In last week’s edition of “Off-Stage,” I had mentioned how important your band image can be and talked about the difference between a “timely” and “timeless” image. As one commenter pointed out, for some music lovers a band’s image isn’t as important as the quality of their music. While I agree with that to some extent, I did forget to mention one very, important concept — if you want to get more gigs, you gotta think like a business. Image is part of being a “business” because it’s what marketing is all about. Even the bands that don’t have a recognizable image still embrace marketing, but in a different way than other bands. Thinking like a business may suck, but there it is.

Well, now that that’s over and done with…

The brave souls over at Plowing Mud Forever sent us some photos to critique and talk about their band’s image. This band is the perfect example to show what I’m talking about, because in this case — image does matter.

Why? Well, Plowing Mud Forever is a band with a sense of humor — literally. Described as comedic alternative metal, you should check out Plowing Mud Forever on MySpace to hear what I’m talking about.

So…here’s what I think…

From the photos you sent us and from your website, I can tell that you’ve been experimenting with how to portray yourself for a while. The ironic thing is, I didn’t get a “funny hah hah” feel to your music at all. Inventive? Yes. Experimental? Yes. But not campy in a “They Might Be Giants” sort of a way. Therein, my bandmates, lies the challenge. I feel that your music is so far removed from what you portray yourself to be that you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Instead of a comment like, “Oh, yeah. You’re trying that hard to be cool?” it’s “Oh, yeah. You’re trying that hard to look stupid?”

Now, before you chuck your computer across the room and send me hate mail, I want you to know that I don’t think you guys are stupid at all. It’s obvious you are having fun –with your music, with your band — and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, if you’re looking for an image to market professionally, then I’d stop trying to reinvent the wheel and bring back the focus on your band as a brand.

For example, I’d take a cue and base some band image ideas off of your name. “Plowing Mud Forever.” I can think of 10,000 different ways to come up with photos involving mud, plows and guitars. Okay, maybe you don’t want to mix mud and guitars together, but there is a lot you can do. From hyping up the experimental side to your photos to adding in special effects, I would make your photos look intentional rather than accidental.

For Your Experimental Band, Intent Does Matter

Really, setting that tone for an image that will attract and retain fans is about hitting a good balance between your music and the fun you’re having. To you, your band’s music may be really off-the-mark, but when I listen to it it’s nothing like I expected it to be. You guys can seriously play and play well. Artistically, if you want to attract more of the female persuasion I’d definitely tone down the camp. Helloooooo! Remember, you guys are in a rock band. You don’t play flute and sing about Oompa Loompas while dancing around in white robes with long-flowing hair and a tambourine spreading glitter everywhere. You rock, and rock hard.

Grainy, black-and-white photos would be the easiest way for you guys to go because it fits the box logo with “Plowing Mud Forever.” A little more complicated and “pretentious” would be images without your band in them at all, like a close-up of a rubber ducky swimming in mud with your logo at center. Either way, I like the superimposed logo on the photos because it definitely associates the pic with your band. If you want to go the “community” route, you could have a photo or a logo contest where fans submit pics to you.

Remember these words, grasshopper — to get experimental to come across well, it’s gotta look intentional, not accidental. “Intentional” as in “you planned it that way” will distinguish your image in a more artistic light.

But what do I know? I just work here. So MXTabs-at-large, I put it to you. What do you think? Love my advice? Hate it? Let’s show Plowing Mud Forever some luv and speak up!