Why the blip? by DonCoat

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Why the blip?

POSTED BY: DONCOAT
UPDATED: Monday, April 10, 2006 16:31
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VIEWED: 3680
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Sunday, April 9, 2006 2:11 PM

As regulars around this place know, we've had a pretty noticable flood of new members lately.

Now, this isn't exactly the first time this has happened. There have been several before this one. But in those cases, there was always a fairly obvious reason -- for example, Firefly marathons on SciFi channel, release of the BDM, release of the DVD, and so on.

But this time it seems different. There really hasn't been a significant FF/S event recently. Yet here we are in the middle of what seems like a big surge in fandom.

So what's behind it? Is it just a statistical fluke? Is it related to some event that slipped under the radar (like maybe release of the DVD in some foreign parts)? Or, could it be, just possibly, that we've really begun to hit a critical mass, where there are enough existing fans so that the numbers we've recruited are really starting to add up?

If it's the latter, what could that mean for the future of the 'verse? When do we start to show up on Universal's radar? When? When?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 2:36 PM

RMMC

I've noticed a number of our recent new (I'm merely new to here, not to being a FF fan.

) folks mention getting hooked by the BDM on DVD. It may be, now that the holidays have passed, the new DVDs received during said holidays have been watched, and folks have now paid off their debts accrued in purchasing presents for others, they're now free to rent/buy what strikes their fancy, they pick up the BDM wonder what all the llamas on the cover are about and voila! New browncoats (who are probably still trying to figure out where the llamas were in there.

)

Then again, I could be completey off base and in the clubhouse somewhere.

****
RMMC

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 2:46 PM

BROWNCOATSANDINISTA

Probably has something to do with Slither's release, and the fact that our Shiny Cap'n Tightpants has been recieving lots of publicity, and interviews, which somehow leads people to Browncoatdom.

If anyone gets nosy...Shoot em.
Shoot em sir?
Politely.

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 3:11 PM

ORIGINALDEADMAN

I don't know about Slither, but I just finished watching the series and the movie(got them for Christmas) and the extra footage and decided to look for more info and Browncoats.

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 3:56 PM

GORKUR

Quote:
Originally posted by RMMC:
I've noticed a number of our recent new (I'm merely new to here, not to being a FF fan. ) folks mention getting hooked by the BDM on DVD. It may be, now that the holidays have passed, the new DVDs received during said holidays have been watched, and folks have now paid off their debts accrued in purchasing presents for others, they're now free to rent/buy what strikes their fancy, they pick up the BDM wonder what all the llamas on the cover are about and voila! New browncoats (who are probably still trying to figure out where the llamas were in there.)

Then again, I could be completey off base and in the clubhouse somewhere.

****
RMMC

Well, I just joined today ;)

I've been watching the shows on the DVD and fell completely in love. You really get to know the extremely well written characters who are all perfectly casted and there wasn't a single bad show. I really can't see why the show was bloddy cancelled but I'm guessing it got betamaxed ;)

I'm and Icelander and I think the most "exotic" (non star trek/wars) sci-fi series that are aired here are BSG, so I didn't hear about FireFly untill shortly after the movie was made. Luckilly I heard about the series before seeing the movie and went on a quest to find the DVDs, which I eventually did.

So I watched it and loved it and last night I rented the movie on DVD and saw the URL to this site on some interview with Whedon in the Bonus Materials.

And so, here I am.

About the llamas tho, Joss wouldn't happen to be a Jeff Minter fan would he? ;)

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 4:05 PM

MUDDERSMILK

I didn't see the movie at the theater, and I didn't watch the series when it was on TV. In December, when the movie DVD came out, someone on the radio said Serenity was wonderful. I bought it, and watched it. I loved it. I went and bought the series. And I was knocked off my feet. Now, I'm in pain. I only have 13 episodes, and a movie. I want more. I tell everyone I know how wonderful the show is. I think thats what is going on. The DVD release triggered a lot of new converts, and we are all in wonder, and grieving at the same time. We all want more. I would pay $1000 to get the show back on the air. Is that extreme? Maybe. But I think this is the second true waive of fans. Someone with money should do something. There is a large untapped market for a new series.

"May have been the losing side, still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 4:06 PM

MILFORD

Hey! Way to go! Glad you're here. Browncoats are like rich relatives: can't have enough.

See FollowMal for your browncoat.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Customizeable handmade baby gifts personalized by my wife! Check them out at www.baby-bobo.com. All proceeds go towards international adoption.

Leaning into the wind that used to carry me-Stavesacre
That's why I don't kiss'em on the mouth- Jayne Cobb

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 7:05 PM

FLORALBUNNY

Has anybody charted member inflows against other events? Shall we lay out a Tarot deck? Cast the I Ching? Draw up a horoscope?

There really *is* a crowd here -- so lovely to see them all arriving with their shiny enthusiasm and touching stories.

I think the Christmas factor might have peaked, but when you add the fact that Nathan's recent (excellent) notices for SLiTHER usually indicate that he was in Serenity or Firefly, or both, I think you have the makings of a blip. People might not *go* to SLiTHER (darn it) but if they read the reviews they might be tempted to experience the 'Verse. Both is best!

Has it gone critical? One may hope...

And for all the newly arrived, there's a big buffet set up in the galley. Please feel free to interrogate the strawberries. With any luck you'll be noticed and given a virtual browncoat.

We're very glad you're here.

(Don't feed the llamas)

bun
-- bastards singed my turtle --
----- why's the rum gone? -----

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 7:20 PM

SAMEERTIA

I'm guessing it's the post-Holiday watching, combined with the release of Slither, and the fact that much of the US has had "Spring Break" going on, which means that students who haven't had a real break since the dvds were released may have found themselves with extra watching time on their hands.

Plus, we're continuing to spread the meme, reaching new fans all the time.

SPREAD THE ADDICTION! It's healthier than cocaine, faster than speed and more giddy than a gallon of beer!

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 7:52 PM

SIXSHOOTER

It's me, I told 'em all to join.

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 8:22 PM

FLORALBUNNY

The bun bows to the Meme-meister and says:
Well done, sixshooter!

Keep 'em coming.

bun
-- bastards singed my turtle --
----- why's the rum gone? -----

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Sunday, April 9, 2006 8:36 PM

LITTLEALBATROSS

What everyone else has said, and...

If I'm remembering correctly, the region 2 & 4 releases of Serenity were at the end of February. That likely had an effect on the number of new recruits popping up (especially with the shiny DVD art they have!).

Also in North America Serenity has been out long enough to make it's way to the previouly viewed sections of rental stores, and maybe even into bargain sections, which could contribute to more people taking a chance on the 'verse.

Whatever the reason though, the more the merrier!

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Monday, April 10, 2006 3:02 AM

MILFORD

Buffet's great, they have some sort of hot cheese...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Customizeable handmade baby gifts personalized by my wife! Check them out at www.baby-bobo.com. All proceeds go towards international adoption.

Leaning into the wind that used to carry me-Stavesacre
That's why I don't kiss'em on the mouth- Jayne Cobb

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Monday, April 10, 2006 3:11 AM

THUNDER

I think it is more along the line of people coming out of the of the black. I'm finding a lot of people who are fans that think they will be labeled a geek if the talk about sci fi.Then they find out there is a lot more like them & they open up.

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Monday, April 10, 2006 4:32 AM

BANZAIBILL

Check out the graph showing the growth rate! It's been on this path since the BDM, but it's starting to be noticable now.

Always room for more Browncoats!

See the graph:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=9321

*** Think of it as evolution in action ***

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Monday, April 10, 2006 4:48 AM

WHOOPS

I know for a fact the Firefly has spread a long way from the UK and to me the most unlikliest place i could think of, because theirs a guy on another forum that i go to and he lives in UAE - United Arab Emirates and he even owns it. So it looks like no matter where we all are we spread every where.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Love. You can do all the math in the 'Verse, but you take a boat in the air you
don't love, she'll shake you off sure as a turnin' of worlds. Love keeps her in
the air when she oughtta fall down. Tells you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens.
Makes her a home." Mal

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Monday, April 10, 2006 5:10 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Well, whatever the reason I ain't looking a gift horse in the mouth. I am just happy to see the flood of new recruits. I can only hope that the influx continues like this for a good long time. Forever sound too long?

I think the DVD for the movie is responsible for most of this. I have noticed it displayed prominently at several retailers locally. I also noticed that Blockbuster has three facing for it (a total of 18 copies) and all but one were rented out as of noon this past Saturday.

I think word is spreading my fellow browncoats, but that doesn't mean we let up. No! If nothing else we need to redouble our efforts! I feel like we are right on the brink of becoming huge. I think if we continue to push the DVDs, keep spreading the word, keep employing our guerilla marketing techniques even harder we will push Serenity over the top & then the future is going to be oh so shiny!

It's coming browncoats, we just gotta believe!

Keep spreading the word! Keep flyin'!

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

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Monday, April 10, 2006 8:14 AM

ALLHAILJOSSWHEDON

Quote:
Originally posted by Whoops:
I know for a fact the Firefly has spread a long way from the UK and to me the most unlikliest place i could think of, because theirs a guy on another forum that i go to and he lives in UAE - United Arab Emirates and he even owns it. So it looks like no matter where we all are we spread every where.

Hey I live in the UAE too(for now)!

Mal: There's over 70 earths in this verse, and the meek have inherited not a one.

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Monday, April 10, 2006 8:23 AM

PIRATA

"guerilla marketing techniques"

That was PRICELESS! :D

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Monday, April 10, 2006 11:24 AM

RMMC

Quote:
Originally posted by gorkur:

Well, I just joined today ;)

Welcome aboard to you and our other new recruits. This is all just so shiny to see all these people getting the word.

Quote:

About the llamas tho, Joss wouldn't happen to be a Jeff Minter fan would he? ;)

He may well be, but he's also told us he had absolutely no input about the cover, else I think the chicken woulda been there.

****
RMMC

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Monday, April 10, 2006 11:38 AM

FLORALBUNNY

pirata wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"guerilla marketing techniques"

That was PRICELESS! :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You'll enjoy the phrase "viral marketing" as well.

I think of the spread of SereniFly in terms of infection, and tend to refer to it in that way when posting here.

bun
-- bastards singed my turtle --
----- why's the rum gone? -----

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Monday, April 10, 2006 4:31 PM

FLORALBUNNY

BanzaiBill,

Cool graph! You'll be needing to re-scale it soon to accommodate more thousands.

It would be interesting to key each of those leg-ups to events. The input about later regional DVD releases is very useful, for example.

Next question has to be how many potential rumps and eyeballs each member represents.

How many TV viewers and filmgoers (and DVD buyers, etc.) visit fan-sites? How many of those are in Lurk-Only Mode? How many of those cave in and register?

If there were any way to find out (has someone done a dissertation which broke sci-fi fans out of the general demo?) the graph could figure as part of a pitch.

==============================
We'll be refreshing the hot cheese on the buffet momentarily.

bun
-- bastards singed my turtle --
----- why's the rum gone? -----

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