Hi-
First of all, let me say that I'm flattered by the idea that some people, at least, want to hire me

That said, I'd like to put myself on record about a few things:

One, the songs in the DT are not for sale. Not downloads, not searches, not copies, tunes. Not nuthin'. They don't belong to me, and the whole idea behind the DT was to make them available to everyone. At no charge. Period.

Two, I'm opposed (strongly) to imposing a charge for any of the existing Mudcat functions and activities. Likewise for the ones I can foresee. in the immediate future.

Three, I'm uncomfortable when people start talking about contributions in the over-two-digit range. This operation wasn't really set up to be an economic burden to anyone (except, maybe, Max and myself).

Four, I'd dearly love to find a source of income that would free me from my outside work, and allow me to give the DT and Mudcat the time I feel they deserve. This would include entry (and researching) more songs into the DT each year and digging and adding up tunes that are missing. More time would allow me to work on things like a working Mac version (Mac's newer operating systems won't support our older Mac format, and we haven't had a new Mac release for the past eighteen months.), a simple interface for things like the new DTPlayer, working the kinks out of the Digital Tradition on CD-ROM, developing a search engine for the day that Microsoft stops supporting our present DOS-based software and working with third party developers to provide Mudcatters with new and better shareware products. I'd have some time to put in on other related projects--I'm currently working on an electronically published "book" that will integrate the Child and Bronson collections (fully searchable, playing all tunes…), and I'd like to be able to put some thought to the proposed Mudcat book. I'd have more time to deal with things like Tee-shirts, hats and such like. And I might even have time to read all the threads at Mudcat. .

Currently, most of the income we get goes (appropriately) to helping Max defray the costs of running the Mudcat Website. Ultimately, I'd like to see Mudcat become self-supporting. Neither Max nor I are out for the big bucks--If we were, we'd probably turn to performing (that, at least pays better than what we're doing). Some modest income, though would be nice.

How? Well, we've made a start with links to commercial sites (click on Support the Mudcat if you haven't already). We're almost ready to begin distribution of folk recordings, working with Camsco, Folk-Legacy and Ulstersongs. I'm hoping that we can, before too long, turn Mudcat into the place to look for international folk-related recordings, books, instruments and supplies. Mudcat has over 100,000 regular visitors from all over the world; I'm sure that most of them buy something, and I hope they'll see fit to buy them through Mudcat,
I think that auctioning folk-related objects to benefit the Cat is a fine idea. And I (and Max) would welcome any other ideas anyone can come up with.

dick