What is Selling Out?
I was talking to a guy in class today who plays in a band. He mentioned how badly he needed a job - his money situation is bleak. So since I’m always thinking about how to involve advertising as a revenue model I suggested his band get some local sponsors. You know, see if the local bowling alley or hardware store would sponsor them in exchange for the band giving a mention during a performance. Maybe they could put some flyers on stage or have the band give a shout out. Heck, maybe even have the band wear t-shirts with the company logos.
I know it sounds kinda cheesy, I can understand that. But when this aspiring musician said it was “selling out” it caught me off guard.
I used to play in bands, follow the Dead and Phish and I was an idealist to the core in terms of music and social equality and all of that. But I guess I’ve fallen far from the tree because I don’t see being sponsored as “selling out” in the least. I see it as an opportunity that pretty much every successful band since the dawn of the recording industry has taken part in.
When the Dead played soldier field were there advertisements at the venue? Sure there were. Or what about Lollapalooza? I never saw more advertising in my life than at those shows. So since QOTSA played Lollapalooza did they “sell out”? No, of course not.
Selling out is when you let the sponsors dictate the music you make. As long as you can still do what you are doing, and as long as we are a capitalistic society, then what is so wrong with a strategic partnership? Don’t we all live in homes that were marketed to us, drink beer that was advertised to us, play music created with instruments and equipment that was advertised to us? In fact, TigerDirect sold me on this very monitor I’m looking at now - they send the most irresistible email offers!
So if advertising is the blood that pumps the heart of our capitalist machine then is mentioning that Wednesdays are $1 lanes at Marty’s Bowl-o-Rama gonna kill you? How does it compromise your music? It doesn’t. It makes you an entrepreneur.
Nerd Thought by,
John Fitzsimmons
