Do you know if some labels/ distros still operate strictly through snail mail in 2019?
I mean without website, without facebook, or even without email adress...
Everything done through old snail mail (Regular letters)
Might it be metal, noise, experimental, etc
There was still some a few years ago... But in 2019?
Only for special limited releases. Why you asking?
Quote from: deutscheasphalt on September 29, 2019, 11:44:36 PM
Only for special limited releases. Why you asking?
Not sure if we understood each others?
Quote from: gabalgabow on September 30, 2019, 01:08:19 AM
Quote from: deutscheasphalt on September 29, 2019, 11:44:36 PM
Only for special limited releases. Why you asking?
Not sure if we understood each others?
I do snail mail sometimes, but only for special limited releases.
Why are you asking?
I don't know how to phrase this more clearly...
I doubt there would be any who rely exclusively old fashioned post system for communication.
I think there are labels who do not have website at all, and many who do not have social media. But without email? I doubt. Yet, this also is tricky, as how exactly existence of such label is known by people who now basically operate solely online? I know people who have released stuff, and do not promote it online, yet as persons, they are reachable via electronic means, and can't be reached with snail mail, as nobody knows their address.
Getting flyer and seeing address where one must send 10$ to get something? Highly unlikely it would work out this day and age... Distro with just the paper catalogue sent in letters, expecting people order with cash in envelope method, I just don't see it happening anymore beyond someone trying to make statement of some sort.
I have seen tapes/cds/zines for sale at shows that is only available at shows - you cannot order it online. A good way to get people to attend gigs.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on September 30, 2019, 08:50:34 AM
Getting flyer and seeing address where one must send 10$ to get something? Highly unlikely it would work out this day and age... Distro with just the paper catalogue sent in letters, expecting people order with cash in envelope method, I just don't see it happening anymore beyond someone trying to make statement of some sort.
The Skuggeheim dude did it a few years ago. It worked for a while, now he owes dozens of people plenty of money (myself included.) I'd still order with cash through the mail and snail mail if I like the music but most people who run labels in underground scenes expect more than just getting releases out nowadays. It turns into a status thing, same as with not wanting to operate online - - - > BORING.
eddie giles / final solution is snail mail only, i think...
Quote from: Euro Trash Bazooka on September 30, 2019, 01:49:20 PM
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on September 30, 2019, 08:50:34 AM
Getting flyer and seeing address where one must send 10$ to get something? Highly unlikely it would work out this day and age... Distro with just the paper catalogue sent in letters, expecting people order with cash in envelope method, I just don't see it happening anymore beyond someone trying to make statement of some sort.
The Skuggeheim dude did it a few years ago. It worked for a while, now he owes dozens of people plenty of money (myself included.) I'd still order with cash through the mail and snail mail if I like the music but most people who run labels in underground scenes expect more than just getting releases out nowadays. It turns into a status thing, same as with not wanting to operate online - - - > BORING.
I thought of him too. However, that flyer was spread online, which is kind of ironic...
Quote from: Soloman Tump on September 30, 2019, 01:09:15 PM
I have seen tapes/cds/zines for sale at shows that is only available at shows - you cannot order it online.
A good way to get people to attend gigs.
Yes :)
What I have in mind is older peoples who do this kind of labels since more than a few years... They already have their contacts, so it remains possible.
For exemple REALITY IMPAIRED used to be very active through snail mail mostly. He has an email adress, but it's clearly not his main contact...
Now due to Us postage increase he slowed down.
But I think starting a label this way in 2019 wouldn't work at all...
Quote from: Euro Trash Bazooka on September 30, 2019, 01:49:20 PM...but most people who run labels in underground scenes expect more than just getting releases out nowadays. It turns into a status thing, same as with not wanting to operate online - - - > BORING.
I think it might often be mistaken for just a different process, when it is really rooted in a different time and different mindset. And if it is a matter of nostalgia for people who didn't actually live in that time, then it seems to be a twisted, misunderstood nostalgia. And probably a lot of entitlement, which is possibly semantic to what you're saying about status. A different time and world.
necessity, as in the tools of the process, aren't really applicable one to the other.
Quote from: gabalgabow on September 30, 2019, 07:10:07 PM
But I think starting a label this way in 2019 wouldn't work at all...
You would have to be able to offer items that aren't available anywhere else, that everybody wants, on a consistent basis to make enough profit to sustain the distro.
It's possible but I'd be curious what kinds of items could create the needed demand.
Customers who are used to paypal or whatever will probably not switch to receiving news"letter" -> sending order letter -> receiving invoice -> sending cash letter -> receiving tape in the mail...
Cost of postage is also too high to do this for throughout the board distributed items unless it's sold out everywhere else and highly searched after.
It's a cute idea but times just have changed, gotta wait for WW3.
"news"letter" -> sending order letter -> receiving invoice -> sending cash letter -> receiving tape in the mail... "
This is a bit more complicated than the reality I knew.
In the past when labels used to do printed catalogs, it was more:
The customer looks at the list, calculates the total, writes down a few replacement choices, and sends payment: Cash/ cheque etc
I know some labels worked this way.
Some also had a phone number.
Quote from: gabalgabow on September 30, 2019, 07:46:13 PM
The customer looks at the list, calculates the total, writes down a few replacement choices, and sends payment: Cash/ cheque etc
It works but sucks when items sold out quickly while you're still receiving cash.
You can potentially save 1 step if you send out the order & invoice in one go (to trustworthy customers)
Quote from: collapsedhole on September 30, 2019, 02:45:16 PM
eddie giles / final solution is snail mail only, i think...
Yep. Eddie only does snail mail. He doesn't really run a label though. It's mainly for trading purposes.
Does Hatband even have an email? I feel like he does things pretty under the radar.
I never managed to get the Hatband contact. I asked a few times around, even to people with releases on the label. Ugh...
And I remember ordering from massive paper catalog by calling the distros on the phone directly in the early 00's. Sometimes it got awkward but I always loved it.
And I toyed with the idea of releasing stuff only available through fax orders before, but unless I have incredibly awesome things to sell or start following current trends, it wouldn't work. One day maybe...
well i have made some tapes with BeTon records.
no website there's a facebook page run by fan/friend but not for the owner.
only email
Quote from: Euro Trash Bazooka on October 01, 2019, 11:16:39 AM
I never managed to get the Hatband contact. I asked a few times around, even to people with releases on the label. Ugh...
And I remember ordering from massive paper catalog by calling the distros on the phone directly in the early 00's. Sometimes it got awkward but I always loved it.
And I toyed with the idea of releasing stuff only available through fax orders before, but unless I have incredibly awesome things to sell or start following current trends, it wouldn't work. One day maybe...
I have a fax machine in the cupboard of my work office. Every now and then I switch it on and we sometimes get the odd cached advert message come through trying to sell us stuff. A really underused medium IMO - I read once about a fax only art trading club.
I would love to have a fax out edition of my zine!
Quote from: Soloman Tump on October 01, 2019, 12:41:23 PM
Quote from: Euro Trash Bazooka on October 01, 2019, 11:16:39 AM
I never managed to get the Hatband contact. I asked a few times around, even to people with releases on the label. Ugh...
And I remember ordering from massive paper catalog by calling the distros on the phone directly in the early 00's. Sometimes it got awkward but I always loved it.
And I toyed with the idea of releasing stuff only available through fax orders before, but unless I have incredibly awesome things to sell or start following current trends, it wouldn't work. One day maybe...
I have a fax machine in the cupboard of my work office. Every now and then I switch it on and we sometimes get the odd cached advert message come through trying to sell us stuff. A really underused medium IMO - I read once about a fax only art trading club.
I would love to have a fax out edition of my zine!
Faxing zines sounds like a really cool idea (and a potentially interesting take on the idea of mail art as well). Makes me wish that I owned one...
I wonder if anyone operates solely through phones? I always thought it would be fun to experiment with advertising noise/pe teaser songs over the phone as opposed to online.
No Rent used to have a hotline where you could hear new titles.
I do remember an offline experimental label with a pretty deep catalog that just went online, but can't recall details. There was a thread on the stench years ago about some weird catalog only movie distro though I was getting cp vibes from it lol.
Quote from: Eigen Bast on October 01, 2019, 05:23:53 PM
No Rent used to have a hotline where you could hear new titles.
I do remember an offline experimental label with a pretty deep catalog that just went online, but can't recall details. There was a thread on the stench years ago about some weird catalog only movie distro though I was getting cp vibes from it lol.
Is their phone line still active? I would be interested in trying the number.
Dial (641) 715-3900, extension 590622#
give it a shot !
Quote from: Eigen Bast on October 01, 2019, 06:31:59 PM
Dial (641) 715-3900, extension 590622#
give it a shot !
Unfortunately, it did't work. All I got was a recorded message saying that the number does not work. Interestingly, despite the label still appearing active, the number is still advertised on their website. https://www.norentrecords.com/hotline Have you been able to get it to work recently?
Quote from: Eigen Bast on October 01, 2019, 05:23:53 PM
I do remember an offline experimental label with a pretty deep catalog that just went online, but can't recall details..
Possibly
No Part of It (https://www.discogs.com/label/120486-NO-PART-OF-IT)?
There's Matching Head that is run by Lee Stokoe of Culver, they do loads of different stuff.
https://www.discogs.com/label/76462-Matching-Head
Quote from: MyrtleLake on October 01, 2019, 09:20:26 PM
Quote from: Eigen Bast on October 01, 2019, 05:23:53 PM
I do remember an offline experimental label with a pretty deep catalog that just went online, but can't recall details..
Possibly No Part of It (https://www.discogs.com/label/120486-NO-PART-OF-IT)?
no part of it operated for 2 years and some change without any internet engagement. There was an address book made, and newsletters were sent. At that time, Illusion of Safety, WILT, and an LP by Blood Rhythms were released, among other things that still aren't represented on the internet at all. It was not about money or nostalgia. It was nice to have a break from the internet. I was interviewed by a weekly paper in Chicago, and the opportunity was almost lost because I wasn't replying to their emails (or checking them). They finally got ahold of someone with my phone number and called me. It would have been really nice if it were sustainable, but ultimately I was releasing work by my favorite artists, and I wanted to be 100% about it.
My friend runs a label that is distributed solely by him dropping CDR copies into charity shops along local bus routes, and leaving them in pubs or inside books in local libraries.
https://rateyourmusic.com/label/touching_sock_records/
You can email him to ask for some releases but whether he'll reply or not, who knows.