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Schweiz (Deutsch)Introducing your friends to TAB
Introducing your friends to TAB
Posted: Sunday, February 7, 2010 - 23:14
Recently, two of my roommates have started listening to TAB. On first glance, this is great, it's nice to be able to enjoy the music coming from the room across the hall.
However, even after months and months of playing TAB in the house and in my car, I'm not the one who got them hooked. I have played at least one TAB at least once a day since they moved-in in June, left articles about the band all over the house, and was gone half the summer at their shows, but still could not entice them into fan-dom.
One roommate was hooked by a 2nd-degree TAB fan of mine (I directly introduced his roommate (1st degree) who then introduced him) and the other was hooked by the first TAB roommate.
I am happy that they're getting into them, and they're even talking about coming with me to the Boulder shows (after being surprised that I've had my tickets for 4/20-21 since the day they went on sale), but I feel like a failure--an unsuccessful disciple of Avett. Has this happened to anyone else? Am I losing my ability to spread The Avett Gospel?
Replies for this Board Topic
the way i look at it as long as they get there it dosen't matter how. i remember my first show and i know they will too
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"But I can't go back, and I don't want to,
'cause all my mistakes, they brought me to you"
funny, I think sometimes we (and I am speaking generally here) either 1. try too hard or 2. our enthusiasm is almost a deterrant. I really don't push them on people, but everyone, of course, knows I'm a big fan (if we're Facebook fans, they can't miss it.) But, if someone show interest, I'll play theme some TAB songs, or send a couple of youtube videos, or offer to send a mix cd, but more often than not, I get a polite decline. So, I haven't really converted anyone either. Though a girl who works for my company told me a few months ago that she'd bought I and Love and You and liked it and that she's going to see them in WI. then one day she asked what other albums to get, then last week she became a fan on Facebook. It made me happy. But yeah, I don't really try too, too hard, and I figure if they don't want to give them a try, it's their loss.
--
Wish me luck, I know you think I'll need it.
For all the hardest roads we have to walk alone.
all my friends know i LOVE tab but i've only been able to convert a few of them and bring them into the light. the times when it's worked the best is when i casually mention them and maybe give a cd, and then wait for them to come back to me and ask for more. when i get all excited and keep asking how they like it, it seems to push them away. it's frustrating because i want to share something with them that is so important to me and i want them to feel the same things i do b/c it's so great. anyway, long randomness to agree with you and feel your pain.
If after their first live performance they aren't hooked, then it may be a no hook situation. Maybe though they will have a favorite song that is meaningful to them.
I'm apparently not too good at this, I think that I am #2 in Jenn's list and people tend to think I'm nuts! Someday I'll learn the right way to do it. Right now, I just don't talk about it unless someone asks!
i have tried to get some people on board with the brothers and have had mixed results.
gave 1 friend a couple of mixed discs and she said that "their music seems depressing."
i gave another friend I & L & Y and a few weeks later she reported back with "i really like that disc you got me...and i think Mikey(her good friend) is obsessed with them now. everytime he's in my truck he puts that disc in and gets on his phone and starts obsessively searching them online."
!!!!...wasn't my initial target, but who cares!!! a fan was born.
then another friend got a mixed disc and FINALLY he has come around!! he said something to the effect of...'something that doesn't happen a lot in music these days is the emotional connection to the song. you can hear that these guys are CONNECTED to these songs and that's what makes them unique. they harmonize so well with each other...you might not realize they aren't using drums'
the best part though, for me, was when he started talking about them; his face just lit up and he was smiling and busted out "like a fresh coat of paint, we can make it anything but blue!!!"
the truth of it is...their music will either strike that chord in a person or it won't. i'm sorry for the ones that it doesn't. and my heart swells with joy for the ones that it does.
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"We took a pickup, a tent, and a shotgun," recalls Scott. "We went out thinking it was a wild frontier."
I too have had mixed results. The failures generally fall into two categories. Some people here a little banjo and write them off as hillbilly music, while others hear their heartfelt screams and immediately think they are too heavy or something. I figure those people have CMT and VH1. Best of luck to them.
"Because the casual music listeners are the ones who turn on the radio and they don't really care what's playing, they just know that they kinda like it or it's easy to drive to or it's easy to sing along to or whatever."
Michael Stipe
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"Happy's not the word, you make me free."
I am so surprised when people say their music is depressing--I don't get that at ALL. I think some of it is as upbeat and happy as can be, mood-wise, though some of the songs are sad. Of course, something like PG Cedar Lane makes me about as happy as anything I could possibly listen to (and I'm very glad it follows PG@Airport on Mignonette), though I guess the subject matter isn't quite as upbeat--but I don't think it's depressing or sad overall.
well said, walstib: "the truth of it is...their music will either strike that chord in a person or it won't. i'm sorry for the ones that it doesn't. and my heart swells with joy for the ones that it does."
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Wish me luck, I know you think I'll need it.
For all the hardest roads we have to walk alone.
my procedure for qualifying potential TAB fans (time tested by trial & much error) -
Find out who they really like musically (if they are into music at all that is)
1. If they like new country (anything after let's say 1980), automatic disqualification.
2. Anything but early 90's West Coast Gangsta rap, again, automatic disqualification.
3. Don't like the Beatles or Zeppelin or the Dead or Sublime? Disqualified.
4. Into Nicklecrack? DQ'd.
5. Favorite radio station top 40 or dance? you don't get to listen to my favorite band.
6. Christian music (outside of Gospel) - nope.
7. If they pass, I casually mention TAB is the next coming of Lennon/McCartney (if i don't get something along the lines of a good impression from this little nugget, well then, no soup for you).
8. If the Beatle reference is met well, i shut up and get them my Avett 101 starter disc and let it be.
This pretty much weeds out most of the peeps who otherwise would throw my Avett 101 starter disc in the trash after first listen and gives you the greatest odds for what you want to accomplish and for what gives me personally one of the greatest satisfactions in my life - sharing and turning someone on to quality music, in particular this band we all love. Whereas at first i had terrible luck and i was dumbstruck at why everyone i talked too wasn't an instant fan, this process was slowly but surely refined and ultimately pretty successful. I believe I was responsible (direct or indirect) for welcoming close to 50 peeps at the last hometown show. As with any sales though, it's about numbers....and for Pete Schroths sake, dangle the carrot near the nose, don't shove it down their throat.
p.s. I miss ya Jen!
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Team Avett #74
www.youtube.com/michinspirado
www.facebook.com/chrisvant
Well I'm disqualified...
--
"I need HEEEEELP!
But I'm on it. I'm on it."
aw, thanks, Chris--nice to see you on here. hope to catch you at a show before too long!
--
Wish me luck, I know you think I'll need it.
For all the hardest roads we have to walk alone.
One of my best friends says that he hates the Avett Brothers . . .The sad part about it is that he says they're "too country." Too country!? I've tried to explain to them that for the most part they are a combination of old-country, punk, bluegrass, folk, as well as many other different genres but for some reason he is very closed-minded to the idea of liking the Avett Brothers.
Another one of my best friends dislikes them because he says their music is sad, however, he has not really given them much of a fair listen.
Both of these friends are very into noise, indie stuff that Pitchforkmedia.com is constantly giving 9/10 ratings too and labeling as Best New Music, but I honestly believe that ANYONE could like the Avett Brothers. I have 20 other friends that support my belief and a few other friends that are constantly challenging it.
Yeah, David, I'm with you - I'm dinged under Chris' system.
Oh well.
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Ain't it like most people, I'm no different, we love to talk on things we don't know about.
Pretty good system, Chris. But, I like Third Day, so I'm DQ'd as well.
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"Happy's not the word, you make me free."
4. Into Nicklecrack? DQ'd.
i didn't say it was foolproof (a fool came up with they system!) - it just gives you the best odds. i'm all about the odds. minimizing risk, maximizing potential....it's the financial background ingrained in me.....where would this board be without the likes of Heids + David? most likely you would have been converts because we would have met early on in the process, when i was still like "ok, you come within 5 feet of me and you're going to hear about this band, regardless".
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Team Avett #74
www.youtube.com/michinspirado
www.facebook.com/chrisvant
Well my confusion here is why is it that another fan can connect them to the band, but I can't? It's not that they've rejected TAB, they just didn't want to hear it from me!
I think it is true though--any way they get to TAB is a good way, and now I have more concert buddies...
"ok, you come within 5 feet of me and you're going to hear about this band, regardless". - chrisvant
Oh yes, I definitely had that season in my TAB fan life. Now I'm a bit more stealthy, sneaking a TAB song onto mix CD's full of other artists as well. Seems to work out pretty well most of the time.
good idea BP - let them shine and standout in contrast to the other garbage that's out there, instead of trying to compete with themselves. i like it , i like it. maybe that's why twins freak me out a little bit.
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Team Avett #74
www.youtube.com/michinspirado
www.facebook.com/chrisvant
Ok I'm new to this, but I'm so relieved to hear that you all have the same problem introducing others to The Brothers. I was devistated when my best friend would finish a single song before deciding she hated them, and my boyfriends best friend said that it was suicide music. Stab to the heart!! Honestly, I've started to judge the character of anyone who doesn't instantly love them as I did. It just doesn't seem possible. So chris, I'm wondering what your Avett 101 Starter Disc consists of. I'm starting to think that I'm just picking the wrong songs for people to listen too. This concept is also crazy to me seeing as I love them all!
my method of avett-ication usually starts out with "Living of Love" from Emotionalism, because it's almost "normal," and it gets my friends who are girls with it's sweetness. after that, it's "November Blue" and the Gleams!
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A..E..I..owe you nothing.
A..E..I'm fine.
Chris, I love your system. Whatever flaws it may have, the foundation is strong - not everyone DESERVES this great music!
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"Technology to wipe out truth is now available, not everyone can afford it but it's available." B. Dylan
Rejoice always, Mark
I've stopped being disappointed by those who don't feel an instant connection to the music...It *really* used to bother me when folks that have similar taste in music to me didn't feel anything (really? nothing? seriously?) upon listening to TAB.
Instead, I'm intrigued by, interested in and almost always feel connected to those that do. They are generally kindred spirits who find joy in the same sorts of things as I.
Now I'm off to complete a captcha, because that's how I roll.
In my experience, people either get "it" or they don't. My husband for example...he is a musician and we have similar taste in music, but even after seeing them live twice, he still doesn't get it. I think he thinks they sacrifice musicianship for emotion or something like that. I on the other hand love when they scream and such and love to hear how they kinda change it up from song to song and show to show. Other people that I have tried to expose them to, won't give them another listen after hearing it the first time and some are instantly taken aback and smitten. I think personality /relationship dynamics come into play too. If I were to try and turn my brother on to them, he would dislike just because I liked it or atleast he would say so, but if my husband presented them, he would be all over it. I should try that
It is also true that some people just don't get as emotionally attached to music as I do, more casual listeners I guess.
@chrisvant I pass with flying colors
I've literally referred hundreds of folks to Avetts who have loved it... but to be completely honest, for every person that became a fan, theres about 5 - 10 others who didn't like it at the time but some have come back around or just didn't dig it....
for instance, i work beside this girl who has pretty decent musical tast, IMO, and I first referred to her The Avett's Gleam Albums, b/c she was really into slower music like Jack Johnson's slower stuff, Norah Jones, etc.... She didn't take at all and only listened to a couple of songs before giving it up.... about 6 months later, we were talking about music and she was taling about how she's really been digging more upbeat stuff.... so, of course, I said, " There's a Tab for that," ( rip off from I-phone)... and so she decided to listen to a little of I and Love and You and BAM, she was hooked.... she listened to the album non-stop and then started begging for more.... she now owns their entire catalog and we both talk about the music / lyrics from time to time and its pretty cool.... Basically I just had to give her time and try not to force it on her, which I've found has worked for more people than not....
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Well Locust, Mount Pleasant, Concord.... LETS GOOO!
"There's a Tab for that." Nice!
My attempts to advocate for the Avetts have been unsuccessful, to put it mildly. Like others have mentioned, I think people find my enthusiasm off-putting. I haven't tried too many times, but it generally goes a little something like this:
ME - Have friend over for dinner and casually put Avett album on as "background."
FRIEND: Who are we listening too?
ME (to myself, in my calm, social-worky voice) "Play it cool, bridget, nice and calm."
ME (to my friend, in a high-pitched, spasmodic version of my voice): "OH MY GOD THE AVETT BROTHERS!! They're my absolute favorite band, they're from North Carolina, and they put on the most unbelievable shows (GASP for breath) and, and and..."
FRIEND: (no longer able to make eye-contact, becoming visibly uncomfortable) "Um, can you turn it down?"
I’ve concluded that it’s best for TAB, my friends, and my dignity to no longer “promote” their music.
Agreed, good one, Drew: "There's a Tab for that."
haha-that's hilarious, Bridget. I'm right there with ya. Everyone knows how much I like them, so I'm wary of talking about them at all. I won't even put them on in the car sometimes around other people, b/c I don't want to be a parody of myself.
But if they ask...yeah, I just have to try to play it cool and figure, well, they can be lucky enough to get them or not.
gfx64
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Wish me luck, I know you think I'll need it.
For all the hardest roads we have to walk alone.
I don't push the Avetts on folks other than talking about them constantly and telling people to give their music a shot. I'll suggest songs they should listen to, albums they should start with, and share why I like them so much. I told the story of how I tried to get my brother to listen to them not so long ago, and he liked their sound but said they were too depressing. While we were at his house for Thanksgiving, I played I & Love & You and Emotionalism, and he liked both albums. I don't know if he's followed through and bought any of their stuff, but I do know he liked those two a lot. I've had a lot of friends say "Hey I listened to the Avett Brothers you like so much. They're pretty good!"
I'll never agree with the position that some folks are worthy of the Avetts and some folks aren't. It's not a private club, y'all. If it's not their thing, that isn't like a personality defect. It's a difference in tastes.
Having said that, I'd have a hard time trusting someone who doesn't like the Avetts, kind of like I inherently don't trust people who don't like dogs. But that doesn't mean they don't deserve to hear the music and make up their own mind.
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Ain't it like most people, I'm no different, we love to talk on things we don't know about.
i use the photo in my profile for all my social networking sites including gaming and online poker...ironically enough, i don't use it here, hmmmm.
http://www.theavettbrothers.com/photos/do-i-say
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
I'm curious to know what's actually on the piece of paper.
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"I need HEEEEELP!
But I'm on it. I'm on it."
It use to say "You're Beautiful"...i made it for my girlfriend awhile back.
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
awwwwwwwwwww
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"I need HEEEEELP!
But I'm on it. I'm on it."
that and having to go see Dear John last night has put me over my quoto for the year....hahahaha
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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha
heids: "I'll never agree with the position that some folks are worthy of the Avetts and some folks aren't. It's not a private club, y'all. If it's not their thing, that isn't like a personality defect. It's a difference in tastes. "
True, and I'm not sure if that was in response to me or others.
For me, I'm not judging anyone worthy or unworthy, I just feel fortunate to have made this strong connection to the music, which is why, as I said, I think they are lucky if they also get it. If they don't, they don't. I haven't cut ties with my friends who aren't into them.
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fwsiw
Ive had a lot of friends turn them away....It always dissapoints me. Some of them have come around to it after a while and some havent. I fell in love with the avetts by the end of the first song I had heard so I guess I expected that to happen to everybody else. So Ive tried to lay low with my Avett preaching as of late and let all the media and what not do the talking for me.
No Jen, wasn't talking to you. I was actually addressing posts by two of my favorite board members - BobZ and ChrisV. I don't get the idea that someone doesn't "deserve" to listen to the Avetts. If they don't like the music, then that's their loss, I guess....but I just don't agree that some folks are worthy of listening to their music and others aren't. I think I understand the reasoning but disagree with the mentality. That's ok. Agree to disagree and what have you.
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Ain't it like most people, I'm no different, we love to talk on things we don't know about.
gotcha.
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Wish me luck, I know you think I'll need it.
For all the hardest roads we have to walk alone.
Most people like them or hate them. I find few if any people tell me they are OK. My wife is not a fan. She is very irritated by any hint of a flat or sharp vocal or an instrument that is not perfectly in tune. I know more than a few musicians that feel that way. They listen to music more for that technical perfection than for emotional perfection. And that’s cool for them, but not for me. I have one friend that is a very talented singer songwriter. I ran into her in the hotel at Merlefest a few years back. She walks up to me and tells me “Well I saw that Avett Brothers band you have been telling me about. I think I get it. They’re a comedy act, right?” I just had to shake my head and walk away.
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"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid”
Frank Zappa
It's weird, I introduced some friends and or people I went to school with to the Avetts way back when and they hated it or didn't think it was all that great. Now, they are all obsessed with it. It makes me mad to be honest, I know people have to figure stuff out on their own, but now they act like they discovered it...way lame
David, I never would have believed you are married to a non-fan wife. How on earth are you still married?!?
Kidding, kidding!
She must really love you.
Had some mixed reviews with some people. Luckily have helped turn three people into addicts.
Back in the day I used to post on other band's websites that I liked about live shows in whatever area that night or a few nights before and bump the thread. Would throw some you tube links up.
I did take some ridicule but did have some takers. I traveled quite a bit and I suppose didn't need my laptop for much else in the evening.
Pretty nerdy come to think of it. Obviously a bit too much time on my hands at the time.
heids
Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 21:32
"No Jen, wasn't talking to you. I was actually addressing posts by two of my favorite board members - BobZ and ChrisV. I don't get the idea that someone doesn't "deserve" to listen to the Avetts"
"deserving" was not the foundation i was trying to lay.....simply to cut down the effort (i am lazy at my core) and not waste precious time nor energy in the noble endeavor of spreading Avett Love (i just coined a new term btw, pat pat) to the ppl who would most likely would not be receptive in the first place. and you're one of me favorites too Heids, especially if (more likely when) i need legal counsel.
p.s. I like your newly coined term Killster....."Avett Gospel". in the religion that i practice that is music, i can just hear myself on the alter preaching to my flock....."and now, the Gospel according to Avett". good stuff brah.
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Team Avett #74
www.youtube.com/michinspirado
www.facebook.com/chrisvant
and I'm with Angi on that one SunnyD - would not have pictured you with someone who doesn't like TAB. personally i couldn't do it. i've had to break up with girlfriends (or at least not let the relationship develop further) because of previously unknown fundamental differences in music ideology. you are a bigger man, with a bigger heart than I, David.
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Team Avett #74
www.youtube.com/michinspirado
www.facebook.com/chrisvant
Funny this thread is active right now...I have a related story. I have an account on the music website last.fm where it scrobbles all the songs you play on your iTunes & iPod ... my account was dead for a while, but I just reactivated it and had to re-friend all of my contacts on there. Here was the reply I got from one of them:
"yes, i remember you. i listen to the Avett Brothers much more regularly because of your enthusiasm. thanks for reconnecting."
So, that was pretty nice to hear!
And it spread...