To be clear, I'm not associated with this thing, but I love how everybody gets so worked up about it. This is the shit that makes Columbus feel like a small town. The Ohio X Southwest thread is most definitely the new Comfest thread.
I like how everybody is taking offense to them heading to another city, and saying they are Columbus. Like they're including you in it. In fact, I bet on the days where they're all down there not playing the showcase, they'll be busking. Acoustic guitars strumming C, D and G, while singing through the Columbus and Surrounding Areas Phone Directory, to be clear that they represent everyone in the city. I bet there will be hundreds of people walking by when they get to your name. At that point you're fucked, and people will simply assume you like terrible music.
Oh, the horror! Good thing we have this heavily trafficed message board to clear any misconceptions on that one.
I would argue though, that they're not NOT Columbus.
Or If the dig is that they're going down to be a drop in the bucket of this massive festival where nobody will notice them because they're not an official showcase, then what does anyone care what they call it anyway? If they look like fools after they're down there and nobody saw it, then it won't hurt the cred of The Un$$holy T$WO.
As for getting donations to make it happen? Yeah, they have to pay to rent the venue. So does Diesel, and SPIN, and whomever else hosts some sort of showcase. Official or not. As for using Kickstarter? Why not? The Floorwalkers made some $10K - $12K off of Kickstarter to buy a new van. Do I think that it was a proper use of Kickstarter? No. In their minds, was it a good idea in the end? I'm guessing, Yeah. Why wouldn't it be? Free fucking van. If they have a fan base that wants to spend their money that way, and buy them a van, or a limo, or supplement their mini-tour down South in exchange for some autographed stickers and bobblehead dolls or whatever, then fine. Those dudes are probably smarter and going to get further (in comfort, wink) than everyone who didn't feel comfortable asking their supporters for something like that. And it doesn't matter how you feel about their music, but they put the effort into building a fan base large enough to facilitate and accomplish that shit first. I can't really take that away from them.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go start a kickstarter to purchase a 6 foot party sub and a Great Lakes sampler pack for my next rehearsal.
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