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My Band is giving away an Amp-Will this work?

mancefine

mancefine

Guest
Jul 7, 2013
255
64
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Orange Amplifiers and Spector Basses
#1
My band was fortunate to recently pick up an Orange endorsement, and as we are about to release an album we thought we would utilize our good fortune, as Orange agreed to give away an amp for us.

What we are planning to do is to have a contest that we and Orange will be promoting via Facebook and Twitter, and these are the rules to enter:

1. Like our Facebook Page
2. Go to our reverbnation and listen to some songs
3. Send us an email or a facebook message letting us know what you thought about the music, how it made you feel, etc.

The most creative and thought out response will win their choice of ANY of the Orange Guitar Terror models or a Terror Bass 500.

We also have second and third place where second gets a really nice Orange instrument cable, Orange shirts, my bands shirts, free cd’s, etc, and the top 15 entries win a free copy of our new album. Orange will be promoting this from their end, and my question to you guys is would you enter this, or is it too much work for you? What we don’t want is to get a bunch of cheap likes on facebook and nothing else. The goal of this contest is to get people to hear our music, and I couldn’t think of another way to ensure people were jamming our tunes. I don’t think it’s THAT much to win an amp, but I know other contests you just have to enter your email and contact info and that’s it. I’m hoping the fact that someone has to put a little effort into this to win will make people realize they actually have a chance and will enter, but I am a tad concerned it will be too much to ask people to *gasp* actually listen to our music and write a blurb. Thoughts?
 
#2
mancefine said:
... but I am a tad concerned it will be too much to ask people to *gasp* actually listen to our music and write a blurb. Thoughts?
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My take is that you want a contest that encourages people to listen to your music. By not making it just a "like us on facebook" contest, you're weeding out the people who aren't going to listen, but you aren't interested in those people anyway, so who cares if you alienate them.

I see two problems. 1) Are you prepared to read 10,000+ entries to determine which is the "best"? 2) Do you really think you'll get honest feedback? For example, John Doe gave it a listen and is completely indifferent to it (or didn't listen at all). He wouldn't turn it off if it came on the radio, but he wouldn't actively seek it out either. Of course, if he wants to win a new amp, he's going to blow sunshine up your rear because he thinks that what you want to hear.
 
#3
Frank Tuesday said:
My take is that you want a contest that encourages people to listen to your music. By not making it just a "like us on facebook" contest, you're weeding out the people who aren't going to listen, but you aren't interested in those people anyway, so who cares if you alienate them.

I see two problems. 1) Are you prepared to read 10,000+ entries to determine which is the "best"? 2) Do you really think you'll get honest feedback? For example, John Doe gave it a listen and is completely indifferent to it (or didn't listen at all). He wouldn't turn it off if it came on the radio, but he wouldn't actively seek it out either. Of course, if he wants to win a new amp, he's going to blow sunshine up your rear because he thinks that what you want to hear.
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^ This I think you're better off just bringing attention to your band by giving something away.
 
#4
Check the legality of this in your area. It may not be possible to give away something worth whatever cash if its some kind of subjective judging. You may be stuck with a raffle situation. Also, you may wish to check into the taxation situation with this. How it needs to be reported, etc.
 
#7
Thanks guys. Yes, we are prepared for the volume, but I don't see it being close to 10,000. It IS legal, as the amp is a donation.


I think we will get some honest feedback, but to be quite frank I am more concerned about people just hearing our music in general. I am confident enough in our tunes that I think alot of people that will enter will like what they hear and continue to follow the band even if they don't win the amp. Plus getting a ton of likes on Facebook will help us in the long run, as opinions seem to be derived more and more based on a bands web presence.
 
#8
It's a prize given for a contest (the tasks involved are not relevant), so to the best of my knowledge taxes will be involved as the value is over $500. It's legal, but you can't give away a donated product that has resale value.

If you win a radio contest for knowing band trivia or go to a live taping of a show and you get a valued prize pack (as in free tickets to a show, free skin products, new car from Ellen, etc.) you pay taxes on the items.

I like the idea, but it's certainly worth the due diligence.
 
#9
6jase5 said:
It's a prize given for a contest (the tasks involved are not relevant), so to the best of my knowledge taxes will be involved as the value is over $500. It's legal, but you can't give away a donated product that has resale value.

If you win a radio contest for knowing band trivia or go to a live taping of a show and you get a valued prize pack (as in free tickets to a show, free skin products, new car from Ellen, etc.) you pay taxes on the items.

I like the idea, but it's certainly worth the due diligence.
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Exactly. You don't want to get a letter from the IRS.

I've gotten one of those before for band-related stuff, and its not fun. Try collecting funds BACK from the band members and see how that works. ;)
 
#10
Good call. We will definitely pay whatever we need to for taxes, etc. Orange does giveaways a decent amount so I'm sure we are in good hands.
 
#12
ArtechnikA said:
So would I - but I'd need a way better incentive to join FaceBook...
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The Facebook thing isn't really a big draw for me. We use our page mostly to promote shows and things locally. Having people people outside the area listen to our stuff is cool, but our money is mostly gig money, and they're not coming to any of our regional shows.

I guess if you're trying to hop on a national train, it could help, but I don't know that 'likes' translates into anything real in the musician business.

I have a band page that has over 12K likes, and that doesn't really mean anything for gigs or shows.
 
#13
I would raffle it off at a show. Do it at the end and everybody has heard your music. Plus you should get a pretty well attended show out of it. Facebook likes mean nothing and the feedback you get will be unreliable as people are just trying to win the amp.
 
#15
deathsdj said:
I would raffle it off at a show. Do it at the end and everybody has heard your music. Plus you should get a pretty well attended show out of it. Facebook likes mean nothing and the feedback you get will be unreliable as people are just trying to win the amp.
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We are actually going to do this at a show in April with another Orange amp. We figured it's a very small investment for alot of exposure.

I do think in some instances when you are contacting venues or promoters via facebook that it is good to have a page with alot of likes and interaction to show that you are at a certain professional level so the promoters can see that. Also, assuming people like our music that like our page, it gives us an opportunity to sell our CD's to people in places we can't afford to tour in right now.
 
#17
TrevorOfDoom said:
I'd think it better to make it a raffle situation.
Likes on Facebook, quick blurb about the music, and a winner picked at random.
keeps things fair.
Click to expand...

I get where you are coming from, but we want to give people an incentive to take the time to listen to our tunes, as we are promoting "the more thorough and unique your entry is, the better chance of winning."

It's really the only method I could think of that wasn't too over the top to ensure people actually listen to our music.
 

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