On Thu, 10 May 2001 Kris Gillespie explained:
quoted 4 lines hmm... Well, it's not a label's job to make sure that there are t-shirts> hmm... Well, it's not a label's job to make sure that there are t-shirts
> to sell. The group's designs came late from Europe. With that said,
> there's going to be merch starting in Chicago, so you can fly on up there
> if you'd like... or there's always Warpmart.
Fair enough about it *not* being the label's job. Autechre and their
manager failed. So for at least the first seven dates of this tour there
will be no merchandise of any kind. Do you really think that Warpmart will
care about this? No, we'll still have to pay quite a bit more due to the
excahnge rate plus expensive shipping to the U.S.
quoted 4 lines I'm also sorry that we weren't down there in force handing out free copies> I'm also sorry that we weren't down there in force handing out free copies
> of the new album to appease you, let alone selected back catalog,
> postcards for shows that don't yet exist and YOU CAN'T HAND OUT STICKERS
> AT CLUBS IN NYC WITHOUT PISSING OFF THE OWNERS.
Never said any of that. Please re-read:
quoted 4 lines Also, there was absolutely no Warp Records USA presence of any kind. I>> Also, there was absolutely no Warp Records USA presence of any kind. I
>> thought for sure there would be promo items floating around (ie posters,
>> postcards, stickers). In fact, there weren't even any flyers for the show
>> itself!
Posters meaning smallish promotional posters that are sent out to radio
stations, trade publications, record shops, etc highlighting a new release
or the band itself. Postcards being the same. The kind of things you find
on your way out of shops usually by the door on a table or in a box. Cheap
freebies. Didn't know about that sticker thing...
...regardless, those were just examples. This was the first show I had
ever been to where there were absolutely no souvenirs or memorablia of any
kind. Not even a small photocopied flyer for the show! I hear so much
about Warp shows and Warp parties in the UK having really cool flyers and
freebies. Small local bands with no label support at all do better
promoting themselves.
I'm not saying necessarily that I was *expecting* to get free stuff...
it just amazed me that the first dates of probably Warp's biggest signing
were not really promoted or hyped by their US office which had also just
opened up recently. This was Warp USA's big chance to promote itself along
with one of its hottest artists. Definitely a missed opportunity and a bad
business decision on someone's part.
I give Warp USA about a year. Remember Mute USA? Remember PIAS USA?
They heavily promoted themselves and still ended up shutting down. If you
want to make a presence for yourself you can't just rely on word-of-mouth
and some random magazine ads.
Is Warp USA a serious long-term venture or a money-pit?
quoted 1 line That is unless you'd rather Warp artists not be welcome here.> That is unless you'd rather Warp artists not be welcome here.
I couldn't tell. Were they? I mean their fans will always welcome
them here, but will their label still be around to bring them or other Warp
artists back? THIS is the label's responsibility, and so far Warp/Warp USA
is failing. If and when no other Warp artist tours the US, it will be
because Warp USA failed both itself as a label and us as its fans.
quoted 3 lines We did put some very nice posters up before the show both nights, but unless> We did put some very nice posters up before the show both nights, but unless
> you were one of the first ten people there each night (and two of you have had
> to have been women, since I put a couple up in the ladies' room).
Whatever. You just wasted money on getting those printed. You might
as well have given them away the night of the show itself. What's the point
of printing up very nice posters if they aren't going to be seen well before
the show? So, your target audience was ONLY the people who were at that
club on Thursday the 3rd?
Walking around Manhattan I saw several really cool posters for other
clubs and other events. While sitting around downstairs at the Bowery
ballroom there were several handbills and nicely printed cardstock flyers on
the tables for future events. Hell, there were even gutter-punks outside
the Autechre show handing out flyers for other future events.
Then again, the show was sold out so maybe Warp USA didn't feel as if
it were important to promote it?
.`-).
christopher miller o o.'
evil@fdt.net ==
'
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