As much as I don't want to join because it's $50 and I think it's a rip off and judging by how much money I have to spend on things like this, I probably shouldn't... but I want it, mostly for the pre-show acoustic performances. Ugh.
Thoughts? Anyone thinking about joining? I can't decide. 
I want to! I am trying to save every penny I make this summer at my minimum wage job to buy my girlfriend an engagement ring though...
For the acoustic performance (the main reason I'm truly considering it), do you think it includes a guest? Like let's say I pay $50 and join and then head to the nearest show with my all-time concert buddy, my fiance-to-be. Would I get to enjoy the 2 songs and she wouldn't? I guess it wouldn't make sense if someone who isn't a member enjoyed the perks of a member, but on the other hand, most promotions and contests that feature this sort of thing allow you to bring a guest. The only reason I ask is because while $50 is potentially doable, $100 is not, considering she isn't a die hard SK6ER fan.
The acoustic performances are off-limits to guests. I went ahead and signed up because I haven't purchased much merchandise in the past (aside from the CDs; I'm not into t-shirts) and wanted to support the band. The "welcome" e-mail listed the following as the benefits:
What is included in Sixertown?
Your membership to Sixertown comes complete with:
-An official Sixertown tshirt (exclusive to members only)
-VIP Fan Club Laminate
-Access to buying tickets before they're available to the public*
-VIP seating in venues*
-Unreleased music and videos (exclusive to members only)
-Access to a private 2 song acoustic performance before headlining shows.
[you have to email me, Cousin Jessica, 48 hours before the morning of the show
you plan on attending. Members only, no guests please]
(* where available)
I've been going back and forth and back and forth since they announced the fan club. I was set against it until I realized how much I wanted to see the acoustic sets. THEN I saw again that its only two songs....So if I'm basically paying $50 for....6 acoustic sets this year....that's $5.50 for two songs. So I'm leaning back towards no.
What bothers me is that this is $50 for things that USED to be free...like the monthly song Jess used to put on the website, or just ASKING for an extra song after a show. And when was the last time you went to a Sixers show with seating?
Frankly, I thought I was ALREADY in the Sixer's Fan Club.
I joined and wasn't reluctant about it. The deal right now is pretty sweet in that it is good until the end of 2011, if you sign up for the first year. I'll let you know how the pre-show sets are after I get back from Hoboken.
Anybody know if the pre-show sets are pre-doors-opening or after-doors-opening-and-before-opening-band? Because if it's the latter, I probably wouldn't be able to attend them anyway since I'm usually struggling to get my recording gear set up.
I'm with Laura. I've never seen a Sixers show yet (in my area) that wasn't general admission. It makes me wonder, are they planning on playing more venues where there will be assigned seats? If so, then maybe I'd consider joining. But I've always thought part of the fun of general admission is meeting new fans while waiting for the doors to open. I am still on the fence about this.
And are the pre-show acoustic performances going to start with the Fall Tour? Or are they already doing them for the shows in July?
According to the tour schedule at http://www.stephenkellogg.com/tour.shtml, they start next week in Hoboken and are available at every show going forward.
Here is them outside (what was) People's in Ames, Iowa.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v13/25/58/16900261/n16900261_30668903_4089.jpg
It was taken with a cell phone camera from 2005 but you get the point... 
....
Doubtful. I see them once (possibly twice) a year, and $50 is a lot of money for two songs a show...
yeah i wont be doing this.
in my experience with fan clubs, and hearing from other people, they are almost never worth it. i get they need to generate new avenues of revenue, but with a smaller band you never get your moneys worth they usually can't/don't offer enough stuff-$50 is a lot for a shirt and 2 songs before the show at 1 show and music/videos that probably wont be posted often, as it can be high maintenance. and you guys bring up a good point on seating. On shows with non-general admission seating its usually been the Sixers or SK opening, so you probably wouldn't get better seats at someone else's show.
I'm sure it'll be fun to hear 2 songs from the band before shows so whoever goes have a good time!
The main difference between this and other fan clubs (in my opinion) is that Jessica and the guys are actually involved. This isn't being subcontracted to a separate company to manage. For instance, John Mayer's Local 83 was managed by MusicToday and in part, that was why it folded. Yes, District Lines is doing the shipping, but Jessica is the face behind the organization of this. Time will tell, but $50 isn't a huge investment, so I'm going with it. I, too, remember when there were parking lot sets; however, I do not feel like I am being exploited into joining to validate or prove that I enjoy the music.
Matt - Thanks for posting the welcome e-mail.
Marissa,- I completely agree with you about the fact that cousin Jessica is the one behind the fan club. I think it will make a huge difference. I'd love to join, especially because it supports the band but I don't have the extra money at the moment 
maybe before the fall tour! For those of you who do purchase it please keep all of us updated on how it goes 
Well I hope it ends up being a awesome experience for everyone and runs smoothly for you!!
I was going to wait until fall tour when I had saved some cash away but then they added in the Hoboken and DC shows and I was in. I think this is great. I participated in the NTB fan club on the last tour and it was great. It gives the guys more time to talk to each person instead of just taking pics and signing stuff real quick. Plus, Jess running it is a big sell.
NeedToBreathe definitely has the fan club pre-show situation down to a science.
As much as I really do want to join just because I want to support them and all, I just feel $50 is so steep for what I'm getting.
I've been in the Hanson fan club for years (since 2003) and only recently have I felt it's a rip off. It's $40, $50 for me (international) and I get a lot out of it. I wasn't a member for the last year and only recently joined again. Being that the two fan clubs are nearly the same price, the Hanson fan club feels like a steal compared to the Sk6ers fan club.
They offer a lot of similar things, but the things are more relevant to Hanson - like pre-sale tix, especially for seated shows. Sk6ers shows barely sell out, why would we need pre-sale? I'm also not aware of too many seated shows, whereas Hanson do quite a few.
That being said, I know that because this is the Sk6ers and they have more control over the things they do, it's going to be really awesome either way. So what if it's only two songs? At that songwriter panel on TRB this year, Stephen played two songs. That was enough to satisfy me until later that night, lol. And maybe they used to do a lot of these things for free, but they're not still doing it, right? At some point, they have to make a living.
Ah, I don't know.
I'm pretty sure before the shows I'm seeing in September come around I'll give in and join just because that's how I am, but it just feels like a rip off.
I mean, they're one of my favorite bands. Surely I should be able to just support them with this even if it is a rip off, right?
Yeah, I think I'm going to join. Fuck it.
$62 ?!?!?!?!
Being Canadian blows. 
bought mine today i think it's a great idea. sarah & i were just talking about it a few weeks ago, how a club similar to NTB's would be great for sk6ers, so it's awesome that one now exists
yeah, i'm pretty glad i joined it. it'll be worth it, so no regrets. 
Hell, I don't know what everyone is talking about. I'd pay well over 50 bucks for just half of a favorite song of mine. The only problem is finding 50 bucks to spend...being in college totally sucks.
That's the spirit! 
My friends and I convinced each other, and I think it was worth it. That's all I will say!
agreed!
ditto. caved. totally worth it.
i loved it at the 3 out of 4 shows we went to. esp since they let us stay in the venue before the doors opened - i was able to see all 3 shows! i think it's a record
i hope they continue this trend of letting us stay in the venue...
i have two shows this fall, but i'm hoping to see some in 2011 too so it'll definitely be worth it!
ps, just got my sixertown shirt and VIP pass in the mail yesterday! district lines was speedy.
I caved.
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