I try to run these blog posts on Mondays, and I'm writing this one on Sunday evening, 19th April. I'll start by thanking - from the bottom of my messed up heart - all of the kind folks who have supported this project so far.
At the moment, we have $446 pledged out of the goal amount of $3400. Perhaps you are wondering how I arrived at that number... well, here's the breakdown:
- $2000 to press vinyl. (Note that I arrived at this number after shopping around and getting quotes from several companies that press vinyl.)
- $100 materials required to ship albums. This is basically the boxes and packing material so the records don't break when I mail them.
- $500 estimated shipping cost. Each time an album goes in the mail, there is a cost. The farther it goes, the more the cost.
- $180 State of Ohio and Greene County tax. Yes, as a business, I have to pay tax on all sales. Pre-orders count as sales.
- $130 Kickstarter fees. They take a cut, which is how they stay in business.
- $130 processing fees. The folks that handle the fund transfer take a cut, which is how they stay in business.
- $360 promotion. I had planned to split this between having a music video done and sending promo copies of the album to indie radio and music journalists.
All of that adds up to $3400. Note that this amount is only for vinyl. I'm going to have CDs made and will distribute digitally, and am paying for that myself.
So, the deadline for raising the funds is this Friday, 24th April, at the auspicious hour of 07:12. Frankly, it doesn't look likely that we'll make the goal. This is the risk you take when you try to crowdfund during a pandemic. If the goal is not reached, I won't be pressing Anxious Inventions & Fictions to vinyl, short of some sort of art grant. That makes me a little sad, as I would love to see Megan Fiely's beautiful artwork on a vinyl album cover, and I'd also love to hold my own music in my hands on wax. Buy hey, the market is speaking, it is what it is.
If you were on the fence about supporting this project, what can I do to move you off the fence? (This is, of course, assuming you are still gainfully employed. These days, I understand that many people are not.) Would hearing the first single from the album help? Ok, you'll all end up hearing that one anyway eventually, yes. Well, did you know I wrote a song called "Wapakoneta" (yes, like city) that isn't on the album? It has an Americana feel... I tried to write a Jason Isbell song... and yes, I know that's not the sandbox I usually play in. I'm going to make that song an exclusive bonus for anyone who backs this project. Have anyone in your life who collects vinyl? You know, Anxious Inventions & Fictions would make a great gift for them Also, this would be a way to support a local independent business (namely You Could Be My Aramis Music, LLC), and also, support the arts.
I invite to you kindly take one last look at the rewards I am offering for pledges to this campaign. Also, think about all that time that we'll probably all be stuck in quarantine again this fall/winter, and of how nice it would be to have another black circle to spin.
Again, for the folks who have already backed this project, I know who you all are by name, and I cannot thank you enough. Thank you. I won't forget.