SITE ANSWERS:
1) When did this site start?
This site officially launched on 04 October 2003.

2) Where's the current "News" section?
This site doesn't have a dedicated News section, nor will it. Pretty much all news that filters in will show up in the Community section bulletin boards. Information on upcoming concerts is in the (surprise!) Upcoming Concerts section. And of course, there's their official site at http://www.beringstraitonline.com/

3) How often is the site updated?
News that comes in get posted as soon as I know (or as soon as whoever posts knows.) Rumors that are unverified by Bering Strait's management are subject to possible deletion. I try to keep upcoming concert info updated at least once every other week, but that may fluctuate depending on my schedule. Emailed submissions of pictures, video clips and data may take me more time to reformat for the site, so expect a lag of (sadly) between 2 weeks and 2 months...

4) How can I get my Bering Strait site linked on the "Links" page?
Best way? Go to the Community section bulletin boards and post your link in the "Website and Material Submissions" forum of the site.

5) How can I contact you?
Post messages to me or send me a Private Message through the Forums. You can also send email to webmaster@beringstraitfans.com, but most correspondence should be handled through the forums. I won't guarantee speedy responses via email. Hell, at this rate, I can barely guarantee speedy responses even through PMs... :)

6) How can I contribute to the site?
Images, video and audio can be emailed to webmaster@beringstraitfans.com. If you've got news you can always post it in the Forums. If you'd like to have something added to one of the static areas of the website, e.g. the Multimedia sections, etc., you can post them in the forums and then send me a Private Message through the forums, or email me.

7) I read the postings in the boards, but how do I know what to believe and what not to?
Well, take everything you read with a grain of salt. The Concert Information usually has a corroborating source, which is mentioned somewhere. As for news about the band members themselves, I consider everything rumor unless 1) they post themselves or 2) their management confirms. In other words, I will entertain posted rumors at my discretion, but if management says that the word is No, I may remove those posts.

8) My post is gone! What happened?
The likely explanation is that I deleted it. There are a few types of posts that won't last long on this board: 1) Blatantly hostile posts about the band (if you don't like them, you shouldn't be here, this is "Bering Strait Fans", 2) blatantly hostile or offensive posts to other users or groups (at the interpretive discretion of the moderators), 3) potentially disturbing posts that could potentially border on stalker-like messages (of the "I would sacrifice a small goat if I could bed one of the members", "I am so in love with ----", again, at the interpretive discretion of the moderators), 4) pretty much anything that their management tells me to axe (at MY discretion.) Not fair? You're absolutely correct. At a certain point, I need to draw lines that say what stays and what goes. This site is intended to help promote the band, and is reflective of whatever will be in the best interests of the band as a whole. Accepting the presumption that the management, by definition, represents the best interests of the band as a whole entity, their recommendations and suggestions carry heavy weight on the content of this board.

9) I have more questions! Where can I ask them?
Go to the Forums and post your question there.


MUSIC ANSWERS:
1) When is their new album coming out?
At last report, early 2005... As of late November 2004, Six tracks have been laid down, several more are pending.

2) What's that Russian bluegrass song I heard them perform, and what does it translate to?
It's called Porushka-Paranya, and is on their debut album, track #11. The translation, and indeed, for lyrics in general, visit the "Lyrics" section of this site.

3) Do they have any music videos out?
To my knowledge, three music videos have been filmed. "Jagged Edge of a Broken Heart" can be found as a Quicktime (.MOV) file on their debut album. "Bearing Straight" can also be found on their album, as well as a special feature on their Documentary DVD, "The Ballad of Bering Strait." They had filmed a video for "When Going Home" in Manhatten, but it remains unreleased.

4) Where I can buy Bering Strait albums/videos/merchandise?
Please visit either the "Links" section, and scroll to the bottom, or the "Discography section," which also has links to several vendors with price comparisons. (I don't endorse any company, nor do I receive any sort of kickback from any of them.)


BAND ANSWERS:
1) Is Natasha/Ilya/Lydia/Sasha/Alexander/Sergei seeing anyone?
Yes. While these things change, from the point of view of us fans, it's safer for us to always assume that they are. :)

2) How do I meet the band?
Generally, they tend to stay after concerts to sign autographs and occasionally take pictures. That's your best bet...

3) Can I become friends with the band?
By Rachel, one of our moderators:
"It's long been known that country music artists have the most diehard fans possible. Some of them come from around the world to see them, maybe even twenty times a year. The artists know these fans by name - can't forget them, because they are constantly in their faces. Not that they would "forget" them persay, but these fans are a little on the obsessive side.

Early in an artist's career, they are continually out at appearances, touring, and building their fan base as much as possible. Fans become "close" to them because they are still very much accessible to them. They're available for meet and greets, they "hang out" with them, and in some rare cases, do actually become friends with them.

Unfortunately, once an artist's career accelerates into superstardom and the artists simply cannot "hang out" with their fans any longer, some fans become very bitter and rude. That could very well be what Mark Chestnut is talking about in that comment. They feel jilted in a way.

What people have to realize is that artists are people. They may not seem real and they may even appear larger than life, but they still have the same issues they have always had. Just because they're famous doesn't mean they adjust easily to being idolized.

To be a "good" fan you have to try your hardest to not freak your artist out. Treat them normally, don't fawn over them. If you want a lasting relationship with an artist, this is the best course of action. I guarantee you that anyone who faints and cries in front of an artist will never have anything to do with them on a personal level. It freaks them out.

Wouldn't you be freaked out if someone went into convulsions simply because they breathed the same air as you? Sure you would.

So, to sum it all up, just be as cool as possible. If you feel like you're going to freak out, even the least little bit, whether it be freezing up and not being able to talk normally, don't say much at all to them. Don't propose marriage, offer to have their babies, tattoo their names on your bicep next to your mother's name, etc. They appreciate compliments, but sometimes even strong compliments can turn them off.

Just be cool.

In Bering Strait's particular case, many of you know that they are real people. They post on the board, they are super friendly to everyone in person and would talk to any of you all night long if they could.

When Bering Strait breaks out, which they will do, it will not be as easy to chill with them, see them, or even hear from them on the message board as often as we would like. Fan meetings with the band may even have to be restricted to private meet and greets backstage, just for the safety of the band. It will most definitely be a different dynamic than anything any of us are currently accustomed to.

No doubt that they will always remember the "first" fans which include everyone on this board. We may even have a noticeably different relationship with them than newer fans who come along after they find stardom. But it will still not be the same as now.

Just be prepared for that."

4) Where are they touring?
To Information on upcoming concerts, ticket prices and venues is available on the site's "Upcoming Concerts" section, as well as in the forums' "Concerts, Live Performances and Fan Meetings" section.

5) Where I can buy Bering Strait albums/videos/merchandise?
Please visit either the "Links" section, and scroll to the bottom, or the "Discography section," which also has links to several vendors with price comparisons. (I don't endorse any company, nor do I receive any sort of kickback from any of them.)