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Marketing Geniuses?


tripdad
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OK, maybe this has been raised already, but I had a thought the other day. I feel RUSH has had some very good marketing campaigns these past few years that has boosted their income somewhat. Marketing geniuses? Maybe not to the level of KISS, but to me they're a genius ;)

 

This past tour was specifically (and intentionally in my opinion) left open as to if it was their last or not. They said they wouldn't play that "Final Tour" card. So what was the result of that statement? Several show sellouts! I personally went to 6 shows thinking, yes it may be their last tour, but probably not, but again, don't take a chance and miss some final shows. So we get down to the last show in LA and Neil provides the icing on the cake to the marketing hype by coming out and taking a bow. Oh my gosh, this must be the end, right?? So what I think is going to happen is they will take 1-2 years off and come back on a limited tour (as they have indicated may be a possibility) doing 2-3 shows each in major cities; NYC, LA, Chicago, Toronto, and Cleveland (yes, I had to say Cleveland). So when us fans see they are back we once again go to multiple shows, they sell out many, if not all of them, and everyone is happy. Marketing Geniuses!

 

Now go buy some re-issued RUSH vinyls like good fans...

 

:rush:

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This past tour was specifically (and intentionally in my opinion) left open as to if it was their last or not. They said they wouldn't play that "Final Tour" card.

 

Yes, lying or being ambiguous about something's importance is a great method of marketing.

 

Act now!

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For me personally it made no difference. I would have bought my tickets to the four shows I've attended either way. Marketing stunts or not. I just love to see them perform live as many times as I can possibly afford :)

 

Agreed. Same here.

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OK, maybe this has been raised already, but I had a thought the other day. I feel RUSH has had some very good marketing campaigns these past few years that has boosted their income somewhat. Marketing geniuses? Maybe not to the level of KISS, but to me they're a genius ;)

 

This past tour was specifically (and intentionally in my opinion) left open as to if it was their last or not. They said they wouldn't play that "Final Tour" card. So what was the result of that statement? Several show sellouts! I personally went to 6 shows thinking, yes it may be their last tour, but probably not, but again, don't take a chance and miss some final shows. So we get down to the last show in LA and Neil provides the icing on the cake to the marketing hype by coming out and taking a bow. Oh my gosh, this must be the end, right?? So what I think is going to happen is they will take 1-2 years off and come back on a limited tour (as they have indicated may be a possibility) doing 2-3 shows each in major cities; NYC, LA, Chicago, Toronto, and Cleveland (yes, I had to say Cleveland). So when us fans see they are back we once again go to multiple shows, they sell out many, if not all of them, and everyone is happy. Marketing Geniuses!

 

Now go buy some re-issued RUSH vinyls like good fans...

 

:rush:

You're reading waaay too much into this. They didn't make an official announcement, simply because it's not their style. It had nothing to do with marketing - they all have PLENTY of money. The fact is, the "icing on the cake" was a genuine, Good Bye.

 

However, I suppose such speculation & accusation is one way to keep this board alive...

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No, I don't think it was part of any master plan that's been thought out beyond 8-1-2015. I took the "last tour of this magnitude" announcement as a sincere 'This MAY be the last time we come to your city. If you want to be sure you see us again, you should take advantage of this tour.' I don't believe they've even figured out their future among themselves. Neil sounds like he's completely done. And if he is, so is Rush. Geddy knows that, which is why he thanked us on behalf of their entire organization......just in case.
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TexMike, for your 777th post, that was quite good. :) True too.

 

Thanks. And I hadn't even noticed that was #777. I'd go find a slot machine to play, but there are none here in Texas. ;)

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OK, maybe this has been raised already, but I had a thought the other day. I feel RUSH has had some very good marketing campaigns these past few years that has boosted their income somewhat. Marketing geniuses? Maybe not to the level of KISS, but to me they're a genius ;)

 

This past tour was specifically (and intentionally in my opinion) left open as to if it was their last or not. They said they wouldn't play that "Final Tour" card. So what was the result of that statement? Several show sellouts! I personally went to 6 shows thinking, yes it may be their last tour, but probably not, but again, don't take a chance and miss some final shows. So we get down to the last show in LA and Neil provides the icing on the cake to the marketing hype by coming out and taking a bow. Oh my gosh, this must be the end, right?? So what I think is going to happen is they will take 1-2 years off and come back on a limited tour (as they have indicated may be a possibility) doing 2-3 shows each in major cities; NYC, LA, Chicago, Toronto, and Cleveland (yes, I had to say Cleveland). So when us fans see they are back we once again go to multiple shows, they sell out many, if not all of them, and everyone is happy. Marketing Geniuses!

 

Now go buy some re-issued RUSH vinyls like good fans...

 

:rush:

You're reading waaay too much into this. They didn't make an official announcement, simply because it's not their style. It had nothing to do with marketing - they all have PLENTY of money. The fact is, the "icing on the cake" was a genuine, Good Bye.

 

However, I suppose such speculation & accusation is one way to keep this board alive...

 

I'm not reading anything into this actually. I am simply stating an opinion of the last tour and how clever marketing plays into sales. In not making an official statement and leaving it open they accomplished selling more tickets to the shows. "If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice"....If you don't say it is your last tour, but implications are there that it may be, you have accomplished the same thing as saying it is your final tour. If the day comes that you tour again, you don't come off as just another band that jumped on the farewell tour bandwagon.

 

If you feel Neil's bow was a genuine goodbye then you also think they are indeed done? I don't think they are done. I hope they are not, but fully understand if they are. I want to retire someday myself!

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There is no doubt in my mind that Rush will play more shows in the future. They are just giving up long tours.

 

Personally... (if they do continue to tour in the future...and not counting a second leg for this tour)...I don't think they're giving up LONG tours... I think they're giving up long shows, and going back to the days of the 90 minute set with an opening act...or maybe a dual headline kind of tour.

 

Three hours playing that grueling music has to be killer! That's a lot of notes to play in one evening!

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If you feel Neil's bow was a genuine goodbye then you also think they are indeed done? I don't think they are done. I hope they are not, but fully understand if they are. I want to retire someday myself!

What I've said all along is that Neil is done touring.

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If you feel Neil's bow was a genuine goodbye then you also think they are indeed done? I don't think they are done. I hope they are not, but fully understand if they are. I want to retire someday myself!

What I've said all along is that Neil is done touring.

 

After reading Roadshow I'm really surprised Neil toured again post-R30.

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Neil wants to raise his daughter with his wife rather than just hearing about it from her while on the road. Makes sense to me. Doesn't rule out the possibility of playing shows here and there, but it does mean that any shows would be few and far between (and a bitch to score tix for).
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If you feel Neil's bow was a genuine goodbye then you also think they are indeed done? I don't think they are done. I hope they are not, but fully understand if they are. I want to retire someday myself!

What I've said all along is that Neil is done touring.

 

After reading Roadshow I'm really surprised Neil toured again post-R30.

 

Based on what he said about his cash flow in Ghost Rider, that his expenses were running more than double income, and he was tapping into savings during their hiatus, they needed to tour more after R30. The two tours after the big break didnt seem enough to top off his net worth. Actually the publishing sale is what put them over the top for retirement and their heirs. How a pension fund buys publishing six months before they announce retirement is stunning. Good for them, of course.

 

 

.

Edited by Gabrielgil513
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Neil wants to raise his daughter with his wife rather than just hearing about it from her while on the road. Makes sense to me. Doesn't rule out the possibility of playing shows here and there, but it does mean that any shows would be few and far between (and a bitch to score tix for).

 

This past 'grueling' tour involved Neil being gone 4 weeks in May, 3 weeks in June, and 3 weeks in July. So he was away from the family for 10 weeks while still could be at home the other 42 weeks for the year. I travel for work more than that and am certainly a huge part of my children's upbringing. So; I'm tired of reading about the 'being away from home' thing. I would understand that if they were still doing the 100/200 shows a year as they had in the 70s and 80s.

 

But, I'm certainly in tune with the whole 'Freewill' thing. If Neil doesn't want to tour, that is certainly up to him. He doesn't need a reason..

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Neil wants to raise his daughter with his wife rather than just hearing about it from her while on the road. Makes sense to me. Doesn't rule out the possibility of playing shows here and there, but it does mean that any shows would be few and far between (and a bitch to score tix for).

 

This past 'grueling' tour involved Neil being gone 4 weeks in May, 3 weeks in June, and 3 weeks in July. So he was away from the family for 10 weeks while still could be at home the other 42 weeks for the year. I travel for work more than that and am certainly a huge part of my children's upbringing. So; I'm tired of reading about the 'being away from home' thing. I would understand that if they were still doing the 100/200 shows a year as they had in the 70s and 80s.

 

But, I'm certainly in tune with the whole 'Freewill' thing. If Neil doesn't want to tour, that is certainly up to him. He doesn't need a reason..

 

 

 

Also, the way they structured the dates, the band and families could have set up mini residencies many times during the tour. For example the Philly, Newark and MSG shows were all within an hour or so traveling time. They could have set up families with the band at the Waldorf- families could have resided together for a week in late June.

 

Same for the three Texas shows, the LA dates and also the TO/Montreal dates. They could have been with families at least four weeks during the tour while playing shows every other night (including breaks, six weeks). It could have been structured where the band and families never went more than two weeks apart.

 

Still, that's not easy. I spent three measly nights on the R40 road, and missed my daughter those days.

 

 

.

 

 

.

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My two cents...

 

First penny, if folks want to criticize Rush for their marketing campaign (just click "shop" on their official web page and there is quite a large body of evidence to support an argument they have a money making skill), I get that to a degree. I don't necessarily agree that it is a *fair* criticism, but I get that it does sometimes seem a bit much (the Starman thong comes to mind here). But, again, I don't think it's fair. All successful bands market themselves and as long as there is a market to sell their wares, more power to the Trinity.

 

Second penny, I adamantly believe any notion the "last tour of this magnitude" comment was a marketing ploy is cynical, unrealistic, and oblivous to how the band treats their tours. Cynical because believing the ploy notion is true is basically not having any faith in the sincerity of people, let alone the band. Unrealistic because believing the notion is a ploy ignores the age of the band, the health of the band, and the personal lives of the band. Oblivious because the recent touring history says there is no reason to be cynical. This is, after all, a band that sincerely considered fan feedback in their set lists. This is, after all, a band that toured fairly extensively in the past decade and purposefully returned to a number of markets they had not played in the prior decades. This is, after all, a band that has never yanked our chain prior about farewells and the end (I am looking at you The Who, Black Sabbath, etc.). No, I don't think it was for one second a ploy. I absolutely believe the "last tour of this magnitude" comment was exactly what it said.... a head's up, we very probably aren't going on the road for extended tours after this.

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Of course by hinting at this possibly being the last tour it will boost ticket sales. To say that Rush isn't touring because of the money is plain ignorant. Sure Alex and Geddy enjoy playing live still, and maybe to some extent Neil too, buut the fact is if they weren't still packing arenas they wouldn't still be touring.
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