THE WAKE UP CALL 📱 UTILITY VS PERKS #DREAMS #UDS

UGLYDUCKLABZ avatar
Ugly Duck Society
@UGLYDUCKLABZJan 29, 2026

The Spaces centered on turning web3 momentum into real-world execution for the Ugly Duck Society (UDS). The team aligned on replacing a live music set in Texas with a model runway featuring UDS merch, supported by a local promoter (Pacino) to drive reach and sales. A community-led beer collaboration advanced, with Big Money J seeking a pink “Pink Static” SKU using his IP and a connection to a brewer, plus branded can carriers. A core segment clarified “utility vs perks,” highlighting Quake/Quick EXR’s augmented reality platform (a Canva-like tool for AR) as a true utility with practical use cases (restaurants, real estate, product scans) and a subscription perk for minters. Speakers dissected the post-hype NFT market (volume down >90%), pandemic tailwinds, and AI art saturation, arguing for real utility, IRL activations (Drunken Lab), and transparent capital allocation. They warned against token-first playbooks and rugs, debated the ethics and futility of botting Spaces, and encouraged focusing on sustainable businesses, like UDS’s used cooking oil venture and investor cultivation (e.g., ties to David Kovacs). The hour closed with concrete Texas planning, winner travel logistics, health check-ins, and paid role standards for contributors.

Ugly Duck Society Twitter Space: Utilities vs. Perks, Texas Event Planning, and Web3 Reality Check

Who spoke and their roles (as identified in the space)

  • Scrooge (Founder, Ugly Duck Society): primary host; led planning, strategy, and market commentary.
  • Mother Duck (UDS partner/co-host): co-led planning; proposed outreach and coordination.
  • C-Stacks (aka SeaStacks; UDS collaborator): co-host; community engagement, connection-making.
  • LegUp: co-host; health/fitness and logistics chatter; engaged in utilities-perks round.
  • Jurgen (OGBE/Jürgen): community member; truck driver; snow-impacted; top-holder banter participant.
  • Spare Parts (artist/creator): creator of custom bags/cases; content/video creator; launched Feb 1 NFT drop; vocal on culture/comedy and integrity.
  • Quaky (Quake XR founder): presented AR “perks vs utility”; building an AR SaaS platform with no-code tools.
  • King Booboo (gaming studio lead): discussed token design pitfalls; advocates no native token for stability.
  • Big Money J (community member/Order Mutants; beer collab): wants to produce Pink Static beer using his pink flamingo IP.
  • Additional stakeholders referenced: Oliver (current UDS top holder), John (returning whale intent on top spot), Darius (performer; unlikely to attend Texas), Pacino (Texas-based fashion promoter from prior Miami event), Maker (Texas investor), Jay Connects, Chase and JPEZ (Texas raffle winners), Shiny Girl (Nigeria; community/co-host; consultation availability), Apollo (Quake XR AR developer), Entity Energy Drinks, Order Mutants and Dead Ducks communities.

Core theme: Utilities vs. Perks

  • Framing: The space explicitly centered on clarifying how to distinguish perks from true utility in NFT projects and how UDS is structuring both.
  • Consensus:
    • Perks are nice-to-have experiences or collectible add-ons that enhance brand status and engagement (e.g., AR-enabled statues, fashion show walks, VIP experiences).
    • Utilities are tangible, repeatable, value-creating services or access that extend beyond the NFT itself (e.g., subscriptions, real-world business enablement, job creation, merch with NFC/points, on-premise IP usage, funded IRL events).

UDS: Strategy, posture, and utilities/perks in practice

  • UDS identity: fashion brand first; NFTs as access rails to IRL activations and IP.
  • Deployed IP and media: 5 Drunken Lab locations using UDS IP; appearances on national TV; millions reached.
  • Utilities:
    • IRL event access and subsidies (e.g., Texas Drunken Lab activation with raffle winners flown and housed).
    • NFC-enabled merch and a forthcoming points/activation system tied to physical items.
    • Business enablement pathway: training course and support for used cooking oil collection business (playbook, coaching, potential micro-grants; practical income stream outside Web3 market cycles).
    • Networked investor access and introductions (e.g., Maker and other Texas/MIAMI investor circles; MMA/David Kovacs network), with the caveat that not all money is good money—have a plan before accepting funds.
  • Perks:
    • AR display statues and collectibles; fashion runway activations with UDS apparel.
    • Raffles for travel and VIP experiences.

Texas activation planning (end of February; Drunken Lab)

  • Timing: aiming for end-of-February weekend; enough lead-time to prepare.
  • Program shift: likely replace Darius’ performance (travel uncertain) with a focused fashion walk to showcase UDS merch.
  • Fashion walk concept:
    • 3–4 models; UDS varsity jackets styled with heels, swimwear/lingerie for a high-visibility runway vibe.
    • Deliverables: video capture for content; dual purpose—event spectacle + cataloging fashion line.
  • Talent and promotion:
    • Pacino (Texas-based promoter from Miami fashion circle) reached out unsolicited; ready to promote in Texas, bring models, and activate venues.
    • C-Stacks to surface model options (noted specific model preference); Pacino may provide broader Texas roster.
    • Mother Duck to connect Pacino into the space and coordinate details via call.
  • Merch and gifting:
    • Gift bag program with simple, fast-turn items; decide between 50 vs. 100 packages (to be scoped).
    • Collaborate with Order Mutants on pooled swag; hats (prior TX supplier), embroidery, embedded NFC; pilot a points mechanic.
  • Raffle logistics:
    • Winners: Chase and JPEZ get flight, housing, and event entry.
    • Lodging strategy: shared Airbnb, pullout couch options; cost-conscious coordination.

Beer collaboration: “Pink Static” concept

  • Background: A community brewery partner previously produced four UDS-branded flavors with labels. UDS also has a custom 4-can insulated carrier (with ice compartment) branded for events.
  • New initiative:
    • Big Money J wants to produce Pink Static beer leveraging his pink flamingo IP (Order Mutants) and UDS’ brewery contact.
    • Product exploration: pink-colored beer (rosette) vs. cider; verify feasibility with the brewer.
    • Next steps: Scrooge/C-Stacks to connect Big Money J and the brewer; invite brewer to a future space for Q&A and sampling roadmap.

Community growth and holder rivalry

  • Holder competition: John (returning whale) texted his intent to reclaim the UDS top-holder spot from Oliver; pitched as friendly competition to help “mint this thing out.”
  • Messaging from John: “It’s not a competition; it’s a statement,” implying conviction-led accumulation.
  • Action: Tagging/inviting John and Oliver into spaces for engagement; position rivalry as a sales accelerant without toxicity.

Market reality check: NFTs post-hype, AI saturation, and the pandemic effect

  • Article summary (posted): Market volume down >90% from peak; blue-chip liquidity thin; hype era is over; 2026 demands real utility.
  • Historic context:
    • Pandemic-era dynamics (stimulus/unemployment top-ups, lock-down digital demand) drove 2020–2021 mania; 10k mints could net $5–7M; whitelist flips from $300 to $5k common.
    • Today: builder fatigue, AI-driven art commoditization, no-code smart-contract launch tools lowering barriers but not increasing value; serious collectors demand functional utility.
  • UDS takeaway: Sell tangible value and push IRL/utility; merch often easier to sell than NFTs; promote cross-channel (not only spaces).

Tokens, rugs, and bots: a candid assessment

  • Rug meta blueprint (cultural critique):
    • Paid calls, bot inflation, orchestrated pumps, liquidity extraction, then exit—often followed by back-channel token launches while using a public “front” token/community as cover.
    • Allegations re: “throne” token and team wallet removals; “Moonheads” cited as an example where botting aided sell-out and coin push.
    • Observed gated spaces with ~300 “listeners” but almost entirely bots; organizers restrict mics, signaling vanity metrics over engagement.
  • Debate: Should UDS experiment with botting?
    • Proposal: Spend ~$25/day to test if bots meaningfully change outcomes.
    • Counterpoint: Bots don’t mint and hurt credibility; better to invest that $25 in a real person or a conversion-positive action.
    • Tentative: A controlled experiment was floated for “tomorrow” (not finalized); team remains skeptical.
  • Gaming/token design lessons (King Booboo):
    • Avoid a speculative native token; 1–3 whales can nuke charts (e.g., Mafia-themed project case).
    • Prefer in-game currencies tied to stable or external rails rather than a project-controlled speculative token.

Quake XR: AR “perks vs utility” and a no-code platform

  • Perks:
    • AR-enabled statues and digital collectibles; useful for onboarding and showcasing art; “status/display” function.
  • Utilities:
    • Quake XR is building a no-code AR platform (“Canva for AR”), motivated by 8th Wall’s shutdown at end of February; targets Web2 and Web3 customers.
    • Use cases: real estate virtual tours; restaurant menus with scannable AR dish previews; energy drink cans that spawn NFT/brand animations (Entity Energy Drinks collab concept).
    • Offer: Mint 8 Quake NFTs to receive 2 months of free platform subscription.
    • Vision: Seamless brand activations (e.g., scan a UDS can to see a duck come to life in venues; link to music/animations).

Culture, content, and creator segment

  • Spare Parts:
    • Creative direction: building custom briefcases/bags; prepping for a festival; very selective on suggestions.
    • Feb 1 drop announced (“SPU Limbots and FT live” [as heard]); encourages support of real artists.
    • On drama/comedy: expects thick skin; humor ≠ malice; intends to answer snide comments with sharper content; sees collaboration among real builders as the long game.
  • Social dynamics: friction with “Digi,” “Golf,” and “Dirk” over video posts; reiterated that defensiveness often signals wrongdoing.

Wellness, logistics, and life

  • Snow/weather: multiple attendees stuck or delayed; frostbite safety tips; New York street conditions; coffee runs.
  • Health push: sauna, diet, weight loss drive ahead of Texas trip; blue-light glasses recommended to reduce eye strain/dark circles from screens.
  • Travel planning: economy lodging (pullout couches acceptable); group Airbnb likely; proposed cheat-week for Texas BBQ; first-time Texas trips for some.

Philosophy and hard truths from Scrooge

  • On “community”: In practical terms, your community is the cross-project cohort you interact with daily on X—friends and rivals alike. Treat it as one ecosystem; knowledge flows even if you don’t “like” each other.
  • On project reality:
    • Most “projects” lack capital, plans, or deliverables; many founders outsource everything; many devs promising builds have not shipped their own.
    • If you claim a crypto project, be prepared with crypto-level budgets and marketing; otherwise, focus on IRL ventures and real sales.
    • Transparent use of mint funds is essential; founders control wallets—so make a public plan, show books, and ship.
  • On value creation:
    • Stop extracting; reinvest to build income streams and assets (e.g., vans for oil business; property in El Salvador/Bitcoin Mansion concept; fractional community ownership).
    • IRL meetups and deliverables differentiate real communities (e.g., KC/Chop/Cyber API/Chloe example: large group photos, founders present, aligned branding).
  • On time and focus:
    • Spaces are time-consuming; most heavy crypto builders and large investors are not present daily—don’t conflate space clout with business progress.
    • Traders should trade (charts > chatter); founders should build and market; social time shouldn’t replace execution.

Decisions and next steps

  • Texas event
    • Mother Duck to contact Pacino to join a space and schedule a planning call.
    • Replace performance slot with a UDS fashion walk; begin look design and model roster selection.
    • Determine gift bag volume (50 vs. 100); coordinate with Order Mutants on contents.
    • Use prior Texas merch vendors for quick embroidery; embed NFC; stand up basic points pilot.
    • Raffle coordination: confirm Chase and JPEZ travel/housing and on-site schedule.
  • Beer collab
    • Scrooge/C-Stacks to connect Big Money J with the brewery partner; confirm feasibility of pink color beer vs. cider; invite brewer to a space.
  • Holder rivalry activation
    • Encourage John vs. Oliver accumulation as a friendly driver; use tags to pull them into spaces.
  • Quake XR
    • Publish the mint-to-subscription offer; document use cases and onboarding steps; coordinate a UDS demo (e.g., can-scanning activation).
  • Investor relations
    • Triage investor conversations (e.g., $25k–$55k offers) with clear proposals (vans/property/tokenless utility); avoid taking misaligned capital.
  • Community services
    • Formalize Shiny Girl’s consultation rates: $20 (consult), $50 (attend your space), $100 (co-host); enforce pay-to-engage to signal seriousness.
    • Promote the oil business training course; gather interested members; explore pooled support ($500–$1,000 micro-grants) and a $10k van drive.

Open questions

  • Texas date confirmation: which end-of-February weekend is locked for Drunken Lab?
  • Talent: Will Darius attend after all? If not, finalize Pacino’s model roster and promotion plan.
  • Pink Static: Brewer’s timeline, pink color feasibility (beer vs. cider), labeling/IP usage, and launch venue in Texas.
  • NFC/points: What earning/spend mechanics will be live by Texas? How will redemptions be handled?
  • Bitcoin Mansion: Is the next UDS destination post-Texas? What fractional funding model and property targets?
  • Bot experiment: Proceed or pivot? If a test occurs, define success metrics (engagement depth, conversions, real mints) and be transparent about results.

Highlights and takeaways

  • Utility-first era: Market demands practical value; UDS leans into IRL businesses, merch tech (NFC/points), events, and job creation.
  • Texas activation is real: flights, lodging, event set; pivoting toward a fashion-forward showcase with local promoter support.
  • Beer expansion: “Pink Static” has momentum pending brewer feasibility; packaging and UDS-branded carriers are ready-made for activations.
  • AR as a bridge: Quake XR’s no-code platform can onboard Web2 clients (real estate, restaurants, CPG) while powering Web3 collectibles—pragmatic “utility.”
  • Cultural stance: Avoid rug-blueprints and vanity metrics. Build measurable, repeatable, and fundable systems; treat spaces as a tool, not the product.