Kickstarter

Hi my name is Stephen Simmons,

Most of you know me as a singer/songwriter living in Nashville, TN. I've put out 4 studio albums + 1 ep, plus a couple of live albums all since 2001, most of which have been released on indie labels here in the US and in Europe. I set up my own independent label, Locke Creek Records (named after the the little place in Cannon County where I grew up), and have recorded all my records myself and I've been lucky enough to work with some great producers here in Nashville. But while I've licensed most of my records out to indie labels (who help with distribution, marketing & promotion), all of the recording cost has always fallen on me. And while most of us artists nowadays really love the freedom of recording the way we want, we also are faced with the fact that we have to raise the budget to record on our own. Thus, you'll notice many of us wait years between major releases. Not because we don't have the material, but because we haven't raised sufficient funds. This is also why many of us release eps and acoustic projects in between major full-on studio albums.

This time around I'm partnering with a company called Kickstarter to raise funds for my next studio album. And the way this works is; any of you who want to support my next album, can contribute any amount you want. From 1 dollar up to whatever you wish. There are gift packages for different contributing amounts. However, if you just wish to donate anonymously and aren't interested in gift packages, but just want to help that's fine too. I have two months to raise $5000. Supporters make pledges, and if we reach the goal of $5000 then Kickstarter collects the pledges via Amazon and I start recording. If we don't reach the stated goal, I get none of the funds and pledges aren't collected.

My studio budget for this record is actually going to be more like $8000 (which doesn't count cd design or manufacturing; usually an extra $2000). This is the amount it takes to cover studio time for recording, mixing, and mastering + the musicians. However, $5000 is enough to get the ball rolling and for me to start recording. I hope that we actually raise much more than this (thus putting and album in your hands as early as late summer), but the main goal is get back in the studio and start working on the album I'm aching to make. If support goes above and beyond the actual studio cost, these are funds that I'd put towards additional promotions; hoping to give this album and even better chance to be heard. That would be a blessing, but I'm not gonna get ahead of myself. Goal one is just to get in the studio and start letting some new songs come to life.

Thanks for your support,

Stephen Simmons

www.StephenSimmonsMusic.com

$50 = Advanced signed copy of the new album

~~~

$100 = Advanced signed copy of the new album + 1 cd full of my unreleased acoustic songs (not songs on the upcoming album)

~~~

$300 = Advanced signed copy of the new album + 1 cd full of my unreleased acoustic songs (not songs on the upcoming album) + 1 cd full of me singing acoustic versions of your request, either my own songs or others.

~~~

$600 = Advanced signed copy of the new album + 1 cd full of my unreleased acoustic songs (not songs on the upcoming album) + 1 cd full of me singing acoustic versions of your request, either my own songs or others. And...

I'll bring my guitar and come play a private house concert for you and your friends in your home (or another location in your town if you wish).
*if you live within an 8hr drive (approx. 450 miles) of Nashville, TN.

(note: just for additional travel expenses, below are the two price points if you live farther away from Nashville)

$800 *if you live more than 750 miles from Nashville, TN.

$1,000 * if you live more than 1500 miles from Nashville, TN.

*If you live in Europe, as much of my fan-base does, please contact me directly as to whether I could feasibly play a house concert for you. I would be more than happy to do so on my next European tour, assuming your in a country I can feasibly reach (Ireland, UK, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, etc)

~~~

$2,500 = I will come play a private show at your house (anywhere in USA) and you can come to Nashville and sit in the studio for a day while were tracking the album.