Amanda sent me the following this morning after seeing it on Twitter:
So let me get this straight…we’re going to RETWEET something from Road and Track magazine about how that delightful human basically made his way through Duran fans – elbowing his way through as it says here – thus standing in front of the fans so that he could get a photo of the car? We’re happy about that? Is it meant to be funny??
Listen. I know social media. I get how it all works and that if you retweet, you’re liable to get more views of that tweet and it’s all a wonderfully delightful numbers game. I understand marketing and how you have to appeal to a huge audience base….but I dare say that you don’t do that by also potentially pissing off fans you’ve had for over thirty years. As Amanda aptly put it, if I have 200 fans but piss off 50 and gain 40 from the retweet, I now only have 190 fans. That’s not the way you want it working…new fans or not.
Perhaps the person who retweeted this didn’t really see or read the tweet – that they merely saw the @duranduran part and thought this was a great opportunity to reach more people. Maybe so. Maybe they looked at it as Duran Duran had so many fans there that this person HAD to elbow their way through just to get a photo. I can see that. Heck, PROBABLY so.
The thing is, it still didn’t feel quite right to see that particular tweet noticed and RE-tweeted by the band. If it weren’t for the FANS of this band, there wouldn’t still BE a band. After all, if you’re not making money at something – it’s just a hobby, and I think that Duran Duran works too damn hard and pays way too many people to call it a hobby these days. We fans are the people who buy their records, their concert tickets, their merch…and we support them. Some of us have spent a major portion of our lives supporting them. Let’s be a little bit more respectful of that at the cost of picking up an extra fan or two.
I don’t like calling out Duran’s management. I would actually LIKE to have a good working relationship with them because I think we can help them. I really do. Actually, I know we can. We know the fans, we UNDERSTAND the fans because we ARE fans. I wish the band would USE Daily Duranie as a resource and work with us rather than try to ignore our existence. We aren’t looking to hurt the band. We’ve never once tried to scoop management on news items. We typically don’t spread rumor on purpose. We bring the fans together. We do meet ups to increase the amount of FUN fans have so that they stick around. We spend a great deal of time and effort planning conventions to keep the party going for everyone so that they DON’T just walk away. We try to support the band however we can on the extremely limited shoestring budget we’ve got. (that comes out of our own pockets, thankyouverymuch) We realize that fans can be seen as overzealous. Amanda and I aren’t stupid – we know there’s a business side here that can’t be ignored. We just know that someone has to look out for the fans and try to create that sense of “family”, especially at this point in our lives. It doesn’t make much sense to me that management does everything they can to ignore us really… but then, I also don’t go around tweeting things like this that have the potential to piss off the very fans they need in order to sell tickets and survive, either. Like I said, I don’t like calling them out, and perhaps I’m seeing this all wrong…I just know in my heart that it didn’t feel quite right to see that retweet.
I have to think that management, or anyone who has paid attention to this blog over the years, knows that I’m fairly level-headed and that I come from a place of deep respect and loyalty…or at least I try. I make jokes, I’m sarcastic and sometimes flippant, and I don’t know how to do the job that management does. I openly, whole-heartedly admit that. I also know that they’re not likely to ever apologize for the decisions they make OR admit that they were wrong. They can’t do that without creating a nightmare for themselves and I get that. That’s fine. The last thing I want to do is create problems, but on the same token – I think it’s worth my sticking my neck out to make myself heard. Overall, I think that management does a great job. I don’t agree with the attitude of some that because management is in the US, that somehow makes them unqualified to manage a British band. I just wish they took a little more interest in the very people that support the band. US…the fans. The ones who really DO make the noise. We matter.
Food for thought.
-R
I saw that tweet. To be frank, I was quite overwhelmed with the overall tweet-fest that was going on that I did not have time to process it. I think by the time I had seen it, the show had ended so abruptly, and I was still reeling from that to even process the implications of the Car and Track asshat.
Now that I’ve calmed down, It stings. Even a
cheeky defence would have helped.
But instead, I feel that we are just… I don’t know, “baggage” that has to be “managed.”
But we are part of Duran Duran.
That’s right. I said that. We are a part of this “thing” called Duran Duran. We don’t have the same roles, we don’t have the same power, but we have power. We are part of the equation. And frankly, as fans, we are just starting to understand it. Being a fan for me, is no longer a passive, solitary activity. its about people, and music among many other things.
Don’t diss my fans. I’ve never been part of an interesting, intelligent, hilarious, supportive group before. They are so lucky.
Exactly. I wish that there wasn’t such an effort to discount us. Our power. If management could figure out how to work WITH us, I really and truly believe we could do amazing things. Ignoring our existence, “managing” us…and by “us” I mean fans, not Daily Duranie (a separate discussion to be sure), does nothing to help us to help the band. They don’t think they need us, but in fact I’d argue in the opposite direction. Definitely. -R
Whatever happened to “We Need You”?
Daily Duranie (Rhonda) and Heather, I agree. I feel like they’re grasping at straws trying to get back on top with sales and popularity. They’ll do anything, at anyone’s expense. That 3-song set sucked-ass especially because I had such high hopes and I sat through more than 30 minutes of that crappy techno music, that guy boasting about the new car, and then listening to that music at the end just hoping DD would come back out. I’ll never buy a Mazda, ever!
I have recently become disillusioned by Duran Duran ignoring my concerns, specifically about the (unnecessary) use of fur in the Girl Panic video with some of the models who were a part of PETA’s “I’d Rather Go Naked Thank Wear Fur” Campaign. I teamed with In Defense of Animals (IDA) and reached out to them on so many different platforms in the most respectful way. Nothing.
I get what they were trying to do with the video and it seemed like such a great idea, however we were deep into a recession and it was a really bleak time. The fur, the crystals, the hotel – it was too much. It seemed as though Duran Duran was really trying to rub our noses in the excess. I know, I know, Duran is not about social issues (despite their involvement with the Prince’s Trust, Band-Aid, Live-Aid, Live 8, etc.), they’re about partying, having a good time, and trying to forget the darkness. It seems clear to me they want it both ways. Fine – but be responsible, kind, and compassionate.
Secondly, it was my presence at a Dave Wakeling (English Beat) show that gave me some clarity. I saw how he was with his fans: hands on, appreciative, looked them in the eye, and treated them as equals. And he wasn’t alone, when I met Midge Ure last weekend, he seemed thrilled that I had waited in line for 20 minutes to meet with him and connect. Duran could easily do this, but doesn’t (except for Nick, of course – he’s always been sweet). That makes me sad, especially because they’ve been my favorite band in the whole world since 1982.
Hi Dina. I understand where you’re coming from, and I recognize your passion, too. I wish I had answers, but of course…I do not. If I did, I’d be working closely with them for the greater good of all the fans, you know? I think you hit it on the nose though, they seem to want it both ways…regardless of what we’re talking about. They want fans, but they only want them when they want them…and how they want them. They want us to buy their stuff but then they want us to go away otherwise. Maybe that’s not really the truth, but unfortunately perception is everything. We are absolutely not treated as equals…at least they certainly don’t act that way much of the time, and I think therein lies the problem. I really cannot decide if that attitude is due to the band itself or their management, but it IS a problem. Of all the people on the planet, I’m the one standing here PUBLICLY and saying it’s a problem – take it to the bank. I know the fan base well. The disillusionment is real.
They’ve got two unpaid fans here willing to work their asses off to get the fan base involved and going to stuff and yet willing to play by the rules and do what is right for the greater good. Why wouldn’t they USE it to their benefit? We’re giving them permission to ask us for favors and help and we’d do it proudly and in a heartbeat. Yet instead they tweet things that have the potential to really upset fans….it makes no sense. If someone wants to explain it to me, I would be thrilled to listen. I just don’t get it. I love the band, but I really don’t get it. -R
This is really upsetting! I’m OK with the crystals, because it was partially sponsored by Swarovski, but the fur- ugh!
Disclaimer: I did not see the videostream because I was out cold in bed!
I think if I was going to get ticked off at anyone, I would get ticked off at the guy from Road and Track for talking about elbowing fans out of the way. And I’m thinking that maybe he didn’t actually elbow anyone out of the way, but was just trying to be funny and exaggerate in his tweet. He was clearly there to do a job and cover the Mazda unveiling for R & T. That probably meant getting whatever pictures he needed to get as part of his coverage. Though if he actually did physically elbow people out of the way, regardless of what he was there to do, I don’t find that funny in the least.
Don’t know that I would necessary get ticked off at the band for that tweet, or for even retweeting it. Keep in mind that they were paid by Mazda to appear at the unveiling and to help promote a product. Playing devil’s advocate here, but to me the primary purpose of the event was not to be a Duran Duran concert, but to launch the new Mazda. If it wasn’t for the unveiling, there would have been no concert. And I think if you look at it in those terms, it makes everything a lot more understandable, and I don’t know if I would necessarily be upset about it. (You know that more often than not, I share your point of view, but I think we are going to have to disagree on this one.)
Susan, I just don’t see how you can defend the band on this one. I really don’t. They basically gave credence to someone elbowing fans, who were INVITED TO THE SHOW out of the way and you think that’s OK. I definitely don’t. -R
Do you have any reliable source that the original tweeter actually WAS physically elbowing fans out of the way versus just exaggerating in an attempt to be be funny? Because from your last comment, you seem to take his tweet as absolute truth.
I’ll be honest here, when I read it, I thought it was an exaggeration. Like someone saying “wow, the crowd was so big and I had to really fight and claw my way to get through it” when they are not actually fighting and clawing, just trying to make their way through a crowd and conveying the size of the crowd and the difficulties getting through it.
If he actually was manhandling fans, then shame on him – your outrage is completely justified. But unless you know for certain that actually happened, I don’t get the level of outrage, and personally, I would save it for something really worth getting upset about. I stand by what I said. I think the anger – to the extent there even should be any – should be more directed to the person who originated the tweet, not the band for retweeting.
Again, to be mindful, this was not a Duran Duran exclusive event, this was an event for Mazda where the band was invited to perform as part of a promotion. Let’s be real here, given a choice, do you really think the marketing execs who put the event together care more about what someone from Road and Track thinks about their new car launch, or what Duran fans think about the concert that took place at the launch?
I respect your opinion, but we’re going to just have to disagree on this one.
Susan–I think we aren’t being clear and I apologize for that. Perhaps, if I quote other people from our Facebook thread about this blog, that will help.
Heather said, “Did DDHQ retweet many of the tweets that the fans were tweeting, during the performance? Maybe a couple of photos taken by the fans who attended?” From what we saw, the answer was no. If people have evidence otherwise, please share!
Megan said, “as someone who has paid ungodly sums for VIP ga shows & had to defend my spot from a-holes trying to push their way to the front, I thought it was in poor taste for DDHQ to retweet that. The “elbow” part really bothered me. It implies so much physical aggression, in addition to being just plain rude.”
Kami said, “Yeah, it implies “step aside, you’re nobody”
It is okay if you still disagree with us. The point isn’t really that Road & Track tweeted that. The point is that DDHQ chose to retweet that tweet of all the tweets of yesterday. They could have chosen countless fan tweets but they didn’t. Whether or not that tweet was meant to be an exaggeration or not, it still doesn’t send a positive to the fans, IMO. -A
I think DDHQ *did* retweet 2 pics/tweets from fans after the livestream cut off.
Okay. Good to know. Still, I bet they could have retweeted countless tweets! -A
Yes! They barely acknowledged tweets from outside people attending the event, other than to tell us the livestream was over. I know I post completely stupid tweets during things like this (and #DDAD14) just to see if we can get them to trend. That’s free, viral advertising that they need but don’t seem to appreciate (DDHQ)
I look at it this way. By retweeting it, they were saying that it is okay, even good, to elbow or push fans out of the way. Why would Duran say that about THEIR fans?! -A
Yes…the point wasn’t that Road and Track elbowed fans or even exaggerated, it was that DDHQ retweeted it and whatever connotation that may have had to fans. Judging from our FB….people feel pretty strongly about it. At last count there were over 50 comments, and it’s still going. If nothing else, it is getting some discussion going, and I am a firm believer in communicating about the hard things, so this is good. -R
I think if what you are trying to say is that DDHQ chose to retweet something from R & T versus (regardless of what the content of the message was) or even from some other non-fan entity, instead of acknowledging their many fans, I can see feeling slighted by it. Then it’s perhaps not so much about the message or even the messenger but the lack of acknowledgement to fans. I have to wonder would the bad feelings the retweet seem to have caused been lessened somewhat if at the same time DD chose to acknowledge their fans too.
EXACTLY. -R
Aha! Now we get we get each other! 😉
PS. Excellent dialogue you have going here (and on FB)!
Bang on – you are ao right
From what I’ve heard, there are two issues being bantered about the fandom. The legitimacy of the corporate gigs //and// the way DDHQ is managing both the fans and their corporate clients on social media.
As for the first. I think its a separate issue from the intent of ths blog post, but worthy of discussion. (I think R &A have already published a post on it in fact!). My opinion is that its a fair business decision. And it was great that they invited fans to the Mazda event!
Regarding the tweet — totally tasteless. It wasn’t even the sponsor of the event. It was another reporter. In that case, a cheeky response would have been warranted. DDHQ was not serving two masters with that tweet. It was NOT between Mazda and the Duran fans, it was siding with the Road and Track asshat. Not cool. I don’t care if it was a joke or an exaggeration, the message is all wrong.
Exactly. I read that Tweet and was really annoyed by what the guy said, THEN I realized it was RT’d by DD and was confused why they would think that was OK to do. It was in bad taste.
Exactly, Heather. You get it. And we did already post a blog on the corporate aspect here. 🙂 To recap, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with their taking private or corporate gigs to pay their bills. They (and many, many others) have been doing it for decades. DD funded an entire tour by getting sponsored by Coca-cola, so this is definitely not new in any way, and I totally agree that I think it’s great that Mazda even allowed a small group of fans to attend. Make no mistake, I am not (at all) finding fault with Mazda or any of that.
However, I still agree with you about the tweet, Heather. It just sat poorly and it opened some fairly raw wounds in the fan community, judging from the 134 comments I saw last night (I haven’t looked this morning). People are not very happy, and I can’t really blame them. I think the discussion is great, and I can only hope that management actually pays attention. -R
Perhaps it was pointing out that Duran Duran still has a gazillion fans and as many were there. Just another way to look at it.
I think it’s much ado about nothing.
The tweet was just a smart-ass joke(albeit a stupid one)which I found somewhat funny myself. I was thinking “that poor guy having to deal with us crazy fans. It’s a wonder he got the car shot at all.”.
I think the only reason(my opinion) it was retweeted was because A. it had to do with the show & B. they found it amusing (you have to admit DD fans can be ‘fanatic” about the boys).
I just don’t see the point of raising cane on this one.
Just the other day we were speaking of too much negativity from the fans’ critics on the band playing for a car company.
I’m speechless, but still supporting.