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Thread: Sting Is Charging People $345 A Day To Harvest His Crops

  1. #26
    Member Vic2012's Avatar
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    I mean, good for him. I'm glad that he has had a long, prolific career and that he has been rewarded for it, but this makes me NOT want to buy anything by The Police or Sting solo. I've had the first 3 Police albums for years, and haven't gotten around to getting the other two studio albums. Now I just don't care.

  2. #27
    Quote Originally Posted by Vic2012 View Post
    I don't think so either. Frankly, I find the whole thing a bit repulsive. He should be hiring locals and paying them a fair wage to harvest grapes and whatever else. Nothing personal against the man, I've always respected him as a musician and songwriter. But Christ man, charging people to do physical work is wrong. I mean, it's not like a personal meet and greet where it makes sense to charge a fee. This is just as ridiculous as the NFL charging acts to play at halftime, for the "honor" of playing a SB halftime.
    Quote Originally Posted by Rickenbacker View Post
    Exactly.
    +1. Or 2, I guess.

    It's just unseemly to me. The notion that it's all positive is clearly discredited here. And that has nothing to do with this particular audience. IMO, it has little to do with whether or not the market will bear it. The ends don't always justify the means. I wonder how the locals feel about it. I mean, those who aren't star-struck by the whole thing. Even for someone who's only concerned with his image, it's bad PR, IMO.

    And, don't let anyone fool you about bad publicity being better than no publicity. That's total nonsense.
    "The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"

  3. #28
    People seem to be assuming that somehow he's using tourists instead of employing farm hands. I have a hard time believing that is true. They pay a fee, they go for a picnic, they learn about the soil and harvesting, they work alongside the farmhands (and probably at whatever leisurely pace they like). Big deal. It's probably not how I would spend my entertainment dollars, but I wouldn't judge anyone else for wanting to do it. It sounds like it could be a nice way to spend the day if you're into that sort of thing. Again, if this was a rip off of some sort, or really 'unseemly', the market would take care of it. There would be no demand. I just don't get all the sour grapes. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

  4. #29
    Member Jerjo's Avatar
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    As someone who grew up in a farming family and knows people that actually have dude ranches I assure you, no locals are being put out of work doing this. The amount of actual work you get out people paying for the "experience" is negligible. I bet there's dozens of wineries in the US that do the same thing, just an extra source of income for the property.
    I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart

  5. #30
    Estimated Prophet notallwhowander's Avatar
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    I dunno. I mean, people can do whatever the hell they want if it is consensual, and no one is getting hurt. I have a feeling that this is more of a you-pay-to-go-frolic-in-my-vineyards, than people actually paying to be part of an industrialized labor force. If you're already paying thousands of dollars to stay on an Italian estate, and you want to pay another four hundred to play a peasant for as few days, I guess it is your get-out. Being on the working-class side of the global economy, it strikes me as perverse, but less so than a single man owning a 900-acre estate.

    The people lionizing this baffle me because it is so obviously self-indulgent, from almost every angle. On the other hand, refusing to buy the music seems like closing the barn door after the horses have left. The guy is already as rich as Croesus and paying $10.99 for Synchronicity isn't going to budge that one way or another.
    Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world.

  6. #31
    Member Plasmatopia's Avatar
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    I think the whole thing is pretty ridiculous and I wouldn't spend my money on it even if it came with a meet-and-greet with Sting. But I have no problem if other people are willing to spend their time and money this way. I really doubt they are making any significant contribution with their "work".
    <sig out of order>

  7. #32
    I can see the T-shirts:

    I visited Sting's Italian Estate and Winery and all I got was this throbbing backache.
    "The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"

  8. #33
    All Things Must Pass spellbound's Avatar
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    Tom Sawyer's got nothing on Sting.
    We're trying to build a monument to show that we were here
    It won't be visible through the air
    And there won't be any shade to cool the monument to prove that we were here. - Gene Parsons, 1973

  9. #34
    Member Plasmatopia's Avatar
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    "I paid good money to be Sting's serf for a day."
    <sig out of order>

  10. #35
    "Every step you take...I'll be charging you."
    "The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"

  11. #36
    Studmuffin Scott Bails's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Plasmatopia View Post
    I think the whole thing is pretty ridiculous and I wouldn't spend my money on it even if it came with a meet-and-greet with Sting. But I have no problem if other people are willing to spend their time and money this way. I really doubt they are making any significant contribution with their "work".
    Exactly.

    I'm struggling to see what's so bad about this. To most of us, it's an overpriced, over-valued experience. So.....don't do it. No harm, no foul.
    Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally

  12. #37
    I don't know that I have a problem with it either. I don't understand the concept of paid meet and greets but if all parties concerned are ok with it it's none of my business. The same could be said of people who consensually keep sex slaves in cages and bring them out on dog leashes and call themselvs "masters"... ok it works for you and for whatever reason it works for you partner and makes you happy so whee but you're still an asshole.

  13. #38
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Bails View Post
    I'm struggling to see what's so bad about this.
    Haters gotta hate.

  14. #39
    Member Vic2012's Avatar
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    at Trurls

  15. #40
    Member Plasmatopia's Avatar
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    "...must I be the man in the vineyards..."

    "You don't have to wear those overalls tonight
    Pick those grapes for money
    You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right"
    <sig out of order>

  16. #41
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    $345 seems a bit steep to me, but if some people consider the experience worth paying that much for, what business is it of mine or yours to stress about it? I stress about people starving in famines, about people dying in wars, about people getting murdered, raped, or incapacitated. I don't stress about non-issues like this. Who exactly is being hurt by this business arrangement?

  17. #42
    Quote Originally Posted by bob_32_116 View Post
    $345 seems a bit steep to me, but if some people consider the experience worth paying that much for, what business is it of mine or yours to stress about it? I stress about people starving in famines, about people dying in wars, about people getting murdered, raped, or incapacitated. I don't stress about non-issues like this. Who exactly is being hurt by this business arrangement?
    Well, I don't know, probably no one really. OTOH, some people say the same thing about casino gambling which can be either a fairly harmless diversion or a life wrecking yet fully legal disaster depending on the personality and mental state of the person allowing themselves to be exploited. I know it's not an entirely fair comparison but there is an underlying similarity if Sting were crassly exploiting fan worship, say. I don't know enough about the whole situation to really say. Honestly in this case it's probably nothing of the kind; it seems to be an experience that people really are enjoying and find worth paying for.

    By most accounts Sting is a personified prick though.

  18. #43
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    I think I should start my post by saying that I am biased when it comes to the music of Sting & The Police. Not only do I have all of his albums, I bought The Police's "Zenyatta Mondatta" when it was a new album (age 13). I have seen every tour involving Sting starting with The Police's "Synchronicity tour". Some of you have called Sting a "dick" but I have never judged him that way. He has donated countless recordings to charity compilations and done a ton of free live performances at charity concerts. As far as I know, he has stood by his wife and 6 kids for quite a few decades now, when a lot of rockers might not. I really don't have a problem with the farm thing. If for some reason the stars aligned about that for me, I just might do it. But I guess that you guys know that I will be attending the "The Last Ship" musical on Broadway this fall, too. By the way, last February 2014, I saw Sting & Paul Simon perform together in Philadelphia and I was amazed how good it was. Highly recommended. Anyway, I just don't peg Sting as a "dick" but after listening to his music for 30+ years, I am biased !!!



    Library Jon

  19. #44
    ALL ACCESS Gruno's Avatar
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    How is this different than people going on a cruise or buying CDs/LPs? It's all dispensable cash being used for something that is of value and entertainment to that individual.

    For anyone here in this thread giving flack about this; have you ever paid twice for an album you already had just because it is remastered, or bought an import disc, have albums in different formats, etc? Others might think you're a complete buffoon for paying multiple times over for virtually the same product that you already own. You chose to buy those things and hopefully were happy with your purchase.

  20. #45
    Studmuffin Scott Bails's Avatar
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    I love a lot of the guy's music, too, and am also aware of his great charity, but it's pretty obvious that he's arrogant and stubborn.

    That said, I still don't see why this farm is such a bad thing or how he portrays him in a bad light.
    Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally

  21. #46
    Quote Originally Posted by Library Jon View Post
    As far as I know, he has stood by his wife and 6 kids for quite a few decades now, when a lot of rockers might not.
    That's certainly something.

  22. #47
    Member Paulrus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vic2012 View Post
    I read that hilarious interview. Very edifying.....
    Interviews are always better when the band is fucked up.


    (See Rush: Hunting Lodge).
    I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.

  23. #48
    Sounds like an Eddie Jobson meet and greet.
    NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID PEOPLE IN LARGE GROUPS!

  24. #49
    facetious maximus Yves's Avatar
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    He's a good digger though...

    "Corn Flakes pissed in. You ranted. Mission accomplished. Thread closed."

    -Cozy 3:16-

  25. #50
    Member dgtlman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jerjo View Post
    As someone who grew up in a farming family and knows people that actually have dude ranches I assure you, no locals are being put out of work doing this. The amount of actual work you get out people paying for the "experience" is negligible. I bet there's dozens of wineries in the US that do the same thing, just an extra source of income for the property.
    Exactly. People getting their panties all up in a wad on this board never ceases to amaze me.

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