Dave Matthews Band website - what if Jimmy changed his?

PeretHed66 · Post by **PeretHed66** » August 14, 2006 8:56 am

So, I was as the DMB show in West Palm Saturday night (great show, BTW), and like many "jam" bands, they mix it up every night (for the most part). On the official DMB site, there is a "road" section, with notes from the crew after show, along with set lists, equipment lists, crew pics, etc.

Now, JB, has the edge on everyone with broadcasting his shows, but does anyone else wish Margaritaville.com was a little more up-to-date? Seems like more of an avenue for marketing then an informational site...

You can also join his fan club, the Warehouse, and get access to ticket pre-sales, etc. I just wish JB set up his site along these lines......

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » August 14, 2006 10:15 am

Couldn't agree more, however given the track record of JB's websites (Margaritaville.com, RadioMargaritaville.com, MailboatRecords.com) I'd say you may as well wish in one hand and take shots with the other. Those websites are generally only updated when absolutely necessary for some reason (i.e., advertising a new CD or DVD release).

The sad truth is that it seems one thing Jimmy doesn't do well is have open communication with his fans. Most bands have much more in-depth, interactive sites whereas Jimmy has cut these corners. It appears that the shrewd business empire of Bubba's uses the internet for business/marketing purposes more than anything.

But I definitely agree that Jimmy could benefit greatly from upgrading his site to be more like DMB or Butch Walker's.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » August 14, 2006 10:34 am

No Jimmy's website isnt as up to the minute like others... and yes, I would love to see presale for the fans... however.....

How long has the Coconut Telegraph been out... for as long as I can recall... in some form or anoher... and was it 1999 when Jimmy started a TOTALLY free Internet radio station to which he calls into on a regular basis from ports unknown to provide fans with updates??

Furthermore...he KNOWS that people record the music and concerts from RM... and that might prevent them from buying a LIVE album....so isnt that giving us something back???

What is it that we want from artists? They deserve to make a living... or even a living beyond our wildest dreams.... so what?

Maybe Jimmy is smart.....or its just that Jimmy Buffett got lucky...or maybe he has incredible talent.... or maybe its a little bit of both. Either way.... he sold it to a large group a people a long time ago and we keep buying it....40 years strong.... BECAUSE..... he keeps delivering.... no he doesnt update the web site daily...or even weekly or monthly.... so what?

JB runs the hugely (is hugely a word

) successful business of being Jimmy Buffett. And not unlike any other business owner in this country... he can run the business any way he sees fit. And we can choose to "work" there or not.

So either buy the albums or dont, see the show or dont.... but please stop the constant dribble of what he should or shouldnt do to meet your needs.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » August 14, 2006 10:38 am

A paraphrase from the end of Saturday night's show - I don't have to go out and sell albums. Y'all have made me so rich I don't f'n care.

And he's right. He does things the way he wants and that's the way it's been for quite a few years. Take it or leave it. I'll take it.

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » August 14, 2006 10:43 am

Jesus Christ, don't get your knickers in a twist folks. I'm not trying to make him out to be a money-grubbing Enron kind of guy, just saying that with his resources he could afford a better website, that's all.

I apologize if something I said upset someone. Just trying to have friendly discussion here, folks.

And could we please keep in mind that although we all adore Jimmy Buffett, that's he's a man and not some sort of demi-god that is infallible. It's okay for us to acknowledge the fact that he's not a perfect genius sent to us from god himself. I promise, the world will not stop turning if we do that. I'm sure Jimmy would agree with that, too.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » August 14, 2006 10:49 am

trojan_sixtyone wrote:
I apologize for voicing my opinion. Didn't realize that had been banned on BuffettNews. The things I miss when I spend a weekend away from my computer...

I didnt either...therefore I posted mine....

I think there is room for opinions... what I dont think there is room for is whining about the way someone runs a business. Its not like we can change it...and my point was that we do not have the right to change it.

It wasnt a personal attack on you or anyone else. It was an attack on the topic.

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » August 14, 2006 10:54 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:what I dont think there is room for is whining about the way someone runs a business. Its not like we can change it...and my point was that we do not have the right to change it.

Is we were discussing the sale of groceries or, god forbid, the PRICE OF GAS would you agree then?

Just curious. What I am amazed by (this is going to be off-topic) is how people drive big SUVs and trucks, then complain about the price of gas and how it's ruining their bank accounts. Furthermore, nothing can be done about the sale price of gas, so why complain? It's a fact of life. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, it's not an important discussion anyway so there's no point in anyone getting bent out of shape about it.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » August 14, 2006 11:02 am

trojan_sixtyone wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:what I dont think there is room for is whining about the way someone runs a business. Its not like we can change it...and my point was that we do not have the right to change it.
Is we were discussing the sale of groceries or, god forbid, the PRICE OF GAS would you agree then?

Just curious. What I am amazed by (this is going to be off-topic) is how people drive big SUVs and trucks, then complain about the price of gas and how it's ruining their bank accounts. Furthermore, nothing can be done about the sale price of gas, so why complain? It's a fact of life. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, it's not an important discussion anyway so there's no point in anyone getting bent out of shape about it.

Its takes alot more than this to get me upset.... no worries... but to clarify.... I have been on BN for sometime now and I usually let this stuff roll.... but I just needed to point out that while it may be nice... we have to accept Jimmy the way he is....

As for the other question... not sure what you are asking if I agree to. High food or gas prices? If so... no I may not like spending $46 to fill up my tank 2x a week.... But I have to get to work to make a whole lot more than that every week.... and a car is my only choice of transportation in my area..... so no.. I have no choice and therefore dont complain about it.

JustDucky · Post by **JustDucky** » August 14, 2006 11:06 am

Hold on there Trojan! I didn't see anyone getting mad at what you said!

I concur. And here's the best thing about all the official Buffett sites just being online commercials for flip-flops and other useless same 'ol same 'ol that the Buffett-Mart keeps pushing (does anyone really need to buy all that stuff anyway?) and barely (oh gee, marg.com got a facelift but nothing changed) updating anything (snailboat.com and even lying, perhaps, about release dates) - buffettnews.com IS the place to get updates, etc...

Obviously not from Jimmy himself. Take almost any day of the week and certainly more and buffettnews.com has SOME kind of update as well as this maniacal discussion board.

My advice to anyone frustrated with the lack of interest, care and updating from official Buffett sites - stop going to them. I gave up on snail and marg lonnnnngggggggg ago. I never go to those sites anymore. I visit buffettnews.com and then do other things, like listen to Bruce Springsteen's new album - which is excellent by the way - or water my plants or whatever. I also found that I like listening to Jimmy if I stop listening to Jimmy and listen to a lot of other artists. Pull one Buffett record out every now and then and then put if back on the shelf, for a long time. I finally listened to LTChill for the first time this YEAR this past weekend! Sounded great!

I might get Wrigley for X-mas. And if I do get it, it's probably going to be the last live ANYTHING I'll ever buy of his. I have enough. And I've had enough.

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » August 14, 2006 11:12 am

ToplessRideFL wrote:
trojan_sixtyone wrote:
ToplessRideFL wrote:what I dont think there is room for is whining about the way someone runs a business. Its not like we can change it...and my point was that we do not have the right to change it.
Is we were discussing the sale of groceries or, god forbid, the PRICE OF GAS would you agree then?

Just curious. What I am amazed by (this is going to be off-topic) is how people drive big SUVs and trucks, then complain about the price of gas and how it's ruining their bank accounts. Furthermore, nothing can be done about the sale price of gas, so why complain? It's a fact of life. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, it's not an important discussion anyway so there's no point in anyone getting bent out of shape about it.
Its takes alot more than this to get me upset.... no worries... but to clarify.... I have been on BN for sometime now and I usually let this stuff roll.... but I just needed to point out that while it may be nice... we have to accept Jimmy the way he is....

As for the other question... not sure what you are asking if I agree to. High food or gas prices? If so... no I may not like spending $46 to fill up my tank 2x a week.... But I have to get to work to make a whole lot more than that every week.... and a car is my only choice of transportation in my area..... so no.. I have no choice and therefore dont complain about it.

Definitely the gas. I completely agree with the "I go to work to make much more money than that every week" philosophy, and it seems like everyone else in the world--news media, regular people and so on--and to do nothing but cry about gas prices. If you're mad because it's cutting into your entertainment/luxury fund, get over it. If you're mad because you don't make much money to begin with and paying for gas to get to work means you're having to choose between going to work and paying bills, THEN you have an argument.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » August 14, 2006 11:16 am

trojan_sixtyone wrote: If you're mad because you don't make much money to begin with .

But thats a whole another pet peeve of mine which we just won't even get into.....

PeretHed66 · Post by **PeretHed66** » August 14, 2006 11:19 am

Geez, I didn't meant to start a war......just curious if other people felt the same way.....wow.

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » August 14, 2006 11:24 am

PeretHed66 wrote:Geez, I didn't meant to start a war......just curious if other people felt the same way.....wow.

Not a war. If you want to see a BN messageboard war (sad, lame as it may be) check the thread where the guy that was competing against the BN participant in RM's "Sing with Jimmy Buffett" contest came on here and riled a bunch of pheathers. Now that was pretty rough, by BN standards. This, however, is just discussion.

(But just between me and you, if we're forced to go to war in this thing I'll be on your side.

)

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » August 14, 2006 11:28 am

Take a deep breath, pholks. It's just a discussion board.

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » August 14, 2006 11:36 am

I remember from the CMT 60 Minutes special on Jimmy, that he said he holds back from overexposing himself to the fans, because he thinks the live performance experience is what it's all about... (I'm completely paraphrasing by the way - it was long ago)

My guess is the info-based website is his intention, rather than having an interaction-based website.

Either way, I'm happy with the design and content of Margaritaville.com... If I want interaction, I come to BuffettNews.com!

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » August 14, 2006 11:38 am

Tiki Bar wrote:I remember from the CMT 60 Minutes special on Jimmy, that he said he holds back from overexposing himself to the fans, because he thinks the live performance experience is what it's all about... (I'm completely paraphrasing by the way - it was long ago)

I recall that too... and that said.... if Jimmy had an interactive website...BN would be nothing special......

Catch&Release · Post by **Catch&Release** » August 14, 2006 11:39 am

When Jimmy worked out the deal with Sirius they could have demanded that concerts no longer go out free on RM as that would be a huge incentive for thousands of PH's to join Sirius. Maybe they did make that demand and maybe he said No! to keep concerts free to his PH's.

Why be critical of a wonderful, completely free perk that doesn't have to be free?

Thank you Jimmy! We'll be there to tailgate with you on Sept 12h even though we couldn't travel to Pine Knob that night!

parrotpartygod · Post by **parrotpartygod** » August 14, 2006 11:42 am

So what! Jimmy's an escape artist...that's why I love his music phor all these years!!!

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » August 14, 2006 11:45 am

Catch&Release wrote:When Jimmy worked out the deal with Sirius they could have demanded that concerts no longer go out free on RM as that would be a huge incentive for thousands of PH's to join Sirius. Maybe they did make that demand and maybe he said No! to keep concerts free to his PH's.

Why be critical of a wonderful, completely free perk that doesn't have to be free?

I completely agree with that. But the topic at hand wasn't about Radio Margaritaville's programming itself, just about the actual content of the website (other than the free live stream) and the other Buffett sites.

That being said, the Sirius deal may not last since there are reports that satellite radio could be non-existent in it's current form within the next 5 years. But Jimmy was in on that in the pretty early stages. He's innovative, if nothing else.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » August 14, 2006 3:10 pm

Yeah, Jimmy's an innovator at many things...and if satelite radio changes in a few years, so what...it served Jimmy's purpose for a while.

Regarding the topic of Jimmy's website, I believe it's a conscious choice for Margaritaville.com to be more of a marketing and historical information site as opposed to a current info site.

So why has that choice been made? Some possibilities include avoiding overexposure (per Tiki's mention), chosing to spend resources (time and money) elsewhere, balancing tour info with info on other business entities (especially since he doesn't spend that much time on the road, even though touring is his most lucrative operation), desire to keep some things "behind the curtain" to protect and sustain the "allure and magic," and allowing other communities (e.g. BuffettNews) to serve as leading info sources and discussion hubs. M'ville.com can spend less time and money on thier website because of our sustained curiousity, interest, and loyalty (even through the ups and downs, BN does a pretty good job of reinforcing/protecting Jimmy's image, so M'ville.com doesn't have to have as strong a presence).

If you turn Jimmy's Saturday night parting comment just a bit, you end up with..."I don't need to promote new albums because you guys are already there with me (making me f'in richer)." Jimmy's very fortunate to have an intensely loyal fan base (and since we're still buying we must be getting what we pay for) so he channels his resources elsewhere.

Tying this back to my first comment...Jimmy's an innovator, and he's also a very independent decision maker. He has a long track record of having done things the way he's chosen (his instincts must be good as he's been able to do a lot of this), so, I wouldn't expect he'll change his website just because DMB (a tour-oriented group with few additional business interests -- compared to Buffett) or others do things differently. Sure, it might be neat to learn more about what happens behind the scenes (I think the load-in video from the Wrigley DVD is beyond fascinating), but Jimmy's managing a broad brand, so I'd be surprised to see much more of the focus/emphasis you mention on the M'ville website.

BuffettNews.com

Dave Matthews Band website - what if Jimmy changed his?

Dave Matthews Band website - what if Jimmy changed his?

Thank You, Jimmy!

Re: Thank You, Jimmy!