Instagram/@lolakirke
In consideration of ticket-sale enhancement for her concert in Manchester, she allegedly promised to auction her firstborn to one hungry ticket-holder out of that very show. The announcement came through a video, as the ‘Trailblazer Tour’ made it to the United Kingdom and the Dublin leg in late November. While Kirke had indeed explained that she was joking, it really did muster so much attention and garnered mixed reactions from her fans.
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In her social media post, the singer-actress explained how her London, Glasgow, and Dublin shows “were selling really well,” yet “in Manchester they’re not selling however well.” “You guys draw the line for lives, and that’s fine. I totally respect that,” she laughed. “But that’s why I’m here today to make my future and friends’ events very, very, very exclusive…Especially to Manchester, that has the exclusive opportunity to be entered into a competition automatically by purchasing a ticket to my show to win my first born kid.”
Most famous for ‘Mozart in the Jungle,’ the singer-actress avoided sounding too serious when she said, “That’s right, my first born child could be yours if you grab a ticket to my show.” The actress further explained, “I mean, we are getting to complicated logistics here. I don’t have one yet, but when I do, you know, it could be yours if you grab a ticket to the show. I just have to work it out with Rumpelstiltskin. I’m gonna be saying this right here in the field, but that should be fine.”
Kirke declared it: “One of those weird things female artists have to do. I don’t care about sacrifices like these. That’s what happens when you’re an creator, especially when you’re a female creator.” The video suddenly wrapped up by sending all the love to Manchester and eagerly anticipating the return.
The post carried on with a more normal-styled contest that asked readers to “comment RUMPLESTILTSKIN below for your chance to win a pair of tickets to my show in Manchester!” taking place at the Deaf Institute on November 28.
Amused or engaged in devil’s advocate commentary, reaction to the quirky offer ranged in between the extremes. One user out of Indianapolis gave the dilemma in terms of geography concern, saying, “I’d probably win those! Long flight to the UK from Indy!” One was commenting on her “True dedication to the fans,” acknowledging the extremes of the offer while labeling it a publicity stunt.
The actress herself commented on the post: “wow ive never seen the word Rumplestiltskin written this much kind weird.”
Others weren’t so quick to jump on the offer of family. One pragmatic follower wrote, “Already got four kids so will just stick with getting some good songs,” implying that for some concert-goers, the track is the primary attraction.
This promo is reminiscent of the sinister Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale: the magical creature spun straw into gold for a miller’s daughter in exchange for her firstborn child, until the queen guessed his name, thus voiding the contract. By alluding to this story, Kirke creates a marketing extravaganza that transforms theatrical promotion into a performance of its own.
Manchester show dates are just one of the myriad Trailblazer Tour gigs Kirke has underway as she forges ahead in concocting a musical career alongside her much-starred acting gigs. Her newest album follows on from 2022’s ‘Lady for Sale,’ solidifying her footing on country-rocker turf.
While the firstborn-child offer ought not be taken literally, it is artistic license with which an creator confronts a common problem: “How do I fill a venue in a particular market?” This promotion surely has cast the spotlight on her Manchester date; just goes to show that sometimes the most memorable marketing is quite literally the least orthodox, even if that box happens to be filled with fictional deals involving future offspring.
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With this tongue-in-cheek stunt promoting her show, Kirke is purportedly proving that artists push the limits of creativity not only through their artwork but also in how they engage the public. Judging from the response, fans may not seriously consider taking home a baby but certainly appreciate the humor involved in the sale pitch.
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