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Update #4: Train Kept A-Rollin' (All Night Long)
If I look tired, it's because I am.
I spent the last almost seven hours cooped up in the recording studio working on five songs, doing everything from overdubs (two songs) to arrangements (two songs) to totally starting and finishing new songs (one song).
This puts me at 11 finished songs for the new album. I'm going to flip once or twice more through the files and make sure there aren't any songs I've forgotten, then I'll move on to phase three, mixing and mastering and packaging the album and sending it to iTunes. This is really exciting for me because for the first time I'll have a new album of all original songs that you guys probably haven't heard, except one song that was on the Second Helpings EP that'll have new vocals, as well as another song that was on Second Helpings but has been totally rearranged (think The Beatles' "Revolution 1" vs. "Revolution").
Anyway, I should start packing things up here so I can eat something and go to bed. I'm really excited for you guys to hear this stuff, and you should be excited, too.
-JB
P.S. You can find more constant updates on my music career etc. at my tumblr.
Update #3: VICTORY!
With 35 hours to spare, we reached the $600 goal! I'm offering a general thank-you to all involved, be it through donating or through just spreading the word. The 29 backers will be getting their individual thank-yous in the form of your prizes! Stay tuned in the next couple of days, as you'll be receiving a survey where you can provide your address, what name you want to be thanked under, and other necessary things to get your prizes to you. Some will available sooner than others (I can't send tracks I haven't recorded yet!), but you guys will be in the loop every step of the way!
Love,
Jason
Update #2: You Guys Are The BEST.
Hi!
So we still haven't quite reached the goal, but with just under 3 days left, we're coming extraordinarily close, with $131 left until the goal is reached! Pledges have been coming in left and right in the past couple days, and I can't thank you guys enough for this support. It really means a lot to me that you're as interested as I am in making this happen. Plus I'm more than excited to get you guys those prizes!
With 68 hours to go, I implore you to spread the word about this. My past work has gotten some rave reviews, but I'm in LA now; the big leagues. I need this next album to blow everything else out of the water. So please, email/facebook/tweet everyone you've ever met and tell them to contribute and support independent music!
[Here's a link to a Facebook event you can easily share with others: https://www.facebook.com/events/216652891762685/]
Again, thanks so much. You guys, as the title says, are the BEST. With any luck, I'll see you on the other side of the finish line!
Love,
Jason
Update #1: So Far, So Good.
We're just about a third of the way there! $190 has been raised so far (thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou) and there are still 27 days left to make it to the big $600! I've had a bit of a cold recently and haven't done much singing, but have done plenty of writing and arranging for the album, and what I've got so far is pretty mind-blowing. There's at least a decent chance that this is the album that's a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
Meanwhile, I'd like to call on you to help spread the word; help a friend out! I know I've promised some awesome rewards for the pledgers, and I want to give out those rewards, but if I can't reach the goal then it's all null and void and totally lame. So send the link to the page to everyone you've ever met and even some people you haven't met. Post it on Facebook, twitter, Google+, myspace, tumblr, blogspot, myface, youface, myyearbook, et cetera et cetera.
I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have, even if they have nothing to do with the album, the project, or me.
Let's do this!
-Jason
EDIT: I just did [almost no] math, and if 6 people could raise nearly $200, then we just need 12-14 more people to make it to $600. Or one really generous person. Or six semi-generous people. Or ten kinda generous people. Or sixty people with ten bucks each.
30
Backers
$620
pledged of $600 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 31.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
The "I'm Ambivalent, But I'm Nice And I Have A Couple Extra Bucks" Package: You will receive a special "thank you" in the liner notes of the physical copy of the CD, under whatever name you choose (anything from 'Robert Smith' to 'The Honorable Judge Doom').
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
The "I'm A College Student" Package: You will receive the aforementioned "thank you" as well as an advanced digital download of the album.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
The "I'm A College Student With Scholarships" Package: You will receive the "thank you" as well as a signed advanced copy of the CD with an emailed link to download exclusive bonus material.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
The "I Am Really Interested In Making This Happen" Package: You will receive the "thank you," the signed copy and bonus downloads, and a ticket to any show of mine.
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
The "I Am Really Good-Looking And Interested In Making This Happen" Package: The aforementioned prizes (except the advanced digital album download), as well as the ability to contribute two lines to a song that will appear on the album (keep it P.C., please!)
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
The "I Am A True Fan And Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking" Package: The aforementioned prizes (except the advanced digital album download), as well as a 1-minute mini-song that can be about anything you want, be it a greeting to a friend, or a "you suck" to your boss.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
The "Is He Really Going Through With This" Package: Everything previously mentioned (except the advanced digital album download), your pick of any previously released CD of mine, as well as well as a 2-3-minute song written about you or someone of your choosing, after providing me a few details about your/their life, which will be emailed to you for you to share.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
The "I Want You (She's So Expensive)" Package: Everything previously mentioned (except the digital album download), CDs of everything I've already released, PLUS: Bay Area/Los Angeles Residents: I will perform at your house or other event of your choosing (this depends on my location, as I split my time between LA and The Bay) Other: A live performance via webcam, where you can pick whatever songs you want me to do, even if it's not one of my songs (please, no rap or Katy Perry/Lady Gaga).
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
The "Big Lebowski" Package: Everything previously mentioned, as well as a customized hand-drawn poster and a CD of me singing six songs of your choosing, even if you wrote them yourself.
Project By
Connected as Jason Berk (1061 friends)
Jason Berk is a critically acclaimed multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter whose music has been featured on renowned radio station KFOG 104.5. He has performed at venues such as Rooster's Roadhouse and San Francisco's legendary Biscuits & Blues club, and he has been a regular guest host on Steven Seaweed's "Bone Up On The Beatles" program on the Bay Area's 107.7 The Bone.
