Gift Of Screws: Promotion Task Force

[TrueFaith77]

I thought it might interesting, fun, and productive to come up with grassroots ideas for getting the word out on Lindsey's new album. Of course, that's easy for me to say since I have no computer skills whatsoever. :confused:

So I'm starting this thread to see if others would be interested in coming up with ideas and putting them into action. I'll gladly be of any assistance I can.

As for brainstorming ideas, I have one to offer:

The thread on here in which two members -- http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=36655 -- kinda did their own versions of the Gift of Screws album cover got me thinking:

What if a bunch of people did that?

Even better would be if someone (me? someone? we?) could figure out how to manipulate such pictures so that they have the font and "tone" of the GOS cover. . . maybe we could start a kind of Internet/YouTube phenomonenon... get people thinking about/talking about the album. So that's my FIRST idea for some grassroots promotion. (I've already tried to get some friends to offer help on the picture manipulation thing, but they're almost as computer-illiterate as I am, so we'll see. . . )

Thoughts on this?

Any other ideas??

[sywlindseyfan]

sounds amazing Faith77, I will think of some ideas, and in the meantime, just tel me where to send my pic!!! haha

[TrueFaith77]

sounds amazing Faith77, I will think of some ideas, and in the meantime, just tel me where to send my pic!!! haha

Good point!

For anyone who wants to take a picture of themselves in imitation of the Gift of Screws cover art, please send to me at: [email protected]

[BTFLCHLD]

Good idea behind a street promotion. However, sounds like what you are suggesting is more along the lines of goofing an album cover/concept. :confused:

A good way to carry out street promotion would be:

Create a myspace account as a street-team home base
and/or
Create a youtube account as a street-team home base.

On these pages you then provide the album and tour information, along with graphics, videos, etc. of a promotional nature (e.g. design the page so people will want to join.) From these accounts you then collect friends from the selected tour cities, building a Lindsey fan base of your own.

From your page you then begin the promotional street-team work, such as:

- Sending city specific bulletins.
- Sending city specific invites.
- Request volunteers to bulletin/invite friends on their page.
- Suggest those with any radio/tv promo connects to contact you.
- Offer up show/tour graphics to anyone who wants to create flyers for
papermache purposes - post colleges/local business/etc.

Basically...get the word out abut the shows/albums.

[LngPrmsdRd]

Hell yes!!!

Okay, here's my idea. I'm a videographer/director wannabe. I've had an idea for a LONG time on making a little documentary of the FANS' experience out of any future tour...I came up with it at the tail end of the UTS tour, which is unfortunate because I was in a much better position at the time to travel more and went to a ton of shows....lol but that's where the idea came from, was the crazyness of being a fan and following the band on tour.

What my intention is, although it might not be on as big a scale since I can't afford to go to many shows, is to do a small series of shorts on YouTube from our perspective...you know, the travel mishaps (I can't be the only one who's had amusing things happen en route--I had to sing Rhiannon to get across the border once, because the customs guards were bored! lol), lining up all day for GA shows, waiting outside the venue afterwards etcetera. There would be no copyright issues as I wouldn't use videos from inside the shows or anything...just strictly from outside, our perspective.

If anyone does start any kind of street team, does any kind of local publicity...I could TOTALLY make Teh YouTubeyness out of that, as my uh, contribution to the cause! Videos, pictures whatever...send 'em along, with any ideas you have, I'll edit 'em together and put them up. And then it would lead right into the docu-series I was thinking of doing, but I would need peoples' help on that too since the first half the tour, I have NO WAY of getting to! If we could get something together where we show people all over the place getting the word out, I am in a tour city and can easily send the link to the local classic rock station which talked up UTS and Lindsey's last show here quite a bit. I've done a lot of publicity work in the past, with varying success I'm not gonna lie, lol...but I know how to do it, who to contact, and I'd love to. Anybody who's in the Toronto area, for the record, if anyone wants to get something going, count me in!!!

Hopefully this makes any small bit of sense...I'm in a huge rush typing this, late leaving for work but yah, Lindsey Promotion-ness catches my interest regardless of anything, hahaha... I'll check it later and probably clarify it... If anybody thinks it sounds workable or has any ideas how it could be done, totally let me know.

/end long and quickly typed rambling post ;)

[mylittledemon]

Hell yes!!!

Okay, here's my idea. I'm a videographer/director wannabe. I've had an idea for a LONG time on making a little documentary of the FANS' experience out of any future tour...I came up with it at the tail end of the UTS tour, which is unfortunate because I was in a much better position at the time to travel more and went to a ton of shows....lol but that's where the idea came from, was the crazyness of being a fan and following the band on tour.

What my intention is, although it might not be on as big a scale since I can't afford to go to many shows, is to do a small series of shorts on YouTube from our perspective...you know, the travel mishaps (I can't be the only one who's had amusing things happen en route--I had to sing Rhiannon to get across the border once, because the customs guards were bored! lol), lining up all day for GA shows, waiting outside the venue afterwards etcetera. There would be no copyright issues as I wouldn't use videos from inside the shows or anything...just strictly from outside, our perspective.

If anyone does start any kind of street team, does any kind of local publicity...I could TOTALLY make Teh YouTubeyness out of that, as my uh, contribution to the cause! Videos, pictures whatever...send 'em along, with any ideas you have, I'll edit 'em together and put them up. And then it would lead right into the docu-series I was thinking of doing, but I would need peoples' help on that too since the first half the tour, I have NO WAY of getting to! If we could get something together where we show people all over the place getting the word out, I am in a tour city and can easily send the link to the local classic rock station which talked up UTS and Lindsey's last show here quite a bit. I've done a lot of publicity work in the past, with varying success I'm not gonna lie, lol...but I know how to do it, who to contact, and I'd love to. Anybody who's in the Toronto area, for the record, if anyone wants to get something going, count me in!!!

Hopefully this makes any small bit of sense...I'm in a huge rush typing this, late leaving for work but yah, Lindsey Promotion-ness catches my interest regardless of anything, hahaha... I'll check it later and probably clarify it... If anybody thinks it sounds workable or has any ideas how it could be done, totally let me know.

/end long and quickly typed rambling post ;)

You should just hook up with Ledgies at each show that you can, film what happens, and then just edit it into a small film.

[Maccafan5000]

Awesome ideas! If I think of anything else I'll let you all know, and I'd be happy to help out with any of the ideas already mentioned.

...I'll at least do my part by dragging everyone I know to the Cleveland concert whether they want to go or not :)

[TrueFaith77]

Lots to respond to:

1. I bought a digital video camera for a friend of mine, so I'll be able to borrow that for the NYC show to shoot some footage of SOME sort.

2. I'm still hoping to get some homages to the album cover -- I'll either post those on my Fleetwood Mac blog OR set up a separate website for that (iamlindsey.blogspot.com?). (I can also picture one with Homer Simpson on the cover a la The Simpsons Rumours etc etc etc).

LngPrmsdRd: If I get enough of these covers, would you be able to put together some kind of YouTube clip show (maybe with a song? if that's allowed?). Let me know, also, if you're able to set up a YouTube account for GOS promotions.

3. Because Lindsey's peeps are already promoting his album/tour on his MySpace, I feel like we would need some kind of angle to do a myspace page. Example: reaching out for people to do the video documents of the tour OR the album cover homages. So if we get something together with those, would someone be able to do a myspace page?(my computer can't handle myspace).

To Be Continued. . .

[TrueFaith77]

In terms of local action, it would be helpful if people could volunteer to run operations for a particular venue. I'll volunteer for NYC. Reply with Quote in this e-mail, bold your venue, and put your SignName to the right (like I did below). Let's see if this works! :)


Sun, Sept 7 - Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery
Tue, Sept 9 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre - On Sale 7/18 @ 10AM
Wed, Sept 10 - Portland, OR - Newmark Theatre - On Sale 7/18 @ 10AM
Fri, Sept 12 - Lake Tahoe, NV - Harrah's Casino
Sat, Sept 13 - San Francisco - tbd
Sun, Sept 14 - Los Angeles, CA - Royce Hall
Tue, Sept 16 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys - On Sale 7/19 @ 10AM
Thu, Sept 18 - Phoenix, AZ - The Orpheum Theatre
Fri, Sept 19 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove of Anaheim - Presale 7/17
Sat, Sept 20 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint - On Sale 7/19 @ Noon
Mon, Sept 22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Depot
Wed, Sept 24 - Denver, CO - Opera House
Fri, Sept 26 - Tulsa, OK - Brady Theatre - On Sale 7/18 @ 10AM
Sun, Sept 28 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre
Mon, Sept 29 - St Louis, MO - Pageant
Wed, Oct 1 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Thu, Oct 2 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues - On Sale 7/18 @10AM
Sat, Oct 4 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre
Sun, Oct 5 - Indianapolis, IN - Eygptian Theatre
Tue, Oct 7 - Hamilton, ON - Hamilton Place Theatre **NEW**
Wed, Oct 8 - Toronto, ON - Music Hall
Fri, Oct 10 - Reading, PA - Sovereign PAC
Sat, Oct 11 - Atlantic City, NJ - Xanadu Theatre @ Trump Casino
Sun, Oct 12 - Lebanon, NH - The Lebanon Opera House **NEW**
Tue, Oct 14 - Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre - On Sale 7/18 @ 10AM
Wed, Oct 15 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Play House
Fri, Oct 17 - Boston, MA - Berklee Performing Arts
Sat, Oct 18 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theater
Sun, Oct 19 - New York, NY - Nokia Live - On Sale 7/19 @ Noon - TRUEFAITH77

[BTFLCHLD]

3. Because Lindsey's peeps are already promoting his album/tour on his MySpace. . . are they? I know there is a page that lists details but I am not sure there is much promotion going on...unless the infrequent bulletin counts.

I have street-team'd bands. Basically, you have a homebase page and from there collect the gig-city specific team members to conduct promo...and yes, contests and your idea for vids and album art homage are all viable and excellent ideas for recruiting. :nod:

Unfortunately, I haven't the time to participate.

[Hawkeye]

Lets all get jobs at out local radio stations and play the best choice for a singal once an hour ever hour, 24 hours a day til people are so addicted they must go out and buy the album. I think the title track has an edgy new feeling that could work.

[TrueFaith77]

Did anyone happen to catch the font for the album cover?

[MacMan]

Did anyone happen to catch the font for the album cover?

Someone posted this in another thead.... It's Fedra Sans-Light

[TrueFaith77]

Someone posted this in another thead.... It's Fedra Sans-Light


Thank you, Mac. A friend of mine did his homage to Lindsey. It's awesome, but he wanted to see if he could improve the font.

[LngPrmsdRd]

Lots to respond to:

1. I bought a digital video camera for a friend of mine, so I'll be able to borrow that for the NYC show to shoot some footage of SOME sort.

2.LngPrmsdRd: If I get enough of these covers, would you be able to put together some kind of YouTube clip show (maybe with a song? if that's allowed?). Let me know, also, if you're able to set up a YouTube account for GOS promotions.

3. Because Lindsey's peeps are already promoting his album/tour on his MySpace, I feel like we would need some kind of angle to do a myspace page. Example: reaching out for people to do the video documents of the tour OR the album cover homages. So if we get something together with those, would someone be able to do a myspace page?(my computer can't handle myspace).

To Be Continued. . .

1- Footage of NYC...wicked!!! I MAY be able to hit this show, but I'm not at all sure. I'll be hitting the Hamilton, ON and Toronto, ON shows for sure but I'm not sure of any others at this time. Money is a very serious consideration this time which is REALLY unfortunate!! :)

2- Definitely can do this! The song...hm. I think it ought to be fine since it's just YouTube, but what I could also do is hook up with one of my musician friends and get them to do a Lindsey-esque something or other for the background if we had to. I doubt it would be an issue to use a song though, it's only an issue if the artist chooses really and I highly doubt Lindsey and his people are the type to 'go after' us for trying to hype him up!!!

3- I'm not too familiar with Myspace, although I have one...I'm more familiar with Facebook, so I could do one of those if you'd like. And force everyone on MY friends list to add it, and force them to force everyone on THEIRS to add it...LOL! A big plus on this is that Lindsey's people aren't doing anything on Facebook, so it's a different audience. And we could add the photos and videos to it, which would make it pop up on everyone's news pages right when they log in...I'd harass my friends to comment even if they didn't actually care, lol, just to get it linked to their profiles...you get the idea. Thing is, I have very accomodating friends, lol!

from mylittledemon:
You should just hook up with Ledgies at each show that you can, film what happens, and then just edit it into a small film.

That's *exactly* what I want to do...although as a series, I'm thinking like 5 minutes per show. The thing is though, I can only make it for sure to two shows, being Hamilton and Toronto. I'm going to TRY my hardest to hit Indy, but it might be very difficult for me...ditto Chicago. That's why I'm wondering if anyone would be willing/able/awesome enough to shoot some footage for me...make it into a series, covering every show. I would absolutely give full credit to anyone who shot the footage if they'd like, for the record. Hell, I'd even send Mini-DV tapes if people want! ;) It doesn't even have to be taken with a video camera...digital still cameras that take video clips are fine, even cellphone cameras are fine. I can and will work with *anything*...I ain't wasting my Lindsey Tour Money on film school for nothing! :) If I can't get a series going, I will definitely be doing a small film with whatever I do get.

Also, new idea that my mom actually came up with, lol...Gift of Screws bracelet anyone? Haha, my mom designs jewelry, and I was talking with her on the phone the other day and somehow this whole thing came up... And out of nowhere she comes up with an idea for a bracelet using the colors of the album cover, so red, black, and silver (because gray is...dull!), and...actual screws, filed down to remove the sharpness. She's already making me one 'cause I loved it, LOL... There'd be some cost involved for materials, but very minimal (like $5-10)...if mine turns out cute, anyone want one? I thought that was just too awesome, lol...people would totally ask WHY you're wearing screws on your wrist...and then... "Well actually, because Lindsey Buckingham's Gift Of Screws album comes out September 16!" ;)

[LngPrmsdRd]

Even better would be if someone (me? someone? we?) could figure out how to manipulate such pictures so that they have the font and "tone" of the GOS cover. . .

Whoops, missed this... I volunteer for photo manipulation if needed! I don't have the font, though. So I'd have to locate it. But since the name is listed here that shouldn't be a problem. I have Photoshop and I'm good with it, and plus it'd be pretty easy...so no worries there.

I'll DEFINITELY be taking a picture in imitation of this on Monday, and will be forcing my friend to do the same of herself, lol!

[vivfox]

I'll DEFINITELY be taking a picture in imitation of this on Monday, and will be forcing my friend to do the same of herself, lol!
Does this involve whips and chains too??:laugh:

[LngPrmsdRd]

Does this involve whips and chains too??:laugh:

OMG. Hahahahaha! Sure why not... It could represent "Gift Of Screws: Bondage Edition."

:lol:

[AlanC]

I have posted the news in 4 other forums to equal enthusiasm.

[TrueFaith77]

I have posted the news in 4 other forums to equal enthusiasm.

Which news? That album is being released?

I am going to spread the word on my blog's Gift of Screws "cover" contest (click below for details) by hitting up music fan blogs/websites and graphic design and art blogs/websites. I already emailed the contest details to graphic design institute called AIGA. So anyway, I'm all on top of that.


That aside, just generally sending out the official Warners press release to music blogs and websites is probably a very productive approach (they all need copy to get google hits, etc).

[3rd World Man]

Wow~ You guys have some very ambitious ideas! I love all the LB promo ideas, the covers, videos and even the jewelry idea. My sister is also a jewelry designer, owns a bead store/website, I'm sure she would offer an outlet for some of your "Gift of Screws" bracelets, Bree. She loves helping other beader artists--maybe you designers could have a contest designing jewelry with the GOS theme/color scheme, eh?

Since I do graphic arts/photography/websites, I came up with my own GOS cover a couple years ago for a friend which I think turned out pretty well. Now the new GOS cover is decidedly open for criticism, but along with parodying it (which is super-fun too, don't get me wrong), a contest with the theme "Can YOU design a BETTER album cover than THIS?" would be a creative, interactive way to drum up support. Really, my cats, given a canvas, some paint and a toy mouse could make a more interesting cover than LB is proposing:distress:

Maybe the entries could get posted on Photobucket or somewhere popular that might get other people excited about the new album. I can offer some webspace for pictures, but popular places like YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Photobucket, etc.. would be better to get LB some well-deserved recognition & extra publicity. If LB won over just *some* of the millions of casual FM/Stevie fans out there, his sales of GOS could really take off. I've got the LB fever all over again!! :blob2:

PS...LOVE the contest/blog idea TrueFaith ~ Good job!

[Nico]

Since I do graphic arts/photography/websites, I came up with my own GOS cover a couple years ago for a friend which I think turned out pretty well. Now the new GOS cover is decidedly open for criticism, but along with parodying it (which is super-fun too, don't get me wrong), a contest with the theme "Can YOU design a BETTER album cover than THIS?" would be a creative, interactive way to drum up support. Really, my cats, given a canvas, some paint and a toy mouse could make a more interesting cover than LB is proposing:distress:


I think it's safe to say that you have come up with some brilliant stuff, Mr. 3rd World. :wavey: I love your GOS cover and many of the other things you have made- especially the book! But I think I'm neutral over Lindsey's new album cover. It isn't too awful, though, and it certainly shows that he is comfortable with who he is. I think the cover makes me anticipate more and more for what is inside. Yay! But this whole idea is wonderful. I'm more of an old-fashioned artist and I'm thinking up some ideas right now, which will have nothing to so with computers/technology, and I may proposition one if I'm up to it. :nod:

[TrueFaith77]

Now that the single is out. I think it might be a good idea to brainstorm ideas of how to get people to know about the single: music websites/blogs, radio stations, etc. Any ideas about that?