Parrothead Research Paper

Parrothead or Parrot Head is a commonly used nickname for fans of Jimmy
Buffett.

Origin of the Term "Parrot Head"

The term Parrothead was coined during a Jimmy Buffett concert at the
Timberwolf Ampitheater 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, coined the term "Parrothead".

Parrothead Description

The common stereotype is of a person wearing a Hawaiian shirt, flip-flops and board shorts, 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,

In Parrothead-friendly
Florida, such clothing is as likely to be accepted in an office setting as a construction site.

Parrothead Activities

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 Minds in Key West, Florida, which attracts approximately
3,500 Parrotheads each year. The several day event, sponsored by the Parrot
Heads in Paradise includes 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