This Week in the Mercury
Friday, February 5, 2010
?!?!? / Music You Are Doing it Wrong
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 9:50 AM
While we have a fair amount of sympathy for new bands unclear of the complex nature of media relations, I'm not sure if this local band gets a pass for their poorly-spelled request for press coverage. Then again, our company vans do need a good washing...
Hello; I would like to promote my bands upcoming shows on your paper. Can you please tell me what the proper procedure is for making that possible. We are a local band and hope that the cost isn't that high. In exchange for a not so high cost, we will be more than happy to help deliver your paper or do some work around your facility, (ex) rake up, sweep up, paint, wash all your company vans, that kind of stuff. Will believe in your paper and the work that you do and that you are a pretty liberal paper that is not afraid to press the real questions that mainstream media shies away form, Props for you. We will always give you full EXCLUSIVE interviews long after we make it big. Lets face it, you should never be to big of were Home is. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you for your time.Sincerely; [name retracted]
End Hits: Never be to big of were Home is.
1
Make them wash the vans and pass a spelling test. If they do that, plug them. Great tour name, "Them kids is allright."
3
I don't get the joke - sounded like a nice guy trying to promote his art. Sure there's some misspellings, but on the other hand he didn't know it was going to be published; he thought he was sending a private e-mail.
And he complimented the Merc - doesn't this read like a polite letter, to you?
Why don't you answer his question, about how to get his band featured in the Merc?
And he complimented the Merc - doesn't this read like a polite letter, to you?
Why don't you answer his question, about how to get his band featured in the Merc?
6
Did they at least include a demo? And also, there's no spelling mistakes in their email. There's numerous grammatical errors, but the spelling is fine.
9
@Graham - Were vs. Where, spelling or grammar? Bands or Band's, spelling or grammar?
Your argument is invalid.
Your argument is invalid.
10
@reymont and GWOR: The individual words are all spelled correctly. If you want to say they're spelled wrong because the word itself is wrong... That would be grammar and not spelling. Your arguments are dumb.
11
@ Reymont
"Why don't you answer his question, about how to get his band featured in the Merc?"
You have to be a personal friend of Ezra or come from out of town otherwise you get some douche like Tonry telling people to "ditch the laptop and get a bass player".
Clearly this kid is young and looking for some advice as nobody explains these things to you when you are starting out in music.
Good 'ol boy network indeed.
"Why don't you answer his question, about how to get his band featured in the Merc?"
You have to be a personal friend of Ezra or come from out of town otherwise you get some douche like Tonry telling people to "ditch the laptop and get a bass player".
Clearly this kid is young and looking for some advice as nobody explains these things to you when you are starting out in music.
Good 'ol boy network indeed.
12
Abusive.
Since you clearly know me so well, please inform everyone of which local musician "personal friends" I have written about.
While there are some inevitable acquaintances that I run into at shows, I assure you that I go well out of my way to NOT be close friends with any musician that I might have to cover for this job.
Since you clearly know me so well, please inform everyone of which local musician "personal friends" I have written about.
While there are some inevitable acquaintances that I run into at shows, I assure you that I go well out of my way to NOT be close friends with any musician that I might have to cover for this job.
16
@Graham - just because his misspelling resulted in a correctly-spelled different word doesn't change it to a grammar error.
17
@ezra - When you e-mailed them back, did you tell them you were going to make fun of them publicly for complimenting you and asking you politely how to get their local band featured in your blog that is supposed to feature local bands?
Did you also explain that you're a dick?
Did you also explain that you're a dick?
19
Spelling vs Grammar: Google "common grammar mistakes" and "common spelling mistakes" Note what sort of pages come up:
Grammar:
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/to.html
(Correct usage of the word "to","too", and "two")
Spelling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Lis…
(Note that "to", "too", and "two" aren't listed.)
Grammar:
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/to.html
(Correct usage of the word "to","too", and "two")
Spelling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Lis…
(Note that "to", "too", and "two" aren't listed.)
20
@ezra - No, I know it covers local music. That's why it's not strange for these guys to think that you might possibly include them, if they asked you nicely and politely.
Guess you showed them.
Guess you showed them.
21
Ezra I can't believe you let me troll you like that. I understand you are not delivering the Decemberist's children anytime soon BUTT your name appears on the byline more than anyone else's when the: Thermals, Decemberists or Viva Voce appear in this paper. It implies a cosy relationship in the mind of many readers (mostly mine). Aaaaand that was really mean of you to ridicule this person who probably feels humiliated and now won't have anything to do with this bum wrap of a weekly. Where are we supposed to get music coverage from WW ? The Snoregonian (tho they have Noah Mickens on staff now)?
I'm just a troll, whereas you are supposed to be the bigger man here cause you are being paid to cover the local music scene which consists of more than the handful of established bands you have bothered to write about.
I'm just a troll, whereas you are supposed to be the bigger man here cause you are being paid to cover the local music scene which consists of more than the handful of established bands you have bothered to write about.
22
Abusive—
I have been at this paper for nine years and never written a single article about the Decemberists. Come on troll, work harder.
I have written one piece on Vice Voce, and I believe two on the Thermals (but the first one was about seven years ago). My name appears on the byline so often because I run a music blog that covers those bands, and countless others. But I'm flattered you care so much to comment. Thanks for reading.
Ezra
I have been at this paper for nine years and never written a single article about the Decemberists. Come on troll, work harder.
I have written one piece on Vice Voce, and I believe two on the Thermals (but the first one was about seven years ago). My name appears on the byline so often because I run a music blog that covers those bands, and countless others. But I'm flattered you care so much to comment. Thanks for reading.
Ezra
23
I stand corrected. You've won this one Ezra but I'll be back with more unfounded accusations. How's about next time someone drops a story across your desk for approval concerning well covered bands you say "Hey we did them last issue go look for the unpolished nugget in the pile of turds!" and then yell STAT!!!!!!!
24
@Abusive!
You call yourself a troll? Sheesh, if you are going to act like that you might as well change your name from "Abusive" to "Sometimes mildly annoying".
You call yourself a troll? Sheesh, if you are going to act like that you might as well change your name from "Abusive" to "Sometimes mildly annoying".
25
I would just like to note that I have accidentally come upon this thread, and that I am in no way affiliated with the mysterious and wrongfully-scorned "Abusive". - Noah Mickens, not for The Oregonian
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