Comments on: The sound of The Police http://turntablemedia.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/ experiences / observations / ideas / inspiration Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:04:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: turntable / as the table turns » Looking UP in 2008 http://turntablemedia.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/comment-page-1/#comment-23267 turntable / as the table turns » Looking UP in 2008 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:29:12 +0000 http://turntable.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/#comment-23267 [...] top it off, Emory and I conducted our own personal Amazing Race to see the Police in Auckland. We started with a ferry crossing, rushing to the airport, buying tickets, jumping on a [...] [...] top it off, Emory and I conducted our own personal Amazing Race to see the Police in Auckland. We started with a ferry crossing, rushing to the airport, buying tickets, jumping on a [...]

]]> By: Wayne http://turntablemedia.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/comment-page-1/#comment-1098 Wayne Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:28:56 +0000 http://turntable.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/#comment-1098 Yeah it can assumed that every show will be "given away" ... just not by the band ;) I understand the "massive audience" and energy point, having attended shows with 60,000 (or more?) at the old JFK stadium in Philadelphia. It's incredible that that many people can so quickly converge on and then exit a space like that and nobody (usually) gets hurt. I get a sense some people like those types of events to see that they -are- part of a huge crowd, to affirm their tastes. The "say and know I was there" is something I don't really get. It's sort of like "knowing" I saw a big movie on opening night, or read the first edition hardcover. Of course I wasn't the type to wear the concert t-shirt the next day to school to prove I was there. Yeah it can assumed that every show will be “given away” … just not by the band ;)

I understand the “massive audience” and energy point, having attended shows with 60,000 (or more?) at the old JFK stadium in Philadelphia. It’s incredible that that many people can so quickly converge on and then exit a space like that and nobody (usually) gets hurt. I get a sense some people like those types of events to see that they -are- part of a huge crowd, to affirm their tastes.

The “say and know I was there” is something I don’t really get. It’s sort of like “knowing” I saw a big movie on opening night, or read the first edition hardcover. Of course I wasn’t the type to wear the concert t-shirt the next day to school to prove I was there.

]]> By: Philip http://turntablemedia.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 Philip Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:01:05 +0000 http://turntable.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/#comment-1060 The long tailer and realist/bootlegger in me agrees with the concept of "give the music away and sell the show" (http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/2007/01/give_away_the_m.html). I know that in the case of the Police it is guaranteed that there will be a concert DVD released. Therefore, the fidelity of that product will be much higher than the live show. The only incentive to see the show is: - to say and know "I was there" - to be part of and absorb the energy of a massive audience - audio fidelity aside, being in a big space with a massive sound is impressive and can be somewhat intoxicating Rationally speaking, the DVD is by far the superior long term, and even short term, investment. It's cheaper, it's better quality, and it lasts "forever". Emotionally speaking, I am still drawn to being part of that social energy, having that personal, visceral experience and a lasting memory of the experience. So if the DVD were given away, or 'podcasts' from every show were given away, would I still have a reason to buy tickets to see it live? If I could expect that it would be a good performance, then I still find myself saying yes, I would go to see the live show. So if I'm going to "steal" all the digital content, maybe paying a premium for the live show is fair. The long tailer and realist/bootlegger in me agrees with the concept of “give the music away and sell the show” (http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/2007/01/give_away_the_m.html). I know that in the case of the Police it is guaranteed that there will be a concert DVD released. Therefore, the fidelity of that product will be much higher than the live show. The only incentive to see the show is:
- to say and know “I was there”
- to be part of and absorb the energy of a massive audience
- audio fidelity aside, being in a big space with a massive sound is impressive and can be somewhat intoxicating

Rationally speaking, the DVD is by far the superior long term, and even short term, investment. It’s cheaper, it’s better quality, and it lasts “forever”.

Emotionally speaking, I am still drawn to being part of that social energy, having that personal, visceral experience and a lasting memory of the experience.

So if the DVD were given away, or ‘podcasts’ from every show were given away, would I still have a reason to buy tickets to see it live?

If I could expect that it would be a good performance, then I still find myself saying yes, I would go to see the live show.

So if I’m going to “steal” all the digital content, maybe paying a premium for the live show is fair.

]]> By: Wayne http://turntablemedia.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/comment-page-1/#comment-1052 Wayne Sun, 18 Feb 2007 18:21:00 +0000 http://turntable.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/#comment-1052 Yeah, I remember seeing shows in stadiums when I was younger and thinking they were very good. I wonder if I would think that now. Both in terms of my tastes in music have changed and after seeing a lot of -amazing- shows in small clubs, I'm spoiled. Obviously it depends where you are in the stadium. If the floor is open and you are in the front, it's similar to seeing a show at a smaller venue. The other issue is the sound - stadiums are echo chambers. Regarding Miles - in his top form, meaning with his top bands, yes. Remember we saw him on his last tour at Academy of Music in Philadelphia? I'm not sure I would pay 200$ to see that show again. But I would never pay anything to sit on the second level of a stadium. Might as well wait for the live DVD. Yeah, I remember seeing shows in stadiums when I was younger and thinking they were very good. I wonder if I would think that now. Both in terms of my tastes in music have changed and after seeing a lot of -amazing- shows in small clubs, I’m spoiled.

Obviously it depends where you are in the stadium. If the floor is open and you are in the front, it’s similar to seeing a show at a smaller venue. The other issue is the sound – stadiums are echo chambers.

Regarding Miles – in his top form, meaning with his top bands, yes. Remember we saw him on his last tour at Academy of Music in Philadelphia? I’m not sure I would pay 200$ to see that show again. But I would never pay anything to sit on the second level of a stadium. Might as well wait for the live DVD.

]]> By: Philip http://turntablemedia.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/comment-page-1/#comment-992 Philip Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:13:52 +0000 http://turntable.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/#comment-992 I doubt many teens / young adults would be buying tickets. So it really would be all the geezers like me. I'd have a really hard time bringing myself to pay that much money to go see it. If I was convinced that they were in top form and playing good material I'd go for it. As far as seeing a band in a basketball stadium - I've seen some good shows in stadiums. It's definitely not the best venue, but a great show can still be seen in those stadiums. If Miles Davis rose from the dead and played in those stadiums, in his top form, for $200 a ticket would you go? I doubt many teens / young adults would be buying tickets. So it really would be all the geezers like me. I’d have a really hard time bringing myself to pay that much money to go see it. If I was convinced that they were in top form and playing good material I’d go for it.

As far as seeing a band in a basketball stadium – I’ve seen some good shows in stadiums. It’s definitely not the best venue, but a great show can still be seen in those stadiums.

If Miles Davis rose from the dead and played in those stadiums, in his top form, for $200 a ticket would you go?

]]> By: Wayne http://turntablemedia.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/comment-page-1/#comment-955 Wayne Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:48:58 +0000 http://turntable.com/blog/2007/02/15/the-sound-of-the-police/#comment-955 I'm wondering - who is going to pay 100-200$ to go see the Police in a basketball stadium? I guess there are millions of people from the 80s who had their albums and now have money to spend. Are they: -People that liked Synchronicity; nostalgic for all great pop of the 80s -People like you that were fans from the first album to last -Sting fans that will go see it because of Sting -Musician geeks that like really tight snare drums (you are included here also) or bleeding edge guitar pedals from 1978. Interesting collection of videos - there should be a page with all of them in chrono order. If anything else to chart the decline of 80s fashion - though to Stewart and Andy's credit, they were never fashionable enough to fit the stereotype for bad 80s fashion. I’m wondering – who is going to pay 100-200$ to go see the Police in a basketball stadium? I guess there are millions of people from the 80s who had their albums and now have money to spend.

Are they:
-People that liked Synchronicity; nostalgic for all great pop of the 80s
-People like you that were fans from the first album to last
-Sting fans that will go see it because of Sting
-Musician geeks that like really tight snare drums (you are included here also) or bleeding edge guitar pedals from 1978.

Interesting collection of videos – there should be a page with all of them in chrono order. If anything else to chart the decline of 80s fashion – though to Stewart and Andy’s credit, they were never fashionable enough to fit the stereotype for bad 80s fashion.

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