What can bands do extra for their fans?

[BlackMetalWhiteGuy]

What original ideas do you have, or know about that bands can do or have done to better express their appreciation for their listeners? If you were / are in a band, what ideas would / do you have to show the fans you care?

Things other bands have done:
- free concerts
- extended info and artwork in CD booklets
- free stickers / decals / patches in CD case
- download entire CD for free from band website
- complimentary items with purchase of band merchandise

What I would do:
- If I were to release a CD, I'd want to include a bonus disc containing .mid, .tbt, and .gp5 files of all the songs on the album. If this were financially impossible, then they'd be free downloads on my website.

Also, what are your minimum expectations of how bands should conduct themselves around fans?

- use professional courtesy at meet and greets
- reply to wall comments and messages from myspace fans

 

[JontRevolting]

Send you a signed copy of a 5lp box set.Hail Summoning

 

[AchrisK]

All I expect is good music.

 

[sixxswine]

I think some sort of random insert (in the cd packages) that gets you some kind of superfan type privilages,one free ticket to meet the band get some stuff signed at the venue of your choice....

 

[Evil?]

Free blowjobs.

 

[The Ozzman]

I'd rather be able to jam with the musicians or sit in on recording sessions.

 

[Matt]

^ That would kick ass.

(provided I can actually play on their level)

 

[Jreg]

free stickers / decals / patches in CD case

That reminds me of the first pressing of Emperor's "IX Equilibrium" that came with a sticker inside. Which I'd still have if that CD also came with about $1300 in cash to fix the car whose bumper I attached it to.

 

[Satanstoenail]

Stickers rule.

 

[XSASweet]

Free hookers to deliver blowjobs.

fix'd

I dunno, that'd be kinda creepy if a band started giving blowjobs to it's fans. just saying.

 

[Rabid Headbanger]

I dunno, alot of Arch Enemy fans would appreciate it.

And it would give Michael Amott something to do in his spare time.

 

[Chairman Kaga]

All I expect is good music.

+1

 

[MasterOLightning]

Don't release things in stupid quantities just to hype the band. 50 or 66 or 100 copies are not acceptable unless it's a first demo or ep.

 

[ShredHeadJHJ]

I would just like to see more reasonable new CD/DVD prices. I think it's about the only thing that could really help the industry at this point...

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Don't release things in stupid quantities just to hype the band. 50 or 66 or 100 copies are not acceptable unless it's a first demo or ep.

I disagree and think that some excellent stuff has come out in a very limited edition...case in point pretty much all of Die Toten Kehren Wieder Mit Dem Wind's albums.

Personally, I don't really think a band owes its fans anything. Like Achrisk said, they should stick to making good music I enjoy. Beyond that, it becomes part of a rat race to see who is a bigger fan, which is detrimental.

 

[Zephyrus]

It's been done before, but should happen more often, and that is this: before touring, bands should let the fans pick the setlist via online poll.

I'm not sure how well this would work, because when Amon Amarth did this in 2006 all the noobie fans ended up picking a setlist similar to what they would have done anyway, the most recent and/or overplayed songs.

 

[~Neurotica]

Tomas Haake should send me his drumkit.

 

[False Joe]

reply to wall comments and messages from myspace fans

Sure for the smaller bands, but bigger bands can get 50 comments a day.

It's just not feasible.

 

[CF87]

All I expect is good music.

^

Stickers with cds. I like putting stickers on my guitar case.

 

[LivingCadaver]

Don't ask what your country can do for you.

Ask what you can do for your country!