Twee pop and unique ways to promote bands?

[DrummingNinja]

Hey, just dropped in to ask about some of the cooler, interesting, or cute promotion ideas/events/thingies you've seen from bands. The idea spawned from hearing of the rediculously cute things Twee bands did, like attaching candy to EPs and stuff.

So what kind of unique promotion thing have you seen from a band that made you remember them? Or made you go "awww, candy with my novelty ohsoindie 7" which I can't play becuase I don't have a record player" or something weird like that.

Orrrr, is there anything you think would be cool or unique to see/get/hump from a band? Because my own band is starting to pick up speed, and with an EP release coming in the next few months, I got to thinking about interesting ways to promote the band. (besides the deliciously amazing music, and rocking the **** out live, of course)

Thanks much.



Edit: For the kids that want to hear it (copypasta'd from below):

http://www.myspace.com/thebrightlightsocialhour

I reccomend Strong As Death or Bright Light Guide, and the parts in Innovative Solution that aren't the intro, since the recorded version is threehundred times more homosexual then the current version. I absolutely don't reccomend Champagne becuase it's a 2 year old demo recording, and the singer sounds nothing like that anymore.

The recordings there aren't with me playing drums (I'm better :) ), being as I just joined a few months ago. The songs do have vocals too, just not recorded for some reason I'm yet to find out.

The real testament of the band's ability will be in the EP we do early next year, we're going to an all analogue studio, should be crazy. That's what I'm brainstorming ideas for.

/edit

[DrummingNinja]

breakdown + unicorns + xcore = lay off the ****ing cliches. Originality is a great promotional tool.

but yeah besides that, tape a dollar bill to the CD insert.

Haha, sorry, actually the icon is actually a satire on the very thing you're accusing me of, hxc cliche overdose.

But ooh, taping an obscure coin or something would be kind of cool. An obscure bill with a hand printed message would be even cuter!

Edit: On second thought, maybe I should have asked this at a forum with more girls, being as they'd probably appreciate little things like that more, but still. That's only half the possible fans I could be reaching. I need things that stand out to guys!

[Anxious]

3d glasses.


A magic decoder ring.

[bleep_bloop]

hand draw all the covers and liner notes

[DrummingNinja]

TS is my new favorite person. I have never seen a more twee mother****er in all my days.

gift-wrap every CD case by hand and put a shiny bow on it

Hahahah, I'm not that twee, I promise, it's all for the fans. I play drums! Twee as **** is incompatible with polyrhythms, I promise.

I do have an acoustic guitar though.

****, I might be twee.

**** my chuck taylors are black with a pink lining.

****, I'm twee.

/bakescookies


And bleep_bloop, I'm considering doing that for the liner notes, that'd be neat.

[EinzingerIsGod]

Edit: On second thought, maybe I should have asked this at a forum with more girls, being as they'd probably appreciate little things like that more, but still.

The most unintentionally sexist comment I've heard in a while.

[beso negro]

include some Hinder bumper stickers with every cd.

[DrummingNinja]

The most unintentionally sexist comment I've heard in a while.

Oh it was completely intentionally sexist. But remember, it's okay to be sexist towards guys. They won't sue you.

But consider the amount of guy friends versus the amount of lady friends you have that would say "OH MY GOD how cute! The band wrote a personal message with a heart stamp on a japanese or korean or chinese whateverthey'reallthesame bill! OMG <3<3 I'm so adding them on myspace!"

If your lady friends don't react so stereotypically, pat yourself on the back for having either friends that are out of college, or intelligent.

[DrummingNinja]

link to your band's music plz

http://www.myspace.com/thebrightlightsocialhour

I reccomend Strong As Death or Bright Light Guide, and the parts in Innovative Solution that aren't the intro, since the recorded version is threehundred times more homosexual then the current version. I absolutely don't reccomend Champagne becuase it's a 2 year old demo recording, and the singer sounds nothing like that anymore.

The recordings there aren't with me playing drums (I'm better :) ), being as I just joined a few months ago. The songs do have vocals too, just not recorded for some reason I'm yet to find out.

The real testament of the band's ability will be in the EP we do early next year, we're going to an all analogue studio, should be crazy. That's what I'm brainstorming ideas for.

[Zmev]

Grow some ****ing balls.

[DrummingNinja]

this is not bad actually

Thanks much! And I promise everything sounds twice as good now, I'll definitely be letting everyone know here when the EP comes out.


Sorry Zmev, that will never happen. In the quest for making fans happy, I unfortunately lost not only my balls, but my entire pelvic region. I am nothing but a torso with kneecaps. (Insert Monty Python Black Knight reference here) (Insert other standard internet retort)

[Zmev]

Sorry Zmev, that will never happen. In the quest for making fans happy, I unfortunately lost not only my balls, but my entire pelvic region. I am nothing but a torso with kneecaps. (Insert Monty Python Black Knight reference here) (Insert other standard internet retort)

you are 0/2

[bleep_bloop]

oh **** your down 0 to 2 you best get your act together son

[FA]

Hey, just dropped in to ask about some of the cooler, interesting, or cute promotion ideas/events/thingies you've seen from bands. The idea spawned from hearing of the rediculously cute things Twee bands did, like attaching candy to EPs and stuff.

So what kind of unique promotion thing have you seen from a band that made you remember them? Or made you go "awww, candy with my novelty ohsoindie 7" which I can't play becuase I don't have a record player" or something weird like that.

Orrrr, is there anything you think would be cool or unique to see/get/hump from a band? Because my own band is starting to pick up speed, and with an EP release coming in the next few months, I got to thinking about interesting ways to promote the band. (besides the deliciously amazing music, and rocking the **** out live, of course)

Thanks much.

myspace? i want to listen.

[DrummingNinja]

this music needs vocals by the way. And good ones.

Oh they've got vocals, and they're going to be shredding up balls left and right on the EP. They're relatively high pitched, something like The Mars Volta and Circa Survive with a touch of Blood Brothers, but it all comes across as relatively smooth. If we ever get any demos recorded between now and then I'll post them up here.

[DrummingNinja]

myspace? i want to listen.

Edited the link into the first post

[wang masta flex]

hey i like this man

definitely let us know when the ep's out, i'd love to hear how everything turns out

[EinzingerIsGod]

The Mars Volta and Circa Survive with a touch of Blood Brothers

No thanks.

[Sam]

Jesus ****. I need earplugs to read this thread.

[asdf]

What is Twee?

[Kayetan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twee_pop


I think it's wrong to go about making music in this way, ts.

[ATM]

A more punk-influenced, North American variant of twee pop is also sometimes referred to as cuddlecore

WTF

[intrepy]

It's great to see some new stuff on the BLSH myspace...last I had heard was the bright light guide. Ryan/Curt had mentioned that you guys were doing well and gettin closer to puttin out a new EP...looks like yall have a show planned for Jan 7th? Daamn, that's going to be hard to make since school starts back up on the 8th here.

Definately anxious to hear you on drums with BLSH though...seems like the last time I heard BLSH was the last show we played with them!

Jack still tearin up the vocals?

[Hedgedive]

I gave some of this a listen last night. Sounds pretty good. Vocals could seriously make or break it though.

[sr800bkBassist]

my old band handmade all our CD cases out of canvas and screenprinted every design one-by-one. and it was all stolen (paint and canvas and threads. the sewing machine and screenprinter were actually paid for). we used that as a unique selling point since most bands just get companies to print their CD sleeves and use ordinary plastic CD cases.

and we also used CDR's because paying for studio time drained us of cash, but we personalized every one of them with messages which included:
"unprotected sex is underrated"
"take ecstacy and **** like rabbits"
"420 sucks, and so does Bob Marley"
"HUGZ KISSEZ AND TITS"
"bitchtits"
"take PCP and you'll finally be in with the cool crowd"
and so on.

and it also added a cheesy irony factor since we were an upbeat, female-fronted indie-pop band.

it was funny when at our CD release show our singer's dad showed up and asked her for a CD so she had to dig through about 60 before she found one without something vulgar/offensive written on it.

[Matt?]

get your six year old younger brother to be your merch guy. that's f'uckin twee

[Zmev]

Stop eating meat so vaginas will grow on your face!

[bleep_bloop]

dude twee pop is dead its time to move on.

[DrummingNinja]

Whoaa, the little kid doing merch is a great idea! How can you refuse buying things from a cute little kid.

Intrepy, hells yeah Jack is rocking out, that beast of a man could rip a lumberjack's balls off with just his vocal cords. Our first show:
Thursday, January 11 @ the Carousel Lounge
1110 E 52nd Street, Austin, Texas 78752
Tell all your friends :)

And noo, we aren't twee pop at all, listen to the myspace, totally not. I just really like the cute little things the twee pop bands did for their fans.

And thanks for all the kind words everyone, I'll definitely be posting in here when the EP is done. Hell, if we get an early demo before the full EP drops I'll totally hook it up here, you guys are nice.

[pikester]

Instant win:

1) Hack Pitchfork
2) Write a fake review and give yourself a 9.6 or so.
3) Wait for the money.

[bleep_bloop]

excellent idea.

or rather you could just pay the reviewers off.

[DrummingNinja]

Instant win:

1) Hack Pitchfork
2) Write a fake review and give yourself a 9.6 or so.
3) Wait for the money.

Alternative route:

1) Hack bible
2) Write a fake review and give myself a 9.6 out of 10 disciples approval
3) Wait for the Christian money.

[_Mote_]

Get a big black man to threaten people to buy your merch/CDs. Works every time :thumb:

[DrummingNinja]

Intimidatingly nerdy:
http://www.algonet.se/~nalle5/bond/galleri/bilder/man/casey2.jpg

Any other great ideas like angry black dudes is greatly appreciated.

[_Mote_]

Seiously though, I was at a concert in France, and some big black dude was yelling at me and pointing at this bands T-shirts. I ran away, and the cousin that I was with told me he said I was going to burn in hell if I didn't buy one. I'm sure if I understood what he was saying I would've bought one. He was one fierce looking dude.

[Eliminator]

big black dude with an Architecture in Helsinki shirt on

[Robert Crumb]

An architect from Helsinki in a Big Black shirt!

Also, one of the best performers I've ever seen was the big black bassist from Dengue Fever. Best dude ever.

[_Mote_]

Why get a guy in a Big Black T-shirt, when you can get THE Big Black himself!
I present you Big from Rob and Big!!!


http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k146/MildVibe/merch.jpg

[Eliminator]

That wasn't funny.

[Kayetan]

That's the most honest thing I've ever heard Eliminator say.

[DrummingNinja]

Since 3/4ths of my band are atheists, I've created the following image for promotion. I expect to see it in Jesus Weekly as well as WTFChrist Magazine.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8626/richarddawkinssj8.jpg

[sr800bkBassist]

Since 3/4ths of my band are atheists, I've created the following image for promotion. I expect to see it in Jesus Weekly as well as WTFChrist Magazine.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8626/richarddawkinssj8.jpg

where did that "____ is in ur _____... ____ing ur _____" joke come from? i've been seeing a few things with that lately. funny, but i don't know where it originated from.

[Eliminator]

http://encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/I_am_in_your_base_killing_your_d00ds

[Tapeworm]

i think bands should make more pocket-comb merch.

[DrummingNinja]

Hahaha, pocket comb merch as in...Little pocket sized combs, with the band name emblazoned on it? The little scene ****s do need to have nice hair...

[SailAway]

what is twee pop? :\

[DrummingNinja]

what is twee pop? :\

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twee_pop

But a much more deep interesting look at it is from Pitchfork:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/10242/Twee_as_****

The article is appropriately titled "Twee As ****".

[Monstar1790]

Hey, just dropped in to ask about some of the cooler, interesting, or cute promotion ideas/events/thingies you've seen from bands. The idea spawned from hearing of the rediculously cute things Twee bands did, like attaching candy to EPs and stuff.

So what kind of unique promotion thing have you seen from a band that made you remember them?

An awesome local band around here, Awful Waffle, never got around to making packaging for their EP, Overstaying Our Welcome. They had a big show coming up that my old band played with them, opening for Badfish (the Sublime tribute). So, what did they do? They put the CD-Rs in takeout-style platter dishes with napkins, plastic utensils, and Scooby-Doo lollipops.

Pretty ridiculous.

Check 'em out here: http://www.myspace.com/awfulwafflenj