Thursday, October 2, 2008
another response
Junior - studying abroad in jerusalem
2. What is your major?
English
3. What kinds of music do you listen to? Name your top three favorite bands.
I like mostly anything except for country and some hip hop, I really like classic rock, jam ban type things, and alternative indie stuff
This was a really hard list to make
Bob Dylan
Phish
Cat Stevens
4. When and how were you first introduced to the band Turtle Buddy?
Turtle Buddy and I sort of stumbled into each other. We ha a lot of mutual friends, then we kinda started hanging out, and then I found they were in a band, then I found out they were really good, and then i became a fan of them on facebook
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
-soothing, but edgy, and worldly
turtle buddy is way more than just a band at this point, they've become minsterals of mcdanie. You can see them in red square, and feel totally comfortable just sitting and listening to them. When you get to know the band, you understand that they put they're all into their music, and it's a truly beautiful thing
6. What attracts you to the band?
Eric's rippling pectorals...
and...the music, obviously, i really like how they all kind of do their own thing, but it all works really well together. I like that they have diversity in their songs, and I really like that they take the band seriously, but they can also just mess aroun and jam together and be really silly. The band just has a really good dynamic, and that shows in their music and on stage, and just in their daily lives.
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD?
Have you/do you attend Turtle Buddy performances?
yes (they thanked me in the liner notes), yes, and i will once i return to mcdaniel
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
streak through westminster carrying a banner saying 'bright britght moon'
among other things... I'd be willing to help promote in whatever way, or help them roadie stuff for shows, be a groupie, whatever's necessary
9. What do you pay attention to or use? Check all that apply.
_X_ Posters
_X_ McDaniel Free Press
___ Terror TV Station
_X_ Email
___ McDaniel’s Radio Station
_X_ Facebook
___ Myspace
Some more observations
Fans tend to know the band personally
They found out about them mainly by live performance (could do some Experience advertising?)
Five out of seven of them have the CD. (CD sales were about 100 out of the 500 copies?)
Facebook is used by all 7 of them
We've got 4 psychology majors and 1 communication, which is 5 social science majors
Also, only one female ended up responding. But that's probably in part from who I knew was a fan.
The fans' opinion on getting them well known involves less in the way of posters/print media and more geared towards getting people to listen to the music first (playing the cd for other people, their outside jamming gained fans).
Summary/Themes
-Average age: 17-21
-Majority are McDaniel Students
Exposure to Turtle Buddy:
-Relationship with band member
-Around campus
-Word of mouth (Viral marketing may go a long way)
Appeal to fans:
-Originality
-Use of unique instruments/Creativity
Comments on Fan
For example, the average age of a fan is college age? or 17-21??? Something like that?
Let me know if I can do anything to help.
Condensed Responses
1. What year are you in school?
a. Junior
b. Junior
c. Junior
d. Senior
e. Senior
f. High School Senior
g. Sophomore
2. What is your major?
a. Psychology
b. English
c. Communication
d. Psychology
e. Psychology
f. N/A
g. Psychology
3. Kinds of Music. Top 3 bands:
a. Progressive Rock. The Mars Volta, Incubus, Apollo Sunshine
b. The Beatles, The Clash, Ratatat
c. Alternative Rock, Punk, Indie. Elliott Smith, Reel Big Fish, Modest Mouse
d. Country, rock. Sonata Arctica, Garth brooks, Jimmy Wayne
e. Country: Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn
f. Different stuff. Bands with original ideas. Ska, and bands with different instrumentation than just guitar, bass, drums. Streetlight Manifesto, ZOX, Rush
g. All kinds of Rock and Rap. Some Pop and Electronica. Guster, The Beatles and The Roots
4. When and how were you first introduced to Turtle Buddy
a. Live
b. Via their on campus wandering minstreling
c. I noticed them practicing around campus. One of my friends thinks they're great so he got me to listen to a few tracks from the CD.
d. I knew the members through friends, fairly soon after they formed it
e. I had a class with one of the band members
f. I know Tyler Buisch personally through the McDaniel Concert Band class. I participate as a community member.
g. They walked up to me and my friends on the porch of Rouzer, they were just walking around campus jamming. They started preforming for us. This was before they had a name. The rest is history.
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
a. Turtle Buddle is an excellently eclectic mixture of just about everything you need. One word: psychedelic
b. Bizarre and cool
c. Laid back.
d. Folk music
e. Friends, fun and enjoyment for the members
f. Chill. It's very relaxing and original. It's fun to listen to when you’re tired of the same songs over and over again on mainstream radio.
g. I think that Turtle Buddy is a well developed band with a great sound that brings a lot to the table. Their music is wonderfully put together and creates a great mood. Fresh, Smart, Beautiful, Fun, Thoughtful, Loving, Powerful
6. What attracts you to the band
a. Everything
b. Their choice of instruments
c. They're a real laid back, jam band. Their music's really mellow, too.
d. They are my friends, easy listening music
e. They are friendly and they sit outside so you can listen whenever
f. Their originality and musicality. You can tell these guys are into it, its not power chords and screaming like too much music today.
g. Their attitude, their ability to create something fresh, new and different. They do not hold themselves within a genre, they have explored the boundaries of all of them. They sound like nothing else I've ever heard and I find myself singing their songs day in and day out, playing their music with people who haven't heard it. Their spirits are incredible and they create an incredible atmosphere on and off stage.
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD? Have you/do you attend performances?
a. Directly from Keith. I’ve seen them a few times
b. I plan on buying it. I've seen them play, yes
c. No. Not an official one.
d. No but I want to.
e. No and no
f. I got a CD a few weeks ago. I haven't gotten to see them yet, though.
g. I did, and I listen to it frequently. I have attended all of their on campus performances and I intend to make attempts at going to their gigs off campus.
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
a. Myspace
b. Skywrite their name in the sky.
c. I guess tell friends about them. Telling friends that don't go to McDaniel could probably be a good start.
d. I helped them with the cover.
e. posters, more ads for the CD that's in the bookstore, maybe a sampling of their music
f. I have already told many of my friends about them, and offered to get them CD's.
g. Play the CD for everyone I know. Try to get the CD into the hands of someone big.
Posters:6
Free Press:6
Terror TV: 3
Email: 6
Radio: 2
Facebook: 7
MySpace: 4
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Responses from Fans
1. What year are you in school?
High School Senior
2. What is your major?
N/A
3. What kinds of music do you listen to? Name your top three favorite bands.
Different stuff. I enjoy bands with original ideas. Ska, and bands with different instrumentation than your usual guitar, bass, drums.
Streetlight Manifesto
ZOX
Rush
4. When and how were you first introduced to the band Turtle Buddy?
I know Tyler Buish personally through the McDaniel Concert Band class. I participate as a community member.
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
Chill. It's very relaxing and original. It's fun to listen to when your tired of the same songs over and over again on mainstream radio.
6. What attracts you to the band?
Their originality and musicality. You can tell these guys are into it, its not power chords and screaming like too much music today.
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD?
Have you/do you attend Turtle Buddy performances?
I got a CD a few weeks ago. I haven't gotten to see them yet, though.
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
I have already told many of my friends about them, and offered to get them CD's.
9. What do you pay attention to or use? Check all that apply.
___ Posters
___ McDaniel Free Press
___ Terror TV Station
_X_ Email
___ McDaniel’s Radio Station
_X_ Facebook
_X_ Myspace
MIKE MANDEL:
1. What year are you in school?
Sophomore
2. What is your major?
Psychology
3. What kinds of music do you listen to? Name your top three favorite bands.
All kinds of Rock and Rap. Some Pop and Electronica stuff as well.
3 Bands: Guster, The Beatles and The Roots
4. When and how were you first introduced to the band Turtle Buddy?
They walked up to me and my friends on the porch of Rouzer, they were just walking around campus jamming. They started preforming for us. This was before they had a name. The rest is history.
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
I think that Turtle Buddy are a well developed band with a great sound that brings a lot to the table. Their music is wonderfully put together and creates a great mood.
Words that come to mind: Fresh, Smart, Beautiful, Fun, Thoughtful, Loving, Powerful
6. What attracts you to the band?
Their attitude, their ability to create something fresh, new and different. They do not hold themselves within a genre, they have explored the boundaries of all of them. They sound like nothing else I've ever heard and I find myself singing their songs day in and day out, playing their music with people who haven't heard it. Their spirits are incredible and they create an incredible atmosphere on and off stage.
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD?
Have you/do you attend Turtle Buddy performances?
I did, and I listen to it frequently.
I have attended all of their on campus performances and I intend to make attempts at going to their gigs off campus.
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
Play the CD for everyone I know. Try to get the CD into the hands of someone big.
9. What do you pay attention to or use? Check all that apply.
_X__ Posters
___ McDaniel Free Press
___ Terror TV Station
_X__ Email
___ McDaniel’s Radio Station
_X_ Facebook
__ Myspace
1. What year are you in school? Junior Undergrad
2. What is your major? Psychology
3. What kinds of music do you listen to? Name your top three favorite bands.
Progressive Rock. Top three: The Mars Volta, Incubus, Apollo Sunshine
4. When and how were you first introduced to the band Turtle Buddy?
Live
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
Turtle Buddle is an excellently eclectic mixture of just about everything you need. One word: psychadelic
6. What attracts you to the band?
Everything
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD?
Have you/do you attend Turtle Buddy performances?
Directly from Keith. I’ve seen them a few times
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
Myspace
9. What do you pay attention to or use? Check all that apply.
___ Posters
___ McDaniel Free Press
___ Terror TV Station
___ Email
___ McDaniel’s Radio Station
___ Facebook
___ Myspace All
1. What year are you in school?
Junior
2. What is your major?
English
3. What kinds of music do you listen to? Name your top three favorite bands.
The Beatles, The Clash, Ratatat
4. When and how were you first introduced to the band Turtle Buddy?
Via their on campus wandering minstreling
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
Bizarre and cool
6. What attracts you to the band?
Their choice of instruments
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD?
I plan on buying it.
Have you/do you attend Turtle Buddy performances?
I've seen them play, yes.
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
Skywrite their name in the sky.
9. What do you pay attention to or use? Check all that apply.
X Posters
X McDaniel Free Press
X Terror TV Station
X Email
___ McDaniel’s Radio Station
X Facebook
___ Myspace
1. What year are you in school? Junior
2. What is your major? Communication
3. What kinds of music do you listen to? Name your top three favorite bands. Alternative Rock, Punk, Indie. Elliott Smith, Reel Big Fish, Modest Mouse
4. When and how were you first introduced to the band Turtle Buddy?
I noticed them practicing around campus. One of my friends thinks they're great so he got me to listen to a few tracks from the CD.
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
Laid back.
6. What attracts you to the band?
They're a real laid back, jam band. Their music's really mellow, too.
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD? no
Have you/do you attend Turtle Buddy performances? not an official one
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
I guess tell friends about them. Telling friends that don't go to McDaniel about probably be a good start.
9. What do you pay attention to or use? Check all that apply.
_x_ Posters
_x_ McDaniel Free Press
_x_ Terror TV Station
_x_ Email
___ McDaniel’s Radio Station
_x_ Facebook
___ Myspace
1. Sr
2. psych
3. Country, rock. Sonata Arctica, Garth brooks, Jimmy Wayne
4. I knew the members through friends, fairly soon after they formed it
5. Folk music
6. They are my friends, easy listening music
7. No but i want to
8. I helped them with the cover
9. (in order) yes, kinda, no, kinda, no, yes, yes
1. What year are you in school?
Senior
2. What is your major?
Psychology
3. What kinds of music do you listen to? Name your top three favorite bands.
Country
a. Tim McGraw
b. Kenny Chesney
c. Brooks & Dunn
4. When and how were you first introduced to the band Turtle Buddy?
I had a class with one of the band members
5. How would you describe Turtle Buddy? What words come to mind when you think of Turtle Buddy?
Friends, fun and enjoyment for the members
6. What attracts you to the band?
they are friendly and they sit outside so you can listen whenever
7. Did you purchase Turtle Buddy’s CD?
Have you/do you attend Turtle Buddy performances?
no and no
8. What would you do to increase the band’s recognition?
posters, more ads for the CD that's in the bookstore, maybe a sampling of their music
9. What do you pay attention to or use? Check all that apply.
_x__ Posters
_x__ McDaniel Free Press
___ Terror TV Station
___ Email
__x_ McDaniel’s Radio Station
__x_ Facebook
__x_ Myspace
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
And here's the report
Turtle Buddy Project 1
Group 1: Maria, Terri, Kirk, Brooke, Ellery, Lindsey
►The Future◄
The Band’s Goals:
· Increase the sales of the current CD and produce another CD
· Expand their performances to different places
· Reach a wider audience
· Play more live shows
· Want advertising that is “noticeable in its uniqueness”
o They do not want a logo
o All advertisements should be different and unique
· Suggestions they have for advertising:
o Unique posters such as a poster using just text, without a background (no rectangular poster board)
o T-shirts that say “Turtle Buddy Sucks” (reverse psychology)
The Target Audience:
· Although they don’t have a specific target audience, McDaniel students have been the primary targets
· Want their music to appeal to all ages
· Their current followers are the “Bohemians on campus”, people who like them because they have a sitar player, and some people who just like the catchier songs.
►The Present◄
The Band’s Ideals:
· Focus on the music
· Unite different groups through music
· The music is meant to promote self-reliance, self-expression, and creativity
· Want people to express themselves, be active about their dreams and try to do whatever they can to achieve them.
· They want to “stretch themselves in every direction” and accept all cultures and want their music to reflect that
· The music is about philosophy and self-discovery. They cover topics like life, love, being young, and what the future might hold.
Current Promotions:
· Word of mouth
· MySpace
· Facebook
·
· Band website
· Mass emails to McDaniel students
Individual Members:
· Henry Amankwah was born in
· Sunita Pathik is the only female in the band. She plays the violin and graduates in 2011.
· Eric Welkos plays both the guitar and the sitar. He began playing the sitar after taking a music appreciation course at
· Tyler Buisch is the percussionist of the band. He plays the riqq, an Egyptian tambourine and a Spanish percussion box called the cajón. He is a Music major and graduates in 2009.
· Greg Adams plays the piano and the melodica. He was a Music major and graduated from McDaniel in 2008
· Keith Adams is the younger brother of Greg and plays the guitar. He is a Music major and will graduate in 2010.
►The Past◄
The Band and its History:
· The band name
o Band member Greg Adams saw a YouTube video featuring a turtle and wrote a jazz composition about it.
o They didn’t have a name until the college radio station asked them for one, they were known as the Troubadors/Wandering Minstrels
o When Keith asked his older brother Greg what their name was, the first thing he said was Turtle Buddy
o According to Amankwah, the name grows on you and takes the pretentiousness out of the music
· How they formed:
o They formed in the fall of 2007.
o They had been friends for a while.
o Began by having daily “jam sessions” around campus
o They all live together or in close proximity
· Words they use to describe themselves:
o Reaching the unknown
o Questing for lost lore
o Quirky
o Weird, peculiar
o Humility
o Spontaneous
o Unique
· Released a 9-track album July 29th, 2008 titled Bright Bright Moon
o Have sold 100 out of 500 copies
o Available for sale in the McDaniel College Bookstore
o Available for sale online (links on MySpace and Facebook)
o Can be purchased directly from a band member
o It was recorded entirely in dorm rooms.
· They have performed across the McDaniel campus, at parties, the Pour House, the Mud Puddle in
My Info
Here is what I wrote up, thanks for doing this Maria!!
When did the band form?
- Last Fall
- Been friends a while
- Got the name because it was the first thing his older brother said when they asked him
- They just wanted to record their ideas, started in October, recorded in December, finished in May.
- Recorded it all in dorm rooms
How is the CD selling?
- Sold probably 100 out of the 500 copies
- Selling it at the school store
- Using MySpace, mass email, and word of mouth to spread the word about the band
How would you describe the band?
- Just a bunch of friends who like to play music
- Care most about their music and promoting the music rather than promoting the band
- Want to promote self-reliance, self-expression, and creativity
- Want people to express themselves, be active about their dreams and try to do whatever they can to achieve them
- “Stretch yourselves in all directions”
- Album is “green”
-Want people to learn about other cultures and all get along
What do you want to focus on in terms of promotion?
- Would ultimately like to play more shows, because that’s where people really get to hear their music and enjoy it, but don’t have any gigs lined up right now
- Focus on promoting CD at school store and MySpace
- Do not want a logo for the band
- In terms of advertisements, they want “something noticeable in its uniqueness”
- Want all their advertisements to be very different and unique
- Want a sign for the bookstore
- His idea he was thinking of: Posters and signs usually are text on a rectangular background, wants to take the background away, so there is just text
- He also wanted Turtle Buddy t-shirts
- His idea: design t-shirts that say “Turtle Buddy Sucks”, reverse psychology
Who is your target audience?
- Don’t really think about the audience
- At McDaniel- targeting students
- Right now their followers are “the Bohemians on campus”, some people that just like them because they have a citar player, and some just like their more catchy songs
Are there any other adjectives to accurately describe the band?
- “Reaching the unkown”
- “Questing for lost lore”
- Quirky, but would be 3rd place in terms of adjectives
- Weird, peculiar
Key Ideas Terri's Paper/TB assignment 1
Reading the posted articles on the site reveals the bands desire to be unique and promote self expression.
During the interview, Keith provided some background information on the group. The group originated unintentionally. The group evolved out of some friends who liked jamming together. The members live together or in close proximity to one another and just enjoy playing together every day. The bands ideals are all about the music. Keith shared that the band wants the music to represent self reliance, creativity, and encourage self expression. The band would like to see their music be influential by promoting students to chase after their dreams and to become active. The music is personal to the band and would like to see their audience allow the music to become personal to them as well. When asked about the use of eastern instruments, Keith shared that the members enjoyed stretching themselves, accepting all cultures and Turtle Buddy hopes that is reflected in the music.
When asked about the current promotions and activities the band is currently involved in, Keith shared information regarding their first CD which was completed in July, 2008. He discussed the process in which the band created the CD and discussed current promotions. Currently, the bands resources for promotions are My Space, word of mouth, the school store at McDaniel College, Turtle Buddy web page and mass emails distributed to McDaniel students. The CD can be purchased through the school store or directly through a band member. Of the five hundred CD’s produced, one hundred have been sold.
In addition to the debut of a new CD, Turtle Buddy performs unofficially around the campus of McDaniel College. Often the band will play in the square and has performed at parties across the campus. The band has had several scheduled performances as well. Turtle Buddy has performed on the campus of several schools, the Pourhouse, and the Mud Puddle in Frederick, Maryland.
When asked what the band would like our group to provide and what the bands future goals are, Keith shared the group would like to expand. While he made it clear the band is definitely about the music, they would like to increase sales of the current CD and produce another CD. In addition, they would like to expand their performances. Keith stated he would like to move out of the home audience. While McDaniel has been the primary target audience, the band would like to see the music appeal to people of all ages.
Keith was very specific about the bands ideas for promotion. The band desires the advertising to be different. They don’t want the advertising to conform in a democratic sense, as it would not be a fair representation of the band. Turtle buddy would like something noticeable in its own uniqueness. The band is not interested in logos, but would like to have a poster or sign constructed which would be unusual and eye catching. Reverse psychology would be appealing to the band to help with promotions. Keith expressed an interest in T-shirts as a form of promoting the group and shared an interest in a sign for the bookstore.
Our group asked to provide some adjectives which would describe Turtle Buddy. Keith discussed humility, as he perceives the turtle to be a humble creature. Spontaneous was another adjective which helped to describe the group and its music. In addition, he thought of the players as Bohemians-men of mystery. He shared statements of reaching the unknown and throughout the interview Keith repeated phrases which would be beneficial in understanding them. Several times he talked about improvisation, creativity, self expression, and unusual. All these terms and adjectives are helpful in determining the message Turtle Buddy wants to express and will help our group with the information design process.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Background Info on Turtle Buddy
And here's my individual report stuff. It was being obnoxious about the copy and paste thing so I just took out the bullets and stuff, that's why it's not so pretty anymore.
Turtle Buddy’s Facebook page, accessed August 30th, 2008 provided the following information:
Six people make up the band Turtle Buddy. They include Henry Amankwah, Sunita Pathik, Eric Welkos, Tyler Buisch, and brothers Greg and Keith Adams.
Henry Amankwah was born in
Sunita Pathik plays the violin.
Erik Welkos plays both the guitar and the sitar. He began playing the sitar after taking a music appreciation course at
Tyler Buisch is the percussionist. He plays the riqq, an Egyption tambourine and a Spanish percussion box called the cajón.
Greg Adams plays the melodica and the piano.
Keith Adams plays the guitar.
The CD Bright Bright Moon was released on July 29th, 2008. It is made up of 9 tracks.
The Facebook page includes several articles about the band including one from the Carroll County Times, the McDaniel Free Press, the
According to the article from the
Keith Adams is quoted as saying “Philosophy and self-discovery drive the music. We talk about life, love, being young, and what the future may hold.”
The band’s goal is to unite different groups through music.
The Carroll County Times article “
According to Henry Amankwah “It kind of takes the pretentious element out of the music.”
· Three of the band members are music majors: Greg and Keith Adams and Tyler Buisch. Erik Welkos changed from a self-designed South Asian Studies major to Art History. Henry Amankwah is studying biology. Sunita Pathik’s major is not listed in the article.
The band member classes, found on individual Facebook profiles:
Henry Amankwah is part of the McDaniel class of 2010
Sunita Pathik is part of the McDaniel class of 2011
Erik Welkos is part of the McDaniel class of 2010
Tyler Buisch is part of the McDaniel class of 2009
Greg Adams graduated from McDaniel in 2008
Keith Adams is part of the McDaniel class of 2010
Publicity includes a MySpace page, a Facebook page (both of which allow users to listen to songs), and a link to buy their CD. They feature four promotional videos on their websites and also through YouTube. They also have two Facebook photo albums.
Currently they have 117 fans on Facebook
They have 1415 MySpace friends and as of September 8th have had 2,282 plays of their music and 6,407 visits to their site.