"What if this is the last show you ever play?"
I asked myself this question one snowy night in Pittsburgh at a show in Squirrel Hill. It was right around my birthday in 2016. The stage fright that started after my mom passed away had only been getting worse; I was ready to hang up my hat and take a break. My first live show was in 1996 and I'd been touring or performing in some capacity since then.
I made my set list and played the songs I would play if it was my last show. It was an awesome night. I relaxed. I breathed into it. I let go.
Which brings me to now.
The news can be dire. There seems to be trouble afoot everywhere I look. But now is not the time to surrender to the grief. To hopelessness. To doubt. Now, more than ever, artists are needed to rise up and do their part to bring comfort, passion, love, a voice of the resistance, rage, hope and even despair.
Daniel Marcus and I took THE set list from THAT snowy Pittsburgh night and set to work. We hunkered down in his studio late at night after his daughter was asleep and before his new baby was born.
We worked with several trusted musicians and friends who respected our vision and helped me get the sound I envisioned.
It's almost done. I saved up and paid for it up to this point, but I hope you'll join me in paying the folks who are helping me finish this album.
These are my "I don't want to quit music without playing these songs live one more time" songs. This album made me fall in love with art all over again. I hope they'll make you happy (and sad and mad and hopeful) too. Thank you for being part of this project.
This goal includes payment for production of the CD (aka: paying Dan for all of his hard work), mastering with Maria Rice, CD artwork (I am making a very limited number of physical copies - pre-ordering here is your best chance of getting one), and fees for Kickstarter.
Stretch Goals -
I will break even with the $10,600 goal, meaning all the other artists and the co-producer and the masterer will be paid.
MARKETING/PROMOTION: I'd love to hire a professional who can help me promote this album for radio and film work. I estimate an additional $3000 for this.
PAYING MYSELF: It's funny... I feel weird asking to get paid. I can't exactly count the hours I have spent working to create these songs, because they are part of the fabric of my life. I'd love to be able to pay myself for my work on this project. And I'll take anything beyond the $13,600 mark as payment for myself. (PS - this is Frances. Hi everyone! I am very excited about this FREAKIN' AWESOME album, and Judith deserves equal pay for equal work! Woot! Show some green!)
Oh. My gosh, Frances.
Thank you!!
Love, Judith
Risks and challenges
I purposefully waited until we had the album recorded and almost finished before launching this campaign. It's already made and with your help, we can get it digitally distributed and in your hands.
I'm not sure what risks there might be, but the sound is a little different from what I've done before so maybe there's a chance you won't like it? (this little box is asking me about risks and Frances and I both agree that there are few risks. It's already done so as long as I can pay Daniel, visual artists, and our mastering engineer fairly, we're good!)
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Funding period
- (24 days)