| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| pot |
Posted - 01/21/2013 : 05:13:04
A rant about the death of culture/imminent HMV closure.
It comes off the back of Virgin record stores closing down, now HMV looks set to go into admin. The UKs biggest record store/games chain is closing because it can't compete with the availability of music on the internet/online sales. The internet is really going to start to hit the high street hard now so this is probably only the start.
Anyway, everyone is up in arms and complaining about it, forgetting of course that it's only recently our high streets have been spammed with rampant consumerism. So what if your local high street is becoming a ghost town, why not open up a cafe/social centre of some kind in one of the vacant premises? Like oh let's see a record shop/bar where you can go to listen to live music promotion events/album premiers, get a little bit drunk/stoned/happy maybe and then who knows you might actually love the new album so much that you can't wait to get your hands on a copy? Oh look there's a lovely limited edition gatefold sleeve that's on one time special offer for £10 and if you buy it today you get a half priced t-shirt and A SPECIAL CODE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GET FIRST SHOUT ON TICKETS FOR THE UPCOMING TOUR!
How does that sound for an idea? Too much people having a good time and actually enjoying themselves probably. I'll run that one past Richard Branson next time he is on twitter.
I don't think it is so much internet that is closing down our high streets, the government and their nanny state health & safety laws!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cckxia_T4po
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| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| pot |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 08:17:54
Oh right haha no it was all rumours. Kim's back in the band again.
quote:
Originally posted by Discoking
having people around me isn't really an incentive for me. i have the best time buying music if there aren't any other people in the way, no matter how small, huge, indie or corporate the shop is.
smoking and/or drinking is a separate passtime for me. it doesn't need to be combined with buying music.
 it's educational
Would incentives to get your hands on first refusal tickets not occasionally catch your interest though?
It would for me, but other than that I would just like a nice bar I could go to to listen to music, meet people, drink a beer and smoke some green. I see no reason why the place I go to could not also sell records and have regular promotion events.
Takings from beer/hash could prop up a struggling record shop in today's climate + drunk people are more loose with their cash, especially where music is concerned.
Casino's make more money out of people being drunk so why not record shops?
Actually Fopp records in Edinburgh used to have a bar, I'm not sure if they still do, but it was just a corner and the beer was some overpriced imported something + it was too bright but essentially the idea was the same. Come in and drink a beer and listen to a CD before you decide to buy it.
It didn't really work but that was because it wasn't really a proper bar.
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| fbc |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 05:57:18
quote:
Originally posted by pot
And how's the bass? You mean classical guitar? Still sitting in the corner of my room with a broken string unfortunately. I have no time for it anymore.
O.k. I was hoping to see you on tour with the Pixies later this year. |
| Discoking |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 02:18:59
having people around me isn't really an incentive for me. i have the best time buying music if there aren't any other people in the way, no matter how small, huge, indie or corporate the shop is.
smoking and/or drinking is a separate passtime for me. it doesn't need to be combined with buying music.
it's educational |
| pot |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 01:07:49
I was thinking more along the lines of using this as a means to picking up chicks. I can haz music on the internets now. No seriously, I think we have lost the social aspect of our high streets nowadays, if we ever had one in Britain. You just need to cross the channel into Europe and they are all sitting outside cafes in town centres, you don't see that so much in this country, probably due to the weather and the fact people in this country are miserable as fuck.
I think we need to redesign our high streets more around social centres, but the problem is the government and their nanny state laws preventing everyone from having fun. In Scotland a social event in the day time in a town centre is normally exclusive to old people eating scones and drinking tea.
having promotions like the kind i described is nothing new and record shops have been doing it for a long time. I just think the idea of album premiers where you can go to a bar and sit and drink a beer, maybe smoke something and listen to a new album and discuss is with people around you is a good way to keep the record shop industry afloat, otherwise there is no incentive for people to go to record shops anymore. I for one would go out more if this was happening.
I think the indies are probably doing better than HMV which is good, there are still record stores out there to fill the gap in the market that HMV leaves. I think people prefer indies these days because they are better for picking up rarities and second hands as well. In the same way that some people prefer to buy a lot of their stuff/clothes in charity shops- cheaper and more interesting selection, more chance of finding something special you never expected to.
And how's the bass? You mean classical guitar? Still sitting in the corner of my room with a broken string unfortunately. I have no time for it anymore.
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| Arm Arm Arm |
Posted - 01/21/2013 : 06:13:40
That's a good idea pot. I still remember when the independent record store by me closed down; going in there for the last time and making some purchases for the last time. It's where I purchased Doolittle, I remember the guy at the counter eyeing up the album and telling me how good it was. I was still on my Surfer Rosa high, so I had doubts it could match it. Actually, it's my least favorite Pixies album, it's still pretty damn excellent but not as great as the others.
Anyway, I enjoy the physicality of book and record stores, again, good idea. |
| fbc |
Posted - 01/21/2013 : 06:03:38
Hi Stu. How's the bass going?
I was talking about this with my mum yesterday. She had a similar idea. She lived in the days of booths in the record store where you could grab the vinyl and spin it and decide if you want to buy or not. I think this is great. Why not HMV get with the modern age. My high street is now coffee shops. I for one would love a coffee/tea shop with machines and booths.
I read the other day Jessops has gone kaput too. So so many with unprocessed photos and others with paid for vouchers that may not be refunded. Damn shame. |
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