Author: Chris Barrus

Windy Weber of Stormy Records posted this on Facebook and (with her permission) I’m reposting it here because it’s encapsulates many of the mixed feelings I have about Record Store Day (and by extension the culture of limited indie releases).

Record Store Day was modeled after FREE COMIC BOOK DAY (the first Sat in May – it is about to have its ninth anniversary), and because we are in the upstairs of Green Brain, we know all about the grandeur of this day.

Here is how the it works: Many comic publishers create special FCBD editions of popular comic books. Everyone along the supply chain from the publisher, to the distro, to the retailer takes a bite out of the cost. Every comic store around the world who uses this main comic distributor is offered the opportunity to purchase these special editions, usually about 2-3 dozen different titles, at a nominal cost. Thousands and thousands are printed and stores can buy as many of each title as they want and can afford. Although, they are required to purchase a certain amount to be considered an “Official Participant” which gets them extra promotional material.

THEN they plan – they contact comic book writers and artists, DJs, offer prize drawings, take donation for non-profits, and they arrange for free snacks or soda, usually sponsored by someone who wants to get in on the exposure. As an Official Participant they are required to offer at least one FCBD comic to anyone who comes in that day with no string attached. However each store can make the event as big as they want and decide how many more HONEST TO GOD FREE COMICS each person who comes in the door is going to receive, and they LET THEIR CUSTOMERS CHOOSE WHICH ONES THEY WANT.

Honest. See for yourself at www.freecomicbookday.com

And, what do stores get from this? well, how about – ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE coming through the shop in a single day. the last two years here at Green Brain – one thousand people in a single day. and for any of you who foolishly think comic books are just for kids – man alive, are you wrong. the folks who come through here are at least 2/3 adults, and they have money to buy stuff. so they come in for a couple of free comics (GB usually does 3 per person for coming in plus ways to get more), and 4 out of 5 of those adults SPEND MONEY on other items in the shop. free comic book day is the single largest sales event the shop has. it’s like a week’s worth of Christmas sales in one day. they have award winning, totally killer people come in to sign books and draw for folks, and the day rocks. added bonus for us – 1/2 those people come upstairs and see us, AND SPEND MONEY!

Maybe even more important than the sales that occur, free comic book day is a joyous occasion. The people who come out for it are excited and happy about free comics, esp in the current economic state we deal with. Sure, it is only a few items, but it is really more about the celebration of the medium and art than about commercialism. It’s about enjoyment and not making money. It’s a thank you to all the customers who come in, not just a day to get them out to open their pocketbooks. the energy is just a lot cleaner.

So RSD is kinda sucky because the “product” is so limited, (for instance – there are over 700 stores participating this year, and only 1000 or less of most titles produced, which has lead our distros to warn us we may only get ONE copy of each thing we ordered). because shops are already hurting so bad they are going to put them on eBay ahead of time (at least that is what happened last year, and hoard them instead of selling them, and the customers are often times only buying the item to resell on eBay to someone who has no shop by them. It sucks – it is all about commercialism and capitalism, and not so much a celebration of music, or of indie stores. for a day modeled after the glory of free comic book day, it has rather turned into a monster.

And, this year, after it is all done, i will write the RSD orgainzers and express my feelings. this could be done with so much more grace and have such incredible results, and so i’m hoping (i know i hope too much everyday) that as RSD moves into the future, it will mature and become the graceful swan that the ugly duckling just is not.

– written by Windy Weber, with help from Katie Merrit, co owner of Green Brain Comics.