If a magazine wanted to feature only one member of your band...

[brassic]

...how would you feel about it? I'm not talking about an interview with the singer in the New Yorker, or your guitarist in a guitar magazine, but rather a cheesy style-over-substance feature that doesn't focus on music at all.

 

Do you think it would be detrimental to the band's image, especially if it was early on in your career? Would you want to be presented as a group, or are you of the "there is no such thing as bad press" persuasion?

[Tedster]

It has been said "No publicity is bad publicity". (shrug)...

[brassic]

What if it's a lingerie shoot for a lad's mag like Maxim or FHM?

 

...or, to put a more relevant spin on it for the men, if it's a spread for a gay-interest mag like Attitude (assuming you're not targeting the gay market)?

[Guitar Centaur]

Originally posted by brassic What if it's a lingerie shoot for a lad's mag like Maxim or FHM? ...or, to put a more relevant spin on it for the men, if it's a spread for a gay-interest mag like Attitude (assuming you're not targeting the gay market)?

 

We'll need links to the pertinent data in order to do a more thorough evaluation of the situation....

 

[Lee Flier]

Well... I would rather the article feature the whole group, of course. But the fact is, sometimes the press (or certain portions of the press) will focus on one member and just won't do a piece on the whole band, though the band would be mentioned. So I don't think the opportunity should be passed by. Now as far as what sort of magazine... that's a judgement call I suppose. I've never been the "posing in sexy lingerie" type so if they wanted me to do that, it wouldn't happen. If they didn't expect me personally to do something I'm opposed to, I'd probably be OK with it, unless it was ya know... "Nazi Party Quarterly" or something.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by brassic ...how would you feel about it? I'm not talking about an interview with the singer in the New Yorker, or your guitarist in a guitar magazine, but rather a cheesy style-over-substance feature that doesn't focus on music at all. Do you think it would be detrimental to the band's image, especially if it was early on in your career? Would you want to be presented as a group, or are you of the "there is no such thing as bad press" persuasion?

 

There's no such thing as bad press...everything printed about you/your band "legitimizes" you/your band that much more! (Just "steer" the interview in directions that allow you to "exploit" the opportunity! )

 

Congrats!

 

Originally posted by Lee Flier I've never been the "posing in sexy lingerie" type so if they wanted me to do that, it wouldn't happen.

 

Speaking for us dudes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BlueStrat]

I'm not talking about an interview with the singer in the New Yorker, or your guitarist in a guitar magazine, but rather a cheesy style-over-substance feature that doesn't focus on music at all.

 

If it's unrelated to music, who cares? My drummer is a VP at a bank. Should I be upset if a Business Quarterly does a feature story on him and not the rest of the band?

[wikwox]

Had it happen back in the seventies. Local rag did a feature on our singer. We got perhaps a line. No problema, I split 6 months later. P.S. 'Round here there's a small time politi-hack who has recieved a mountain of bad publicity, all richly deserved. He also say's "no publicity is bad". Don't you believe it.....

[Roy Brooks]

It really doesn't matter to me, especially if the magazine isn't doing a story about music.

[BATCAT]

Originally posted by brassic ...how would you feel about it? I'm not talking about an interview with the singer in the New Yorker, or your guitarist in a guitar magazine, but rather a cheesy style-over-substance feature that doesn't focus on music at all. Do you think it would be detrimental to the band's image, especially if it was early on in your career? Would you want to be presented as a group, or are you of the "there is no such thing as bad press" persuasion?

 

I think you shold be more specific...

 

[brassic]

We'll need links to the pertinent data in order to do a more thorough evaluation of the situation....

 

I get the feeling I've probably asked the wrong people this question.

 

Originally posted by Lee Flier Now as far as what sort of magazine... that's a judgement call I suppose. I've never been the "posing in sexy lingerie" type so if they wanted me to do that, it wouldn't happen. If they didn't expect me personally to do something I'm opposed to, I'd probably be OK with it, unless it was ya know... "Nazi Party Quarterly" or something.

 

Herein lies the problem. I don't personally care that it's not the whole band, it's the publication... it's SO sleazy - a glossy, but low-rent version of the two aforementioned magazines. Not to mention the "writer" who's proposing it is an illiterate half-wit who just wants to get into the bandmember-in-question's pants. I don't think it would go along with the image we're trying to put across (we're feminists you know ). I can see someone like Christina Aguilera doing a feature like this, but not Chrissie Hynde or Suzi Quattro.

 

I can't help but feel that it would make us look hypocritical if we're being all feminist and then one of us turns around and does a wank piece for a lad's mag - the band name most likely will be mentioned. But I guess the question is... is it unfair to say this to her?

[zookie]

This happened to me when I played in a trio in NYC ten years ago. Our lead singer was strikingly beautiful and highly educated Dublin gal. I was a dwarfish, hairybacked, big-headed guitar-mangling yank. The Irish Echo decided to interview her.

 

It was all cool. Myself and the other guy in the trio were excited for her and she was very generous to us in the interview.

[DanteRTS]

Our singer, no question.

Get out there frontman, do yo thang!

 

[Lee Flier]

 

Originally posted by brassic I can't help but feel that it would make us look hypocritical if we're being all feminist and then one of us turns around and does a wank piece for a lad's mag - the band name most likely will be mentioned. But I guess the question is... is it unfair to say this to her?

 

 

Ahhh I see now.

 

Well no, I don't think it's out of line to bring it up. Just don't do it in an accusatory way. Maybe ask her to imagine she's a fan of the band, and if she'd be disappointed to see a piece like that. Maybe she wouldn't and maybe she'd have good reasons for that, or maybe she'd see what you were talking about. I guess I wouldn't make too big a deal about it if she decides she still wants to do it, but I don't think it's at all unfair to discuss it with her, it's a valid point and something she should at least think about.

[zookie]

Oops, I didn't read the part where it's a sleazy magazine run by half-wits.

 

How is this different from other magazines?

 

Lee's right. It's not a bad idea to gently point out the writer will probably get all the facts wrong, so she might want to consider drafting out responses to anticipated questions to help him along and to steer the interview.

[BlueStrat]

If you're "feminsts", as you say, why would the band member in question even consider it? Or is the feminism involved competing for opposing priciples (the feminism of non-exploitataion vs the feminism of a woman doing what she damn well pleases regardless of what her bandmates think of her)?

 

Why can't you just tell her how you feel about it and let her decide?

 

As an aside, does feminism play a role in promoting sexuality to sell records and get gigs? Using your "tits" to promote yourself doesn't exactly stike me as terribly feminist, but maybe I'm misunderstanding the concept. :confused:

 

(I never could undertand women much, anyway, so if I appear to be doltish on the subject, it wouldn't be the first time.) And I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just genuinely confused at the apparent (to me ) paradox.

[Prog]

Doesn't feminism celebrate all females and their individuality? Or is only certain behaviour allowed?

[Lee Flier]

Well I think the use of the term "feminism" might've been a bit unfortunate as it's a hot button word for a lot of people, and it means different things to different people (including women who define themselves as feminists). Case in point, I see you guys have jumped all over brassic's use of the word rather than what she was trying to say. I'm pretty sure she simply meant she doesn't think it would go along with the band's image of themselves to appear in this magazine. Even though I don't consider myself a "feminist," as I said I wouldn't personally want to go down that road either, it's just not consistent with who I am.

 

Now it's possible that brassic's bandmate doesn't share her point of view, or that she does but hadn't considered the implications of doing such a story, thinking of it simply as "all publicity is good." It's certainly something worth discussing and defining within the band, in any case.

[BATCAT]

Originally posted by brassic Herein lies the problem. I don't personally care that it's not the whole band, it's the publication... it's SO sleazy - a glossy, but low-rent version of the two aforementioned magazines. Not to mention the "writer" who's proposing it is an illiterate half-wit who just wants to get into the bandmember-in-question's pants.... ...I can't help but feel that it would make us look hypocritical if we're being all feminist and then one of us turns around and does a wank piece for a lad's mag - the band name most likely will be mentioned. But I guess the question is... is it unfair to say this to her?

 

Of course it's not unfair to bring up your feelings about this, in particular if your band will be mentioned.

 

But if the writer and the mag are both so distasteful, why does she want to do it?

[BATCAT]

 

Originally posted by BlueStrat If you're "feminsts", as you say

 

 

Has nobody noticed the winking smiley and italics Brassic used with the term? I would take that to mean she's being slightly ironic or at least a bit tongue-in-cheek.

[joestanman]

why are you being so vague? you want a specific answer, but you won't fill in details like, what magazine.

[BlueStrat]

 

Originally posted by Actionsquid Has nobody noticed the winking smiley and italics Brassic used with the term? I would take that to mean she's being slightly ironic or at least a bit tongue-in-cheek.

 

 

Good point.

 

I was more interested in girl bands as a whole,t hough, and how they balance feminism and exploiting sexuality as a marketing tool. I really am curious, and not looking to make any judgments one way or another.

 

Case in point, I see you guys have jumped all over brassic's use of the word rather than what she was trying to say.

 

I don't think I jumped all over anything. At least, that wasn't the intent. I merely asked a question about something which has aroused my curiosity, and I've wondered about for some time.

 

I once read an interview with the Suicide Girls, some who claim to be ardent feminists, yet use their nude bodies as the ultimate marketing tool. I just wondered how people reconciled that.

[BATCAT]

Originally posted by BlueStrat Good point. I was more interested in girl bands as a whole,t hough, and how they balance feminism and exploiting sexuality as a marketing tool.

 

That's a good question!

[brassic]

 

Originally posted by Lee Flier Well I think the use of the term "feminism" might've been a bit unfortunate as it's a hot button word for a lot of people, and it means different things to different people (including women who define themselves as feminists). Case in point, I see you guys have jumped all over brassic's use of the word rather than what she was trying to say. I'm pretty sure she simply meant she doesn't think it would go along with the band's image of themselves to appear in this magazine. Even though I don't consider myself a "feminist," as I said I wouldn't personally want to go down that road either, it's just not consistent with who I am.

 

 

I think Lee Flier said more eloquently what i am trying to say. And thank you Actionsquid, for recognizing the manner in which I was using the F-word. (In fact if we're going to get into "ists" I'd rather say I'm a humanist, not a feminist. Oh, forget it....)

 

 

Originally posted by BlueStrat I once read an interview with the Suicide Girls, some who claim to be ardent feminists, yet use their nude bodies as the ultimate marketing tool. I just wondered how people reconciled that.

 

 

Again, you've got a good point there, and you've put into words exactly why I am unnerved by this. I'm not sure how I would reconcile it, or if it's something I want to engage with in the first place, which is why I posted about it here. Personally, I'd rather use my intelligence, talent, and sense of humor to achieve, not my body, but I know a lot of other people (male or female) don't see a problem with it. In fact, I don't have a problem with it either - it's just not what I choose to do for myself.

 

We're a bunch of girls playing stupid songs (quite badly) and making fun of ourselves - we are literally one of those stupid "wouldn't it be funny if...?" conversations gone way too far. I'd rather be known for that, not for getting our kits off. We never thought anyone would care, much less want to write about it in a national magazine. This situation is starting to make me question exactly how far I want this whole band thing to go (or rather, at which point I'd want to hop off). This is not the sort of worry I want from a hobby.

 

Perhaps I'm overreacting - I don't even know whether she wants to do the feature or not (I handle most of the press and promotion things for the band, which is another reason why I am worrying about this). I am just trying to be as fair as possible.

 

Maybe I shouldn't have posted this at all.

[BATCAT]

Originally posted by brassic This situation is starting to make me question exactly how far I want this whole band thing to go (or rather, at which point I'd want to hop off). This is not the sort of worry I want from a hobby. Perhaps I'm overreacting - I don't even know whether she wants to do the feature or not (I handle most of the press and promotion things for the band, which is another reason why I am worrying about this). I am just trying to be as fair as possible. Maybe I shouldn't have posted this at all.

 

If you will indulge me and allow me to be dabble in some internet-forum psycology, then I have to say that from this (and some of your other posts in this thread) I get the impression that there's some underlying intra-band tension/angst/hostility going on...

 

But maybe I'm wrong, or maybe you'd rather not discuss it here.