Blue October teams up with fans to create new record ‘I Hope You’re Happy’

Alt-rock quintet Blue October is no stranger to using crowdsourcing campaigns to both connect with fans and record, produce and market its music.

Since 2011’s “Any Man in America,” Blue October has been an independent band, using Pledgemusic campaigns to fund the creation of its albums.

For the band’s ninth album, “I Hope You’re Happy,” slated for release Aug. 17, the band is taking the crowdsourcing one step further, hosting its own campaign independently.

And the band is thinking big.

Sure, Blue October is offering the standard merchandise on https://ihopeyourehappy.blueoctober.com/, things like a copy of the album, handwritten lyric sheets, sticker and patch packs, T-shirts, hoodies, car decals, a tumbler, and lots of autographed memorabilia, including vinyl test pressings, drum sticks, posters and a band photo.

But for diehard Blue October fans with money to spare, the “I Hope You’re Happy” campaign is an opportunity to get up close and personal with the band behind songs like “Hate Me,” “Into the Ocean,” “Home” and “I Want It.”

You can buy a personalized video from singer Justin Furstenfeld for $400 or shadow a crew member and be a roadie for a day for $1,000.

For $1,500, you can be in the audience for an acoustic studio concert and album listening party, and for $7,500, the band will record a song of your choice.

For $6,000, you can propose to your significant other on stage during a show.

Already engaged? Not a problem. For $20,000, you and your sweetie can get married by Furstenfeld, an ordained minister, on stage at a Blue October show.

“We have been blessed over all these years to have you all become part of our Blue October family – and it does feel like a family,” Furstenfeld said on the “I Hope You’re Happy” crowdfunding website.