Open Hole Soul

Open Hole Soul 2010

Chicago Groovecore band Open Hole Soul has announced that the main songwriting core of the band, Thomas Jaymes and Doug Spantikow, will be reuniting in 2010.The band was well known for their high energy live show, as well as their sing song lyrics, usually devil or girl related. The band plans to release a live album, that was recorded back in 2003, in July. They are also planning to release a digitally remastered version of their debut CD "American T & A" later this fall. Both of which are to precede the band's second full length studio album entitled "Chicago Style Hardcore", which will be recorded and released early next year on the band's own Psykosatan Records label. Aside from some random singles, it will be the band's first studio release in ten years.

With the band reuniting and making new music, a new marketing scheme will be needed. Back in 2000, when "American T & A" was released, things like MySpace and Facebook were nonexistent. There was no Twitter, nor were there music sharing sites like Napster or Tunecore. The band still sold a modest 1000 copies of the disc, mainly in the Chicago area. They used a grassroots marketing campaign, using hand drawn flyers and playing countless basement parties to get the buzz out. Friends would help distribute flyers and the band would hand out CDs and flyers as well. They picked up steam with the disc's first single, "Player's". The song spent two months at number one on Rebel Radio's local music chart's, and was played on several Chicago area radio stations. The second single, "El Diablo" also hit the top spot on Rebel Radio and became one of the songs that really helped launch the band. At one point the song was so popular with the band's fans, they would both open the show with it, and also close the show with it. The band released two more singles off "American T & A", "Can't Understand Normal Thinking" and "Losing You". Both of which did relatively well, and the band was named local band of the year for 2003 by two major Chicago radio stations.

The band intends to use the things that gained them popularity before to reestablish themselves now. Heavy merchandising, hand written flyers and grassroots marketing, along with a new social media blitz are what the band is counting on to regain success some five years after promoting issues tore the band apart. Lack of effort by some of the band's members back in late 2003 is what caused their initial downfall. Jaymes and Spantikow continued on under another name (Voyeur 13), but couldn't capture the name recognition they had achieved with Open Hole Soul, so the project was put to rest. In 2009 rumors began to swirl that a reunion was possible and it was well received. The band opened a MySpace account and the buzz was huge. The official reunion was announced in early 2010 and the reception has been very warm. MySpace adds continue to be a daily part of the band's routine. (www.myspace.com/openholesoul) The band is also on http://www.tunecore.com/, and will be on Facebook and Twitter by July. They have compiled an email list from all the fans who were on their original email list, and continually update those fans on their progress. They have come up with a whole new line of merchandise, which include t shirts, baby dolls, panties, girls camo pants, jerseys, stocking caps and much more. They will be doing a line of pink clothing for girls, and are planning a small line of child and infant clothing. They will be doing flyer drops as well, making sure all members of the band participate, and free stickers and CDs.

Anything and everything to get the band's name out and in your face. Through merchandise, print propaganda and social media, the word will spread. The high energy stage show and amazing band/fan relationship will re solidify their hold on the Groovecore genre they created. As the band has stated on their MySpace page, they're Bringin Satan Back!

Skin follow up

In April I posted a blog about Skin Industries, a Southern California based clothing company. I wrote about some of the marketing strategies the company uses, and what makes them stand out from other clothing companies. As part two of this blog, I will update what they have recently done marketing wise, and what I think they could do to make their marketing a little better.

Since my last post Skin has continued to post daily on MySpace and Facebook. They do well updating fans/friends of what they are doing. They have released their spring catalog, which was posted as a bulletin on MySpace. They are also updating frequently on new rider Mike Alessi. This is a good thing, as fans of Alessi can keep themselves updated by checking Skin's site. It's a good way to bring people in, and in turn see their merchandise. They are also adding pictures on MySpace and Facebook of more athletes and celebrities wearing Skin. Clearly anyone famous wearing your product is a boost to your brand name recognition. Social Media is a big part of Skin's marketing. They like to run different contests and giveaways through their socail media sites to make sure their fans keep visiting the sites. This is a great use of marketing. Currently they are running a contest where you can win $100 in Skin merchandise just for telling them what you're favorite Skin t shirt is. This is a way to advertise, and conduct market research at the same time.

With all this said, I feel Skin needs to work on keeping thier sites fresh and updated. They do great in sending out bulletins and posts on what's going on, but the sites don't change much. With Facebook this is a given. The site has a boring element to it anyway. It is used mostly to share information and not so much to be eye catching and draw new customers in. To that respect their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/skinindustries) does what it is supposed to do. It gives a lot of information, and provides links to their other sites. MySpace, however, is a different story. While they do a good job of sending out bulletins and posting info, the profile page has not changed for several months. It does not give the viewer anything new to look at, and thus no reason to go back there. I think adding minor things to the main page every couple weeks or so, gives the site (http://www.myspace.com/skinindustriesusa) a new energy, and a new purpose for people to view it. I understand that people feel that MySpace isn't prevelant anymore, but it is still a large social gathering place, and should not be ignored by companies looking to reach new people and keep people they alredy have.

It is my hope that Skin will continue to make quality gear and it will continue to become more acessible. Eminent Lifestyle Stores are carrying more and more Skin gear and accessories, and other stores are beginning to follow suit. This is the time for this great company to shine, and I think it is close if it just adjusts a few things with its marketing scheme.