Difference between revisions of "Talk:They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club"

Revision as of 14:45, 23 March 2012

Kind of a ridiculous price, at least for what they're talking about now. Or am I missing something? --Luke 00:03, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

well, idk. $80 for two show tickets, an exclusive physical ep, an album download, live show download, and more promised things isn't that bad. it's a bit overpriced, but idk if i'd say ridiculous. -- 00:11, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

I suppose that's another issue for me, frankly I'm not terribly interested in tickets, really, so I wish there was a "build your membership" thing. You could pick and chose what you want. Oh welp. --Luke 00:22, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, Ant, two tickets would probably be about $40 bucks, and $10 each for the EP, album, and live album would bring things to about $70, so $80 doesn't seem that far off, especially with the concert swag, etc. It's just a large amount to have to pay up front, I guess. I'm glad they made it so the free tickets offer doesn't expire, though, and I'm hoping there'll end up being more exclusive downloads included down the line. How long do you guys think 1,000 spots will last? Drew 00:27, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

You guys are forgetting that tickets from the band eliminates the processing fees. I have regularly paid $60-$70 for a pair of tickets with fees so this package is a bargain! --BlueCanary 03:14, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

Well, I'm the only one negating the tickets, and that's because I don't want them. They're worth $70 to you, but nothing to me. Like I said, a set of different packages with different option would have been grand, that's all. As it stands, the deal has lots of things I like and want, but they're not worth the asking price to me.

TMBG is the band that pioneered the "cheap as free" model. I'm not asking for more free things, but to jump from dial-a-song, free mp3s, podcasts and all that to an expensive subscription service seems a bit sudden. 'Exclusivity' (especially inherent in the limited edition vinyl, and the 1,000 spots) isn't something the band is (or should be) known for (It's what makes Hello a bit of a headache for collectors to this day); they've typically been great about bring people in, bringing people together, from their shows to their music releases. That open atmosphere is what drew me to the band and the fans in the first place. The whole 'in crowd' vibe of this is a bit wrong for them. Maybe the overal money-for-value thing is 'worth it', but ultimately this is a business strategy, and it just doesn't work for me. It's fine that they're doing special things, I just think it's a bit sad they're doing special things that specifically leave most of their fans out. --Luke 04:24, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

Agreed. This is lame, and especially surprising for John and John. ~ magbatz 08:09, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

You say exclusivity isn't something they're known for but then you bring up Hello... Things are a lot different from the late 80's "cheap as free" model they rolled with, with the internet and everything else. If the stuff on the vinyl EP really is exclusive, you'll still probably hear the songs. They're really not leaving that many of their fans out here. The cap at 1000 can stem from labor, cost, or shoot, maybe just giving a nice pat on the back to the fans that are crazy enough to throw $80 at a band they care about at the drop of a hat. I'm one of them. It doesn't make me a better or more important fan than you, nor does it mean They're proponents of an "in crowd". Really, we're just getting a signed record. Instead of trying to find them after a show, we bypassed the hassle and just paid for it. That's about it. - Druclotwo

I'm with Luke and magbatz on this one. When being a fan of a band starts feeling like an exclusive race between the haves and have nots, it's not fun anymore. Sorry, I can't throw down $100 for an album I haven't even heard just to get some extra stuff. I need to, you know, eat this month. It irritates me when I see bands put out these uber-expensive packages in this economy, but it make me sad and angry to see a band I have loved for 22 years go down this road. Also, if the Johns are including any rare tracks with this ultra exclusive, limited edition, pricy package and are expecting them not to make the rounds online (as they've denoted in the website press release), they are seriously delusional. -- The Vanishing Dot 01:23, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

I see that Hello has already been mentioned, but you guys know that TMBG Unlimited cost around $120 total for the entire year, right? That was JUST MP3 files. No exclusive physical record, no pair of concert tickets, etc. In comparison, this seems like a pretty good deal and it's nothing really new for the band. -CapitalQ ♫ talk ♪ 01:56, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

There are big differences between this and TMBG Unlimited. Unlimited was $10 a month, you could pay for individual months if you wanted to and there was never any limit to how many people could sign up. If this fan club offers unreleased material (and I'm not even sure it does yet, beyond the four track vinyl EP), They should offer a way to access these tracks without having to pay for the huge $100 package (which is sold out anyway). That's really all I care about here: the album itself (which I'll be able to buy in July anyway) and any rare tracks that might be offered. I don't need vinyl or the Johns' autographs (I already have plenty of both) and I'm going to pay to see them in concert anyway. -- The Vanishing Dot 11:56, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

I thought TMBG Unlimited came with an exclusive jacket and a pre-release signed copy of Mink Car. If only the new club were "unlimited" to more than 1,000 people... -thevince

Good music should be accessible, but I also believe in paying for it. And I've paid $30 for a ticket, and $18 for a vinyl album or CD in the past. Two tickets, two albums, an EP and MYSTERY SWAG I'm sure would add up to a price close to what I paid for this. I don't think there's anything unreasonable about this, and it seems like a good way to ensure at least SOMEONE will pay for the music in an age where it's increasingly easy to download anything for free illegally. I'm not saying every person who didn't sign up wouldn't buy all the stuff anyways, but there are some people who feel fewer qualms in pirating things, and offering "exclusive" things acts as an incentive to get those who maybe will pay for the music into the category of those who definitely will pay for the music. And maybe entice some non concert goers into checking out a show, too! The $99 left a dent in my wallet but that's just $99 I won't be paying to Them in smaller increments throughout the rest of the year. The 1000 people limit is poopy, yes, but it's also practical. Ana 02:26, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

Well, Ana, that raises a perfectly reasonable point. Illegally downloading music. The Johns have gone on record very frequently that they don't consider pirating music a problem at all, and have occasionally (jokingly and seriously) encouraged it. So, either that was all just "wind in sails" or this is. And I don't think that was. --Luke 03:13, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

Luke, I have an mp3 of Flans giving a commentary on the evils of Napster. Granted, it's ten years old and his opinions may have changed, but the blurb at the end of the "fan club" post also warns people to not share any of the fan club material and threatens revoking people's memberships if they do. -- The Vanishing Dot 11:56, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

I feel for them, it's got to be hard finding ways to make an honest buck these days in the music business (although striking deals with Disney and writing commercial jingles seems to have done them well). They seem to have put a good deal of thought and effort into adding value for this thing. However as a self-described "superfan" I find it frustrating that 4 exclusive songs have to come with an $80 pricetag, and any hesitation over forking over the dough means getting locked out altogether. Especially because I suspect that one of those tracks will be "Canajoharie" which we already know is incredible. --Oddjob 15:09, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

You nailed it, Oddjob. I'll be buying the CD release no matter what, but I want access to any rare, exclusive tracks without paying $80 for them. It's looking like more and more people are starting to complain about this deal, if you check out the TMBG Facebook page. I suspect the Johns may add more slots or offer stuff to non fan club members. They have always seemed to want to make their fans happy at any cost. -- The Vanishing Dot 21:37, 7 April 2011 (UTC)

Ultimately, they've told a great deal of their fans "you're not a real fan," which is a shitty message, and then told the people who are Real Fans they cannot share things with the rest. Now, anyone who has been a part of any TMBG fan community long enough knows what a seriously screwed up thing that is for them to do. Sharing is what makes us so close, so connected. Everything from dial-a-song bootlegs to radio show recordings. We're genuinely magnanimous people. I find it really disheartening that they're not just discouraging that, but penalizing that. I mean, when did they become that band? --Luke 03:54, 8 April 2011 (UTC)

I have heaps of musician friends, they will all say the same sort of thing. Album sales hardly do anything to help give the band revenue, luckily however TMBG runs on their own record label. But I did the maths, if you exclude the extra option of getting the album on vinyl, $80 from 1000 members, that's $80,000. For a band that's an investment into actually releasing an album and properly promoting it, and for TMBG this is hopefully a worldwide promotion. If you stop thinking about it like "I'm not getting enough in this deal" (which to be honest, is bogus, because what they've promised would probably have cost you upwards of $80) and think of it like stock exchange, you invest money into them in the hopes that they can make more from it and therefore offer you and their other fans more from them in the future.--Ralph 06:44, 8 April 2011 (UTC)

TMBG's done fund-raisers before. Just last year, in fact, with a clearance sale on their merch store. So we know they tell us when they're trying to raise money for a project. If that's what this is about, then it letting us know would mean it's about them trying to fund their work. Fine, and we'll all chuck money into the pot. But they're advertising it as a fan-oriented endeavor. And what else am I supposed to think aside from "I'm not getting enough from this deal" when I don't think I am? And really, I have a hard time thinking a band that has suckled disney's teats three times running, and gotten grammy nominations and awards from it, are so majorly strapped for cash that this is necessary. If this was a required source of income, I'd be much more inclined to drop some money for them. But it's supposedly about the fans, and as a fan, I'm not impressed. --Luke 02:00, 9 April 2011 (UTC)

Ok, ok, really now, some people are ok with this and other people aren't. No one is going to change their mind about it, there's really no point in arguing. I don't mean to call anyone in particular out, I just think it's silly to be spending so much time with this. There's nothing wrong with disagreeing or agreeing with something TMBG decides to do, but if people think differently than us, we don't need to try to prove them wrong. I know everyone is just trying to get their point across, but it's all coming off as really hostile and negative, and I don't think that the community had ought to be about that. -Apollo (colloquia!) 03:23, 9 April 2011 (UTC)

you guys should have joined. Dee Dee And Dexter sounds so much better in FLAC. --Nosaj56 13:09, 23 April 2011 (UTC)

I hate to restart this whole discussion, but you know, I joined last year and was apprehensive at first, but feel like I got my money's worth in the end, but I can't say I feel the same this time around. The bulk of last year's price would've been for the two tickets, but considering that 2012 doesn't have that component and actually costs $15 more...I signed up anyway, but it's the most uncomfortable I've ever felt about buying anything from TMBG. I guess time will tell if I wind up regretting this or not. Not trying to sound too mean or negative here, just being honest as a person who likes TMBG and wants to support them, but who also REALLY doesn't have the money to keep doing this every year. I understand that the music industry has basically collapsed onto itself these days, but I am not sure how I feel about bands essentially having wealthy (and otherwise) superfans subsidize them year after year as a solution. -J-Gatz 14:45, 23 March 2012 (EDT)

I got uno.

Thats right. SamuelMan36 00:58, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

unlike the english word "one", "uno" is just a number in spanish, not a pronoun. -- 01:11, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

I would like to add that 999 other people also will receive one. -Apollo (colloquia!) 01:16, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, I got one too. I was planning on waiting and seeing if we got any more information, but then I realized that I'd end up kicking myself if all 1,000 spots got taken before I signed up, so I just went for it . . . Drew 03:07, 5 April 2011 (UTC)

Instant?

You can already download the Preview EP on iTunes yet no download for members, I thought it was the INSTANT Fan Club.

Also, I've been having trouble getting the actual emails, despite having them in my contacts and setting a filter on my email service to never put emails from them in the spam box.

I've gotta say, not a fan of the service right now.

Um? The link for members to download was e-mailed like 7 hours ago. Have you tried e-mailing them about not getting stuff? I didn't receive the first e-mail and had to e-mail to get that resolved and it's fixed now. I understand your frustration, but I think they are having a lot of kinks to work out right now so it's taking a bit of time. --Self Called Nowhere 06:25, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

I'd blame your email service on this one. Had no problems so far with Gmail - nothing in the spam box - and received my FLAC download last night at 7:30pm ET (the same time another friend also received it). -CapitalQ ♫ talk ♪ 10:18, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

I am using Gmail though, very confusing and annoying.--JustinBoy 12:38, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

Credits

Anyone else kind of annoyed at the complete lack of editing/proofreading in the digital artwork credits? They made a big deal about taking it seriously and not putting in nicknames.. yet there they are, a whole bunch of fake names! Plus the names in caps and notes in ()s that very obviously went unread...

I think that was the point - they asked for it to look proper and have no nicknames because they intended to reprint exactly what was inputted. Most people understood these directions just fine, but there's numbskulls in every group. I do agree that they could've cleaned it up a bit and alphabetized it by last name, though. -CapitalQ ♫ talk ♪ 17:16, 18 July 2011 (EDT)

Two EPs?

Flansburgh was making it sound on tumblr like there were two EPs in the works for IFC members. I wonder if one of them is the stuff with the Other Thing and then the other one is the originally promised exclusive EP.

Also in one of the Latitude interviews Flans mentioned there being a Tesla song on the EP...

Check your email. --Duke33 15:08, 20 July 2011 (EDT)

Live Album

Any more info on this? Flans mentioned on Facebook when the IFC as announced that this would be available on iTunes. --Oddjob 09:34, 25 January 2012 (EST)

All we know so far is that it contains 15 songs recorded last year, and we should be receiving it today. No mention (yet) of a non-IFC release, but hopefully they'll keep their word. -CapitalQ ♫ talk ♪ 09:37, 25 January 2012 (EST)

Confirmation

So I bit the bullet, dropped $100 and joined.

However, I didn't get that confirmation email with the MP3. I was under the impression that it would come within a few minutes. Checked my spam folder, wasn't there. I just sent an email to the address provided so they could "investigate" so we'll see how that goes.

Has anyone else gotten the confirmation yet? --Oddjob 11:02, 23 March 2012 (EDT)

Yes, you should get an email within 5 or so minutes. --Duke33 13:22, 23 March 2012 (EDT)