They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club
The They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club is an official fan club run by They Might Be Giants which began in April 2011 and has been operating since.
The IFC, as it's commonly known, features both new and old They Might Be Giants recordings along with a range of various benefits, which have included exclusive apparel and physical goods, custom songs recorded to incorporate fans' names, and CDs, DVDs and 7" EPs containing exclusive content. Artwork for the IFC is generally designed by Paul Sahre.
Each edition of the IFC lasts one year or longer, and each are effectively separate from any previous years, with all fans having a new opportunity to sign up at enrollment. Fans can typically choose to join at one of three levels with varying prices, each containing additional benefits along with all of the perks of the lower tiers. During enrollment periods, signups take place at tmbgifc.com.
In 2012, They Might Be Giants described how the IFC helps to fund the band:
While it is no secret the music industry has crumbled to dust in recent years, we here at They Might Be Giants are hanging on to the notion that our professional future is secure through the patronage of the Instant Fan Club. We are grateful to the IFC members because your continued enthusiasm, involvement, loyalty, and support keep They Might Be Giants focused on creating original music without compromise, exploring new avenues of expression, and performing live shows with world-class production.
Boilerplate / Oath[edit]
Since the first edition of the Instant Fan Club in 2011, signup pages have been accompanied by a "highly philosophical but crucial boilerplate" describing the band's stance on members trying to profit off or share IFC benefits:
Don’t wreck a special thing. The exclusive material available through the Instant Fan Club is strictly for the personal enjoyment of IFC members and IFC members alone. Instant Fan Club materials are not to be distributed or resold. Idlewild Recordings reserves the right to refuse membership to any persons and to cancel the membership of anyone found to be auctioning, trading, or reproducing fan-club material online. They Might Be Giants, Idlewild Recordings, and their management sincerely ask all members to respect and honor the sanctity of the club and its philosophy.
The Instant Fan Club Oath, which has been accompanying the IFC since its second edition in 2012, is intended to echo these sentiments by emphasizing secrecy:
As a TMBG Instant Fan Club member, I am a willing participant in this secret experiment in human happiness. When asked about the Instant Fan Club, I shall reply, "Oh, I don’t know. You must be thinking of some other band."
The motto "You must be thinking of some other band" has been featured on IFC merchandise, including in abbreviated form as "YMBTOSOB."
2024 Fan Club[edit]
Signups for the 2024 edition of the IFC began on April 1, 2024 and closed on April 20. This edition saw the Super President and Crazy President tiers of previous editions receiving new names (and price points), with the introduction of the Executive Super-Boss and Medallion Level tiers. The IFC announcement also confirmed TMBG's 24th album will be due later in 2024.
Benefits[edit]
Premiere Level[edit]
- Physical Music
- A CD of TMBG's Upcoming 24th Album
- A CD of Beast Of Horns, a compendium of live tracks with a focus on the horn section
- Digital Goods
- Downloads for both TMBG's Upcoming 24th Album and Beast of Horns
- A download for Flood Live in America
- A download for a TMBG cover of Irving Berlin's "Lazy"
- Downloads of secret music
- Access to a digital livestream performance
- Merchandise and other rewards
- 2024 Instant Fan Club shirt
- 2024 IFC coffee mug
- 2024 IFC numbered hotel keychain
- 2024 IFC membership card
- 2024 Certificate of Thanks
- 2024 IFC seven-key logo embroidered patch
- 2024 IFC Premiere Level logo patch
- 1,000-piece Pink Album jigsaw puzzle
- Premiere Level sticker
- Three-pack of IFC buttons
- Access to the IFC exclusive store
Super-Boss Level[edit]
In addition to the regular membership benefits:
- Your name in the liner notes of TMBG's Upcoming 24th Album as an "Executive Super-Boss"
- 2024 seven-key logo cape
- 2024 Executive Super-Boss shirt
- 2024 Executive Super-Boss coin
- 2024 Executive Super-Boss patch
- 7" single of stelluB b/w "stelluB" reversed
- 7" mystery single (Lazy)
- Rock, Rinse, Repeat: Volume 2
Medallion Level[edit]
In addition to the super-boss level benefits:
- A custom 20-60 second They Might Be Giants song featuring your name
- A custom Medallion Level View-Master with four discs of 3D photography, taken by John Linnell
- The big 4" Instant Fan Club medallion
- A 1:5 scale model of a crate of TMBG vinyl records, the first installment of the TMBG Goodz Crate
- 2024 Medallion Level zip hoodie
- 2024 Medallion Level patch
Additional Purchases[edit]
The following could also be purchased at signup in addition to the IFC membership:
- Blue canary nightlights
- Additional copies of TMBG's next album on CD
- Copies of TMBG's next album on vinyl
- Additional copies of Beast of Horns on CD
- Copies of Beast of Horns on vinyl
- Additional 2024 IFC coffee mugs
- Additional 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles
2020 Fan Club[edit]
Also known as Instant Fan Club: BOOK Edition, signups began on July 16, 2020 with 10% of proceeds being donated to Black Girls Code and Partners in Health.
While the 2020 IFC began with 5,000 membership slots and the intention of remaining open for signups until September, the goal was reached sooner than expected and an additional 800 slots were added, thanks to the band tapping into a supply of Cease and Desist books they'd intended to sell on tour (which was delayed due to COVID-19). Signups were closed when the limit of 5,800 members was reached on August 6.
The final digital and physical deliveries from this IFC were sent out in late 2023, making this the longest edition of the TMBG Instant Fan Club to date.
Benefits[edit]
Regular Membership[edit]
- Books and physical music
- A 12x12" hardcover book with CD of TMBG's 2021 album BOOK
- A 120-page hardcover artbook called Cease & Desist featuring TMBG mashups illustrated by Todd Alcott
- Two new CDs, Secret Music Vol. 1 and Secret Music Vol. 2
- Digital goods
- Download of BOOK album and digital version of its accompanying book
- Download of John Linnell's 2021 EP, Roman Songs
- Download of John Flansburgh's 2023 EP, Forest/Trees
- Download of Asbury Park Live 8/8/13 official soundboard recording
- A livestreamed Flood show (September 17, 2022)
- Downloads of new tracks, rarities, demos and exclusives
- Merchandise and other rewards
- 1,000-piece Flood jigsaw puzzle
- Two die-cut Flood logo stickers
- 2020 IFC T-shirt
- 2020 IFC coffee mug
- 2020 IFC membership card
- 2020 IFC patch
- 2020 IFC motel keychain
- 2020 IFC Thank You certificate, handcrafted by John Flansburgh
- Access to the new Instant Fan Club private store
- Exclusive pre-order codes for upcoming TMBG shows
Super President Membership[edit]
In addition to the regular membership benefits:
- Exclusive 10" vinyl of John Linnell's 2021 EP, Roman Songs
- Exclusive 10" vinyl of John Flansburgh's 2023 EP, Forest/Trees
- Nine 8x10" full-color posterettes of Todd Alcott artwork
- Your name in the liner notes of BOOK as a "benefactor"
- 2020 IFC Thank You "Cube of Affirmation" designed by John Flansburgh w/Liz Conner, autographed by both Johns
- 2020 IFC Super President coin
- 2020 IFC Super President T-shirt
- 2020 IFC Super President patch
- 2020 IFC Super President key blank
Crazy President Membership[edit]
In addition to the Super President benefits:
- A custom 20-60 second They Might Be Giants song featuring your name
- Your name in the liner notes of BOOK as a "executive producer"
- Your name thanked on the introduction page of the book counterpart of BOOK
- 2020 IFC Crazy President T-shirt
- 2020 IFC Crazy President zip hoodie
- 2020 IFC Crazy President beach towel
Additional purchases[edit]
The following could be purchased at signup in addition to the IFC membership:
- BOOK on 180-gram vinyl
- Additional copies of BOOK on book + CD
- Additional copies of Cease and Desist
- Flood on picture disc vinyl
- Flood on 180-gram green vinyl
- They Might Be Giants on pink vinyl
- Don't Let's Start (EP) on green vinyl
- The Communists Have The Music on 7" vinyl
- Rock/Rinse/Repeat Vol. 1 setlist book
2019 Fan Club[edit]
The 2019 edition of the Instant Fan Club was open for enrollment from October 16, 2018 until November 17, with its first tier of membership designed to complement subscribers of the 2018 IFC.
Description[edit]
Via TMBG's mailing list:
It is packed with huge exclusives –– including music that can only be obtained directly from They Might Be Giants and nowhere else (thanks, but no thanks, streaming sites!). Much of it will arrive for the holidays and other delightful things will be happening throughout 2019. Not everything is set. There will be surprises. It's even going to surprise us. And to incentivize you, we have added two additional posters as a bonus to folks who join in the first week.
Benefits[edit]
Regular Membership[edit]
- Physical music
- A CD copy of John Henry Demos
- 7-inch vinyl single of The Communists Have The Music (backed with I've Been Seeing Things)
- Digital Goods
- Download of John Henry Demos
- Live 2019 studio IFC streaming event
- Secret music downloads from deep inside TMBG’s vault
- Merchandise and other rewards
- 2019 IFC T-Shirt
- Holiday card from They Might be Giants
- Instant Fan Club pocket rain slicker
- 2019 IFC membership card
- 2019 TMBG IFC Certificate of Thanks
- Two mystery IFC guitar picks
- Instant Fan Club motel-style keychain
- Instant Fan Club Patch
- Two 11” x 17” posters designed by Todd Alcott; his notorious Saturday Evening Post parody and the beloved “Science Is Real” poster
Expanded Membership[edit]
In addition to the regular membership benefits:
- Digital Goods
- Download of My Murdered Remains
- Download of The Escape Team
- Download of They Might Be Giants 2018 Live
- Merchandise and other rewards
- The Escape Team comic book
Super President Membership[edit]
In addition to the expanded membership benefits:
- Your name included in the My Murdered Remains album as one of the Executive Producers
- IFC Super President T-Shirt
- IFC Super President coin designed by Paul Sahre
- IFC Super President patch
- IFC Super President key
- Have your name entered into a lottery for one of six personalized, custom-painted ukuleles created by John Flansburgh
Additional purchases[edit]
The following can be purchased in addition to the IFC membership:
- My Murdered Remains on CD and/or vinyl
- The Escape Team on CD and/or vinyl
- John Henry Demos on vinyl, and/or additional copies on CD
- They Might Be Giants 2018 Live on CD
- I Like Fun on CD
- Lincoln on vinyl
- The Escape Team comic book, issue #1
- Sets of lefty guitar strings
2018 Fan Club[edit]
Enrollment for the 2018 Instant Fan Club began on September 26, 2017 and ended on November 9. The offerings were centered around the 2018 edition of Dial-A-Song and its associated albums.
Description[edit]
From tmbgifc.com:
This year’s Instant Fan Club offering delivers magnificent exclusives, impossibly real savings, and a year-plus of new TMBG music that will dazzle even the most complete of They Might Be Giants completists. And, of course, all US shipping is free free free, all plastic cards are accepted, and now PayPal is our pal.
Benefits[edit]
Regular Membership[edit]
- Digital Goods
- A CD copy of I Like Fun
- A year of Dial-A-Song Direct
- The Escape Team comic book and disc
- My Murdered Remains/More Murdered Remains
- Originally advertised as "a disc of all Dial-A-Song 2018 Songs" and "a disc of Dial-A-Song 2015 Rarities"
- A "Best Of Live 2018" download
- A surprise
- Merchandise and other rewards
- An exclusive IFC T-Shirt
- A set of They Might Be Giants “Lefty” guitar strings
- An Official Fan Club membership card
- A Certificate of Thank You with John Linnell’s band photo
- A 2018 Escape Team mini-calendar
- Four Escape Team temporary tattoos
- An Instant Fan Club embroidered patch
- A “You must be thinking of some other band” cling sticker
- New Instant Fan Club button
- Instant Fan Club tote bag
Super President Membership[edit]
- Your name included in the I Like Fun album artwork
- The TMBG Setlist Book compiled by Mike Buffington
- Four Flood-era reproduction FLANS picks
- Best of 2018 Live CD
- IFC Super President T-Shirt
- IFC Super President coin designed by Paul Sahre
- IFC Super President patch
Crazy Super President Membership[edit]
- Personalized ringtone
- Steel-insulated thermos
- Crazy President T-Shirt
- A 36”x24” poster
2016 Fan Club[edit]
The 2016 edition of the TMBG IFC opened on March 7, 2016, launching alongside the album Phone Power. Memberships were open to 4,000 fans and the enrollment period ended on April 8.
Description[edit]
Via TMBG's newsletter:
Just like the previous three Instant Fan Club offerings, the 2016 IFC is designed to deliver impossibly good value and exceptional exclusives for even the most complete of They Might Be Giants completists. And of course, all the shipping is free and now PayPal is our pal.
Benefits[edit]
Regular Membership[edit]
- Digital goods
- "Live In Brooklyn", a compilation album of TMBG performances at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
- "Phone Power" download and artwork
- Merchandise and other rewards
- Light-up pen
- An IFC 2016 T-shirt
- A 2016 membership card
Super-President Membership[edit]
- IFC Super-President T-shirt
- IFC Super-President certificate of thank-you mini-poster
- IFC Super-President guitar pick set
Brand-New-Crazy-President Membership[edit]
The Brand-New-Crazy-President tier in 2016 was limited to fifty fans.
- Personalized ringtone
- Sunglasses
- Golf tees
2015 Fan Club[edit]
The Instant Fan Club returned for 2015 with an announcement in November 2014. There were initially 2,500 subscriptions available, which were meant to be available until January 5, 2015. All 2,500 spots were filled by December; however, the band kept subscriptions available for an extra week. As the return of the IFC coincides with the rebirth of Dial-A-Song, the subscription is focused around the 52 new tracks TMBG will be producing for Dial-A-Song in 2015. In addition to the regular level of membership ($98) and the Super-President tier ($250) introduced in 2012's fan club, the 2015 IFC offers a third option "for folks on a budget", Dial-A-Song Direct ($30).
Description[edit]
From the official press release:
As you have probably heard, 2015 will be our dial-a-song year. And the even better news is this year's Instant Fan Club offering will deliver all the Dial-A-Song recordings directly to your inbox every week, as well as collect all 52 songs on three amazing albums! Yeah! And, like the first two instant fan club offerings, the 2015 IFC offering is designed to deliver impossibly good value and exceptional exclusives for even the most complete of They Might Be Giants completists. And of course, all the shipping is free!
Benefits[edit]
Dial-A-Song Direct[edit]
Dial-A-Song Direct subscribers will receive the 2015 Dial-A-Song tracks as they are released in 320kbps MP3. A new track will be emailed to subscribers each Tuesday. This is also a part of the regular membership level.
Regular Membership[edit]
- Physical music
- An autographed CD copy of Glean
- A CD copy of Why?
- A CD copy of Phone Power
- A DVD copy of Live In Berlin, a recording of TMBG's performance in Berlin during the Nanobots tour
- Digital goods
- 320kbps MP3 copies of each new Dial-A-Song track, as they are released
- Access to a web broadcast of one of the shows on TMBG's upcoming tour in Spring 2015
- Merchandise and other rewards
- Two tickets to any They Might Be Giants concert
- An IFC 2015 T-shirt
- Two TMBG-branded balsa wood toy airplanes
- A certificate of thanks
- A 2015 membership card and bumper sticker
Members also had the option to purchase additional IFC shirts. As in previous years, TMBG anticipates that other rewards will be made available later on.
Super-President Membership[edit]
In addition to the regular membership benefits, Super-Presidents also receive:
- Physical music
- An LP copy of Glean
- An LP copy of Phone Power
- An autographed, limited edition 180 gram LP reissue of Flood
- Miscellaneous
- An exclusive IFC coin designed by the Office Of Paul Sahre
- Each subscriber's name is listed in the liner notes of Phone Power.
2012 Fan Club[edit]
The Instant Fan Club's second year was open to all 2011 members, as well as 2,500 new members, with a cut-off date of April 26. There were two tiers of membership available, regular membership for $95 and "Super-President" membership for $250. According to John Flansburgh, there were around 1,500 regular members and 700 Super-Presidents.
Description[edit]
From the official press release:
Like last year's first Instant Fan Club offering, the 2012 IFC offering is filled with exclusive They Might Be Giants recordings, merchandise, and webcasts. But this year we have improved it with a hand-painted ukulele lottery and MORE! It is designed to be both an honest value and a completely fresh experience for even the most complete of They Might Be Giants completists.
Benefits[edit]
Regular Membership[edit]
- Physical music
- In August: A 7" vinyl EP with new recordings: "Some of these songs might be on Album 16 in this form or another, others might be experimental in nature. We're leaving this disc open-ended!"
- In August: A CD of At Large: Best of TMBG Live 2011. Formerly a download-only release for 2011 Instant Fan Club members, "it has expanded and is now being presented on a mastered, super-shiny compact disc, and the beautiful cover photography is by Mr. John Linnell himself!"
- In October: A 7" vinyl EP ("SUPER SECRET, highly-deformed, multi-song") with IFC exclusive material: "New album outtakes, demos and ephemera."
- In October: A 7" vinyl EP "especially for kids! This disc previews TMBG's next kids project on secret colored vinyl! Share the joy of vinyl with the next generation!"
- Digital goods
- Three top-secret exclusive webcast "shareholder reports" from the Avatars of They
- Access to the They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club Tumblr blog
- In December: Exclusive access to a webcast of one of They Might Be Giants' holiday shows in Brooklyn in December
- In early 2013: A download of They Might Be Giants brand new Idlewild Recordings adult album on its release day
- Miscellaneous items
- A 2012 IFC bumper sticker, iron-on logo patch, guitar pick, and 2012 Instant Fan Club t-shirt in bright blue
- A Blue Canary Night Light: "Folks have made us aware of this fantastic nightlight in the last year. We think it's the perfect item for any true TMBGer."
- An entry into the Instant Fan Club lottery: "All IFC members will be entered in a lottery to win one of five hand-painted 'The Governor' ukuleles. TMBG guitarist John Flansburgh will personally paint the likeness of his beloved cat The Governor on five ukuleles. Judge John Hodgman will pick the winners, and all ukuleles will include a letter of authenticity signed by John and John and Judge John Hodgman."
Members also had the option to add the upcoming TMBG album Nanobots on LP or CD, extra IFC shirts, or, for a limited number of purchases, last year's exclusive EP to their subscription for an extra fee.
Super-President Membership[edit]
In addition to the above, Super-Presidents receive the following, copied verbatim from theymightbegiants.com:
- A personalized, custom-made outgoing phone message OR a personalized, custom-made ringtone on mp3 by They Might Be Giants. Yes, these messages will feature YOUR NAME, original music by TMBG, and will be approximately 5-15 seconds in length.
- Your name listed in the digital, vinyl, AND the CD artwork of the new album.
- A custom-designed, limited edition 2" commemorative coin created by Paul Sahre from the Instant Mint. We can't ensure this 2012 Instant Fan Club Super-Presidents coin will increase in value, but we sure hope so!
- A custom-designed "Certificate of Thank You" poster featuring photographs by John Linnell with graphics by Paul Sahre. The dimensions are 11" x 11" and it is full-color offset on good paper.
- Your choice of either an autographed CD or autographed vinyl copy of Album 16 plus the digital download in mp3 AND flac.
- A custom-designed, full-color, limited edition embroidered IFC commemorative 3" cloth patch designed by Paul Sahre.
2011 Fan Club[edit]
The Instant Fan Club's first offering was open to 1,000 members, with sign-ups beginning on April 4, 2011 for $80. All 1,000 spots of the club were filled by April 5, just 24 hours later.
Description[edit]
From the official press release:
Starting right now Idlewild Recordings are proud to announce the very first official They Might Be Giants fan club—the Instant Fan Club. We hope you'll find this offer to join for the 2011 Season to be a real value. The package includes a couple of surprises that should delight even the most world-weary TMBG completist.
Benefits[edit]
- A download of the four-song Join Us preview EP in April, and a download of the full Join Us album in July. A vinyl pressing of the album could also be included for an extra $20 added to the membership fee
- A copy of the 2011 Instant Fan Club EP, released in September 2011, and consisting of four exclusive new recordings
- A vinyl copy of TMBG's Other Thing Brass Band (EP)
- A "hand-numbered official Instant Fan Club ID button" and "cling sticker of the Instant Fan Club logo"
- A download of the full-length live album At Large, released in January 2012
- A pair of tickets to a They Might Be Giants concert of the member's choice—"and at the performance of your choice, members will receive a special Instant Fan Club goodie bag of mystery swag", which included a 2011 IFC shirt and a signed certificate of fan club membership
- "Instant Fan Club Gig Alerts the moment They Might Be Giants shows, in-stores or media appearances are announced"
- Members' names are listed in the digital liner notes of Join Us
