(09-21-2009, 05:02 PM)VAMPkito Wrote:

(09-21-2009, 03:22 AM)VAMPS + American Street Team + Wrote: This topic is interesting...and very important. In the course of promoting VAMPS, Ai decided that it would be best to go with the "HYDE" angle because it would supposedly catch more people's attention that way. Granted, we were on a time crunch and were trying to promote VAMPS as much as we could, in addition to try to introduce them to as many people as we could. It's hard to say how successful our efforts were...but at any rate, one of the reasons for doing so, as I was told, was because "Hyde was much better known among American audiences." Of course, this is debatable and subjective, but this is what the promotional staff felt.

Well, she is sort of right, I think. I've actually talked to people who know nothing about Japanese rock, but when I say, "My favorite musician is this guy named HYDE" after a minute or two of describing they'll say, "OMG I know who you're talking about!" ... And then I have my spirits raised in anticipation that I may just have a RL friend that loves HYDE just as much as me... and then they'll be ruined when they say, "Nah, I'm just not into that kind of music." :( ... And occasionally, "HYDE DOES NOT AGREE WITH MY RELIGION, THEREFORE HE IS A SATANIST HEATHEN THAT WILL BURN IN HELL." ... Yeah. Don't shoot the messenger please.

Quote:Since I started the street team, though, I tried to promote VAMPS as "VAMPS," not as "HYDE" or "HYDE'S solo band." There were times when I did have to resort to saying "Ok, this is HYDE's new solo project" because many were like, "Huh? VAMPS who?" Since the tour has ended, I've been working harder at trying to promote VAMPS as a whole, VAMPS as "HYDE AND K.A.Z' new project."

I typically try to call it "HYDE's new SIDE project," but sometimes I accidentally say "HYDE's new solo project" as well, which in some ways isn't so much bad since sometimes people refer to a "solo project" as any project aside from the main band, L'Arc~en~Ciel in this case. Going back to the Moi dix Mois example, even though it is a band, it's often referred to as Mana's solo project. However, it is important that people know that the band would not be possible if not for the musicians that make up the band; the same goes with VAMPS. Again, I usually -try- to remember to call it HYDE's SIDE project as opposed to solo project.

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Wow...that's pretty intense. ;) I believe "HYDE's side project" is also appropriate. Yeah...regardless of what we call it, though, I feel that we still have a long way to go in terms of promoting VAMPS. I appreciate all your hardwork thus far. I, too, get the occasional "o.O" when I mention the phrase "Japanese" or "They're from Japan," it's entertaining, mind you. However, it still serves as a reminder to me that we've definitely got some major obstacles and hopefully, someday, we'll overcome them. Good luck to you and kudos for starting such a thread.

Much VAMPS-love,
H.P.