Happy Friday and other suggestions

Happy Friday–

this must be a record for me, actually blogging two days in a row. Maybe I’m just tapping on this microphone to see if this thing’s really on. Can you hear me?

I’ve got windows open; it’s sunny out. The starlings came back this morning(I didn’t think they migrated?); also saw a pair of bluejays, and the woodpecker–backyard novelty, noisemaker who prefers the higher altitudes of my long-overgrown pecan tree. Been listening to that Decemberists record, which has become a nice soundtrack for the incoming season. Finally reading the Jonathan Franzen novel, Freedom, some of whose characters’ motives and behaviors are disturbingly familiar. The language has a dryness to it that could be mistaken for artlessness. Though I still have 100 pages left, I think it’s a good book, so much of it speaking directly to us here in our time, in a way few others have. But until I’m done, I’m not going to say any more.

It occurs to me that some of you might not be familiar with the concept of “fan funding”, which is essentially what I am doing with the Gloryland sponsorship campaign. I’ll add a couple of links below that might help. Basically, it is important to know that this is essentially a “pre-sale”–I am NOT asking for charitable donations. For each level of participation, you will receive special goods in your mailbox at some point in the near future. It is just a reversal of sorts–by your pre-ordering the CDs, etc., you are providing much needed capital that will cover the front-end costs of manufacturing CDs, and as much marketing and publicity muscle that can be mustered with the available funds. That capital used to be advanced (read: “loaned”) by the record label, to be later recouped from the artist’s royalties. Though I’ve been on a label, and I’m glad I made those records (because of the exposure they gave me), ten years down the line I can safely say that I’d rather do my own royalty accounting, thanks. Not to mention that little thing about creative control. There may be a time when another arrangement makes more sense, but this is where I am, for now. It lets me be me, and that’s what I think you would want the most. Here are those links–many independent artists (not just musicians) are using crowd- or fan-funding as a way to get their life’s work done and released out into the world. To the many of you who have contributed so far, so generously, I thank you again. To date, you’ve helped raise $2421.76!

http://www.kickstarter.com/

This platform has gotten a lot of attention, and has grown exponentially in the last year.

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2010/06/is-fan-funding-the-future-of-the-music-business/

http://cinematech.blogspot.com/2009/04/great-article-on-fan-funding.html

Just found the articles linked above, that provide a nice overview of the concept, discussing kickstarter and other funding sites.

Let me know if you have any questions–write me: kevingordonmusic@comcast.net

Have a great weekend!