In the words of Cheap Trick, "'Ello kiddies," Say, I wonder how the gigs are selling? The move to larger venues certainly seems to indicate some pretty tidy sellouts just as the initial booking of smaller theatres seems to indicate a bit of trepidation. I remember during the UK tour a lot of enthusiastic jumping up and down style posts, screaming "I GOT A TICKET!! I GOT A TICKET!" Decidedly less of those this time round. Cultural differences I suppose. Either that or the fact that us Western Americans don't know exactly what we're in for and would otherwise be much more excited. Though we are known for being "laidback" (man), so who knows. My point is (yes, as unlikely as it appears, I do have one) that it seems that everyone on this list willing and able to get to a gig has already secured him/herself a ticket. Ouí? Nôn? Well, if by chance you have been left out in the cold, and there are indeed no more tickets available through conventional means, there is still hope. If you're a decent songwriter that is. Read on and get scribblin': ********** Write a song (you can write songs, can't you?), win a pair of tickets to see Belle and Sebastian next week. Easy. Weve got a pair for each of the following shows: 9/6 Los Angeles, 9/8 San Francisco, 9/11 Portland, 9/13 Vancouver, 9/14 Seattle, 9/15 Olympia and wed like to see you there. Here are the rules: 1. Your song must include a line from a Belle and Sebastian song. The line may or may not be the basis for your song. 2. Your song must include a line or lines about the city or cities in which you hope to see the band. (Only one pair of tickets per winner, but if you want to enter for Seattle and Vancouver because youre willing to drive to whichever you win, you can.) 3. Your song doesnt necessarily have to be in the style of Belle & Sebastian. Write it, record it and send it in. Well accept mp3s, CD-Rs and cassettes. If youre entering an mp3 and have web space where you can post it, please do and send in the link instead. If you dont have access to fancy recording machinery, well also accept a submission of just lyrics, although youll have to be extra clever to make up for the lack of music... The best song in each market will win the tickets. If youre entering via email, please send your submission to matthew@matadorrecords.com with Belle Ticket Contest as the subject heading. Via regular mail (please make sure to include your email address): Belle & Sebastian Contest c/o Matt Ransford Matador Records 625 Broadway 12th FL New York, NY 10012 Youve got one weekthe LA show is next Thursday, and weve got to pick the winners by next Wednesday. Good luck! ***************** So, there ya go if you're interested. Is it just me, or does the idea of running a contest like the Gong Show seem a little unfair? Whatever happened to random drawing or obscure trivia so only a *real* fan can win? Or make people earn it through something that requires more guts than talent. For instance, here's my contest*: To win a pair of tickets to see Belle and Sebastian you and a friend must go to a very public place (such as a mall) naked save for terry underwear for girls and arab straps for boys (same sex pairs eligible, just pretend), with one name each painted the length of your body (Belle or Sebastian). Begin photographing each other with random strangers. The team in each market to get the most photographs before being arrested will win the tickets. Mail your undeveloped film directly from jail, to be eligible it must arrive with a county corrections postmark, and $15 check or money order for each roll. Entries containing pictures with police officers will receive special consideration. Money collected from unsuccessful entrants will not be refunded but may go towards bail for the winners. Photographs will also not be returned and are the sole property of the contest sponsors in perpetuity, all rights reserved. Now that's a contest! -Rinaldo *fictional, do not do this _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+