OK. On the Life-Changing Front:

[gwenzilla]

Done yesterday:

• set up BandCamp Page.
  
• set up Patreon Page
  
• put at least one thing up on both of those

So now the question is, "Where to go from here." Now, I'm lucky in that I have access to good computers and friends with loads of knowledge about things like recording and engineering and mastering and stuff like that.

And the fact is, if you consider that I haven't released a new album in 12? 13? years (OMG), well. There's some material out there, and you might not even need all 5 of the new songs (or the unruly 6th one, which is in the poetry refrigerator at the moment).

I'm looking at how other artists promote themselves on Patreon. In particular, I'm impressed by South African Nate Maingard, whose goals are tightly organised, whose page is nice and slick without being super commercial. Now, obviously the guy is a hipster and much younger than I am, but I like the structure he's created. If you take a look at the goals and levels of patronage along the righthand side of the page, you'll see that not only does he offer a lot, but people are taking him up on it. Some items are limited, and you can see exactly how many patrons he has at that level by checking out the information there. He also writes for hire, which is something I've considered as well. Sonnets For Hire! ;) Also obviously, this guy travels and I don't, really; that's not a possibility for me right now for a lot of reasons. But I wonder: How possible would it be for me to move in this direction, positively and probably kind of slowly?

What do you guys think? Am I grasping at straws?

ETA: This is not pay to play. You can get anything on BandCamp for free. Not so sure I'll take the same tack with Patreon, but possibly take a leaf from my South African (not a) pal's book and release some teaser tracks, because otherwise how will people know what I sound like?

Comments

[delennara.livejournal.com]

Write for hire?
ARe you good in writing Music, in Notation, down? I have been looking for someone who could figure out music for compositions, wich I can do myself, but at snail Speed....so if you would offer this, I might wish to hire you.

[the-gwenzilliad.livejournal.com]

Hm. I might have been once, but I wouldn't count it among my to-hand skills at this point. That said, I can offer pointers and software recommendations. My speed is also snail-like, though: we would be like two turtles racing against a duck! ;)

[delennara.livejournal.com]

OH, software I have, I like "iwritemusic" on the ipad a lot. And I a getting better at this. It jsut came to my mind, what I would hire People for...and could well be done at distance.

[janewilliams20.livejournal.com]

write for hire..... my sister was looking at freelance copy-writing from home. I have no idea what's involved or what the market's like, but if she was taking it seriously then it's probably worth a look.

Do you take (Bandcamp) requests?

[weebleflip.livejournal.com]

I just enjoyed Sugar from the Moon (which I hadn't heard before), and I was wondering if you could put up a version of your Shadowrun song.... I helpfully can't remember the title... "...when you run in the shadows, there's comfort in hell"....at some point...?

That was one of the first songs I heard you do, and I was spellbound.

*hugs*

Re: Do you take (Bandcamp) requests?

[the-gwenzilliad.livejournal.com]

If I can find a live version of "Last Run," I'll put it up. I might very well have one. I certainly will if the fellow who recorded my set at FilkContinental can put his hands on the right stuff for me. And then, you shall have it. :)

The song is called "Last Run".

Re: Do you take (Bandcamp) requests?

[weebleflip.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I thought I had replied to this from my phone, but LJ/my phone seems to have eaten it!

Take 2:

Yeyyy! (technical term, that), and fingers crossed for finding it :)

[delennara.livejournal.com]

"last run" and it is on this CD!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00007FON4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1415653121&sr=8-1

[weebleflip.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.... I have that CD ...Somewhere! Must be one I lent to The Tall One, which probably means it is packed in his moving house boxes now.

Nonetheless, I would be very interested in a live recording, too :)

[stevieannie.livejournal.com]

I think you could really rock the Patreon thing! I love that the offers are things like "get coffee when I'm in your city" - it plays into the huge friend/fan crossover that you have (the joy of folk - we all think everyone else is our friend! So fluffy!!!).

I'm always curious as to how much people take up the "sonnets for hire" kind of thing. I judge everyone's offers by whether I'd take them up myself, and have always been a little unsure on the poetry thing, but I am very far from being the majority, so would be interested :-) Also the "membership to a private FB group" seems easy, but highly desirable (the best combination!).

Love the control and oomph you have!