Has the Merch become more important than the music?

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JustBreatheVLC
JustBreatheVLC Posts: 55
in The Porch
Please discuss.
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  • CM189191
    CM189191 Posts: 6,927
    Merch : Methadone :: Music : Heroin
  • Jex
    Jex Posts: 295
    I'm pretty addicted to buying a lot of vinyl to listen to. But does that make me more of a merch or a music guy?
    "Mine is mine and yours won't take its place.."
    1.Alpine Valley Music Theatre East Troy, Wisconsin 09-03-2011 / 2.Alpine Valley Music Theatre East Troy, Wisconsin 09-04-2011 / 3.Wrigley Field Chicago, IL 07-19-2013 / 4.iWireless Center Moline, IL 10-17-2014 / 5.Bradley Center Milwaukee, WI 10-20-2014 / 6.Wrigley Field Chicago, IL 08-20-2016 / 7.Wrigley Field Chicago, IL 08-22-2016 / 8.Wrigley Field Chicago, IL 08-18-2018 / 9.Wrigley Field Chicago, IL 08-20-2018
  • robertstackarmy
    robertstackarmy So. WI Posts: 682
    I think the use of "limited" and "numbered" items has changed the game completely. Who hasn't bought something because it was numbered and felt you "needed" it?

    Just my opinion.
  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,889
    Well the shows are few and far between, you need something to do in between. Collecting helps fill the space :) That's me though. I like to collect. When I was a kid it was sports cards. Then CD's and now I collect Vinyl, Blurays, and Pearl Jam stuff....
  • ComeToTX
    ComeToTX Austin Posts: 8,057
    I buy posters for shows I go to if they're good. Nothing else.
    This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
  • oftenreading
    oftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,856
    In answer to your question - hell, no!

    And no, I've never purchased anything just because it was "numbered". I guess I'm not a collector at heart.
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • Red Mosqito
    Red Mosqito Posts: 1,239
    I'm definitely not a collector in the purest sense as I don't run out and buy everything PJ related, that's ever been released. I only purchase those things I truly want for my personal collection regardless of whether it's a limited edition piece or not and that suits me just fine. Music is what I'm primarily here for, that and chasing the next epic concert moment!
  • dimitrispearljam
    dimitrispearljam Posts: 139,724
    From.what i see around..yes..sad but true..people act like crazy when comes to merch..its self satisfaction crap....people stopped along time ago to enjoy themself...and they enjoy with themselfs
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Release EV
    Release EV Posts: 2,077
    edited June 2014
    What one person enjoys is different to the next. Each to their own. In my view it's the music and always will be music. And it's that love of this band's music that makes me want the merchandise. If I didn't buy in, in '91 they wouldn't have me buying now.
  • know1
    know1 Posts: 6,800
    Not for me. I don't own any merchandise other than digital bootlegs.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,111
    edited June 2014
    I own posters from five shows I went too; each show has a really special meaning to me. I like to collect bootlegs. I have two pj shirts and an empty bottle of pj20 beer. Besides that, nada after 50+ shows. I do see that people are freaking nuts over all this merch. I ve never seen a group of adults freak out over things like a bouncy ball, show stickers and trading cards. I think the op could be rmore right than many of us would like to admit.
    Post edited by mcgruff10 on
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • CranMalReign
    CranMalReign Posts: 1,928
    Merch: meh.

    Except for posters. I get a poster for every show I go to, regardless of how hideous it may be. And I pick up posters for other shows, too, if I like them enough.

    Otherwise, I only buy shirts/hoodies if I *really* like them, cuz damn, they bend you over on those. Bought a few stickers for my wife once, too.

    At the end of the day, I'm most excited for new music releases and tour dates, and don't care one way or the other when new merch drops.
    • 98 Pgh
    • 00 Pgh
    • 03 Pgh|Philly|PSU|Camden 1+2|Hershey
    • 04 Boston 1|Reading
    • 05 Philly
    • 06 Camden 1+2|Pgh
    • 08 Camden 1+2|Hartford|Mansfield 2
    • 09 Philly 1 [EV]|Toronto|Spectrum 1-4
    • 10 Cleveland|Buffalo
    • 11 Philly [EV]|PJ20
    • 12 Philly
    • 13 London|Pgh|Buff|Philly 1+2|Balt
    • 14 Cincy|StL
    • 16 Philly 1+2|Philly 2 [TotD]
    • 18 Boston 1+2
  • Chrisilein
    Chrisilein Vienna/Austria Posts: 3,909
    Some collect stamps, others collect beer bottles or coins, and i collect PJ stuff and i'm happy with my addiction! Music is still most important = i'm collecting pj bootlegs.
    up here in my tree in Vienna
    2006: Vienna 2009: Berlin 2010: London ~ Berlin 2012: Amsterdam 1+2 ~ Werchter ~ Arras ~ Berlin 1+2
    2014: Milano ~ Trieste ~ Vienna ~ Berlin 2018: Padova ~ Rome 2022: Budapest ~ Vienna
    EV London/Hammersmith 2012
    EV Berlin/Zitadelle 2017
  • indifferentman
    indifferentman Goshen, IN Posts: 731
    It has. Even during the Encores at Wrigley people were lining up to get what little scraps of what was left from the booth on the field near the pitching mound.

    I have never seen anything like that for people waiting 8 or 9 hours in 90 degree weather risking heat exhaustion just for some posters, a t-shirt, and some baseball cards!

    Frankly after that I'm done with it. I liked collecting posters from shows I have been to but it is not worth the lengths that people are going to to collect the stuff. Besides, another poster stuffed in a tube that I never look at doesn't make my life complete.
    I won't change direction, and I won't change my mind - E.V.
    ____________________________
    99 Tibetan Freedom Concert, 00 Detroit, 03 Alpine Valley, 04 Grand Rapids
    06 Chicago I, 06 Chicago II, 06 Grand Rapids, 07 Lollapalloza, 08 DC, 08 MSG I, 08 MSG II, 08 EV Solo Milwaukee, Chicago I & II 09, Portland 09, Nobelsville 10, Cleveland 10, PJ20 I & II, Wrigley 13, Brooklyn I & II '13, St. Paul 14, Moline 14, Milwaukee 14
  • JimmyV
    JimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,597
    The merch business has exploded around this band. Wrigley was the best/worst example. Those lines were insane...especially if you waited in them during the show.

    I like collecting posters from shows I attend, but only if they are worth it. Personally I believe the quality of the artwork has plummeted over the last few years. I went to three shows last fall and have one poster and one t-shirt to show for it. Just a year earlier I guarantee I would have bought more.
    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • FrankieG
    FrankieG Abingdon MD Posts: 9,100
    edited June 2014
    Shows always come first. I will go to any show I can.
    I will buy the poster/stickers to the shows I go to, to remind me of the music/experience that I had that night.
    I will buy the bootleg of the show, to relive the experience of the music again and again.
    I will buy 1 t-shirt per tour cause I need to keep up my wardrobe with PJ.
    I always pre-order the new album.

    I had a buy button for the PJ20 billboard poster, but was a broke college kid that didn't want to cut a big chunk out of my checking account...
    I saw the Sevens email and had a buy button, but didn't buy one cause I don't own a record player...
    I could have bought a mystery box but didn't cause I don't need to drop $90 right before I go on vacation...

    It's a balance.
    Post edited by FrankieG on
    2003: 7/14 NJ ... 2006: 6/1 NJ, 6/3 NJ ... 2007: 8/5 IL ... 2008: 6/24 NY, 6/25 NY, 8/7 EV NJ ... 2009: 10/27 PA, 10/28 PA, 10/30 PA, 10/31 PA
    2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
    2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA
    2022: 9/14 NJ ... 2024: 5/28 WA, 9/7 PA, 9/9 PA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7
  • Empty Glass
    Empty Glass In Rob's shed Posts: 12,329
    For most, it surely has.
    I've met Rob

    DEGENERATE FUK

    This place is dead

    "THERE ARE NO CLIQUES, ONLY THOSE WHO DON'T JOIN THE FUN" - Empty circa 2015

    "Kfsbho&$thncds" - F Me In the Brain - circa 2015
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,851
    Kind of what Zod said. It fills the void during the long lapses between shows and albums.

    These things are pretty cool for the most part. I collect and spin (all) vinyl, posters get framed and hung in my home, stickers are used and also shipped in trade packages and such, I wear the clothing. I plan on integrating everything into my finished basement/music room when I get a shot which would incorporate some of the trinkets Euro flags, zippos, etc.. Everything has a use I guess.
  • jervin007
    jervin007 Posts: 3,182
    JimmyV said:


    I like collecting posters from shows I attend, but only if they are worth it. Personally I believe the quality of the artwork has plummeted over the last few years. I went to three shows last fall and have one poster and one t-shirt to show for it. Just a year earlier I guarantee I would have bought more.

    Seriously. I came away with the patriots T-shirt for Worcester I, but could bring myself to by the Worcester or Hartford posters. Hugely disappointing after the Fall tour started off with a gem like Pittsburgh
    PJ:
    2003 Mansfield: July 2
    2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29
    2005 Montreal: Sept 15
    2006 Boston: May 24 & 25
    2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28,
    2010 Boston: May 17
    2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25,
    2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7

    EV Solo: Boston 8/2/08, Boston 6/16/11
  • fixer123
    fixer123 Posts: 140
    indifferentman said:

    It has. Even during the Encores at Wrigley people were lining up to get what little scraps of what was left from the booth on the field near the pitching mound.

    I have never seen anything like that for people waiting 8 or 9 hours in 90 degree weather risking heat exhaustion just for some posters, a t-shirt, and some baseball cards!

    Frankly after that I'm done with it. I liked collecting posters from shows I have been to but it is not worth the lengths that people are going to to collect the stuff. Besides, another poster stuffed in a tube that I never look at doesn't make my life complete.

    Absolutely. I could not BELIEVE the lines outside for 2 days either--in that blistering heat. There were people lining up for 6+ hours, scuffles in line, issues with security, total madness.

    think I'll throw these pills away...

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