RTP-area local music and culture

[James Hepler <hepstyle AT gmail.com>]

I'm not a fan of giving music away, although I definitely see your point.  I
believe that if you incur expenses to create something, it's fair to expect
compensation for the goods produced.  Then I see shirts for $15 or $25 for
one color on Gildan and freak out!  It's all about balance.  I think ten
bucks is fair for a CD or a shirt.  We charge $15 for shirts that cost us
$11 to make (full color is spensive).  And I think that's fair.  I think for
me the bottom line is, if you give something away then it is YOU saying your
product has no value.  I don't think that brings people into the fold.  I
could be wrong.

And back to kickstarter, I happily donated money tot he P-90's campaign.  $5
gets you a copy of the EP.  Boom.  Like a presale.

On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 10:21 AM, Joseph Churpek
<joseph.churpek AT gmail.com>wrote:

> Just one man's opinion...  don't ever beg fans for money. In fact... unless
> you can live off it, don't ever even charge for your recorded music.
>
> Gig like crazy. Save gig money. Make your record. Share it with everyone.
> Hopefully you get more supporters and the money will come back in the form
> of people actually attending shows and if they really like you, you can
> start selling other merch like shirts to superfans.
>
> A CD, or record, or tape, or whatever... is two things: 1. A chance to
> share
> your music, that is what it is all about right?. 2. A way to advertise your
> live gig.
>
> Why would anyone put a limit on #1 and #2 by putting a price on it? Why add
> that barrier for potential listeners?
>
> When it comes down to it... if Mump has enough support to get the disc put
> out through kickstarter, good for him. But, rather than worrying about how
> he makes it "fair" for the supporters who paid $25 instead $10... I think
> instead he just needs to thank them until he's blue in the face, and then
> not even charge for his music later. I doubt someone who'd give me $25 to
> make a record would be too upset about me trying to share it with as many
> people as possible.
>
> On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 9:49 AM, Ross Grady <grady AT ibiblio.org> wrote:
>
> > Yep. In more formalized investment environments, the folks who invest
> > upfront expect to get an additional return above and beyond what the
> random
> > shmoes who come along later will get. Kickstarter actually has a blog
> post
> > somewhere aimed at potential project starters which touches on this, but
> > it's clearly not required reading, inasmuch as way too many Kickstarter
> > projects seem to either go the full-charity route, or at the very least
> > seem
> > to place a value on intangibles that's probably way too high in the
> context
> > of the local-music economy.
> >
> > I especially like the ones where, say, small-time local bands who'd be
> > lucky
> > to draw 30 people at the Cave put something like "personal concert at
> your
> > house!" way up at the top of the prize list.
> >
> > I guess I should write a New Yorker Shouts & Murmurs piece wherein the
> > premium for a $3.00 donation is "I will make and serve you a cup of
> coffee"
> > and for $25 "I will personally take your order and deliver food and
> > beverages of your choice* to your table. (*standard menu items only,
> > please)"
> >
> > On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 9:41 AM, James Hepler <hepstyle AT gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > I just have a philosophical question about this kind of kickstarter
> > > campaign.  I've thought about trying to do one for some stuff, but
> here's
> > > my
> > > obstacle:  If you are going to offer a "free" cd for a $25 donation,
> are
> > > you
> > > going to charge the general public $25 as well?  How do you overcome
> the
> > > potential insult of asking for charity and then offering an NPR style
> > deal
> > > where you end up charging the people kind enough to donate, arguably
> your
> > > biggest fans, more for a product than you plan to charge people who
> > didn't
> > > donate?  I see the liner note thing, but is that really added value?
>  It
> > > doesn't cost you anything, nor is it more work to add a name to a liner
> > > note
> > > or put a name in a song.  And if someone gives $20 they get nothing
> > > tangible
> > > in return?  Someone who gives you $20 at the merch table gets what, two
> > > cd's?  A CD and a shirt?
> > >
> > > I guess this is at the heart of my problem.  All bands are "listener
> > > supported", but I see bands as straight up businesses. I won't go to
> > parker
> > > and otis because they charge 8 bucks for an egg salad sandwich!
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 4:51 PM, Mump <gilbertgeorgeneal AT gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hello. I'm trying to fund my 4th CD through Kickstarter.com. I set a
> > > > goal, if i make it the donations go to my project. if not, not. I
> > > > would appreciate any help. You can donate as little as $1 but every
> > > > bit helps. Thanks.
> > > >
> > > > Here's the link to my project. Thanks everyone.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1693912192/no-hard-feelings-my-fourth-album
> > > > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Der Weg ist das Ziel
> > > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> > >
> > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> >
> -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
>



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Der Weg ist das Ziel