brywool wrote:bugsymalone wrote:And this band knows that better than most, which brings me back my original question: why is this not being done better? It's just not a good representation of the band and does nothing to help move the band forward. Please understand I'm not "downing" the band . . . I'm sincerely asking, why?
Oh I know I will be accused of spewing the usual anti-current Styx venom, but I honestly see this as part of the overall downgrading of the band. I don't care what anyone says, to be relegated to opening act for not one, but two other bands, is a definite comedown. I find it embarrassing for their legacy. Simple as that.
This has nothing to do with the quality of the music or the guys making the music. I know that for many who post here the band is still putting on a high quality show.
Bugsy
But isn't this just ONE show we're talking about here, or many? Mistakes happen...
By Street Team, are you talking of "fans" kind of doing the promotion themselves? Wonder how that works. Anybody have any experience with that?
Well, I can't speak for other markets, but here in Nashville the ads for the show from 'Cyclorama' also sucked. I can only conjecture it was done locally as well. The radio commercial featured the girl's voice from 'Big Daddy' saying the line about how all her friends thought she was a geek beause she liked Styx, then "Babe" starts playing. Then there's a couple of Tommy songs, then the ad fades with the chorus of "The Best of Times". I don't think the band would have created a commercial that featured songs that they weren't going to play in the show that's being advertised, LOL. I hope the ads elsewhere are better, but if so, then why not here? Strange.
Street teams are common for groups that are on indy labels. It's basically organizing the fan base and giving them incentive to do some of the local legwork for promoting a band, whether that entails putting up flyers for a show, going to record stores to check product placement, calling radio and requesting tracks, and so on. In exchange they can get perks like special tickets to shows, tickets to a private show or two, special promo items . . . in some cases I've seen bands arrange for it to be a credit for a college student who is studying for a music-business-related degree. It can work a lot of different ways, but it is really valuable.
I personally wish the band would find a young, hungry guy who needs to make his mark and offer to pay him in a way that includes a reasonable base and a great incentive structure, and have him be the new Jim Cahill; advancing singles to radio, greasing the way with writers, advancing the shows in each market and staying on top of imaging and packaging the band in a way that is consistent and valuable in each market. It doesn't seem like that's happening right now. You have to make one person responsible and then hold them to that responsibility.
Sterling