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Endorsement rules?

Posted: 08 Oct 2019, 07:27
by LeftyBass68
When a manufacturer hands out an 'endorsement' (free keyboard?) does it have a proviso? You bet!
A sure 'tell' someone plays what they like? Seeing any Nord instrument along with a Hammond clone for instance.No endorsement there.
Hammond 'endorsed' artists aren't allowed to perform (at least publicly) with a Nord visible as a second keyboard.
I suggested a Nord Stage as a piano/synth to an artist who has such an endorsement,and learned today that Nord is the 'sworn enemy' of Hammond Suzuki.
Apparently it's fine to add a Yamaha,Korg,Roland....but NO Nord! Sounds to me like those guys (Suzuki) are running a little scared?
I have a few 'real' Hammonds.....paid good money for them,just like my Nords! The only thing better than the C2D IMO.
Knowing this shouldn't surprise anyone I guess.My point? There are no completely FREE keyboards! I don't 'take the bait'! No one tells me what I can or cannot play!

Session drummer extrordinaire Larrie Londin refused free Pearl drums,was happy to BUY them!Now there' was an 'artist'!Just ask Eddie Bayers!

Does Nord stipulate no 'Hammond' visible onstage when they endorse an artist? Most likely they do.
Free if you 'tow the line' is most likely the scenario.Those who go 'all in' are usually talented,then find out the TRUE cost.Fine I suppose if you like those brands!
Or if you are financially challenged and just like having an endorsement(free Hammond SK1)....
Feel free to reply Pablo.......many of us who bought our keyboards would get a kick out of learning more about these 'protectionist' policies!
There are no FREE lunches!

Totally turned off by any endorsements,Nord,Hammond,or otherwise. 'Free' is not really 'free'......just how many 'endorsements' Joey De Francesco has is beyond me?
They all fall over themselves at the marketing/advert department clamouring to give an 'artist' a freebie!To many 'artists' apparently 'free' is good?

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 08 Oct 2019, 14:06
by Gambold
"The sworn enemy of the Hammond Suzuki?" You mean like the Hatfields and the McCoys? JR Ewing and Cliff Barnes? Road Runner and Coyote?

Please. It would seem to me that Nord, Hammond, or any music company would be more than happy to see its instrument line on any public stage, no matter what else it's stacked with - it's called free marketing and no company can ever get enough of that. This rather breathless post sounds like confabulation from gearheads who need to create drama in their nerdsphere where none actually exists.

Fondly, Gambold

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 08 Oct 2019, 14:40
by analogika
It’s absolutely normal that an endorsement supplier stipulate that no directly competing equipment be used.

I’m pretty sure that my friend‘s long-standing Yamaha endorsement would be pretty quickly ended if he had a Nord Electro onstage with his Yamaha CP88.

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 08 Oct 2019, 18:15
by harmonizer
This discussion reminds me of the absurdity of the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being fined $5000 for wearing an Apple Watch while standing on the sidelines in street clothes, due to an injury:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 890494002/

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 08 Oct 2019, 19:22
by CountFosco
toe

Who'd you say no to?

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 08 Oct 2019, 19:43
by ajstan
harmonizer wrote:This discussion reminds me of the absurdity of the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being fined $5000 for wearing an Apple Watch while standing on the sidelines in street clothes, due to an injury:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 890494002/
While the reporting wasn't very thorough as to why the fine was levied for the Apple Watch, it's likely because it broke the rules on unapproved communication devices on the sideline. This wasn't a Microsoft vs. Apple endorsement situation.

No cell phones or radios are allowed except for members of a team's medical staff, who are not allowed to communicate competitive information. No team is allowed to have a competitive advantage due to technology. If the radios or tablets are not operational for one team, they are shut off for the other until they can fix it. Here's a link to the general policy.

https://operations.nfl.com/the-game/technology/

Also, here's a link to an incident from 2016:
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... the-rules/

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 08 Oct 2019, 21:05
by pablomastodon
back to topic, Nord does not handle endorsement matters directly, except in Sweden, where Nord handles their own distribution. Responsibility for such things is delegated to corporate distributorships worldwide on a nation by nation basis.

We've had Hammond artists visit the Nord booth at NAMM and laughingly ask folks not to record/post video of them playing the C2D. I don't recall that happening at the time, but I've seen the videos posted on youtube! ;-)

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 09 Oct 2019, 10:25
by lawman
FWIW, one way Steinway maintains its 95% monopoly on usage by upper-crust concert pianists is by providing free loaners to those who eschew other makes. There are stories of performers having their privileges taken away after performing on competing instruments. Of course, the world-class quality of a properly maintained Steinway is hard to beat.

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 09 Oct 2019, 16:03
by Gambold
>I’m pretty sure that my friend‘s long-standing Yamaha endorsement would be pretty quickly ended if he had a Nord Electro onstage with his Yamaha CP88.<

In these cases the band blanks out the logo. If they are feeling super nice to poor widdle Yamaha, maybe they'll paint over the red color too.

No stage keyboardist uses one brand exclusively in their rack.

Re: Endorsement rules?

Posted: 09 Oct 2019, 20:39
by CountFosco
LeftyBass68 wrote: I don't 'take the bait'! No one tells me what I can or cannot play!
Lefty. Who offered you an endorsement to which you said no? It would help to put your post in context.