To create one FIRST CLASS, BROADCAST-QUALITY pilot episode of a country music variety show for development on TV and Internet! Read more
To create one FIRST CLASS, BROADCAST-QUALITY pilot episode of a country music variety show for development on TV and Internet!
About this project
My idea is to make a weekly, televised country music variety television show right here at NIED'S HOTEL... right down in the bar, in front of a live audience. I'd be the host. The Beagle Brothers, the Architects of the Bloomfield Sound, have signed on as "House Band." And for our first special guest star, we've got none other than the 10th Ward Treasure Herself, the Rose of Saint Kieran's, Molly Alphabet.
The show would bring you lots of Classic Country Music... Western Swing, Honky Tonk, Mountain Gospel, Bluegrass, even a little Rockabilly thrown in now and then. Plus original compositions by me, the Beagles, and the guest stars. We'd showcase both local artists and nationally tourin' acts.
I'm teamin' up with a Grammy Award winnin' sound recordin' engineer, Dino Gabriel DiStefano, who will produce the pilot and the series. Dino worked as mixing engineer on WQED TV's "Live from Studio A" series. His recordings at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild were Grammy nominated and Grammy winning projects. Dino is very excited about producin' the show and he's already got a fabulous workin' relationship with those Beagle Brothers. He produced their last three full-length albums!
Above: A short documentary by Frank Ferraro about Slim!
Now... an undertakin' of this nature would ultimately require significant commercial sponsorship. We're comin' to you on Kickstarter right now to fund one pilot episode. ONE FIRST CLASS, BROADCAST QUALITY PILOT... which we can then take to prospective sponsors, major foundations, non-profits, and other deep pockets. And we'd pitch it to local television production teams and even go for national syndication. But in addition to these traditional routes we would also fully exploit the many new and innovative distribution options available in cyberspace.
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Risks and challenges
Our Kickstarter Campaign has addressed a significant risk at the outset by selecting a realistic goal of funding just ONE pilot episode of our proposed weekly televised variety show. The risks and challenges involved in this discreet, focused project are small compared to those we will face once we have completed the pilot episode and move to the next phase of pitching it to prospective commercial sponsors, major foundations, non-profits, television production shops locally and in other media markets, and even try for national syndication.
The risks and challenges we face at this initial, pilot phase, which we intend to fund with our Kick Start monies, primarily involve the health and availability of the principal people, namely, the producer, Dino Gabriel DiStefano, and the host of the show, Slim Forsythe. All other personnel (even "key" personnel) could be replaced by adequate substitutes without derailing the project. Both Dino and Slim currently enjoy good health and have made this project a top priority. Both have set aside adequate time over the Summer of 2014 to finish the pilot episode. Much work has already been done on writing the episode. And the House Band and Guest Star have performed numerous times over the last several years with Slim Forsythe. Slim performs frequently at Nied's Hotel and has a strong relationship with the owner and proprietor, James Nied, who is completely behind the project.
Another risk might involve the contemplated venue, Nied's Hotel, in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. Barring any unforeseen catastrophe, we anticipate the continued existence of the building, the restaurant, and the live music venue.
Another risk might arise if the pilot episode were to prove more expensive than we anticipate. This risk will be minimized by careful budgeting and aggressive use of in-kind contributions. Even a substantial "cost overrun" would not terminate this project. Enough people have a stake in its successful completion to remedy any shortfall, either on a temporary or permanent basis. And both the Producer and the Host would do all within their power to complete the pilot episode in the unlikely event that lack of funds threatened to halt production.
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Rewards
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Pledge $5 or more
6 backers
Prairie Dog Level:
One MP3 download of "Why Can't I Get Duquesne on this Sad Lonesome Train," Slim's original song recorded with the Beagle Brothers, produced by Dino Gabriel DiStefano.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $15 or more
6 backers
Jack Rabbit Level: The MP3, plus one suitable for framin' autographed photo of Slim and the Beagle Brothers!
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $25 or more
28 backers
Coyote Level: The MP3, plus two suitable for framin' autographed photos of Slim and the Beagle Brothers + Slim and Molly Alphabet!
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $75 or more
13 backers Limited (27 left of 40)
Whitetail Deer Level: Slim Forsythe's Greatest Hits (10 songs) on MP3 on a cowboy themed USB Flash Drive, plus a cowboy hat signed by Slim!
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $100 or more
4 backers Limited (96 left of 100)
Antelope Level: The MP3, the photos, plus a guided tour of the Slim Forsythe Museum at Nied's Hotel!
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $200 or more
7 backers Limited (13 left of 20)
Buffalo Level: The MP3, the photos, the guided tour, PLUS: 2 reserved seats with dinner for two on Saturday July 19th, between the hours of 11am through 5pm in the DINING ROOM.
Buffaloes can watch the TV show being made LIVE via two wide screen TVs and may be able to stand and watch in the BAR ROOM (space permitting).
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $300 or more
7 backers Limited (7 left of 14)
Grizzly Bear Level: The MP3, the photos, the guided tour, PLUS: 2 reserved seats with dinner for two on Saturday July 19th, between the hours of 11am through 5pm in the BAR ROOM!
Grizzly Bears will be in the actual room where the TV show is made!
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $750 or more
3 backers Limited (2 left of 5)
Mountain Lion Level: A live performance by Slim Forsythe in your very own home -- anytime in 2014! PLUS the MP3, the photos, the guided tour, and 2 reserved seats with dinner for two on Saturday, July 19th, between the hours of 11 am through 5 pm in the BAR ROOM.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $2,000 or more
0 backers Limited (2 left of 2)
Palomino Level: The Ultimate Slim Forsythe Experience! A live, in home concert featuring Slim Forsythe, the Beagle Brothers and Molly Alphabet! PLUS: 2 reserved seats with dinner for two on, Saturday July 19th, between the hours of 11am through 5pm in the BAR ROOM, front row, right in the middle of the action when the TV show is being filmed!
DOUBLE PLUS: the MP3, the photos, and the guided museum tour!
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world
Funding period
- (60 days)
