Taking Back Sunday Initiate Volunteer Campaign

[Brandon Allin]

Taking Back Sunday (http://www.absolutepunk.net/takingbacksunday) have teamed up with Boost Mobile Rock Corps to initiate a volunteer campaign, in which a fan's completion of four or more hours of community service will earn said volunteer a free ticket to attend a private performance by the group. For more information regarding this project, please visit the band's official website (http://www.takingbacksunday.com/loudernowsite/).

Submitted by roflcopter

[red_eye_inc]

fuck that shit, I'll donate my time on my own terms. It's kind of patronizing to hold a show over people's heads for a measly four hours of volunteer time.

[zombiebrains]

I think it's a good idea. I mean, to be honest, sometimes you do have to bribe people to do good things.

[red_eye_inc]

I think it's a good idea. I mean, to be honest, sometimes you do have to bribe people to do good things.

I guess that's true. I just have to wonder how many will stick with it after their four hours are over. I bet some won't even finish the day. The band gets and "A" for effort, at least.

[rerelease_]

cool idea.

[*crying stars*]

It's an interesting idea, but it's kind of sad that people only have to donate four hours of time to do community service.

[zombiebrains]

I guess that's true. I just have to wonder how many will stick with it after their four hours are over. I bet some won't even finish the day. The band gets and "A" for effort, at least.

I mean it's a good thought, so you have to give them credit for that. And I'm sure that you're right. But for all we know there will be those handful of people who are inspired to stick with some sort of cause or service, and those are the ones that count.

[LoadedGunX21]

I mean it's a good thought, so you have to give them credit for that. And I'm sure that you're right. But for all we know there will be those handful of people who are inspired to stick with some sort of cause or service, and those are the ones that count.

exactly- if even one person is inspired to commit more time to community service, i'd say this was a success. its always nice to see a band use their popularity and influence to try and make our world a better place

[ShoeSh1ne]

Look at it this way, it's probably four more hours than they would do in the first place, so it's a success already.

[MotionIsntMeaning]

Good for them. That's admirable.

[red_eye_inc]

exactly- if even one person is inspired to commit more time to community service, i'd say this was a success. its always nice to see a band use their popularity and influence to try and make our world a better place

I would say that if the millions Boost Mobile is spending on promotion, branding and transportation only inspires one person, the project will be a massive failure.

[zombiebrains]

I would say that if the millions Boost Mobile is spending on promotion, branding and transportation only inspires one person, the project will be a massive failure.

I disagree. Financially and business wise sure I guess. But touching even one person is worth more than any currency.

[chcougar1]

I played Forza 2 for 4 fours last night...that probably doesnt count does it? haha wow I'm lazy and worthless lol

[Kracky]

i went last year.

[kidsrdumb]

whatever man. I was reading on their myspace a single divorced mom with three kids was signing the family up to spend the day together and then go to the show for her 14 year old's bday. She was thankful because she would not have been able to afford to take him to the show. I guess you could look at every situation negatively if you want but no one is holding a show over anyone's head, they are welcome to buy tickets to any show they want if they are too lazy and selfish to volunteer.


fuck that shit, I'll donate my time on my own terms. It's kind of patronizing to hold a show over people's heads for a measly four hours of volunteer time.

[red_eye_inc]

I disagree. Financially and business wise sure I guess. But touching even one person is worth more than any currency.

But that currency could touch many people if it weren't being dumped into what is, by and large, an advertising and public relations capaign. I'd expect nothing less from a publicly owned corporation as they have a responsibility to shareholders, but don't be so naive as to think that one untrained person's efforts are worth more than cold, card cash.

[Nolessthanblink]

Wish I lived a little closer to any of those cities...

[red_eye_inc]

whatever man. I was reading on their myspace a single divorced mom with three kids was signing the family up to spend the day together and then go to the show for her 14 year old's bday. She was thankful because she would not have been able to afford to take him to the show. I guess you could look at every situation negatively if you want but no one is holding a show over anyone's head, they are welcome to buy tickets to any show they want if they are too lazy and selfish to volunteer.
That's certainly a very heartwarming story, and I'm sure that the breakdown of most of the shows' audience is 25% single mother/75% fatherless child.

I'm not saying it's bad thing to do or that you shouldn't participate. It beats the shit out of a radio contest, text message contest or whatever other crap they could've done. I already have weekly volunteer obligations, none of which I'm rewarded for with a popular band's performance. Do I ask for one? No, because I wouldn't volunteer if I wanted a reward, I would get a second job.

[WCC335]

I think it's a great idea. 4 hours is certainly better than none.

[WCC335]

I already have weekly volunteer obligations, none of which I'm rewarded for with a popular band's performance. Do I ask for one? No, because I wouldn't volunteer if I wanted a reward, I would get a second job.

And dude, that's awesome! But some people just don't do that and it takes a TBS performance to get them to do good things. I don't see how anyone could twist this around to make it sound bad. It's people doing good things...it doesn't matter whether they'd do the service with or without reward.

[mrzippo3]

I think this is a wonderful idea and if you don't, that's sad. The point of this is to get people to do some community service, not to just play a show. They're rewarding people that do community service with a special show and I think that is a really great thing. Great idea, I hope more bands become involved in this in the future.

[red_eye_inc]

And dude, that's awesome! But some people just don't do that and it takes a TBS performance to get them to do good things. I don't see how anyone could twist this around to make it sound bad. It's people doing good things...it doesn't matter whether they'd do the service with or without reward.
I'm not trying to make it sound bad. It's not bad. I think you should do it if you want to. I hope more than 1,100 people do it in Chicago so that the venue has to cut out their guest list and comp tickets for radio station employees and record labels and let more volunteers in. I also hope that none of those people get Boost Mobile phones afterwards.

[notoaststereo]

cool idea.

[LoadedGunX21]

I'm not trying to make it sound bad. It's not bad. I think you should do it if you want to. I hope more than 1,100 people do it in Chicago so that the venue has to cut out their guest list and comp tickets for radio station employees and record labels and let more volunteers in. I also hope that none of those people get Boost Mobile phones afterwards.

for not trying to make it sound bad, you've come across pretty negatively throughout this thread. maybe that wasnt your intention, but that's how you've sounded.

could they do more with the money they're spending, yeah, probably. but the idea is to get the rest of the human population more involved with helping out each other and their communities. dumping a bunch of cash into a charity is very different from inspiring people to help out their fellow man.

i'm not attacking you or anything, im just saying that personally, i feel this is a great idea and a good way to inspire people to get involved with their communities.
i will, however, attack Boost Mobile by saying- who would want their phones anyways?

[mcm1610]

It should be more than 4 hours, but you know everyone will try and scam their way into it anyway. I hate the idea of doing something charitable only to get something out of it, like those bracelets. Yea, you can buy one for $1 and the proceeds go to charity, or you can donate the whole $1 and maybe more directly to charity. Yea, you can do 4 hours of community service, or you can do a lot more. I couldn't find a job to save my life last summer, so I went at least 3, usually 4+ days a week to a food pantry for 6 hours to give groceries to the poor. It wasn't difficult, and I only got the satisfaction of helping people from it, no gift or gimmicks.

[mcm1610]

But that currency could touch many people if it weren't being dumped into what is, by and large, an advertising and public relations capaign. I'd expect nothing less from a publicly owned corporation as they have a responsibility to shareholders, but don't be so naive as to think that one untrained person's efforts are worth more than cold, card cash.

For every dollar you donate, barely a few cents go to charity. Every organization, even non-profit (and especially not-for-profit) organizations first pay for all the supplies, organization, phones, bills, property, computers, whatever, then their upper-level employees who do get paid. By the time that is done, they do about 8 cents worth of charitable work. It's much more efficient to go do it yourself. Unless you're donating millions, you're basically just paying someone's salary before they do anything.

That's why the Gates Foundation or whatever it is that Bill Gates is running is so impressive, because he runs it like a business and expects results, not just the idea that "yea, we helped a few people or something..." More charities need someone at the helm who is demanding results.

So, moral, unless you're that person overseeing everything, don't trust that your dollar is helping anyone. Go do it yourself.

[genericmadness]

i love how we're all talking as if we regularly do community service

[emptyvictory]

But that currency could touch many people if it weren't being dumped into what is, by and large, an advertising and public relations capaign. I'd expect nothing less from a publicly owned corporation as they have a responsibility to shareholders, but don't be so naive as to think that one untrained person's efforts are worth more than cold, card cash.

way to get into the spirit of things, you must be a blast at christmas time.

[WCC335]

The point is, though, that they could be playing a show that doesn't help anyone and just as many people would go. Anything is better than nothing. I think TBS is doing it good-heartedly.

[zombiebrains]

But that currency could touch many people if it weren't being dumped into what is, by and large, an advertising and public relations capaign. I'd expect nothing less from a publicly owned corporation as they have a responsibility to shareholders, but don't be so naive as to think that one untrained person's efforts are worth more than cold, card cash.

I'm not naive. I'm sure whatever they are spending for the publicity is less than the amounts of money they would need to donate in order for it to be "impressive" to the public. And besides. No one gives a shit if someone donates money. That doesn't take any effort unless it's some kind of fundraiser.

What can I say? I would rather see regular people helping. Even if it just is for the sake of some human interest story.

[zombiebrains]

i love how we're all talking as if we regularly do community service

I like to do community service :-/