About this project

Update 4/15/11:

WooHoo: I'm funded!!!!

Whoops: I'm so happy to be funded, but... I forgot to include shipping and tax for the CDs I'm ordering!!! Doh!

I can't believe I did that! I'm usually so detail oriented. Well, I did it and it's the bed I made, right? Having said that, whatever the outcome I will make it work. Whether it's forgoing spine labels, ordering fewer, etc. 

But if you look at the CD tally you'll see I didn't include those charges. SO, should there be any remaining potential backers out there, I'm just putting it out there: Shipping is $160 and Tax is $113.75.

If you'd like to verify these charges I can send you information so that you can see it directly on the DiscMakers web site. 

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed! Like I said, I'll make it work and you WILL get your CDs and other rewards!

~Debby

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All pledges go through Amazon Payments, so it's 100% safe!

And I think you deserve all of the information you can get. So please read my proposal, as well as watch the video. This way you will be able to preview the entire album and get a full picture of what I'm trying to achieve. Fee free to contact me here if you have any questions. :)

Hello, potential benefactors! Wow, where do I begin? The last few years have been an amazing whirlwind for me. I went from secretly playing and recording songs on an ancient tape recorder in my bedroom, to getting a musical residency at a California Regional Park, FINALLY saving enough to record my first professional studio album and then signed a small deal (I'm grateful, but it's not the kind with financial backing, unfortunately!) with the guys who discovered and managed Lynyrd Skynyrd for 21 years. Things should be great, right? Well, they are and I'm thrilled except for one little issue: I still haven't any cash for CDs! 

Here's my humongous, gargantuan, seemingly insurmountable problem: I need enough professional quality CDs pressed to sell in stores, at shows, and online. To save enough money to actually press the CDs I need would take...well, let's just say way longer than I have! 

Why this is so urgent

1. I'm playing a festival on May 7th/8th where I will need CDs to sell. I'm seriously running out of time!

2. Not having CDs drastically cuts down on the revenue I could be bringing in.

3. A few local stores have agreed to sell my CDs- That don't exist! I need product to give them.

4. I have yet to hold a quality copy of my CD in my hands. 

5. Not having nice CDs make me look kind of silly, quite frankly! 

What it's going to take

Below is a breakdown from www.DiscMakers.com of what I'll be getting for my target amount. It's easy for you to visit the site and see for yourself that these charges are accurate. Remember, these are professional quality CDs that I can use to help remedy my problem of being financially challenged! 1000 units may seem like a lot, but I can sell them forever. They will never expire, they will never go out of style! Plus, at this amount they're less expensive, my profit is better and the total price is only around $300 more than if I ordered 500. Makes sense!

Just a few points about the price: These CDs are 'replicated' and not 'duplicated.' Basically duplicated is like you would make at home on your PC. The quality isn't as high and they won't play everywhere. But 'replicated' solves both problems. Many stores will only carry replicated discs for this reason which is why I'm going this route. 

The spine label is another deal-breaker for stores. This is the sticker on the end (that's hard to pull off! hehe) that allows the CD information to be read from the top. 

And finally, I've chosen Digipaks and not jewel cases. First, they are more environmentally friendly. And secondly they don't break and travel better. This is a must when your investment is important. 

Enough chit chat. Here's the breakdown!

Cost for CDs: $1160.00 

+ $200 in Amazon and Kickstarter fees 

Grand Total: $1360.00

Breakdown of CD replication and printing charges

• 1000 AUDIO CDs 4 Panel Digipak
• Customer Supplied Design
• Full Color
• Color On-Disc Printing
• Clear Tray
• Matte UV Finish
• Right Tray Inside
• Poly Wrap
• UPC Code
• Spine Label Stickers ($150 setup fee)

Estimated Production Time From Proof Approval: 10 Business Days. This does not include pre-approval handling or processing time. 

Should I go over my target goal I would

I. Enlist the help of a professional graphic designer from Disc Makers to help enhance the cover art I already have ($490)

2. Purchase a vinyl banner to hang up when I play so everyone knows who I am ($80)

3. Get a new mics, mic stands and another PA speaker ($200ish)

In Conclusion

It's pretty expensive to be a musician when you get into the professional realm. Unfortunately, I have no financial backing from anywhere and still have to live (how come no one told me about that part?? :). Having attractive merchandise to sell will help me help myself, provide a domino effect of income, provide additional advertising and make me look even more professional.

The bottom line is that a recording artist/musician not having CDs is kind of like a tree without any limbs. It sorta looks like a tree...but it's just wrong! Ok, bad analogy. ;) 

I do hope you find my proposal a worthy one and find the inspiration to help contribute!

THANK YOU for your time!!

~Debby

PS! Here's a little video from the studio while recording Winter Trees: Christian Ward tracking violin for my song 'Again', Eric Uglum engineering and me behind the camera. We were at Eric's studio, New Wine Recording Studio. This was an amazing moment!