An Offer You Can Not Refuse

Subject: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 03:35 PM

The Borderline Folk Music Club in conjunction with Maximum Impact Media of Spring Valley, NY are making this offer to all musicians, provided that your genre is either Folk or Bluegrass (sorry no rock or rap).

We will create a professional grade 90 minute DVD for you FREE OF CHARGE, providing that your are willing to share the commercial rights to the video with us. (one third for the artist, one third to Maximum Impact Media Inc. & one third to The Borderline Folk Music Club). The Borderline will be using its share to pay guarantees to performers playing our house concert series.

This is not your standard Youtube video. This ia a professional job.
The audio is sound engineered and mixed with high quality microphones using the latest version pro-tools in our recording studio. The video is shot using ideal studio lighting conditions with high end cameras. ( We use 2 cameras - one in lockdown position and one for zooming in). At the same time, we also take still photos and we will do the graphic design for the jacket.

In these tough economic times, we realize that most emerging artists can not afford to put up the money to shoot a professional video. This is a way it can be done with no up front costs.

Being that both, myself and the studio owner are Sabbath observant Orthodox Jews, we can not do this on a Saturday. Also, the studio owner is a full time NYC High School teacher (both, day & evening), which eliminates Monday through Friday. Therefore, the only day that we are available to do this is on a Sunday or a legal holiday when school is not in session.

The performer can record the session either without an audience or in front of a small audience of 8 people consisting of The Borderline volunteers and booking committee. In addition to the 90 minute performance, we can alo record a 30 minute interview done by a professional DJ that will be suitable for commercial broadcast, although we can not guarantee that it will be aired, which is at the sole discretion of the DJ.

Those of you who have done studio work know that the setup is time consuming. For a one person performance, we ask the artist to come in at 12 noon and we begin shooting at 2 PM. We do two 45 minute sets with a 30 minute intermission. If the band consists of more than one person and plays many instruments additional setup time will be needed and they may have to come in earlier. Each instrument and vocal must be properly miked and prepared for tracking. The video lighting must be properly set as well.

We will give preference to travelling musicians who do not live in the area but we welcome local musicians as well.

To schedule a recording and video shoot date you can PM me or e-mail me off the board to [e-mail].

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 03:38 PM

If we're coming through, we'll see if we can set something up.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 03:53 PM

A FAR better deal than what I expected to find - A plug for another Auction Item ! LOL ! Joe is still only $36 !

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 07:35 PM

So far we have had in studio for this project, Pat Wictor, Jim Colbert, Fran Snyder, Jude Roberts, and Angelo M. We have the sea chantey group "Barnacle" scheduled for February.

This is a fantastic project that will give much needed exposure to some really great musicians.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Melissa
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 06:25 PM

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 07:01 PM

Ah Well!

I'm just a tad too far away to take advantage of that Sol.

Three thousand miles or so.

I wish somebody would do that this side of the water.

Don T.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 07:52 PM

Ahhhhhhh, can you handle a real live authentic Mississippi footstompin' bluesman???

And, if so, gonna need to pack the joint with folks 'cause if I come to New York then we're gonna have to replicate a juke joint the best we can...

BTW, my first recording session was a Coyote Studio in Brooklyn but that was a long, long time ago...

Bobert (alias Sidewalk Bob)

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:30 PM

Oh yeah, I need a place to crash.... That's 'bout it 'cause bluesmen ain't got New York kinda money fir motels...

B~

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: DebC
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:39 PM

I have a question, Sol...what does this mean for copyrighted material? Granted, I could do a 90 minute program of all trad material. Seeing as I don't write songs and perform the works of others, I am just curious how you will handle this.

I have done public access TV before and one show was very strict about copyright. Another didn't make an issue out of it.

I am certainly interested, of course. I'll send you an email.

Deb

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Beer
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:55 PM

What a great project and to offer it to folks here is very special. I wish you the best Sol.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:58 PM

Yeah, what Deb asked... Licenses and all... Like if I do four new originals, who owns 'um???

Ahhhhh, PM me... Let's keep this off the forum, if that's okay???

Bobert

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 10:32 PM

To answer everybody's questions.

The performers we have had thus far have been doing either, their own songs, or public domaine material.

If anyone wants to do covers we will pay the mechanical licensing fee to the Harry Fox Agency like any other recording studio does.

The performers retain all the rights to their copyrighted songs. We can not use the video or any portions of it for any purpose that the performer does not consent to.

All this is spelled out in a legal contract that all 3 parties sign.

I will be happy to answer any other questions off the board by e-mail. E-mail me to [e-mail].

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 01:04 AM

That sounds like a really wonderful offer, Sol. I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing more about your endeavours.

kat

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: PoppaGator
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 01:17 PM

When I first saw this thread title, I thought it might be about Joe ~ an Offer who is, indeed, not easily refused ;^)

If this offer remains available for months and years into the future, I just might try to take advantage someday.

What a great idea, and so very generous. (You'll even pay those licensing fees? Wow!)

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 01:17 PM

There are many talented musicians out there who are waiting to be discovered and do not have the money to promote themselves.

This is one way that they can get their message out to the music loving public.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 01:20 PM

I really hope this works out for everyone...

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 05:01 PM

Ahhhhhh, how do you promote/distribute the DVD's, Sol??? Do you have a distribution company??? Recording company??? I mean, it has to make some profits for you, right??? Or are you dependent on the various mausicans to sell 'um at their gigs and give you a cut???

B~

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 06:32 PM

They will be sold a number of ways.

a. Musicians will sell them at their concerts as well as on their websites.

b. They will be sold at Borderline concerts.

c. They will be sold from The Boderline & Maximum Impact Media Websites.

d. We will make use of an online sevice such as CD baby.

Whichever way we use, we will there will be a degree of transparency built in to insure that all 3 parties are getting their fair share of the pie.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 06:59 PM

How about the production costs??? Like art work???

B~

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 07:11 PM

It is all done in house.

My wife and I are professional graphic designers.

My partner, Akiva Kent is a professional photographer & videographer as well as a sound engineer.

We have the capabilities to do everyting under one roof.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 07:45 PM

Well, I reckon I'm in... Check yer email in a while...

Bobert (alias Sidewalk Bob)

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 08:12 PM

Hi Kids: Here I go again. Talking when nobody asked me to. Oh well...

The Marketing Maven in me gets awakened by threads like this...

Studios, studios. Everybody has a studio...

I see some incredible people in the business with the finest equipment, the technical expertise that covers all the bases, and what they produce is well recorded KRAP...

And Sol, it's not for me to rain on your generosity, but the kid over here has a coupla ideas. Wanna listen?

If you are interested in producing a SUCCESSFUL video, you might want to consider screening the musician's that get a video done. And what I see on Mudcat there are a number of people that DESERVE to have your generous offer. BUT, what I think would SELL is a compilation tape of 12 acts or so on a "Best of The Mudcat" Video that covers a variety of performers in the Folk Genre. Since my "Folk Days" are well, long gone, I'll screen myself out...

This approach would position your effort in a kind of "Homespun Tapes" (Happy & Artie Traum) release that would be of interest to young people interested in the genre, AND, a listenable video that would be enjoyed by the older folks who like Folk Music. This of course, requires some serious planning. Martin Scorcese understood this in his series on the Blues. BUT, he produced something that will live forever...And, let us not forget the vid on Dylan...

Sol, what you are doing is an exteremly generous thing, and I hope that you will consider
the vast number of options that are possible. What I'm saying is that something GREAT can be done with this. I wish you much success with this effort. In the right hands, and with the proper preparation and planning, you might be on the verge of producing something that could live forever...
Bless...bob

With this effort, and careful thought, you COULD be the spark plug that ignites a new Folk Revolution...Plan, my friend. Plan...

My friend Momo...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rib0TU2hkxA

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 10:49 PM

Hi Bob,
         I always appreciate your sagely advice since you are a well known personality in the world of folk music.

First of all, our studio is not just a room in a house, It is a stand alone building that was built from the ground up with the express purpose of being a studio. We have equipped this studio with the latest technology and highest quality sound equipment and we have the personnel who are trained in its use. Same goes for the video, still photography, & graphic design, all under one roof.

As far as the performers go, yes we will screen them and not just accept anybody who walks in off the street, guitar in hand, and claims to be a folk musician. As you know Bob, I am the head of the Borderline Folk Music Club and do all the booking for our house concerts. I get on the average of 5 submissions a week from various performers who want to play our venue but only the very best get to be booked. I will apply the same high standards to these videos as I do to the Borderline bookings because I have a reputation for quality.

Yes, I do understand that there are various ways to market this product successfully, but whatever I do it will have to be with the complete agreement and input of the musicians that will be performing for these videos, since they retain the rights to their copyrighted material. They are our partners in this venture and we want to see that they get their fair share of the pie which they justly deserve.

Since we also have DJs that come in to interview the performers on camera, we hope that you, Bob, might also want to become part of this project in the future.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Barry Finn
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 11:26 PM

"The performer can record the session either without an audience or in front of a small audience of 8 people consisting of The Borderline volunteers and booking committee"

Sol, does this statment also mean that it's possible that you'd consider or you'd be capable of doing a "live" recording at the Borderline rather than just a "live" in front of a small select, in studio audience?

We had a concert video tapped at the South Street Seaport Museum by a couple friends with 2 cameras that where a couple cuts were put up on U-Tube but none of it was anything that could be consider professional except maybe the live performance & as you're aware some do a far better "live performence" than they can capture on CD, vieod of a live performance 'I imagine would be far above the 'live CD' (I have to confess I've never seen a live DVD performane but yes, I have heard a 'live CD')(I can barely spell video correctly).

Barry

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: GUEST,Jim P
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 12:35 AM

Sol: what an incredibly generous offer! I wish that we were in a position to accept it, but we're on the wrong coast. Good luck to you and yours in the new year.

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 08:56 AM

Well, I remember Van Morrison's song about throwing up after he'd signed a contract but with that said Sol is gonna email me a contract and unless there's somethin' in there that smalls like old fish, I'm in...

I recorded my last CD last CD in Mississippi which was a pain because I had to ship 2 geetars UPS 'cause it was cheaper than carryin' them on the plane... This recording sudio of Sol's in drivable from Virginia so I can haul all me gear in the car...

Well, we'll see how it works out and if it's a go then we'll nave another "Name Bobert's Next CD Contest" thread...

B~

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 10:33 AM

Thanks Sol: Wishing you and your crew many Blessings for the coming year...bob

Subject: RE: An Offer You Can Not Refuse
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 02:08 PM

Barry,
       All of our regular Borderline House Concerts are routinely video taped and it is the performer that ultimately decides how that video is going to be used.

However, although it is done on professional equipment and is better than your standard YouTube, it still can not compare to what we do in the studio, where we can completely control both, the audio and video under ideal conditions.

If you want to get booked for a gig at The Borderline, your chances are very good if you do an in studio video with us in front of the 8 person audience. This audience is made up of the dedicated Borderline volunteers who also happen to constitute the booking committee. Seeing the performer live is always better than listening to a CD when deciding whom to book because you can gauge audience interaction as well.

SOL