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Dear Letterheads/Pinheads, Letterville residents, and all who make their living in sign/art craft related fields,
SongPainter (sign music by sign people) is a new collection of original music created by folks in the sign craft from across the country.
Many more of you are singers, or play musical instruments, and even write original music. (There are more of you folks than you might imagine.) Coaxing you to contributeto this collection is an ongoing process we are going to continue.
Some of these folks are very shy and are afraid of being critiqued for their efforts. Others are showing skepticism and a few are very protective of their creations. Some are so burdened down with making a living it is hard for them to find time to contribute. And, believe it or not, some just are not warmed up to the Letterhead movement, thinking this is only a “Letterhead thing.” All I can say is that times change, attitudes soften, and new musical sign folks are discovered and invited to share.
Without the help of Steve and Barb Shortreed and this web site, we could not organize a project like this. And since they have been so willing to help us organize and promote this, its only reasonable that any proceeds minus production expenses go into the Letterville Community Chest.
Out of a sign industry consisting of thousands and thousands of people world wide, three people so far have mustered courage to contribute to this collection. And I am happy to announce We Have Reached Our Goal! We have 12 songs, the minimum number we sought.
There is still time to make a musical contribution to this 1st collection. Hurry! We have some clerical things to put in place before SongPainter is available. We have high hopes we will be ready for the 2001-2002 holiday season. We are not finished when the CD becomes available. This is my life's mission, and someone will be there to take over when I am no longer able.
Last year we called for artwork contributions to enhance the CD case. We lost touch with those that we willing to create riginal artwork. Its time to contact me if you are still interested.
At this time I would like to get an estimate of how many may purchase a copy of this collection of original sign music. It might be better to use the voting program than to post your support here. What do you think? We need to establish a suggested contribution price, which depends on mass producing 200 to 500 copies, or the tedious way of one at a time. We don’t want to get stuck with 300 copies.
Steve, if you think we can use the voting poll to get a idea of how many will purchase this CD, let me know.
[ September 25, 2001: Message edited by: Dave Draper ]
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Hey Dave, this will bump this up...got my original and a copy of Songpainters from Joe yesterday..thanks Joe..great stuff..I had it playing the rest of the day..the customers that I had yesterday liked it too, tapping their feet and singing along. I could be good for a dozen copies at maybe $10 - $12 bucks a crack.
Ya'll have a nice day! Dave
-------------------- Dave Ginley Ace of Signs Selinsgrove, Pa. www.aceofsigns.com
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In response to your e-mail YES I got the "Duck Soup"edition in time to be played off and on on Saturday all day.Seems evryone liked it,including the ones lettering the DJs trailer.As the ever so popular cook book,these would make for GREAT Christmas gifts!Put me down for 5 or so.
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Congratulations to Dave and everyone else who participated in this project. Barb and I would love to see all proceeds from the sale of this CD go to the Red Cross in the name of all Letterheads.
We can do the poll thing. How would you like the question worded and do you need a yes and no or just a yes?
[ September 25, 2001: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
Some way, some how, we need to get a close estimate how many CD's to burn or commercially press. If we have enough requests, the lables can be screen printed.
Also might ask if $12.00 plus packing and shipping is a reasonable price.
To avoid USA / Canada shipping problems, we need to have someone in each country distribute the copies. We could distribute to the USA, someone else needs to distribute in Canada, someone else in Australia and Great Britian.
Years ago it cost $1500 to press 500 CD copies. (I dont have that kind of money,) gulp! So we gotta figure out some kind of pay in advance when we get a little closer to the mass production of these.
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I am a drummer, & of all the musical projects over the decades I have never been on a single track on a CD. Although it is just a hobby, and one that gets very little of my time, I would be stoked to get a track submitted for volumn 2 down the road.
As for your immediate plans, I'd say your a very optimistic guy to be asking for more songs still, and not having artwork begun, or even artist commitments, yet you plan to have these ready for gift giving in 90 days. But I'm sure you can if you go for it!
My thoughts are that almost anyone who would pay $12, would pay $15 (especially with Steve's suggestion of proceeds to Red Cross)So, instead of you having to ask for pre-sales agreements to save yourself from putting out $1500 bucks, get $125 INVESTMENTS for each of 12 songs. Use the additional $3 each on 500 CD's to reimburse these funds to the artists. If they all sell no one has to "pay to play", but if they do end up paying a little I know for most of us hobby musicians, it won't be the first time or the last.
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Doug! A drum song??? I LOVE it. I can see it now - "Wipe-Up". I could add some bass and surf guitar, it'd be a new classic. SongPainter 2002 wants YOU!
For the project at hand, Draper is still finishing one more that I know of and Pierre's kid(s) had something in the works we keep hearing. We'll get them on if they arrive before deadline, but what Dave is saying is we have a viable album NOW. The artists are definitely committed, we're just leaving the lid on loose for last minute additions.
Artwork is not a time breaker - as long as someone steps up soon they'll have a few weeks to submit it. Anything from a PKing splatter to an Adrienne mural will work. Lets hear from some of you who didn't submit songs to help with the cover please. If there's a lot of volunteers maybe a drawing would be a fair way to select the cover artist. Personally I wouldn't want to see the cover be a contest. Just pick someone and trust them and accept what's submitted graciously.
As to raising the production money, as one who has put a TON of time into this already I surely hope people wouldn't expect the musicians to fund it too. None of us are making a dime on this, in fact it's already cost a few bucks in studio costs, CDs, and overnighting demos around, not to mention (the already mentioned) considerable time invested. I understood the proceeds would help bolster Letterville. If Letterville wants to donate the proceeds to the Red Cross, all the better. God bless your humanity. Now lets get this sucker printed!!!
Here is a web site that offers CD duplication services. If you click on this link you will see just how much it costs for a minimum of 99 CDs, jewlel cases, yada yada yada.
With all things considered, including mail costs (stamps & packageing) it could cost close to $7.00 for each CD in USA dollars. Thats $700.00 out of pocket expense for sombody to come up with.
$14.00 USA would be a resonable price. But we need 99 confirmed requests.
Anybody have a better idea? Nows the time to let us know.
posted
Hey Dave how we doing today?? On the duplication issue I know you only get what you pay for but check out www.dischounds.com, I got an online quote of $485. for 100 including jewel case, color inserts, booklets, shrink wrap, and shipping to my location from where I do not know. I'm checking out another option also we have a Warner/Electra CD manufacturing plant not far from here that does duplication.
Dave
-------------------- Dave Ginley Ace of Signs Selinsgrove, Pa. www.aceofsigns.com
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I've got a cover design I worked on earlier, but it got dropped by the wayside during the summer, so I'm getting it finished and I'll send it to Dave. Probably have it done in a few days. I woulda enjoyed being on the cd , but couldn't get it together for this one. Maybe the next one.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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Bump. C'mon people. This is a no-brainer. With the proceeds going to Red Cross, it should be part of your music library. But we need your commitment now to get the ball rolling. I wonder if a special link might be set up for folks to submit an order form, or if some adaptation of the Poll utility might be able to track orders. Steve, can you help? Lets get those clicks in!
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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i have started writing a song from my original idea "Song Painter". when i finish, all that is left is to go into the studio and cut it with my band.
am i too late and when will you send the songs to press.(CD's)????
another question... are these 12 songs so far recorded by 3 sign people or are there more folks contributing? i think it would be good to have each artist to contribute one song in order to get diversity and musical styles.
seems it would sell better, I'm just thinking out loud, please excuse me. just food for thought. feedback please.
mark
[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]
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I'm interested in a cd. Would getting the money up front from everyone that wants one help?
-------------------- Lee & Paula Iverson United Graphics Sign Co. Kingsford, MI piverson@chartermi.net Posts: 30 | From: Kingsford, MI USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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Debbie Delzell
unregistered
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Dave, I want two. So where do we send the money? Money now and CD's later is fine with me. Thanks, Debbie
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There is still time to contribute to this collection. You got a month. But even if you miss out, we are going to start on the next CD.
There are only 3 people who have contributed songs thus far and if Mark gets his under wraps there will be 4.
Just FYI, I have had at least a dozen people contact me to see if they could contribute, then they just never did. We hope they will see how neat a project this is and get in on the next CD.
Those contributing are not getting paid, and any money left over after expenses goes to the Letterhead Web Site...and then that money will probably get donated to the Red Cross.
My biggest fear is that very few will believe we really have something here. WE DO! This collection of music is well written, well executed, and even fun to listen to. It contains folk, rock and easy listening songs. Some have words, some are instramentals. Maybe next year the intramentals will have words too.
I know its asking a lot to buy a CD of music you haven't even heard. That is why we have sent demo copies to a several Letterhead meets. Even sent one to Sign Builder Illustrated who liked it well enough to mention it in the September 2001 issue...(wasn't my idea)
Next, I think will have to have a "pay in advance" system in place, then ship the CDs when they are pressed.
Steve, we may need a link to download an order form, oneorder form for USA and one for Canada. We also need a trustworth contact in Australia and the United Kingdom. That way you can order from with in your own country and all we have to do is ship one package of CDs to each country instead of individual mailers.
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