Preparing for SXSW is like cramming for a test. Pages and pages of notes on showcases, parties, lectures, tradeshows and on and on. It took me 45 minutes to go through my swag bag--mostly full of fliers for shows, lame ads and the occasional CD affixed with your own voodoo doll.
I admit, the voodoo doll got my attention. It just got me thinking about what lengths bands/producers/promoters will go to to grab the attention of potential listens/consumers. I looked at the CD, I didn't listen to it. Really, I couldn't see past the "Made in China" driven into the doll's heart by the black (evil) pin. Great attention grabber, but lacking a hook into the music.




About half the contents of this pile went straight to the trash. Wee.

that kind of reminds me of when i went to this Road Rally in L.A.! a bag full of industry zines! some samples of some throat drops for your vocal chords, and subscription postcards! Then there was the music from every genre!

Heh. I'd have to say that I had a little problem with my promo-haul - it wasn't the fact that it was filled with advertisements. It wasn't that it violated my typically green/recycling oriented dogma... it was the voodoo doll. I'd hardly taken it out of the bag when much to my dismay, the head FELL OFF.

It might have been because I grabbed the doll in two places - the torso and head respectively - and made a vigorous twisting motion. If anyone started to show symptoms of 'head falling off', then I'm sorry. I might have been laughing as it happened, but I'm sorry. I should have started with something more amusing. Like a pinky*.

It just occurred to me that G.Grl mentioned to me that her head has been hurting all day... while one might assume that it was from alcohol, maybe it was from VOODOO!

Muahahahahahaaaa.

*Meh. No fingers on the doll. Nevermind.