Recording a CD, Kickstarter...First Hurdle Overcome

Wow, what a fun 48 hours this has been.  From about this time two days ago and seeing the story about Kickstarter.com on the local evening news to today, I have been though a wild wave of excitement.   Now the idea of a recording project can finally begin to take shape.    Last night, my dear friend and colleague, pianist Tim McReynolds beat me to the punch and said he was "available" to record.  I was planning on calling Tim today or tomorrow to discuss the idea with him, so I guess the timing couldn't be better.

After a phone conversation this morning, he is on board with the project.  We both talked about the Schubert recital that we did, more than 10 years ago and I think that we both would like to revisit the work together now.  I am really, really excited.  I get off the phone with him, having discussed trying to use Kickstarter to help with the fundraising.   I told him that the next, and what in my estimation one of the most difficult steps of the process, I needed to find a way on to Kickstarter.com, since it is invitation only!

So, what does any smart person do, who wants to find an invitation to an exclusive website do?   I Googled, Kickstarter Invitation.  This came up with lots of invites that people were giving away (or at least a handful) in blogs and message boards.  Most of these invites had already been claimed, by others.  All of these invites were 3-8 months old.   This was not going to do!  I decided to try my search again, but this time only look for results within the last week.   I stumbled on to two possibilities.  The first one was a on a movie production site.   He had only posted a couple of days ago, but really seemed to be looking for other people trying to produce movie projects.   I emailed him anyway, hoping for a response, but as of now I have not heard back from him.

The second person I find on Emptees.com.  He has made a comment to a thread:

What is my favorite animal????   Ugh, I have no idea what my favorite animal is.   I click on the guy, and after going to his profile on the site it leads me Kevin at Top Shelf Records.  Kevin is basically the graphics design guru for the operation....check out some of his work, it is really cool stuff.  Anyway...I think, what the heck I should send him an email, maybe I can get this invite from him.  This is what I sent:

Kevin,

     I was hoping that you could help me out.   I found your website via a post that you made on Emptees.com where you mentioned that you had a couple of Kickstarter invites available.    I would love to at least float my project by you, in hopes that you might be so kind as to help me out with getting on the site. (paying it forward, so to speak)  I am a professional opera singer.  At the beginning of the year I set three major goals for my life for 2010.  Move to Germany to further my career, do an east coast recital tour (to help me fund my move to Europe) and to finally record my first CD.  

     When I first tell someone that I am singer, I usually get one of two responses, "Sing for me!" or "Do you have a CD?"  At some point, I would love for the answer of the second question to finally be a resounding "YES, yes I do..." instead of "No, unfortunately not, because...(insert lame excuse here)."   I also have several friends and colleagues that have recorded, and even a couple of Grammy winning colleagues.   I have patiently waited for "my turn," but I have finally drawn the line in the sand and want to make this year the year that I finally get the first recording done.   

      As you understand from your work in design and with bands, independent projects have a difficult time getting off the ground, mostly because of them being cost prohibitive.  Recording classical music is right there.   I have the people, the repertoire, basically everything in place...but to have a way to fund the project, that is really the only think holding me back.    When I learned about Kickstarter the other day on the news and did a little reading, the light bulb went off in my head.   It is as if  the big padlock on the door was finally cut off and I am able to procede with my dream, of recording, and leaving my legacy.   The idea that I can use the site to organize my efforts and spread the word through my large community of friends, colleagues, family, and patrons around the country so that they too can have a hand in my project is very exciting.

Anyway, thank you for listening to my rambling on and on.  I would love it if you would consider me for one of those invites that you have for Kickstarter, assuming that you still have them.  That would really, really make my day!

Thanks for your time,

Bryce

PS  favorite animal....Ibis, because of the curved beak and I can't figure out if the plural of ibis is "ibi" or "ibises"

 

Well....30 minutes later....Voila....I must have said the magic words, because....I got my invite! The first hurdle of my recording project is behind me....now to finalize the proposal!