RyanioBirdio
Well-known member
- Joined
- 1 May 2018
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Since there’s been a lot of talk across other threads about gigs and live music, thought I would create its own space and also provide a little update.
I’ve been involved in a few discussions about this in the last couple of weeks, but there are now live performances being organised that are going to be filmed professionally, in spacious surroundings and environments where social distancing is safe for both band and crew, that will be streamed for cash.
However, there are a few things that make this unique and potentially worthwhile for the fan. One is that the fan base gets to vote on the set list and have input in shaping the set list ahead of time, another is that bands will be doing things like playing entire records in full for the first time and so on. But what’s also happening is that exclusive merchandise that isn’t available anywhere else is being used for your ticket. You can either pay a tenner (for example) just to see the stream of the set that you can vote to shape, you don’t have to purchase a physical item, or you can buy an exclusive shirt for £20 that isn’t available anywhere else which gives you access to the performance. This way you get a unique physical product that is yours to keep, so you don’t just get asked to pay money for something you can watch but don’t get to really experience in any way.
This also allows for a global audience to be involved at once, so nobody needs to lose out based on geography. It’s also potentially very lucrative as even if you’re a modest size band who can play to 500 people per night for 30 shows across America alone, you’ll have tens of thousands of fans all over the world on top of that, and it only needs a fraction of those people to take part to generate a huge amount. Even 5,000 people across the world buying one shirt to get access will gross a hundred grand, and the only cost is maybe £4 for the shirt and another £1 for the filming and streaming costs. Bands can also stream these events directly through their online merch stores, and it eliminates all cost not to mention time that goes into regular touring. The cost of even a small tour being on the road for one day after expenses is eye watering, and the band hardly makes anything. I can tell you bands who play to 2,000 people per night every night, but can’t afford to not have jobs when they’re not touring. This, however, can allow a band to make as much profit in one night as they usually make in a year of touring.
It’s also a way for bands who are currently sitting on tour merchandise that they spent a fortune getting made before the pandemic to repurpose them and recoup, by using them as said exclusive merch pieces that act as the ticket to the stream. A band called The Wonder Years are doing this at present and there are going to be many more announced across all manner of genres in the weeks to com:
Theoretically, this might work well enough that it becomes a part of live music even in a more ‘normal’ world. It’s something that can be done alongside regular touring, not necessarily instead of. Why not do a special yearly event in this manner alongside traditional on the road methods?
I’ve been involved in a few discussions about this in the last couple of weeks, but there are now live performances being organised that are going to be filmed professionally, in spacious surroundings and environments where social distancing is safe for both band and crew, that will be streamed for cash.
However, there are a few things that make this unique and potentially worthwhile for the fan. One is that the fan base gets to vote on the set list and have input in shaping the set list ahead of time, another is that bands will be doing things like playing entire records in full for the first time and so on. But what’s also happening is that exclusive merchandise that isn’t available anywhere else is being used for your ticket. You can either pay a tenner (for example) just to see the stream of the set that you can vote to shape, you don’t have to purchase a physical item, or you can buy an exclusive shirt for £20 that isn’t available anywhere else which gives you access to the performance. This way you get a unique physical product that is yours to keep, so you don’t just get asked to pay money for something you can watch but don’t get to really experience in any way.
This also allows for a global audience to be involved at once, so nobody needs to lose out based on geography. It’s also potentially very lucrative as even if you’re a modest size band who can play to 500 people per night for 30 shows across America alone, you’ll have tens of thousands of fans all over the world on top of that, and it only needs a fraction of those people to take part to generate a huge amount. Even 5,000 people across the world buying one shirt to get access will gross a hundred grand, and the only cost is maybe £4 for the shirt and another £1 for the filming and streaming costs. Bands can also stream these events directly through their online merch stores, and it eliminates all cost not to mention time that goes into regular touring. The cost of even a small tour being on the road for one day after expenses is eye watering, and the band hardly makes anything. I can tell you bands who play to 2,000 people per night every night, but can’t afford to not have jobs when they’re not touring. This, however, can allow a band to make as much profit in one night as they usually make in a year of touring.
It’s also a way for bands who are currently sitting on tour merchandise that they spent a fortune getting made before the pandemic to repurpose them and recoup, by using them as said exclusive merch pieces that act as the ticket to the stream. A band called The Wonder Years are doing this at present and there are going to be many more announced across all manner of genres in the weeks to com:
The Wonder Years
Welcome to the official site of The Wonder Years. Find exclusive merch for The Wonder Years right here!
thewonderyears.myshopify.com
Theoretically, this might work well enough that it becomes a part of live music even in a more ‘normal’ world. It’s something that can be done alongside regular touring, not necessarily instead of. Why not do a special yearly event in this manner alongside traditional on the road methods?