Parrotheads are big and getting bigger, so what is a Parrothead? 

All over the country Parrotheads have been meeting, partying and playing in bands for years.  If you don't know what a Parrothead is, then you are probably under 30.  Imagine a group of people obsessed with one style of singing, and a single singer.  Then imagine them forming groups and clubs who actually get together to karaoke or trade trivia about the singer and his songs.  Then imagine them having conventions all over the country, going on trips together, etc.  This is what a Parrothead is all about, all of them love Jimmy Buffet, and his laid-back, island brand of singing with its easy rhythms, steel drums and smooth, acoustical background.  But they're also in synch with his philosophy of helping each other and contributing to worthwhile charities all in the spirit of an island-style fun.

If you do a search on Parrotheads, you will find clubs listed all over the country, and one peek into their organizations will say a lot about the spirit behind these groups.

The Parrotheads began at a Jimmy Buffett concert in Cincinnati, Ohio when  Jimmy Buffett commented about everyone wearing Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats,  and how they all kept coming back to see his shows, similar to the popular Deadheads who followed the Grateful Dead band. Rumor is Timothy Schmit, a former band member of the Coral Reefer Band and then The Eagles, coined the term "Parrothead" to describe the fans.

A Parrothead stereotype is a person wearing a tropical shirt , flip-flops and board shorts, some even go further and wear grass skirts and coconut bras, while drinking margaritas. Many of the fans are members of the Parrothead clubs.  The general theme of being a Parrothead is relaxing and a laid back persona.  Some even go as far as spelling it Parrotthead with two “t’s since jimmy’s last name has the two “t’s” in Buffett.

Some people who prefer to wear more expensive high end clothing, like Tommy Bahama, although this can be seen by many as a departure from the "true" meaning of being a Parrothead as it references a more expensive lifestyle than is commonly associated with being a tropical beach bum.

Parrotheads seem to party with a purpose, and hold fundraiser events for many causes.  Events range from single concerts or happy hours to the annual Meeting of the Minds in Key West, Florida, which attracts close to 3,500 Parrotheads. The event, sponsored by the Parrot Heads in Paradise, includes live music, a Toys for Tots drive, a blood drive, raffles and other events to raise money for their charities. Many causes have received large donations from Parrothead organizations;  In 2005, $2.2 million dollars was raised by Parrothead organizations, along with toys, blood, canned goods and many hours of manpower to support various charities in the US and beyond.

"Because a tropical state of mind is a terrible thing to waste."