Kickstarter

Good Morning!!!
Good morning!! Six days to go!!....I'm excited, nervous and honored. ANY and ALL Dreamers who pre-orders/pledge Same Something Different this weekend gets free never heard LIVE version of "Alive and Screaming" delivered Monday to your "mailbox" on Monday (Oct. 25th)! This is my favorite live track I have of mine, torn from my secret vault!!

To anyone coming to the page for the first time I am singing a THANK YOU in every minor and major key I know! Down below you will see all the info about where this album is coming from and why on earth you should want to be a part of the making of it....

NEW UPDATE!!

We are not that far from the REAL goal of $20,000. This budget will allow me to make the album in every way I imagine it to be in my mind. It will cover all production costs. The next goal of $25K will allow for a VIDEO and touring.
If we reach $20K, I will throw on an apron and bake cookies (yes, there will
be a mess and photos!) for all the Dreamers who have pledged and send
them to your house, along with a handwritten recipe that was passed down to me.
These will definitely be made with love and will be special
cookies…ok, not THAT kind of special cookie! Also.....ten
names from those who have pledged will be randomly drawn and will be
the first to receive a free exclusive, special edition t-shirt.

And if we reach $25,000 every Dreamer who pledged $25 or more will
receive an exclusive, special edition t-shirt designed by me. This will be the ONLY
way to get this shirt. It will never be sold online or at shows. So PLEASE engage
your friends and get them involved – so everyone wins!
I’m also adding 2 very special pledge packages, and for each there is only ONE
AVAILABLE. So act fast! At the $3500 level you can have my Yamaha keyboard that
was used to write all of these songs! I will sign it, and ship it to you. You will
also receive the signed CD and limited edition T-shirt. Also
for $3500 level you can have the piano that is featured in my video for
“For Someone” as well as the photo shoot from my last album. This one you would
have to arrange for delivery yourself. It weighs a ton and is in Los Angeles!
Also note, that it doesn’t really work and is weathered, but makes a pretty amazing
decoration if you have the space.

REMEMBER, I CAN NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!! These funds will make it possible to get
the album recorded, mixed, mastered and pressed. Not to mention making an amazing
video, promoting, publicizing and touring! If
you have any questions please just email me or leave a comment. If you
have an idea for something you would love to have, something I haven't
thought of, or an offer of any sort I AM OPEN, so just reach out.

"It gets better"...what I can give because of you...

I wish I could do more, but because of you I realized I could do something. Below is a video I made inspired by the "It gets better campaign". I hope it helps. I hope it finds the eyes and ears of someone who needs it. We spoke to the Trevor Project and are honored to give a part of the proceeds from this fund raising effort to the hotline/lifeline designed as a safe place for not only gay and lesbian youth, but all young people who are so lost and misunderstood that they see no purpose to their lives, no way out, no tomorrow. One dreamer lost is one too many. So thank you for letting me be able to live MY dream, just as I come, and for the ability to give back in even the smallest way. Please visit www.thetrevorproject.org for more information.
Here is a link to the video...
Peace, be you, Jake

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Original Post Live your life ‘as if.’
I heard that line in a movie the other night  I understood it in the context of the life of a dreamer.  The power of thoughts, imagining of who you want to be... that person you long to grow into, who feels so natural because they already exist within you. It is like a seed, maybe one you were born with, or somehow picked up along the way, that has been planted in your soil.

And so it has been for me and my career. From the first night stepping onto a stage, slipping out of my shoes to feel the wood floor beneath my feet, resting my hands on the keys to feel their weight... I was growing into the person I was supposed to be, just beginning to tell my story.

The Same Something Different Project

I wrote a lot these two years.  And I lived, the most intense living I've known yet in my life.  I learned, but found new questions. I found love in depths I didn't quite understand existed before. I let a lot go and I let a lot in.  And from all of that, I have these songs.  Every one of them feels like home, painfully beautiful to me.  Every song takes me to that place I know where I am truth, I am my true person.  Every song somehow let's me forgive myself, to know and trust in myself. These songs will become my new album.

To make “Same Something Different,” I am asking for your to become part of the process. I am asking for your faith and support.

I'M REACHING OUT AND PUTTING IT ALL ON THE LINE.  
I don’t want this album to be anything less than how I imagine, anything less than how I hear it in my head. And in order to make that happen, I need to choose the best musicians and studio and producer and team that I can.

I’m asking you to be part of this record. With Kickstarter, you have the chance to help me make the album by buying it early. Your confidence in me will help to guarantee that Same Something Different is recorded and shared with as many people as we can reach. It feels right. I don’t have the backing of a record label. I don’t want to compromise. And you can make this possible.

Building a “Same Something Different” Community
Through Kickstarter we can raise the money to make this album together. I will be sharing video and photos from the process, blogging about each step, introducing my team of musicians to the family I have built on the road. I will be sharing pieces of my life with you, bringing you into the experience of making this all happen.

With this project, you can be involved however you see fit. I know that there are thousands of dreamers out there who “get it” and will be willing to pre-order the album or contribute more by choosing one of the packages here. Much of these items are hand-made. All of the choices are very “me.” You could choose something as simple handwritten lyrics or something more brave, like writing a song together or coming to Los Angeles and skydiving with me.

The Goal
Would you like to make a record with me?  It isn't easy.  Or cheap. To make the record, pay the musicians, studio, producer, presser.  To market an album so people will know it exists.  To tour an album, even out of your old car.  The budget will be anywhere from 20 to 40 thousand dollars. Holy #%^&^%...I know...but its possible, more than possible because WE ARE GOING TO DO IT!

The kickstarter goal only says $10,000 because if we don’t reach that goal, we don’t get ANY of the money. But I know in my heart that the dreamers will be there, will join in, and will bring the total of this project to over $20,000 or $30,000 or even more.

Please spread the word. Share with your friends and family. Help make my dream of sharing this experience and this music into a reality. Without you, none of this would be possible.

Peace,
be you,
Jake

UPDATE!!!
Thank you Dreamers!!
I woke up this morning to see that we have reached our initial goal on Kickstarter!!!....86 Dreamers so far have pledged and now I sit here knowing how very real this is. I hope this inspires you to choose a gift package yourself or to pre order the album, or even post about it to your facebook and twitter and myspace pages. The initial goal was a safe one, but it will barely cover the costs of musicians and studio time...and believe me there is SO much more involved.

WE are going to make this record...no company telling us how to make it, what to sing, what to believe in....now comes the most exciting part and that is reaching the next goal level of $20K. When we reach that goal we will be not only covering the cost of recording, mixing and mastering the album, but also making a video and publicity. Beyond that goal we will be able to properly support a tour of the country and hire radio promoters to climb the charts. So much becomes possible. As I've said before, these songs are the best I have written and I truly believe with your support and faith in me, we will spread this album across the world. How cool is it that YOU are making this possible? How cool are you in general!!!
So share, pat yourself on the back, tell a friend and if you haven't yet, I hope you will make your pledge. For all I am, and all I am not, today I believe because I know I'm not alone, I'm not crazy...I'm just speakin' from my heart and so are you.
Peace, be you,
Jake

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if the money isn’t raised in time?
Unfortunately nothing. If our goal isn’t met before the deadline, no money changes hands and no album is made. We want to make sure that this happens by the deadline so that "Same Something Different" can be recorded

Can we exceed the goal?
YES! What an amazing problem to have. Kickstarter will allow as much money as is given before the deadline. That means that we can cover more than just recording the album... we can set up the tour, duplicate CDs, promote the album, make some merchandise, and share more with people around the world! I can be on a level playing field with artists backed by major labels, but without the loss of creative control.

How do we contact you?
You can contact me directly at jakewaldenmusic@yahoo.com. I try to respond to emails as quickly as I can!

Is this a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization?
Unfortunately, we are not a non-profit. You can't use a donation as a tax write-off. But your support through any of the incentive packages will get you the album, additional items and my undying devotion.
If I donate, when can I get my stuff? All incentives, big and small, will only happen if our goal is met. We plan to record the album very soon and get the recording mixed and mastered. If we do meet our goal, immediately after our deadline we will start to create all of the incentives and we will ship all physical merch directly to you. It will be our priority to schedule the more personal incentives as soon as possible. You
will hear from us.

Who does the money go to?
Every penny (minus the fees for Kickstarter’s involvement) will go directly to me to use to create the album. If we exceed the money we need to get the album created, all those funds will be used to promote the album and bring me to as many cities as I can to tour in support of the album.