In this day and age, artist to fan interaction is largely, if not fully, based around social media and the outreach it provides. It's an easy way to gain exposure with practically no effort whatsoever. As useful as it is, it's irrefutably insincere in nature when that is the only connection you have going with your fanbase. A lot of artists value privacy and don't even run their own social media accounts, while others update it every so often with straightforward statements centering around their latest material or upcoming events. It's especially simple to lose sight of the value of a fanbase when you have a major label backing you. Sure, the fans have their part in keeping you relevant and bringing in the money, but there's a lot more to it than just needing their endless support.
For a band such as The Maine, starting out when Myspace was the only pertinent social network made it all the more challenging to get their name out there. Just like every other unknown group trying to make something of themselves, they needed a way to keep people around and interested. They soon came to see that simply acknowledging their listeners went a long way. It started by replying to comments on a regular basis and took off from there. The group found their way to some pop punk notability by releasing catchy hits like, "The Way We Talk," putting them in the forefront of the scene, as well as scoring their own record deal with Fearless Records. This allowed them to book gigs for bigger acts, only furthering their path to success. To ensure they made new fans and continued to keep the old ones around, they made sure they met as many people as they could at these shows.
I myself can vouch for the fact the band sticks to their word when they say they want to meet the people that listen to their music. I've met some of the guys both at festivals where they're considered to be the smaller act, and at their own sold out headlining shows. They've braved cold weather just as dedicated fans do hours before doors open, and they greet everyone that waits with smiles and nothing by kind words. Sure, I can name a few other bands offhand that have done similar or almost exact things to show their appreciation for their fans, but there is one particular idea put forth by the band that sets them apart from just about every artist out there--the Free For All Tour. As the name suggests, the shows were completely, 100% free to attend. The tour was about giving back to their extremely devoted group of fans that got them to where they are. The idea came to fruition after having parted ways with a bigger label they had signed to. After signing, they soon came to find that their visions were not even remotely alike, and their only choice to keep their artistic freedom to bring their work to life was to release their music independently.
Along with the Free For All Tour was the stand they took regarding meet and greets. While both more and less popular acts opt for having VIP meet and greet packages for their shows, The Maine felt the notion of having to pay just to meet an artist you already support was ridiculous. They would have photo opportunities, signings, or just a genuine conversation without having their fans pay a single cent for the occasion. To reiterate their feelings on the matter, the group had a backdrop which read, "Why would you pay money to meet a human being? Meet human beings called The Maine, for free." While having free, or even just an affordable meet and greet would be a smart move for any artist, it makes all the difference knowing it's coming from a group that doesn't rely on a major label or any other backing to keep them afloat. Everything they do is for the love and appreciation they have for the ones that have stuck around these last ten years, and to those who will hopefully discover them and tag along in the future.
The Maine completely recognize the fact that they have remained in a position to sell out shows, doing what they love because they have people that believe in them. They take nothing for granted. As a fan, it's all the more worth it putting time, money, and faith in a group that appreciates me as much as I do them. It's a push and pull partnership. If we had more artists like The Maine, the music industry would be better for it.
