American post-hardcore outfit the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are returning to Australia this November to promote the release of their Et Tu, Brute? EP with an innovative new touring model that may be a world first and provide a new level of fan interaction and crowdfunding, as StartUpSmart reports.
Australian tour promoters Kingdom Sounds and ticketing platform GiggedIn have teamed up with the US four-piece for a “Choose Our Adventure” tour that gives fans of the band the power to determine their touring schedule come November in six online city-versus-city battles.
Here’s how it works, using the giggedin.com website, fans ‘pledge’ to buy a ticket to a show in six potential tour dates that are pitted against each other online, such as Gold Coast vs Gympie vs Brisbane and Toowoomba or Adelaide vs Perth vs Hobart; meaning for instance, that if Geelong or Bendigo fans want to see the band playing a regional centre over the typical Melbourne show, they’re going to need to show their support in ticket pledges.
Fans are only charged for their pledge if their chosen destination proves victorious come the Thursday 8th August deadline, and over 3,000 people have already joined the “Choose Our Adventure” campaign since the band announced the details. Fans ‘pledge’ to buy a ticket to a show in six potential tour dates that are pitted against each other online – such as Adelaide vs Perth vs Hobart
“We jumped on this innovative concept because it gives fans the opportunity to show how much they love and how much they really want Red Jumpsuit to come to their hometown,” Kingdom Sounds’ Laurie Mahon tells The Music Network. “I’m hoping some of the underdog cities like Gympie win, but in the end it’s up to the fans to decide.”
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus tour is the first international booking for GiggedIn, and Edwin Onggo – the founder and director the nine-month old online startup, says that the concept was conceived after seeing that the Australian live music scene was in dire need of a shake-up.
“We needed a new way to make commercial sense out of non-commercial music,” Onggo tells StartUpSmart. “The music industry in general has been quite resistant to change, but now with the emergence of technology and social media there is a really big untapped opportunity.”
The GiggedIn entrepreneur adds that by “marrying ticketing and crowdfunding, it creates more opportunities for artists.” The model also has obvious benefits for promoters too, offering not only the ever-valuable viral marketing campaign through social media, but also security in the knowing that the fans who out-vote other cities and put their money where their mouths are will more than likely turn up to the shows.
“We’re about optimising the value between fans and artists in a way that’s never been done before,” adds Onggo, who points out that 100 pledges were made to the “Choose Our Adventure” Tour in the first 12 hours, setting a precedent for grander plans and bookings. “We’ve got some really big names in the pipeline for performers and we’ve got big plans.”
Voting for the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus “Choose Our Adventure” Tour are open now at http://redjumpsuit.giggedin.com
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus 2013 Australian Tour
The “Choose Our Adventure” Tour choices are:
Thursday 7th November
Brisbane (18+) or Gold Coast (18+) or Toowoomba (18+) or Gympie (18+)
Friday 8th November
Coffs Harbour (18+) or Armidale (18+) or Byron Bay (18+) or Port Macquarie (18+)
Saturday 9th November
Newcastle (Lic. AA) or Central Coast (18+) or Mona Vale (18+)
Thursday 14th November
Sydney (Lic. AA) or Wollongong (18+) or Canberra (18+)
Friday 15th November
Melbourne (18+) or Geelong (18+) or Bendigo (18+)
Saturday 16th November
Adelaide (18+) or Perth (18+) or Hobart (18+
