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Old Singer Using Our Email List in New Band

john_g

john_g

Sep 14, 2007
7,684
5,250
Pennsylvania
#1
Hey all,

My cover band of the last 3.5 years went into limbo early into the summer when our singer announced she was quitting. She was with the band for over 2 years and we all worked hard to market the band, but since it is what I do for a living (graphic design and marketing) I held the email list. We had sign up sheets at gigs and we had over 300 email addresses. I would then send out nice looking email blasts before each gig.

About a week or two before she quit, she asked me for the list. I hesitated because I didnt want anyone emailing individually without our usual graphics. She got a little weird about it and insisted she get the list. I ended up relenting and gave it to her.

Skip to today and I get an email from a band announcing their new member (our old singer) and an upcoming gig. Since I didnt sign up for emails from them, I am guessing she gave them our list, which Im pretty sure unsolicited emails are considered spam.

I was halfway through a nasty email telling this band that they cannot use our email list and since no one on that list signed up for emails from THAT band, they are spamming, but Im unsure if I want to send it. What would you guys do?

John
 
#4
jgroh said:
I am guessing she gave them our list, which Im pretty sure unsolicited emails are considered spam.

I was halfway through a nasty email telling this band that they cannot use our email list and since no one on that list signed up for emails from THAT band, they are spamming, but Im unsure if I want to send it. What would you guys do?

John
Click to expand...

I think you are right on this point. You might want to look up with the penalties are for sending spamand include that in the e-mail.

But if the e-mail response does not get them to stop, you might just have to let it go. I don't know that the time you would have to put into making something happen would be worth your trouble.
 
#6
mambo4 said:
You said it's a guess that she gave them your list.
I'd at least confirm before writing nasty emails.

that said, letting it go, or maybe working out a mutually beneficial situation (ie share eachothers' lists) would probably be the wisest choice.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought I should confirm that she is using our list, which will be easy after checking with family and friends to see if they got the email.

I didnt want to give her the list in the first place and I stalled for about 2 months. But at the time and in the interest of band harmony, I gave it up.
 
#7
After you calm down,I suggest you refrain from sending your nasty email. It won't change anything and since she was a member of the band when you gave her the list, nothing illegal about it.

This is also an example of how email addresses are utilized for nefarious purposes by many people/organizations (not you) that don't have a privacy policy and a method to enforce it. Obviously she was already in the other band when she got the list and was putting her marketing operations into operation.

Seems to me that unless everyone signs a privacy/non-disclosure contract about band info/assets/etc., anything can happen. There probably is little monetary value to the list so any legal pursuit is not worth it.

I think you should have asked her why she needed the list. Given that she had no real answer, you could have passed on her request.

Since she was never involved with band emails previously, seems to me that there is only one reason for her to get the email list. You could have asked the other band members (your partners) if the email list was okay to share with every band member and get her to explain to everyone why she needed the list.

As an alternative, possibly send out a nice email to all your subscribers explaining what happened, that you are sorry for the spam and that you and the remaining members of your band are not associated with the new band.

Or, take the high road and send out an email to your subscribers wishing your former vocalist good luck in her new band and let it go at that.

I suspect it will soon fade away and the people who don't want to receive those emails will mark them as spam and be done with it, just like the rest of us do.

Just my $.02
 
#11
jgroh said:
The only reason I do care is that this new band is in the same area as us and most likely will be playing similar music, so they are direct competition.
Click to expand...

Wait. I thought the band was in limbo?

And, no offense, but isn't you sending an email to her new band also spam under your definition?

When she was in your band, she had every right to the band's email list. She used you, and she was wrong, but I don't see how you can get any kind of good out of doing anything except what Stumbo suggested.

I would forget about it.

Good luck.
 
#12
jgroh said:
I did most likely just confirm that she is using our list after asking several family members if they got the email. The only reason I do care is that this new band is in the same area as us and most likely will be playing similar music, so they are direct competition.
Click to expand...

I have never understood the competition aspect of music. If you are good and crowds like you there is no problem - you will get gigs. Plus, didn't she earn the list a little bit by fronting your last band? I would never begrudge someone bringing fans with them when they left a band. If they like them, they can go to their gigs, if they like you, they can go to your gigs too. But that is me.
 
#13
ChrisB2 said:
Wait. I thought the band was in limbo?

And, no offense, but isn't you sending an email to her new band also spam under your definition?

When she was in your band, she had every right to the band's email list. She used you, and she was wrong, but I don't see how you can get any kind of good out of doing anything except what Stumbo suggested.

I would forget about it.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

It has been in limbo but we are now practicing again and have an a really good singer we are "courting" =), so we hope to be back to gigging in the next month or so.

I dont know there is anything I could do other than email the person that sent the email telling him he is using our list and that technically none of those people signed up for emails from their band so they should not be using it.

Im just surprised she resorted to this and still a little po'd at the way she quit. Also that she insisted that she get a copy of the email list just before quitting. Just venting here is all.:hmm:
 
#14
I'm curious about why she quit?

I mean, she's in a band that's in competition with you and your band so what's the difference between the bands that she'd rather not play in your group and screw with your mailing list on her way out?

Since she's been with your band for over 2 years, anything changed that would driver her out or change her attitude?

Seems like she's been working on getting the other band together for several months, what's up with that?

Or maybe she was never really happy with the dynamics of your group and was biding her time until she could start her own group or join another one?

Just sayin'...
 
#18
Since you have the same list, why not send a nice message that explains the band's changes, including her departure? You could mention that she has no affiliation with your band as of 11/xx/2011 and that any messages from that band shouldn't be construed as having any connection to the original band. It can be worded in a way that doesn't seem abrasive or snotty- your choice.
 
#19
ksandvik said:
Email marketing is very ineffective nowadays. Use Facebook instead.
Click to expand...

^This^

Use your email list to send invites to your band's facebook page. Don't have a facebook page? I suggest you open a new tab right now and get one. It's far more effective because (a) you can let everyone know what you are doing just as fast as email; (b) you can post photos and video of your gigs, garnering more interest; (c) the more likes you have, the more bar owners will give you a chance to play (this is one of those fuzzy logic points, but apparently it is a factor they use)

why are you still here?
 

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