So - in recent times I have become more and more wary of marketing campaigns masquarading as competitions.

On the other hand I have always been someone who tends to spend the 30 seconds it takes to enter competitions around the place.

On Saturday I noticed the Guardian had tickets for Arcade Fire at the O2 to win, so I quickly entered and lo-and-behold I only blumming won.

Over the years I've picked up:
- entire bowie back catalogue
- record tokens (remember them)
- numerous gig tickets and events (Studio visits, album playbacks, etc)
- lots of CDs, DVDs, novelty guff

just filling in an online form.

The feeling I get is that lots of people don't bother with them, thinking they're going to get marketed - but I reckon I have a 1 in 10 hit rate.

I even almost won the Word DVD box set thing last christmas (well I got a mention at least) ;)

Do you enter things? If so, do you win?

ps - I never buy lottery tickets.

So. Received my subscriber copy of The Word.

ripped open packaging and skimmed through it with relish, savouring the idea of the 2 hours I had on a train trip from Croydon to Hinckley to soak it all up in detail.

Met a work colleague at Euston and got chatting on train *putting magazine by my side* on the seat.

Gets up (still gassing), leaves train. Magazine remains on seat.

Gutted.

Worst one since I left my sony walkman on the shelf of the Cashpoint in Uxbridge high street in 1993.

How much to does the magazine cost from one of those *shops* where the general public get their copies? Anyone want a spare cover CD...

Hi

I got a lovely warm feeling on my commute into work this morning (which makes a change from freezing my n*ts off) as I read the results page for the DVD Box Set competition.

Unfortunately, not the winner, but hey - a "shout out". My day of fame has come. (Does a "Shout out" get a bonus prize?)

But I maintain that there is a place for terrible shows from the past to be available - and Cop Rock tops the list.

The campaign starts here...

(does anyone else remember it? - i think even the BBC bailed out before completely showing the whole season)

I was a student at the time and we made a special effort to gather round the TV to witness the miracle that was, "COP ROCK"...

Hi

went to the 02 enormodome to watch Placebo last night, and from where my seat was in the next county, they appeared to put on a damn good show.

I've been to the 02 three times now and I'm astounded:
a)at the excellent sound quality for such a huge venue
b)at the price of a beer :)

Anyhows - my point was meant to be, what was interesting was a VERY clear split down the middle of demographic in the audience - ie a 50/50 split of people my age (ie late 30s or older) who obviously loved the band "first time round", against a strong contingent of youngsters who obviously consider Brian and his mates (Brian, always impressed that a Rock Star can be cool AND be called Brian) to be the best thing since sliced bread on the back of their recent output - the very perky "Battle for the Sun".

The show was spectacular, earnest, fun, serious, loud - with strings, horns and lights galore - everything you could want with a brilliant choice of tunes. The screens/lights and the lack of smoke at gigs now give everything a clinical feel, but they really rocked.

I can't think of a gig where that split between old and new audience was so evident - can you think of anyone else who manages it? (Bowie perhaps when I've seen him) - or is it like this at all gigs and i'm just making it all up and should sit down in a comfy chair?

Hi there

did someone win the lovely box set competition thingy?

not that I was hoping it was me or nuffink...

do we not find out for a while?

happy christmas, ho ho ho, etc

:)

Following the discussion on the podcast about Richard Thompson coming round for tea, fancy rehearsing and gigging with Bowie's best axeman (nearly)?

http://www.davidbowie.com/news/index.php?id=20090501