FuMP Marketing Question

[filkertom]

Okay, I've got a question here for fans of The FuMP. What we want to know is: What do you think of this slogan?

We want to know, basically, if anyone finds this offensive. Because we absolutely do not mean it to be so, but we are also well aware at how... proprietary some of our armed forces are regarding the slogan "Semper Fi".

So... thoughts?

Comments

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

I find it funny. And pretty good as a slogan: "Faithful FuMPer." Good image.

But hey, I'm not a member of the armed forces, so.

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

Ummmm.... I don't think I'd go there. But that's just me.

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

I don't find it offensive, but it doesn't really do anything for me, either. Maybe the phrase has just been co-opted for too many other things where I live. It's overdone.

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

That's closer to what was in my brain and refusing to come out.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Hrmf. So you find it obvious rather than offensive, or both, or...?

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

It's not offensive to me, but I'm not a Marine. Dad was Army. ;-}

It does ring as being overdone. The FUMP is more clever than that.

[vretallin.livejournal.com]

I entirely agree with your comments on the logo. Over done and not so clever as the FuMP has been.

[cjfringe.livejournal.com]

I'm in agreement. I think the FuMP can do better.

[sdelmonte]

Same here.

[mouser.livejournal.com]

IAWTP.

Former Air Force, not Marine - but while I get it, and am not offended, it's an "eye roller" not a chuckle.


Sorry - there'e the drawing board.

[jss]

I'm gonna say "Me too" off ladysmith's and morpheus0013's responses. It doesn't offend me, but I can see how it could be misconstrued as offensive. It leaves me feeling "meh" more than anything else, possibly because semper fi is itself a shortened form of semper fidelis, "always faithful," and you're mangling the "always" for the pun. If I were to go that route, I'd choose semper FuMP instead.

That being said, I'd defer to the results of a survey of Marines.

Edited to fix typo.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't know who on my friends list is a Marine, so.... :) OT, any word about the job offer?

[jss]

Yep.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Awright. Welcome back, ace.

[jss]

Thank'ee. I plan on doing some kind of open house thingy (in part to introduce groups of friends who may not yet know each other) once I'm settled, probably in June, but it'll depend on how long it takes me to get the place set up.

[smegabyte.livejournal.com]

Offensive? No.

However, since 'semper fi' is so heavily associated with the armed forces, I wouldn't co-opt it. It makes me think that the FuMP is somehow associated with the military, either allied with in a subordinate fashion or mocking it. (Yes, I know it isn't, but that's the power of associative thinking for you.)

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

IAWTC. If I didn't know what the FuMP was about, that would be precisely my reaction -- which means it might drive off potential new fans.

[darthparadox.livejournal.com]

I immediately started trying to figure out what you were trying to say by analogy to the original motto, and didn't get far. Faithful to what? The music? The fans? Dementia as a concept?

And for the Funny Music Project, the slogan ought to be, well, funny. This just doesn't do it for me.

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Actually "semper" means forever, "fidelis" is faithful and "fi" just something giants say...

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

It does nothing for me, no.

It's more than FUN - it's FUMP!

[fraggedone.livejournal.com]

Move your rump with the FuMP?

[emiofbrie.livejournal.com]

"FuMP Up the Volume!"
"Pump your FuMP in public!"
"Bump to the FuMP!"

[devospice.livejournal.com]

Hrmm, I kind of like FuMP Up The Volume.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Actually, yeah.

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

I like that one, too...

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Thirded.

[lizreay.livejournal.com]

And it's thematically more appropriate.

[hms42]

Add another like to "FuMP up the Volume".

[dbcooper.livejournal.com]

"FuMP Up the Volume" absolutely works for me!

[cjfringe.livejournal.com]

I'm digging FuMP Up the Volume!

[fair-witness.livejournal.com]

I don't find it offensive--not a Marine, but I count several as friends, and I'm not sure how they'd take it ... they have very good, very quirky senses of humor, but this might be one of those Things With Which You Do Not Mess, like saying "oo-rah!" when you're not part of the Corps--but like some of the others here, it just doesn't do much for me.

I rather like the FuMP Up the Volume suggestion.

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with all the above. It just doesn't convey "Fun Filk Music" at all. You are a silly bunch, and you need to convey that with your marketing or people looking for fun music won't go there.

FuMP it UP... to 11
FuMPing Around
Jump to the FuMP

Or you could leave it to the imagination of the reader, "FuMP: it means whatever you want it to" then people who think up delerious, demented, devious meanings will be the target audience and will be intrigued enough to check it out to see if they were right with their guess.

Or you could hold contests for web comics. "Use the FuMP in your comic and we'll write a song you can use on your web page!" then see if any of the web cartoonists can come up with a good slogan/bumper sticker.

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

I've never been in the military, but I spent the first 18 years of my life living on military bases around the world. I have a reasonably decent feel for the culture. In my experience the only people who would automatically take offense are those who are by default defensive. If you were to say things they would find offensive (blatantly, or even subtly anti military) then they might take offense.

To echo others I'd also say it's not that funny. An eye roller and a mild groaner at best.

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

I think I echo everyone in saying it's not offensive, but it's overused and noone will get the joke. I didn't.

But I'll go with "FuMP up the Volume". As long as we can also get an RSS feed of the latest FuMPs.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Ummm... would you like the direct feed (http://www.thefump.com/cast.php), the LJ hookup to the same feed (http://syndicated.livejournal.com/the_fump/), the feed for the Sideshow (http://www.thefump.com/side_cast.php), or the LJ feed for the Sideshow (http://syndicated.livejournal.com/fump_sideshow/)?

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

I'll take some HTML tricks to put 'em on the address bar. Need some help with that?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

? I think you'd better talk to devospice. He's the webmaster for thefump.com.

[tommytoony.livejournal.com]

As with others...I don't find it offensive, can see why others might be, and it really doesn't do anything for me.

Something like "Do you FUMP?" or "I FUMP. Do you?" or some of the others suggested work better. IMHO.

Thinking ahead, and provided I'm invited back to PenguiCon...what can we do to improve the FUMP show? Make it more entertaining, more of a draw, run more smoothly, do something bigger, better, etc.? I'd like to see this show improve and build in stature, if possible. Give it some though, bounce it around with the FUMP-misters and let me know!

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

Best thing to do would be not have it up against the singing tesla coils...

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[farnex.livejournal.com]

not a fan of the Fumper Fi, my family has had very very bad relations with the marines and the military machine. So I am against it. The other fan suggested ones Fump up the Volume, Get Fumped and other are bettter.

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

FuMP it up!

Not a big fan, either

[pickledcritter.livejournal.com]

While I was not a Marine, I was in the Navy and worked closely with Marines on occasion, my brother was a Marine and an associate I work closely with was also a Marine, so I think I have a fair understanding of Marines. Basically - they're human: There is a small but non-zero percentage that will take great offense and would like to beat you to a pulp for even daring to sully one of their catchphrases, those who will scratch their heads and shrug their shoulders, and finally ones who laugh and get the joke.

Like almost everyone else has said, though, it's got that "been there, done that" feel to it. I have to throw in my liking of "FuMP Up the Volume". Gives "pirate radio" a whole new meaning, me hearties....ARRRRRR! :)

[pjhandley.livejournal.com]

just wanted to point out that the 501st (the storm trooper group) uses Semper Tyranus as their slogan. So, yeah, plays on Semper Fideles are way over done. I'm really fond of "FuMP Up the Volume" myself. Although, "Get FuMPed" made me giggle.