Band fan clubs.
I usually avoid fanclubs as I think they're pointless, hold no real use other than to let you think you're a bigger fan than anyone who hasn't signed up and to give record labels etc more money than they already have/deserve
Occasionally I'll hear of one that sends out gifts when you join that turn out to be a plastic biro with the bands name printed badly on it and a sticker.
However I have twice gone against my opinion on this sort of thing twice for Ben Folds and most recently the Gaslight Anthem (for those who don't know try and imagine the Clash fronted by Bruce Springsteen instead of Joe Strummer)
The Ben Folds one was twenty quid to join and you got the following
Stickers,
Badges
Discount at the merch store
Fan club only merchandise
First dibs on gig tickets.
A pen that was actually made really well, three years on and it still writes better than any Parker pen I've used.
And best of all a remastered copy of the most recent, at the time, album (a lot of people complained about the production having to much treble) complete with a signed inlay booklet but a second disc that contained garage ban files of every instrument on the album so you could make your own version of the songs.

The Gaslight Anthem one was 25 dollars which I think at the moment is about sixteen quid.
For this you get a tshirt (shirts on their site are around fifteen quid)
A membership card ( a bit lame but useful as you'll get to see)
Badges,
Posters,
Stickers
First dibs on tickets which if you order them you can only use with your membership card
so those bastard ripoff fucking touts at seatwave, viagogo and whoever else was in that channel four documentary about ticket sellers
Seasonal 7 inch vinyl
And a handful of other things which I can't remember off the top of my head.

Im a regular gig goer and a few times I've not been able to get online when tickets have gone on sale only to find half an hour later some money grabbing greedy shit has put them on eBay for more than five times their original face value that some gullible/poor sod will end up forking out because they weren't quick off the mark.
I'd much rather give an extra sixteen quid to a band I love that try to do everything themselves to get that extra chance
To grab tickets for face value without running the risk of dealing with touts.

Not funny just thought the GA ticket thing is quite a good idea.
(Official Sarc, Fri 22 Jun 2012, 1:59, 7 replies)

badgers? BADGERS!?
what are you going to do with all these stinking badgers?
(technocore, Fri 22 Jun 2012, 6:34, closed)

they don't need no stinking badgers.

( janet aylia y'all motherfuckers need jesus, Fri 22 Jun 2012, 9:17, closed)

You made
Gaslight Anthem sound good, so I'm downloading them.
(apeloverage committed the vile act of onanism on, Fri 22 Jun 2012, 11:03, closed)

Excellent news, if you haven't already go for the tracks 59 sound, the backseat, boxer and the new one 45.
(Official Sarc, Fri 22 Jun 2012, 11:46, closed)

Me too
Just looked them up on Spotify and started listening. Sounds bloody excellent, thanks :)
(Stig2k, Fri 22 Jun 2012, 18:28, closed)

Fascinating sales pitch here.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Fri 22 Jun 2012, 16:34, closed)

I love GA.
But I prefer the description "Bruce Springsteen cover band" for them. ;) It's fun to play 'spot the Springsteen song reference' when listening to their songs. :)
( Evil Bastardo, Mon 25 Jun 2012, 16:16, closed)