it's worked for many groups in the past, and quite successfuly, but 10d's thoughts worry me, and he may be right in the fact that "[a fan club] synthesizes a barrier between devoted fans," but i'd definitely shell out my disposible income.
I did think Hip Club got off to a good start (was able to get good tickets to shows, some bonus tracks etc). However it quickly fizzled.
If what caused it to go by the wayside was funding to keep a club like that operating I'd gladly pay - as long as it also included perks like we are all enjoying like this Salmon Fest video Im watching now(thanks Mav). Its also great to be kept in the loop with stuff like newsletters (aka Tales From The Hip). Put all this stuff together and you would have a club worth paying for..
I'm there for sure. :thumb:
I'd be all for a club like the 10 club. I'm a member there and the rewards are well worth the price to me. I have friends that are big fans of Pearl Jam as well and aren't members, to them it's not worth it. They don't feel like their left out because they're not willing to pay. It's plain to see that the benfits of being in the club don't come for free.
I see many more pros than cons on this issue.
If the benefits fit the price, sure, I'd pay.
And I think the concern about creating barriers between fans is overstated, unless you're planning to charge an exorbitant price. The thing is, the price for something like this is driven by demand; if there is high demand, the club needs to become more exclusive or the benefits become meaningless. I don't think the Hip would run into that problem; they're not U2 or the Stones.
What is a bad idea is creating levels of fandom, so that I get to be a more senior fan than you because I was in the Hip Club from IVL. That sort of thing just alienates people.
I'd probably pay at least $20 or $30 for a revamped Hip Club. The benefits would have to be pretty cool though. As stated above, Pearl Jam's 10Club is a fantastic example of an affordable fan club that offers amazing benefits for those willing to join. I've been a member of their club for the past couple of years, and I gotta tell ya, those 10Club folks run a smooth operation over there. It's great!
I believe the Hip club was a safety factor for the hip. Their previous album "Music At Work" was available for download on file sharing programs 2 months before it's official release. That must have really brought down their projected record sales, there is just no way it didn't. They couldn't afford to take the risk again, so the "Hip Club" was invented. A low cost insurance policy to hopefully sell more albums because big fans want the extras. I did, and I got it. I won a pair of tix to club 279 for the premiere and it was definately a wicked night all round! The way I see it is MAv is the new Hip Club. He was hired by the the band to take care of their www business side of things including being involved with Hipbase (opinion only). ddd444 hasn't posted much lately, MAv is the man now. I'm sure the Hip are interested in Hipbase because you have a very knowledgeable audience voicing their opinions and I'm sure they appreciate some forms of that! Everyone is gettin all riled up prior to the DVD/G.H. release, sounds like good marketing to me!
MAv, I don't want to imply that you don't enjoy this forum, I'm sure you do but I see you as an ambassador for the Hip but one who puts forth all effort and enjoys all he does. As for the Salmon Fest video, I thought it was awesome. I give the sound an A+ because it gave me that intimate personal feel like it was I holding the camera. It was just so natural as you called it. Imagine that same clip with with a boom mike over Gord's head and a soundboard in the back, just wouldn't give you the same feeling. I hope TTH and yourself continue to improve the online experience you have brought forth so far, it has been incredible and a very positive move on their part.
Suggestion Box: The Hip should at least have a link to Hipbase from thehip.com, it can only benefit them in the long run!
Regards,
Mike
hip Wrote:Suggestion Box: The Hip should at least have a link to Hipbase from thehip.com, it can only benefit them in the long run!
I think you're right on the money here. I think hipbase is a huge success and IS "the hip club". I already feel like I get special access to the Hip because I am a member of this forum, weather it be from MAv or ddd444 or all the knowledgeable people around here.
Hipbase is a major (and uh... free) marketing tool for the core audience - a way to keep the fans they already have (not like we're going anywhere). Any fan of the Hip can like the music and go to shows, but the "fan club" is the Hipbase.
LaminarFlow Wrote:hip Wrote:Suggestion Box: The Hip should at least have a link to Hipbase from thehip.com, it can only benefit them in the long run!
I think you're right on the money here. I think hipbase is a huge success and IS "the hip club". I already feel like I get special access to the Hip because I am a member of this forum, weather it be from MAv or ddd444 or all the knowledgeable people around here.
Hipbase is a major (and uh... free) marketing tool for the core audience - a way to keep the fans they already have (not like we're going anywhere). Any fan of the Hip can like the music and go to shows, but the "fan club" is the Hipbase.
The Hipbase will always be free, the reason I started the site was for the music, no other reason. I am very glad everyone enjoys the site. I had no idea this site would turn into the huge resourse that it has or "fan club" etc.
LaminarFlow Wrote:hip Wrote:Suggestion Box: The Hip should at least have a link to Hipbase from thehip.com, it can only benefit them in the long run!
I think you're right on the money here. I think hipbase is a huge success and IS "the hip club". I already feel like I get special access to the Hip because I am a member of this forum, weather it be from MAv or ddd444 or all the knowledgeable people around here.
Hipbase is a major (and uh... free) marketing tool for the core audience - a way to keep the fans they already have (not like we're going anywhere). Any fan of the Hip can like the music and go to shows, but the "fan club" is the Hipbase.
good point, but don't you feel a small sense of "greed" when it comes to the hipbase. i mean for some members who have been here since the beginning, its kind of like a small private group, and I kind of like it like that. what next? paying to become part of the hipbase??? i don't mind the idea of paying for hipclub, we already did when we bought IVL, why not expand it with the dvd/g.hits package?? you buy the package (or any cd issued) then you become a member. simple as that. maybe include membership cards with re-issued cd's if the band chooses to do so.
I would be willing to pay, but only if, as others have said, the benefits meet the costs. Shelling out 40 or 50 bones and then finding out it only gives me access to a few mp3 downloads and a screen saver would draw my ire.
However, if I get first crack at tickets, or shows for fan club members only, then I'd be all for it!
Maybe even donate part of the proceeds from the club to a charity or something....
chives Wrote:LaminarFlow Wrote:hip Wrote:Suggestion Box: The Hip should at least have a link to Hipbase from thehip.com, it can only benefit them in the long run!
I think you're right on the money here. I think hipbase is a huge success and IS "the hip club". I already feel like I get special access to the Hip because I am a member of this forum, weather it be from MAv or ddd444 or all the knowledgeable people around here.
Hipbase is a major (and uh... free) marketing tool for the core audience - a way to keep the fans they already have (not like we're going anywhere). Any fan of the Hip can like the music and go to shows, but the "fan club" is the Hipbase.
good point, but don't you feel a small sense of "greed" when it comes to the hipbase. i mean for some members who have been here since the beginning, its kind of like a small private group, and I kind of like it like that. what next? paying to become part of the hipbase??? i don't mind the idea of paying for hipclub, we already did when we bought IVL, why not expand it with the dvd/g.hits package?? you buy the package (or any cd issued) then you become a member. simple as that. maybe include membership cards with re-issued cd's if the band chooses to do so.
That's a good idea, if it's not too late, to have it like IVL, new Hip Club card or whatever for everyone that buys the DVD/Hits packacge
I'm guessing it'll be mostly true Hip fans who will get this, 60$ probably a little steep for the average fan who only go to shows to see the Hits, but you never know, this is a "Hits" package
habsfan19 Wrote:chives Wrote:LaminarFlow Wrote:hip Wrote:Suggestion Box: The Hip should at least have a link to Hipbase from thehip.com, it can only benefit them in the long run!
I think you're right on the money here. I think hipbase is a huge success and IS "the hip club". I already feel like I get special access to the Hip because I am a member of this forum, weather it be from MAv or ddd444 or all the knowledgeable people around here.
Hipbase is a major (and uh... free) marketing tool for the core audience - a way to keep the fans they already have (not like we're going anywhere). Any fan of the Hip can like the music and go to shows, but the "fan club" is the Hipbase.
good point, but don't you feel a small sense of "greed" when it comes to the hipbase. i mean for some members who have been here since the beginning, its kind of like a small private group, and I kind of like it like that. what next? paying to become part of the hipbase??? i don't mind the idea of paying for hipclub, we already did when we bought IVL, why not expand it with the dvd/g.hits package?? you buy the package (or any cd issued) then you become a member. simple as that. maybe include membership cards with re-issued cd's if the band chooses to do so.
That's a good idea, if it's not too late, to have it like IVL, new Hip Club card or whatever for everyone that buys the DVD/Hits packacge
I'm guessing it'll be mostly true Hip fans who will get this, 60$ probably a little steep for the average fan who only go to shows to see the Hits, but you never know, this is a "Hits" package
well, the cds and dvd will be sold separately, so the avg. fan can still buy just the "hits" and pick up the club card. but maybe they can make it where if you buy the dvd and the cds, you get "more access" or something along those lines....MAv, if you read this, let's talk, I'll help you out with the Hipclub.
Quite honestly I don't think I would pay to be a member of a club unless I got HUGE benefits from belonging to it. Living in the US near the border affords me the opportunity on many occassions to see the boys play in small theatres or clubs where demand for tickets is not massive and shows rarely sell out. In addition the majority of these shows are general admission and hence pre-sales for fan club members would not benefit me in the least. Although I think it's a wonderful idea in the raw form, it may turn into a way to develop some sort of heirarchy amongst fans so that one can say "I'm a bigger fan than you 'cause I paid $40 to be in a fan club." (clearly that is a hypothetical remark and no hip fan would stoop so low) I just think that part of the allure of the hip has always been their accessibility, even to new fans. Why then are we trying to make elitist/exclusive clubs that would make the band or at least their fans seem less accessible??? Just my $.02!