Thanks for clicking that link and for your interest in supporting my music. Just because I’m an independent artist doesn’t mean I can do it all on my own. So thanks very much for learning how you can help.
Non-monetary ways to support
Word of Mouth: Are you part of an old-time community? A folk music community? Do you know people who work at venues? Who book concert series? Who run banjo camps? Who run festivals? Do you know a radio DJ? Never underestimate the value a recommendation from a trusted friend can have!
Share: I don’t use social media because I don’t think it’s very good for me. But if you do, and you feel compelled to share my news, I’ll only be grateful! (Also – if you capture pictures or videos of me out in the wild, please upload them here!)
Art and Commerce
Making music costs money. There’s no way around it. Like everything I do, I try to make music as simply as I can. So far I’ve self-recorded all my albums, booked and routed all my own tours, and generated grassroots marketing. In turn, I like to offer accessible content to my fans: free tutorials for the banjo players, soothing sounds for the listeners, and for the thinkers – hopeful contemplations about the virtue of simplicity in a sustainable future.
But the realities of the music industry make producing and promoting music a financial hurdle that independent artists like myself must clear. Whenever you hear a song on the radio or Spotify, see a concert poster hanging, scroll by an add for new music on social media, or you read an article about an artist… money was spent on behalf of that artist.
Getting Involved
Where does the money come from? It could come from a record label, but I don’t want a label fronting my costs only to spend the next 5 years paying them back. It could come from a Kickstarter campaign, but I don’t want to guilt-trip anyone into spending money if they can’t afford it. Where then… could it come from?
As I understand it, some folks do have money to invest, and they actively want to spend it by supporting the arts. Even though I’m not comfortable asking all my fans for financial support, that doesn’t mean that I’m not extremely grateful when people decide to make an investment in me. Like everyone, I will get by with a little help from my friends! Together we can champion the ideals required for that sustainable future.
The Impact of Your Support
I’ve listed here many aspects of making music that require funding. All things I’ve done myself for years, but now I’m starting to build a team of collaborators. If you are in the position to make a donation, please get in touch and let me know if there are specific actions listed below you’d like to support. Eventually, I will follow up with you and show you exactly what your contribution allowed me to do. Donations can be made with the payment links below, or let me know and I’ll tell you where a check can be sent.
Recording Music:
– Paying the studio and musicians
– Hiring engineers for mixing and mastering
Making Records:
– Supporting visual artists and graphic design for the package
– Paying for vinyl and CD production
Getting Music Heard:
– Hiring someone to get my music in the hands of radio DJs
– Working with a team to get tracks onto popular streaming playlists
Generating a Buzz:
– Investing in a PR campaign to build interest among music blogs, magazines, and podcasts
– Hiring a local PR coordinator to get the music featured in local-interest publications
Touring and Booking:
– Hiring a booking manager to land the kinds of gigs my fans truly want to attend
– Paying for travel, lodging, and food