IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape

Subject: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Cappuccino
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:19 PM

I don't think this counts as unfair promotion of a Catter's own CD, because it's free and charitable!

In summer, I posted a request for hard-hitting Christmas songs, and some imaginative replies inspired a spin-off project. So here in Oxfordshire, England, we have recently been recording our 'alternative' Christmas – same theme, but not a carol or standard nativity story in sight. This recording uses stories and poems, including such unusual items as Joseph's letter home to his mother from Bethlehem (super item, written by an American pastor) and an adaptation of the legend of the fourth wise man.

The near-finished result is of broadcastable quality (which in itself is amazing for anything I'm involved with!) It is a half-hour programme on offer, free, to hospital radio stations, talking newspapers for the blind, prison chaplains, schools, and so on. They can have a CD or cassette and use it whole, or take bits to insert into their own projects. We go into the studio to master it on 18th October, and the product will be available virtually immediately afterwards.

I want it to be free, because my aim is to promote interest and support for our charity Health Help International, which buys medical supplies for remote clinics in the poor areas of rural Zambia – incredibly, in one place we work, the health of ten thousand people is served by just one travelling nurse, who arrives only once a month and generally has no medicines (you can read the whole chilling story at www.skywriter.demon.co.uk ). However, I hope anyone who uses the recording will acknowledge it with a donation of any amount, a few pounds or dollars, to our work.

My big problem, of course, is this – I don't know what the demand will be. I've budgeted for a small number of CDs and cassettes for hospital radio and talking newspaper studios, but if the idea takes off like a bloody rocket, my already-stretched finances might explode. I really don't want to have to 'sell' it as such, so I need to measure interest as early as possible.

Here's the offer - any Catter involved in a charity or cause which could genuinely use this project is welcome to send me a PM, or contact me through www.skywriter.demon.co.uk , let me know what you need it for, and I'll keep you uptodate with progress and availability. The offer is open worldwide - however, despatch of a lot of CDs to the States could be an expensive prospect, so if anyone can lead me to a charitably-minded and tech-aware individual or organisation who might be willing to take a master and run off some copies to distribute there, that would be a great help.

Fullest uptodate details already at: www.skywriter.demon.co.uk

Best wishes, all. - Ian B, Oxfordshire, England.

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:42 PM

Oh! Keep me posted!

~S~

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 10:14 PM

Ian, any chance of an offering to Mudcatters to purchase a CD, outright? It is a wonderful idea for a good cause. You are to be commended.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:45 PM

Mudcat Fundraiser?

~S~

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 12:27 AM

No, it sounds as though all proceeds need to go to the charity Ian talks about, right?

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:04 AM

I think he was saying it could go to any charity of our choice over here on our side of the pond. Not sure.

Ian? Whassup?

~S~

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Cappuccino
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:22 AM

Sorry to interrupt, ladies.

Any charity or cause which can use this project for the good of the people they support, as in the case of the hospital radios and talking newspapers, is welcome to use it in whatever way they like. My primary interest is that their use of it promotes the cause I support, either by promoting us to likely donors, or simply by making a donation in return for using it.

That OK? Sorry if that wasn't clear. Thanks for the interest!

IanB

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:56 AM

Ian, I know a few people in the music business, (recording studios etc).I am making no promises yet, but I will have a word with a few people and see if any of them are willing to help.john

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Cappuccino
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 05:31 AM

Thank you, John. - Ian

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Deni
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 05:37 AM

Hi IanB Why not upload the content to mp3.com. Soon. then people all over the world could download free and your charity would get paid royalties by mp3.com

It costs nothing to join and upload stuff and they also make, sell and distribute CDs and online net Cds at nbo cost to you.

we're making money out of the scheme...not a lot...

if you are interested, please take a look at our artist page.

www.mp3.com/Mad_Rush

I'd be glad to talk more to you about it if you are interested.

cheers deni

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Cappuccino
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:02 AM

Sometimes, I feel that my technological awareness has not proceeded much past the clockwork-toys-and-building-bricks stage.

Yes Deni - many thanks, I've visited the page, and would be very grateful for a words-of-one-syllable rundown. If you can make them less than one syllable, so much the better. PM or through www.skywriter.demon.co.uk, whichever you prefer.

Where exactly are you, geographically?

Thanks, - Ian

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 12:20 AM

Whichever way you do it, Ian, I'll support the effort. Can't wait to hear it, download it, buy it, make a donation for it, etc..
Genie

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Cappuccino
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 04:46 AM

Thank'ee kindly, ma'am. - Ian

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Deni
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:59 AM

Ian B.

I'm in Devon UK. Basically you need to make a CD or dat recording of the songs. Then you register free to mp3.com

You get someone to upload the music and create a web page for you. I managed it with not TOO mush trouble. It can be done in a week or less if you push yourself. The web page is fill-the-blanks stuff, very easy, and of couse you've got me and Alice Flynn and a few others who might be able to help if you got stuck.

The advantage is that people from all over the world can download your music for free yet you, your artists or your charity get a few cents every time one is downloaded to someone's computer.

There is NO financial outlay, but ifyou like, you can buy the CDs from them in batches of one upwards for your own stock, as these things always sell easier by personal contact.

We made a studio CD and an mp3.com CD so that we could do lots of different marketing exercises. You still have to get on to the marketing though, otherwise the stuff will just sit there. Themed stuff, like Christmas seems to be popular.

I'll stick my neck out here and say, I may be prepared to tackle it for you, (at very least I could set up the web page)seeing it's charity. You keep the copyright in the recording and control the account. It's only for your own stuff or traditional stuff. Some people do use tunes they've got permission from the copyright holders to use. Not too bad, is it? Cheers Deni

http://www.mp3.com/Mad_Rush

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: clansfolk
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 06:09 AM

Refresh for a good cause......

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 01:49 AM

ditto

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: GUEST,Argenine
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 04:24 AM

Gotta keep this one front and center, Ian.

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: Deni
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 04:32 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: IanB's free(-ish) Christmas charity tape
From: GUEST,Bitsy McCloud
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 07:53 PM

Sounds like this is something for catters to support.
Bitsy