Short Summary

I started my first band when I was just a teenager trying to figure out whether or not I could sing. Since then, I have engaged in numerous musical projects over the course of three decades ranging from a lousy garage rock band to recording electronic rock albums to performing with Chicago blues legend Willie Kent. At present, I am a focused and determined artist with a vision and style honed from years of persistent creativity. My new work is, by far, my best yet and you can help me make this years-long dream a reality!

What I Need & What You Get

The money generated will be used to help complete the remainder of the album "Letter to the Fabled Damned" and market the record when finished. Every single person who donates will be listed in the liner notes of the album as a contributor to my work!

I Have Fantastic Perks!

To help get you excited about the project, I have a few incredible offerings!

• First things first, when you fund this project on any level, you get the three-song EP "Preamble" for immediate download! It was imperative to me to invest my hard-earned cash into professionally recorded music, so you know that I am committed to this vision in an authentic way.
• Another gorgeous perk is the astounding original illustration of the Wise Witch from artist Jas Helena. This thing is BEAUTIFUL. For $150, you get a limited edition lithograph (hand-made by Jas), the EP, and the full digital album when completed. Heads up: Only 100 of the lithos will be made, so act quickly!

• I offer the same illustration in a poster form for the $50 contribution. Still just as gorgeous!
• If I hit funding benchmarks, other perks will follow!

The Cost of the Project in Greater Detail

I work with professional musicians and artists only. My people pay their rent with their talents, so I pay them what they are worth. Here is an estimate of the cost of the full project:

$15,000 - $20,000 to FINISH THE ALBUM

In my recent experience, it cost $2,000 per song to rehearse, record, produce and mix each song on the EP "Preamble," for a total of $6,000 to create the EP you receive today. That is a fairly low number considering all that went into getting three songs done. Our day in the studio was epic, and I didn't have additional musicians or vocalists on the tracks for the EP. With the full album, I will. Some production elements for the remaining songs include a full gospel choir and a classical quartet. With six songs left to finish, my professional experience tells me that the cost will be at least $15,000, with that number expected to rise, because my professional experience also tells me that it always does.

For those of you that are curious, these are the elements of making records that require payment:

• Arranging the music 
• Rehearsals 
• Recording (paying the musicians, the studio, and the engineer)
• Mixing 
• Mastering (ensures that the various songs are polished and form a cohesive whole on an album to prepare for distribution on all formats)

$5,000 to MARKET THE ALBUM

A visual presence for a musician is a must. Professional photography gives an artist a sharply defined identity that ultimately serves to support the music. Compelling album art designed by a professional graphic designer adds meaning to the message and helps to entice people into an artist's world. A provocative website is an essential springboard with which to reach fans. And, of course, media outlets (both online and in print) are necessary relationships to make for any artist trying to get their work noticed. All of this amounts to marketing a record, which is another way of saying selling a record.

These are the essential elements of marketing music that require payment:

• Photography (photographs to be used for album art, promotional materials, and media outlets)
• Graphic Design (visual organization for album art, promotional materials, and website design)
• Domain name registry and website hosting
• Marketing professionals, publicists, and managers (people hired to get the work into more hands, generate press exposure, and organize promotional events)

The Impact

At 47 years old, I am not supposed to keep striving for my musical dreams. No, at this age, I am supposed to admit that my career is "over" because I didn't "make it" when I was younger. I say to heck with that! 

Your support of this project will not only result in a completed work but will also serve as a reminder that we can keep dreaming and creating no matter our age or circumstance. Once "Letter to the Fabled Damned" is finished, it is my sincere wish that you will feel proud of this project and equally proud of breaking from the status quo of what a successful artist means in this world. I want you to feel inspired!

That said, should you contribute to my work, I will honor that gift. I will work tirelessly. I will scrutinize every last detail. I will not stop until I finish this album. I am already compelled to do so, but my sense of responsibility to you as a patron dramatically amplifies my commitment. Know that.

Risks & Challenges

The only risks and challenges I see moving forward are circumstantial. As I have already stated, my commitment will not waver. As this is a significant group effort, however, other life challenges might befall my team and me. Somebody might move away. An illness may delay recording. The original run of the posters might not meet my standards. All things that I have experienced in the past, and all things I have overcome by being flexible, focused, and patient.

If something of a significant nature takes place that significantly compromises the project, I will let you know immediately. I hope that you and I enter into a dialog throughout the project, good, bad, or otherwise. If ever you should feel that your patronage of my project is not respected, I will answer you; if that answer requires a refund of your support, then I will issue a refund. I am not here to collect money for arbitrary reasons. I am here to bring a vision dear to my heart into the world, and I will do so with the utmost integrity.

Other Ways You Can Help

There are other ways you can help!

• Get the word out! SHARE this campaign with others. Indiegogo provides effective share tools.
• If you purchase the music, please do not share the files. It is vitally important to the funding effort that the free-sharing of files not happen. It stands to reason that people will not pay for what they can get for free.
• If you like what you hear, tell me about it! Post on my Facebook page Jodi Lee Smith Music or email me at jodileesmithsf@gmail.com. As I said, I hope this effort begins a dialog between us.