Thank you guys so much for coming. It's been awesome to chat with you hopefully we'll get a chance to do it soon.. We're gonna go get some food tonight, we'll see you on tour.. see you in your city.. Peace, love and music. http://www.hansonline.com - it's the place to check out upcoming Hanson tour dates & other cool stuff!!

Yahoomc: Thanks Tay, Ike and Zac - you're the greatest! You'll be able to check out photos from tonight's show and other stuff tomorrow on Hansonline.com.. Thanks so much for hanging out! And thanks to all of YOU in the Yahoo! Chat audience 'cause your questions were the BEST and you are terrific. We are gonna be posting the transcript tonight so check back in a couple of hours at Yahoo!Chat. And don't forget to join Yahoo!Chat NEXT week, July 28, when the Backstreet Boys come back to Yahoo!Chat.

Yahoomc: Thanks again everyone - good night!