Creating original music about signs by sign people was an idea hatched here several months ago by the "musical" people here in Letterville.
The idea is three fold in purpose.
1. Provide an outlet for those sign people who have a musical side to get their original music to a listening audience. It also provides those arty sign people a chance to make artwork for a poster and CD cover.
2. The proceeds of the sale of the CD or Cassette would go to the Letterville Community Fund for City Improvements. As soon as we have a working collection of 10 to 12 songs, Mayor Shortreed and his lovely wife Mayor Barb can then promote the collection.
3. Those who love to listen to music while they work would now have some "sign" related music to pump them up and get them through the day. It has to be a plus to know that the ones who made the music are the ones you see posting on this board.
Are WE READY! CAN WE STILL DO THIS?
Do you need a little more time? A quality collection is worth waiting for.
If your are working on a song contribution or on artwork, please sign in below. If you need some more time, let us know.
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA Be Sure to Check Out My Next Article On "Sign Shop Photography" in the March Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
[This message has been edited by Dave Draper (edited April 02, 2001).]
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Joe Rees, it might just be you and me on the CD.....yikes!
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA My Next Article In The April Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated covers step by steps on "digital airbrushing" YOU CAN DO! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
No Dave, there were others. and I'm pretty sure I heard Mark Fair commit. Something about as soon as his biscuits were done...his keyboard player got over his owie...and the dance band on the Titanic came marching home. But I definitely heard a commitment in all that tapdancing. Oh, he might need a couple more weeks too. Mark???
For myself, all set. I can send them just about anytime. Two songs totaling around eight minutes. I think you're (all) going to like it. I sure had fun and learned a lot doing it. I just acquired a large diaphram condenser microphone that trashes my former vocal mic - so I want to re-do the vocal tracks. Then do a couple test mixdowns to CD so I can sample them on a variety of stereos to check for consistancy. I'm hoping to give a product that Pierre can do final mastering on without too many headaches. Give me about one more week to wrap it all up. I can't wait to get the CD. Who else is contributing???
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA My Next Article In The April Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated covers step by steps on "digital airbrushing" YOU CAN DO! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
Hey look who showed up...I feel bad I didn't hit the deadline I can give you an excuse... 1. Broke my right hand in January 2. very heavy workload 3. Broke my left hand three weeks ago I do have a song written..I have made arrangements to record it.. I'll try to get it by the end of April if your of a mind to delay a few more weeks..if not put me in with Mark on the next on... Now if I can only keep my hands out of harms way.....
Dave
------------------ Ace of Signs Selinsgrove, Pa. www.aceofsigns.com
I think everyone is running a little late. If you think you can still work something up, please try.
If my figures are right we only have 6 songs at this time. We really need 10 to 12 in the collection.
I have 2 and working on 1 more (C. Nordby's song) Joe Rees has 2 Pierre's Kids have at least 1
We are half way there! We can Still do this!
So we have a ways to go, and I realize its very hard now to find spare time as the sign season is upon everyone.
In view of this, let's all just take some more time and keep this project alive.
We need to keep in touch with each other, encourage each other because this is no easy task we have undertaken. Its hard! Its supposed to be hard, that is what makes this project so special. Only a handful of sign makers have what it takes to contribute. This makes the project very rare and unique.
One thing we all have to do is take a few minutes every day to sit down and practice, whatever instrument we play. Keep searching for a recording studio or do what Joe Rees is doing (using his computer to record his song.
And to the new ones looking on, if you are in the business of making signs or related area of sign work, and can write an original song, have it recorded so it sounds professional, you can still get in on this project.
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA My Next Article In The April Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated covers step by steps on "digital airbrushing" YOU CAN DO! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
[This message has been edited by Dave Draper (edited April 11, 2001).]
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dave, should we leave these CDs "as is" or should be put 1/2" MDO backing on them? Hm??
gotcha!
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
Dave, I am sorry you are having trouble with my 'song'. Is it the part about the Roland doing the twist and shout that is giving you problems? I was thinking in terms of blues, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt or Boz Skaggs type music with those lyrics. But I am sure you are doing fine. Dang......wish I could play the guitar. I would give it a try. I can't wait to hear all the great Letterhead music!!
posted
Same here, got a great song, I think, and ready to put it on tracks. Got two of my former bandmates that are going to help me, but right now having a hard time finding a studio within driving distance. Checked one out last week, but they only record for Gospel groups etc. With a little more time, I might be able to get it done. I'll try very hard.
------------------ John Deaton III Deaton Design 109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
posted
Anyone using a 2" 24 track machine recording at 30ips, just ship the raw tracks. I'll mix it for you, no charge. I'll return the 2" after the mixdown, if any of this helps you.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
Hey Dave, you still want the songs to be sign related right? You didn't mention that in your last invitation for new viewers to consider contributing.
It was good to see a new head count on this project. John and Ace, please hang in there. Mark, Mark, Mark. What am I going to do with him? I've ribbed him, I've challenged him, I've encouraged him. Do I have to beg? Ok, I'm on my knees typing now...pleeeease Mark, pleeeease, what will it take to get you in on this? Money? You want money? Folding currency? I've got a crisp George Washington with your name on it if you get on board right now! That's right, cashola. Greenbacks (actually green-BACK, as in ONE, hey, I'm not wealthy) Betcha don't make THAT kind of bread workin in your whoop-te-do 'band' on the weekends. And all you got to do is put in a crummy twenty hours or so of writing and producing a masterpiece to shut me up. So, take it or leave it, that's my final offer.
posted
Nah. Money won't work with Mark. He's got it in drawers. A visit from Rocco and Guido would turn the trick!
:^)
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
Cheryl, your song is coming along fine, I just need to be able to play it throgh with out making so many mistakes before I get brave enough to record it.
Joe, you are right, and "new people" ( new to the Letterhead web site) who want to get involved with this project should know the "original song" has to be a sign related theme or an instrumental with a sign related title.
Pierre, Since these CDs are going to be bolted directly to the wall, I suppose a 3/4" MDO backer board would be over kill, but you just never know these days. (the above comment is an inside joke folks, about a continuing argument on proper hanging of a large HDU sign) hahahahaah
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA My Next Article In The April Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated covers step by steps on "digital airbrushing" YOU CAN DO! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Mark, your fifty cents is in the mail. I'm sending it with the 36 cents postage due, ok? "Mazeppa Man" sounds like a fine title. Something to do with buffalo burgers, scalloped potatoes and Big Ass Beer, no doubt. Mark, YOU are the man!
Dave, funny you should mention instrumentals, I was just wondering about that. I have a short, one-and-a-half-minute acoustic one I could send. It's the intro to a song I plan to finish later that won't be about signs at all, but it's kind of catchy and stands on its own. I'll think of what it "feels" like and come up with an appropriate title. So you can check of another 1.5 min. on the timeline. Here we go.
Let me be the first to make the suggestion to move our deadline forward to August 1st, 2001 and see if we are closer to our goal of 12 songs.
This will take some pressure off everyone and maybe Mark can be ready by then.
So does this sound good to everyone?
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA My Next Article In The April Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated covers step by steps on "digital airbrushing" YOU CAN DO! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Good. Lets keep this energy alive. Seriously, I know there are more than 4 of us out there who have musical ideas and play instruments. Those we havn't heard from, if you are holding back because of the expense or mystery of recording, talk to me, Dave, Pierre or Mark - in private if that makes you feel better - about how to get your stuff on tape or CD. Don't even THINK about being shy! Now that the deadline has been extended we have time to do a little edjukatin, or maybe even a collaboration where we could collectively contribute to a worthy project. Then again, maybe we will be too busy, but it doesn't hurt to ask. In fact, there is a web site devoted to just this activity: http://www.artistcollaboration.com/ where there are eager musicians willing to help you get started. A link off that site tells all about turning your existing computer into a powerful multitracking device, which is what I did to record my songs. Wow, it works GREAT! It took me a few days of reading up, then I jumped right in laying down tracks directly into my hard drive. Within hours I had the first draft of my first song, and within a week, it was all decked out with bass, drums and multiple guitar harmonies. That was in January. Today I have not only three original songs for the SongPainter's CD, but four others that are complete, and two in progress. This is FUN.
Related point: I was visiting another sign shop last week of a guy I don't know very well. Before I left, I asked him about his cap which had a Zildjian (cymbal) logo on it. Was he a drummer? No, he was an acoustic guitar player. We will be getting together soon to jam. Point being, I KNOW you're out there - in spades - hiding perhaps? Come forward and take a risk. We will all learn something.
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