Where do you draw the line with being a "loyal fan" of a musician or band?

brianlux

Having searched "loyal fan" and found nothing, on we march...

I'm having this minor First World dilemma- where to draw the line with being a loyal fan of a musician or band.  This applies especially  to lesser known band and musicians who are not rolling in dough.  Do you buy all their albums- even the ones you don't care for- as a show of support?  Or do you say, "Man, I want to support that person but I could have used that money for something I really needed, plus not added more clutter to the world."

I generally go with the  less clutter way, but there are a few musicians for whom I cave in and am "loyal to a fault".

Your perspective?

Subject title fixed!

deadendp

We always try to buy some merch.  There have been some shows my husband has attended where he may have been the only one to buy merch.  (Powerman 5000 was one of them.)  We aren't rolling in money, so it isn't like we buy the whole left side of the menu, but we buy a lil.  My daughter has turned into a sweatshirt kid.  She wears them all the time, even when it is 90F.  (Oh the world of the emo kid.)  I buy tour posters ONLY if I will hang them.  I will also buy vinyl at a show, especially if I can get it signed.  (But I do not buy everything on vinyl.  I will only buy things that I love.)  My husband is big fan of shirts, CDs or stickers.  

There have been some shows I have purchased nothing.  The same can be said for my husband, especially when a band takes cash only.  (Opeth and a few others.)  I probably wouldn't have purchased anything from The National Homecoming Festival, but I had not planned well and was freezing.  I don't regret it.  I wear that long sleeved shirt all the time.  

We talk about bands a lot.  We pass music on to people.  We take people to shows with us.  We try to help them be able to buy a few things off the value menu for dinner, but we won't buy anything we will not hang, wear, listen to or use.  

tempo_n_groove

I used to buy a poster and a shirt from every PJ show I went to.  That has changed because if the poster is not appealing and the shirts are boring I won't buy them, which has been the case as of late.  Have bought 1 shirt, besides the setlist ones, in the last 14 shows.  Didn't buy any 18 boston posters sans the Whalen variant.

Other bands I will buy a show specific shirt or an album if I can.  If the merch sucks though I won't be buying it anymore.  I can still be a loyal fan without purchasing a thing.  I go to their live shows and that should be good enough support.

pjl44

I make the same distinction when it comes to smaller bands. I know it really helps them along. Bigger bands it has to be something I really like, as it's also usually more expensive.

Vinyl is the easiest - I'm there to see a band because I like the music. Gimme a physical copy. Posters, too, if it's event specific. Going through my posters every few months is a lot of fun.

I'll also buy unique items like their art. I have some cool smaller pieces by Nicole Atkins and Will Johnson. (Will Johnson has an awesome baseball series that it takes extreme willpower not to decorate the whole house with.)

Your wrestling with stuff vs. charity makes sense. In this case, though, by buying stuff you're supporting good art. It's not charity but it's also not buying junk at Target. I think it's a positive move every time.

Loujoe

Just try to rip a flyer off the wall or snag a setlist/pick.
Always try to keep the underground bands alive by just going to their shows. 

No blind loyalty.

I do throw money at pj though for some reason.

bootlegger10

If a shirt design is cool I'll consider buying it but don't feel any guilt to buy merch.  I would be much more interested in buying a coffee mug or some unique accessory than a hat or shirt.  I bought a QOTSA key tray the other day.  Thought about buying an ash tray even though I don't smoke.

As far as buying all the albums, I go in phases.  Right now really into NIN so I'll buy whatever they put out without listening.  I was that way with Springsteen 6 years ago but I did not buy his last album.  I will NOT purchase reissues of any kind.  I'm not going to award someone's laziness or retirement. 

"Hey R.E.M., I hope you saved your money because you quit and I'm not going to reward you with buying a remix of Let Me In instead of you playing 20 concerts every 3 years."

josevolution

I pay for the tickets and their music that’s it ..

brianlux

I'm reselling an album I bought put out by someone I'm a big fan of.  I feel like a TRAITOR! 

hedonist

Loyal? No.

I buy stuff because I like it or want it, within reason.  Applies to music and merch. 

brianlux

hedonist said:

Loyal? No.

I buy stuff because I like it or want it, within reason.  Applies to music and merch. 

A practical approach.   

goldrush

There are only a handful of artists now whose albums I will make a point of buying on vinyl without questioning it. Nowadays I don't mind downloading or streaming first, or even waiting until prices go down before buying. I only buy posters and shirts if I like the ones at a show, I don't buy them just to have a memento anymore.

I had a real struggle with downgrading from Analog to Digital 10C membership. It sounds ridiculous when you think of throwing money at analog for no real benefit, but there was part of me that felt weird about doing it. I still consider myself a loyal fan (having been into Green River and MLB before PJ formed), but when they started with limited edition items (Singles, coloured Fixers etc) that were impossible to find I took that as a sign to back off a bit.

brianlux

goldrush said:

There are only a handful of artists now whose albums I will make a point of buying on vinyl without questioning it. Nowadays I don't mind downloading or streaming first, or even waiting until prices go down before buying. I only buy posters and shirts if I like the ones at a show, I don't buy them just to have a memento anymore.

I had a real struggle with downgrading from Analog to Digital 10C membership. It sounds ridiculous when you think of throwing money at analog for no real benefit, but there was part of me that felt weird about doing it. I still consider myself a loyal fan (having been into Green River and MLB before PJ formed), but when they started with limited edition items (Singles, coloured Fixers etc) that were impossible to find I took that as a sign to back off a bit.

In my original post I was thinking of a different artist than Pearl Jam but now that you mention it, yes, this is a band I have a great deal of respect for, love the middle period albums which I still think are spectacular, found the one show of theirs (Missoula, 2012) I've been to as memorable and great as the best of all bands I've seen, but find my loyalty flagging a good bit in recent years.  The last albums have been weak, the downgrading of the analog membership is sad and the fiasco of the unfulfilled commitment of the last two Christmas  singles is deplorable.  I sure hope things get back on track that way.

PJ_Soul

I wouldn't buy albums that I don't really like and expect to spin, no matter how into the artist I am. Literally the only time I've ever done that is for PJ with BS and LB, and the only reason I did that is because my PJ vinyl collection is so big and relatively complete that not having those albums would simply look and feel weird for the collection; PJ is the only collection I have where I have a bit of a completist mindset. It really has nothing at all to with loyalty - I only got the collection to that point because up until BS and LB, I truly loved everything they ever put out. I'd never just throw money at any artist just to show support for them. I really use my money to show them that I truly like their work, as that is the reason I'd spend any money on it. When few people buy something they did, that's a message to them: do something different!

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

I wouldn't buy albums that I don't really like and expect to spin, no matter how into the artist I am. Literally the only time I've ever done that is for PJ with BS and LB, and the only reason I did that is because my PJ vinyl collection is so big and relatively complete that not having those albums would simply look and feel weird for the collection; PJ is the only collection I have where I have a bit of a completist mindset. It really has nothing at all to with loyalty - I only got the collection to that point because up until BS and LB, I truly loved everything they ever put out. I'd never just throw money at any artist just to show support for them. I really use my money to show them that I truly like their work, as that is the reason I'd spend any money on it. When few people buy something they did, that's a message to them: do something different!

I was heading that way myself but finally admitted that I won't be listening to BS and LB again and so took them to the bookstore and sold them at a loss.  C. had it right when she said, "Better to cut your losses."

PJ_Soul

brianlux said:

PJ_Soul said:

I wouldn't buy albums that I don't really like and expect to spin, no matter how into the artist I am. Literally the only time I've ever done that is for PJ with BS and LB, and the only reason I did that is because my PJ vinyl collection is so big and relatively complete that not having those albums would simply look and feel weird for the collection; PJ is the only collection I have where I have a bit of a completist mindset. It really has nothing at all to with loyalty - I only got the collection to that point because up until BS and LB, I truly loved everything they ever put out. I'd never just throw money at any artist just to show support for them. I really use my money to show them that I truly like their work, as that is the reason I'd spend any money on it. When few people buy something they did, that's a message to them: do something different!

I was heading that way myself but finally admitted that I won't be listening to BS and LB again and so took them to the bookstore and sold them at a loss.  C. had it right when she said, "Better to cut your losses."

Since I couldn't get $5 for either one of them at the record store, losses are neither here nor there, lol. I am definitely not sweating the $30 I spent on each years ago. It would REALLY bother me to not have the complete set of studio albums! I would never ever break that up! PJ vinyl is my one and only legit collection of anything, in my entire life (or at least since I was 8 and collected scratch n sniff stickers, lol), so I'm kind of proud of it. I do have a red LB in the full packaging that I got in a mystery sale though, and that I would sell for a collectors' price .... but I don't think anyone wants it anymore, lol!

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

brianlux said:

PJ_Soul said:

I wouldn't buy albums that I don't really like and expect to spin, no matter how into the artist I am. Literally the only time I've ever done that is for PJ with BS and LB, and the only reason I did that is because my PJ vinyl collection is so big and relatively complete that not having those albums would simply look and feel weird for the collection; PJ is the only collection I have where I have a bit of a completist mindset. It really has nothing at all to with loyalty - I only got the collection to that point because up until BS and LB, I truly loved everything they ever put out. I'd never just throw money at any artist just to show support for them. I really use my money to show them that I truly like their work, as that is the reason I'd spend any money on it. When few people buy something they did, that's a message to them: do something different!

I was heading that way myself but finally admitted that I won't be listening to BS and LB again and so took them to the bookstore and sold them at a loss.  C. had it right when she said, "Better to cut your losses."

Since I couldn't get $5 for either one of them at the record store, losses are neither here nor there, lol. I am definitely not sweating the $30 I spent on each years ago. It would REALLY bother me to not have the complete set of studio albums! I would never ever break that up! PJ vinyl is my one and only legit collection of anything, in my entire life (or at least since I was 8 and collected scratch n sniff stickers, lol), so I'm kind of proud of it. I do have a red LB in the full packaging that I got in a mystery sale though, and that I would sell for a collectors' price .... but I don't think anyone wants it anymore, lol!

I can totally understand that and kudos to you for staying true! 

I'm the same way with Dinosaur Jr- all the studio albums and almost all the odds and ends, plus several of the singles.  Dino/ J Mascis combined- 26 LPs (not including a couple by Witch and Heavy Blanket).

willbarclay

I have finally given up on supporting many bands 
I’ve always gotten the new Weezer or Green Day or many other bands I’ve liked over the years.
new albums coming out with high hopes only to be disappointed. I’ve finally broken the chains.
ill only buy new releases from my favourites from now on.

cp3iverson

Pearl jam.  The Twilight Singers.  Thats probably it when it comes to buying everything blindly.    

brianlux

willbarclay said:

I have finally given up on supporting many bands 
I’ve always gotten the new Weezer or Green Day or many other bands I’ve liked over the years.
new albums coming out with high hopes only to be disappointed. I’ve finally broken the chains.
ill only buy new releases from my favourites from now on.

I'm with you on Weezer and Green Day, Will.  I love those guys but later albums have been too often a let down.  I still hold out hope for, and respect, both

Thoughts_Arrive

Buying all their albums/ep's.

Zod

It depends.  At concerts I like tshirts and concert posters.   I find many tshirts to be a little too decorative, so if I see one I'd wear, I buy it.   I'm also overweight on PJ concert posters.  Any time I go to a non-pj show and there's a poster, I buy it to bring balance to my house.

If it's a band I really really liked I probably own all of their albums on cd (well unless it came out in the last few years, because I stopped buying cd's), or vinyl, or both.  

Bands I like a little less maybe I have the albums I like the most, but not all of them.

I think the biggest compliment is how many times I've seen the band live.   More than 5, it's probably an all time favourite.  5 is probably a band I like a lot.  1 or 2 is probably a band I like but am not that devoted (or they don't tour enough for me to see them more).

Right now my real devotion shows if a band can get me to travel to vancouver for a weeknight show.   That's getting extremely rare