tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post4250199590631649697..comments2024-03-28T07:27:42.810-07:00Comments on Burning Wood: A Few Quick Thoughts On Record Store DayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-82661282177756371382011-04-19T15:05:21.023-07:002011-04-19T15:05:21.023-07:00Hah! You can call it whatever you want. My name&#...Hah! You can call it whatever you want. My name's Mike actually, but one day when trying to think of a nom de comments, for some reason some old scenes from Kentucky Fried Movie were on my mind, and the ridiculous character of Big Jim Slade.Big Jim Sladenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-55719303388495296792011-04-19T03:00:06.738-07:002011-04-19T03:00:06.738-07:00Personally, I love the CONCEPT of RSD far more tha...Personally, I love the CONCEPT of RSD far more than the actual day itself... <br />I love that it gets people excited about new music (especially when it is in vinyl format).<br />But what I hate is that it does tend to make any semblance of civility go out the window, much as those damnable Black Friday sales do. A vast number of normal record geeks that would strike up a conversation with you as you browse are reduced to scowling scavengers, especially when one happens to glom onto something limited that they too wanted...<br />I choose not to participate in the hunt. While I'd love to have that limited-edition, numbered, seafoam slab of deliciousness that _____ put out this year, I won't fight someone over it. And I won't pay through the nose on eBay for it, either.<br />Especially since I'm pretty sure that only a handful of what's sent to the stores actually go anywhere other than the store owner's/employee's trunk.<br />If you're into the hunt, then good for you. <br />Me, I'd rather shop at my local shops the OTHER 364 days of the year.BMoney976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-7637042099237313112011-04-18T11:44:37.221-07:002011-04-18T11:44:37.221-07:00RSD in Minneapolis was actually quite orderly. The...RSD in Minneapolis was actually quite orderly. The largest indie store, The Electric Fetus, learned their lessons three years ago when it was mostly chaos for the first half-hour as everything was bought up by speculators leaving everyone else empty-handed. Now they issue numbers to those queued up, let in 4 at a time to a separate section and limit everyone to no more than 15 items, no more than 1 of a title. Works quite well if you arrive early. <br /><br />A smaller shop, Hymie's Records, received fewer items so they made it a scavenger hunt, placing their RSD items throughout the racks so you had to actually browse to find them. I found quite a few non-RSD things to purchase, which fittingly enough is the primary reason to bring customers into the store. Treehouse Records kept updating their Facebook page as to what was still in their racks, which made for greater ease of searching around town for specific items. All well-thought strategies, IMO.<br /><br />I spoke with several store owner/managers in advance and they all agreed that while they could make a profit re-selling RSD merch on ebay, it defeated their own long-term best interests in drawing new customers to their stores. Also, since the RSD folks claim to blackball those they catch diverting stock, they viewed that doing so would be another nail in their store's coffin. <br /><br />I picked up a few things I wanted, missed out on a few, but came away pretty well pleased. All the live music & snacks were a bonus as well!jimbonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-74828867235242778582011-04-18T00:00:37.382-07:002011-04-18T00:00:37.382-07:00This is not about RSD this is about BW. I just le...This is not about RSD this is about BW. I just learned about you from Huffingtonpost Tech, Holly Cara Prince listed you as one of the 12 blogs that matters. I am reading a few and can't wait to start commenting once I figure out the vibe...<br /><br />Glad you are staying around, because cool music matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-14793622829341651622011-04-17T18:10:05.431-07:002011-04-17T18:10:05.431-07:00Thanks Sal... and correct me if I'm wrong, but...Thanks Sal... and correct me if I'm wrong, but did William Repsher just provide a nice basis for a future Weekend Mix -- songs about record stores? Could be cool...Bill Wagnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-6003813570677110282011-04-17T17:12:57.450-07:002011-04-17T17:12:57.450-07:00Almost but not quite. One seller had Bowie, "...Almost but not quite. One seller had Bowie, "The Man..." but it was Mercury and no poster (yet still marked $35) and also Sweet,"Give Us a Wink" but it was a re-issue. ($6) I was one step behind someone else looking for Seger. I'm totally hooked on the hunt.Lesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-69497992105739952422011-04-17T16:59:52.364-07:002011-04-17T16:59:52.364-07:00Sal, I'd love to read at least one post regard...Sal, I'd love to read at least one post regarding your experiences as a record store owner. Surely, located where you were, there must be the odd celebrity story, or artists whose work you love (or hate) walking in, various shaggy dog stories with customers and employees, etc. High Fidelity was a pretty good read (don't ask about the movie), but something tells me you could do the topic more justice than Nick Hornby. For a lot of us, that record-store experience was a weekly (or more) ritual, one that now seems long gone or overly romanticized. Of all people, you would know better.William Repsherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16690181505790748431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-22397132475707634052011-04-17T15:40:17.873-07:002011-04-17T15:40:17.873-07:00@Rushbo,
Again, more good points. Still, no less ...@Rushbo,<br /><br />Again, more good points. Still, no less frustrating.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-68503513052075215762011-04-17T15:37:38.988-07:002011-04-17T15:37:38.988-07:00@Bill Wagner,
Well done.
There's some bitte...@Bill Wagner,<br /><br />Well done. <br /><br />There's some bitterness involved on my part, as I once owned a record store that my partner and I never expected to shut down as soon as we did. So RSD for me, is a little too late.<br /><br />But as a lifelong New Yorker, I can no longer defend this city, and I certainly take no offense in your observations. I only wish I could have experienced the weekend in New Orleans...or Atlanta...or even West Babylon to grab one of those International Submarine Band LPs like Anonymous.<br /><br />You make good points. Thanks for sharing.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-56471181570356594842011-04-17T15:31:55.218-07:002011-04-17T15:31:55.218-07:00Events like this bring out worst in some people. I...Events like this bring out worst in some people. I spent enough time with my ma in department store sales to realise that normal rules do not apply when it comes to shopping. <br />My experience was a lot less fraught. My local (by local, I mean a 40 minute drive) record shop had almost everything I wanted in stock (I guess it was naive to think they'd still have the Queen release at midday) - in fact when I told the sales assistant I'd left my list behind, he let me go through all the back-up stock they had behind the counter. This meant that for about 15 minutes, the poor guy had to bend into various Yoga positions around me to serve customers. <br />Sadly, it's inevitable that copies of the higher profile releases will hit the black market and inevitable that there will be an undignified scrum to grab the biggies. That's as true for record sales as it is for handbag sales...I should know as my ma LOVED handbags. The idea was to get people (back) into record shops - the limited stuff was the 'bait' I guess. I was lucky and I left with the stuff I wanted (Blitzen Trapper, Parsons, Rush) but I also left with a handful of other stuff and that's the point. <br />It may not be the most elegant way to get people into record shops again, but after speaking to the staff at my local(ish) store, it was certainly the best day they'd had in a while and it wasn't just the premium releases that were selling. <br />If you see stuff on Ebay etc, it's up to you whether you buy it or not.Rushbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17368726463563067313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-5538010489068611812011-04-17T15:29:01.740-07:002011-04-17T15:29:01.740-07:00Guys, I disagree. Like Sammy, I think you are focu...Guys, I disagree. Like Sammy, I think you are focusing too much on "the RSD special releases" -- and not realizing the bad, bad shape record stores are in and the need to remind the general public that they even exist. With special events like this.<br /><br />Plus, I'll venture a comment here that may smack of the type of casual condecension that southerners sometimes accuse northerners of -- when our northern friends give us the "anywhere outside of NYC is nowheresville, baby" -- and say maybe the reactions here might be tied to the region you're describing. I apologize in advance if this comment smacks of that. <br /><br />I live in Atlanta and had a perfectly wonderful record store day here. Visited four stores and experienced not a moment of pushing, shoving, or dented boxes of records. It was a day of catching up with musically-inclined friends and making a few new acquaintances.<br /><br />Let me also say I don't offer these thoughts to be combative or to imply that tired argument that southerners are "nicer" than northerners or any of that. Several of my best buds hail from the north, and I love that part of the country.<br /><br />I'm just saying that where you some of you guys live might tie into your feelings about this. Perhaps in NYC there's more of a fever pitch towards buying and reselling. Maybe in some other markets, Record Store Day is more about what I mentioned - connecting with old friends, hearing some live music in record stores (always a thrill -- saw several great band yesterday), having some free beer which some stores proffered, and going home knowing it's actually not a great day to "shop for music," ironically, but it is a great day FOR music.Bill Wagnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-10416166995307391692011-04-17T14:43:32.919-07:002011-04-17T14:43:32.919-07:00Euclid opened there last September. In the Bywater...Euclid opened there last September. In the Bywater.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-87087815685784857422011-04-17T14:36:10.308-07:002011-04-17T14:36:10.308-07:00Little on my list at my local Newbury Comics, but ...Little on my list at my local Newbury Comics, but to be fair, they have like 30 locations, and I probably needed to go downtown for a better selection.<br /><br /> TWO favorite record stores in Nola? I know Louisiana Music Factory. What's the other one?<br /><br />- bill bucknerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-61752788565215841832011-04-17T14:31:09.009-07:002011-04-17T14:31:09.009-07:00Hey Jag! Just checked. Beach Boys selling for $40!...Hey Jag! Just checked. Beach Boys selling for $40!<br /><br />Les, Get anything off my want list?<br /><br />Big Jim,<br />I think it's a great idea. Can I name the day after you?<br /><br />"Big Jim's Monthly Lurker Day?"<br /><br />Thanks for the notes.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-33104914472563914932011-04-17T14:16:55.926-07:002011-04-17T14:16:55.926-07:00My plans to hit my favorite indie record store got...My plans to hit my favorite indie record store got derailed (we took my mother-in-law to a funeral instead). The manager told me earlier in the week that they tried, and failed to get a copy of the Big Star re-release, but had two copies of the 78 rpm "Good Vibrations." <br />I'm hoping one will still be around if when I get there tomorrow, but I suspect speculators already have them posted to eBay by now.James A. Gardnerhttp://thismeaneveryone.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-57499653448501208592011-04-17T13:09:59.341-07:002011-04-17T13:09:59.341-07:00I think you are dead on about holding back some re...I think you are dead on about holding back some records since some RSD releases were put on Ebay last week. I opt'd for the vinyl sale at the fairgrounds today instead, just to avoid the insanity. I figured since I didn't want any RSD releases, I could support my fav record store, well, any other day.Lesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-18236732144013486322011-04-17T13:09:42.965-07:002011-04-17T13:09:42.965-07:00Sorry that this is off-topic.
Back when blogs w...Sorry that this is off-topic. <br /><br />Back when blogs were young (I just wanted to type that), some of the blogs I read (lefty political blogs) had what they called Lurker Days. Or something to that effect. You see, they realized that there were people who read the blogs, but rarely, if ever, comment. These folks were referred to as lurkers. It wasn't an insult or anything, just a cool name - you gotta call them (us) something... Anyway, a Lurker day was an invitation for the Lurkers to announce themselves to the community - let all the others know they were out there, and foster a little extra communication.<br /><br />Your "Favre retirement" unintentionally worked as a Lurker day. I suggest that once a month or so - give a shout out to the lurkers and tell us to say hello and maybe mention something we've heard recently that we like.<br /><br />And welcome back!Big Jim Sladenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-36688545483552455662011-04-17T12:21:22.657-07:002011-04-17T12:21:22.657-07:00Looney Tunes in West Babylon (out on long island) ...Looney Tunes in West Babylon (out on long island) had tons of the releases. I even scored an International Submarine Band (limited to 1000). They are probably the biggest indie left around here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-14034673214747701972011-04-17T10:46:56.798-07:002011-04-17T10:46:56.798-07:00Saturday in NYC being the nasty mess it was, I dec...Saturday in NYC being the nasty mess it was, I decided not to participate in any RSD 'festivities'. But your story doesn't surprise me in the least. I agree with you 100 percent about your scalping theory and I also agree even more that it sucks - if it's true.YankeeBoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14077959975128794185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-53942532351322374662011-04-17T10:32:07.822-07:002011-04-17T10:32:07.822-07:00I've read several posts from members of my sou...I've read several posts from members of my soul group who encountered long lines and got shut out of most everything they had come for; apparantly your friend's report was par for the course...too bad...on the other hand, for those interested in records and not necessarily the latest releases, the flea market and tag sale season is just beginning...don't knock it 'till you've tried a few...Sammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05740463125523081832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-88746452841366162762011-04-17T10:11:11.106-07:002011-04-17T10:11:11.106-07:00RSD is wack.
You should reopen NYCD and show peopl...RSD is wack.<br />You should reopen NYCD and show people how it's done, Sal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com