Comments on: The Art of the Gimmick http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:56:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Pop Culture Gangster http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-877 Pop Culture Gangster Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:45:09 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-877 I thought the post was interesting, but I have to take to task your statement "There was a point in the late 60s where rock and roll music ... though still extremely popular, started to feel like a pair of old shoes….comfortable and worn, but maybe a bit tired." Really? In the late 60s? When Woodstock happened? When "Sgt. Pepper's Lonley Hearts Club Band" was released by the Beatles in 1967, only to be followed by the White Album in 1968 and the Abbey Road in 1969. Not to mention seminal albums from the Rolling Stones, Byrds, The Who, Led Zepplin, King Crimson, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, The Kinks, The Doors, etc. etc. If the late 60's/early 70's were a tired era in rock n' roll when the heck was it exciting? Check your music history before making a statement like that! I think the point is more that rock and roll was reaching its commercial peak and it was getting harder to break through to an audience. What KISS did was to go out completely in costume AND character - a total different character than their real life persona. That is what was so unique about them. Keep in mind that David Bowie did the same thing with Ziggy Stardust two years before KISS' first album was released, but KISS committed more. For Bowie, it was a one-off persona done for a concept album. For KISS, it was a way of life... basically an alternate persona that fans viewed as total escapism. [rq=142245,0,blog][/rq]<a href="http://www.popculturegangster.com/2009/07/marketing-and-music.html" rel="nofollow">Marketing and Music</a> I thought the post was interesting, but I have to take to task your statement “There was a point in the late 60s where rock and roll music … though still extremely popular, started to feel like a pair of old shoes….comfortable and worn, but maybe a bit tired.”

Really? In the late 60s? When Woodstock happened? When “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonley Hearts Club Band” was released by the Beatles in 1967, only to be followed by the White Album in 1968 and the Abbey Road in 1969. Not to mention seminal albums from the Rolling Stones, Byrds, The Who, Led Zepplin, King Crimson, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, The Kinks, The Doors, etc. etc. If the late 60’s/early 70’s were a tired era in rock n’ roll when the heck was it exciting? Check your music history before making a statement like that!

I think the point is more that rock and roll was reaching its commercial peak and it was getting harder to break through to an audience. What KISS did was to go out completely in costume AND character – a total different character than their real life persona. That is what was so unique about them.

Keep in mind that David Bowie did the same thing with Ziggy Stardust two years before KISS’ first album was released, but KISS committed more. For Bowie, it was a one-off persona done for a concept album. For KISS, it was a way of life… basically an alternate persona that fans viewed as total escapism.
[rq=142245,0,blog][/rq]Marketing and Music

]]> By: jf.sellsius.theclozing http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-875 jf.sellsius.theclozing Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:29:57 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-875 Gene might call it branding. But semantics aside, you are right -- a gimmick alone is not enough for longevity. There has to be something of value under the hair and makeup... and a snake-like tongue. It may not even have to rise to great talent if the experience given your fans is valuable (not saying these guys were w/o talent). Interestingly, those of us who were Zeppelin and Sabbath fans saw KISS as a gimmicky band and disrespected them, perhaps unfairly, because of it. As Danny above mentions, we saw Zep and Sabbath as "authentic" (despite Sabbath satanic branding). Gene might call it branding. But semantics aside, you are right — a gimmick alone is not enough for longevity. There has to be something of value under the hair and makeup… and a snake-like tongue. It may not even have to rise to great talent if the experience given your fans is valuable (not saying these guys were w/o talent).

Interestingly, those of us who were Zeppelin and Sabbath fans saw KISS as a gimmicky band and disrespected them, perhaps unfairly, because of it. As Danny above mentions, we saw Zep and Sabbath as “authentic” (despite Sabbath satanic branding).

]]> By: Chris Minshew http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-874 Chris Minshew Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:04:33 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-874 Great article. I've been a KISS fan for decades. You definitely capture the essence of Gene's marketing genious. If they were not great musicians, they would have faded into obscurity long, long ago. Yes, a great product with a gimmick can be a good thing! Great article. I’ve been a KISS fan for decades. You definitely capture the essence of Gene’s marketing genious. If they were not great musicians, they would have faded into obscurity long, long ago. Yes, a great product with a gimmick can be a good thing!

]]> By: Gini Dietrich http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-873 Gini Dietrich Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:01:48 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-873 Gene Simmons is a sheer business genius and is one of my favorite people on earth. My friends make fun of me because I say that, but it's true. Like you said, he is obsessed with making money...and he does! Everything he touches turns to gold. It's amazing and something I strive to be when I grow up. [rq=141572,0,blog][/rq]<a href="http://www.spinsucks.com/spin/blog-content-creation-tips-for-writing-compelling-posts" rel="nofollow">Blog Content Creation: Tips for Writing Compelling Posts</a> Gene Simmons is a sheer business genius and is one of my favorite people on earth. My friends make fun of me because I say that, but it’s true. Like you said, he is obsessed with making money…and he does! Everything he touches turns to gold. It’s amazing and something I strive to be when I grow up.
[rq=141572,0,blog][/rq]Blog Content Creation: Tips for Writing Compelling Posts

]]> By: Daniel G. St-Jean http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-878 Daniel G. St-Jean Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:56:26 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-878 Great, enlightening article Sue! KISS was the biggest draw this year at the Ottawa Bluesfest - in fact, the largest crowd in its 15 years, over 30,000 screaming fans (and this is a town of 850,000...). So the gimmick, and the music, still works! I want to thank you because I was agonizing over the last couple of weeks trying to decide whether I should launch a new website/blog/twitter/facebook account for my real passion (self-growth) using my alter ego GOYAN GOADS and my buddy MythBuster to whack people on the side of the head and kick them in the seat of their pants. After reading your article, I've decided to go ahead and do it. Yes, it's self-growth with a gimmick, but hey, it works for Larry Winget, "the Pitbull of Personal Development". Good work, Sue. Keep it up! Great, enlightening article Sue!

KISS was the biggest draw this year at the Ottawa Bluesfest – in fact, the largest crowd in its 15 years, over 30,000 screaming fans (and this is a town of 850,000…). So the gimmick, and the music, still works!

I want to thank you because I was agonizing over the last couple of weeks trying to decide whether I should launch a new website/blog/twitter/facebook account for my real passion (self-growth) using my alter ego GOYAN GOADS and my buddy MythBuster to whack people on the side of the head and kick them in the seat of their pants.

After reading your article, I’ve decided to go ahead and do it. Yes, it’s self-growth with a gimmick, but hey, it works for Larry Winget, “the Pitbull of Personal Development”.

Good work, Sue. Keep it up!

]]> By: Richard Pachter http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-879 Richard Pachter Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:13:38 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-879 Fascinating to me that Kiss has become, KISS... mainly, I think, due to the popular but incorrect notion that the name stood for "King's in Satan's Service" or something equally moronic... On another matter, I dispute your statement that they're "They are a really good rock band" and "They work hard at being good at what they do as musicians," but we're all entitled to our opinions. [rq=141182,0,blog][/rq]<a href="http://www.richardpachter.com/2009/06/get-back-in-box.html" rel="nofollow">Get Back in the Box</a> Fascinating to me that Kiss has become, KISS… mainly, I think, due to the popular but incorrect notion that the name stood for “King’s in Satan’s Service” or something equally moronic…

On another matter, I dispute your statement that they’re “They are a really good rock band” and “They work hard at being good at what they do as musicians,” but we’re all entitled to our opinions.
[rq=141182,0,blog][/rq]Get Back in the Box

]]> By: Recent posts of interest - by other people | Broadcasting Brain http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-882 Recent posts of interest - by other people | Broadcasting Brain Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:16:02 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-882 [...] The Art of the Gimmick by @suzemuse - Susan writes about the band KISS and how they delivered both a solid musical experience and an exciting theatrical (?) performance to help make them successful. [...] [...] The Art of the Gimmick by @suzemuse – Susan writes about the band KISS and how they delivered both a solid musical experience and an exciting theatrical (?) performance to help make them successful. [...]

]]> By: Mark Dykeman http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-880 Mark Dykeman Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:46:28 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-880 Purple Cow? Free Prize Inside? Heh. [rq=99991,0,blog][/rq]<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BroadcastingBrain/~3/yQ6p8MRV0Ts/" rel="nofollow">Top 10 Broadcasting Brain posts</a> Purple Cow? Free Prize Inside?

Heh.
[rq=99991,0,blog][/rq]Top 10 Broadcasting Brain posts

]]> By: Gael http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-881 Gael Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:24:30 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-881 Nice article, Sue. Gene Simmons is the mind behind the brand, and he intended it to be that way all along. This comes up occasionally on his TV show (Family Jewels). He is constantly thinking of new ways to market the KISS brand. On the show, his family often teases him about his obsession to keep making all this money. It's a great show, very entertaining. He, Shannon Tweed, and their teenage kids obviously really enjoy each others' company. They are all smart, funny, and polite. I'd love to hang out with them for a day because they seem to be really fun, genuine people. And while I am not a fan of KISS's music, I think Gene Simmons is brilliant. Nice article, Sue.

Gene Simmons is the mind behind the brand, and he intended it to be that way all along. This comes up occasionally on his TV show (Family Jewels). He is constantly thinking of new ways to market the KISS brand. On the show, his family often teases him about his obsession to keep making all this money.

It’s a great show, very entertaining. He, Shannon Tweed, and their teenage kids obviously really enjoy each others’ company. They are all smart, funny, and polite. I’d love to hang out with them for a day because they seem to be really fun, genuine people.

And while I am not a fan of KISS’s music, I think Gene Simmons is brilliant.

]]> By: Danny Brown http://www.suzemuse.com/2009/07/the-art-of-the-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-876 Danny Brown Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:24:55 +0000 http://www.suzemuse.ca/2009/07/16/the-art-of-the-gimmick/#comment-876 I think the problem lies in the terminology itself, Sue - "gimmick" just sounds like it's at the opposite end of authentic. And no-one likes being taken for a ride. But, like you say, if you can turn the gimmick into a "Wow, it actually does that" product or service, it can lead to some of the biggest success around. And gotta love the original KISS - man, they ROCKED! [rq=76473,0,blog][/rq]<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DannyBrown/~3/mL2kjVfFTOk/" rel="nofollow">Are You Holding Back Your Creativity?</a> I think the problem lies in the terminology itself, Sue – “gimmick” just sounds like it’s at the opposite end of authentic. And no-one likes being taken for a ride.

But, like you say, if you can turn the gimmick into a “Wow, it actually does that” product or service, it can lead to some of the biggest success around.

And gotta love the original KISS – man, they ROCKED!
[rq=76473,0,blog][/rq]Are You Holding Back Your Creativity?

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