Hello!
My name is Lottie, and I'm making a record. I'm a Nashville based singer-songwriter, writing and singing what I call soul-infused Americana. With this donation-driven crowd funding campaign, I am inviting my fans and patrons to embark on the indescribable journey it is to make a record, and thus, to be an integral part of creating this work of art that I've been meticulously crafting for the past two and a half years. By donating, you are essentially making my purpose and musical calling in life become a possibility, and I, for one, happen to think that that's pretty amazing!
Where my last release, Leaving the Labyrinth, was melancholy, this new one is triumphant. Where the last record showed the view from the trenches, this next record shows what happened when I finally made it out. Where Leaving emanated Alison Krauss, Judy Collins and Joni Mitchell, this new work channels Margo Price, Susan Tedeschi and Bonnie Raitt, with a splash of those beautifully sad hues that colored my last release.
The growth that my songwriting and I have gone through since that last record could never have been a possibility without the support and honest feedback from you, the fans. In that sense, you really are an essential part of the fabric that makes up my new work and sound in general, so I want to welcome all of you in helping me finish what you've helped me start. I couldn't have done it without you, and I honestly couldn't imagine doing this record any other way. Please donate today and experience, with me, the breathtaking views from the other side. Thank you so much, I love you!
Lottie
How could a record possibly cost $26,800?
Believe it or not, $26,800 is a modest number compared to the cost of many records made these days, especially major label records, which can run into the hundreds of thousands when everything's all said and done. So think about it like this! All I need to complete my goal, is for 268 of you amazing and lovely people to donate just $100. That's it! Sounds a little more doable now, right? Here's a more detailed picture of where your money will be going:
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$17,500 = 6 musicians for 12 songs at $100 per musician per song + $500 per day for 12 days for the studio rental + $3,000 in producer fees for the amazing guys behind the music + $1,300 for professional audio mixing
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$900 = mastering of 12 songs at $75 per song
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$4,000 = manufacturing cost of CDs and 12" vinyl records
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$2,000 = photos, artwork, and album cover design
$24,400 x IndieGoGo's 10% fee = $24,400 + $2,440 = $26,840
Your generosity and support in helping me reach my goals for this project will be well rewarded, because with every donation, you guys receive all kinds of backer-exclusive perk packages! The more you donate, the cooler your rewards get. Some of these backer-exclusive perks include an inside view into the creative and record-making process, unreleased songs, exclusive live and behind-the-scenes footage, an hour in the recording studio with me and my production team, and even private concert packages in your very own living room.
Should I not reach my funding goal, I'll do my best to make this record in the most professional way possible, but it will be much more difficult to produce these songs in the way that I envision them, and will take me much longer to complete as I try and save up the money this project will require. Should I somehow raise more than my goal, any extra funds will go towards distribution, publicity, marketing, and advertising for the new record, as well as costs to put a national tour together after the record is released.
So Why Do I Make Music?
You may be asking yourself why, exactly, it is that I continue to pursue a fickle and uncertain future in a field where I'm honestly losing far more money than I am making for the first 5 to 10 years, at minimum. The short and honest answer to that question is this: I don't have a choice, and there is no "Plan B". This is it, and I'm going to pursue my God-given purpose and calling in this life until there is simply nothing left for me to give, and nowhere else to go but up.
Far too long I ignored that voice in my head, beckoning me to pursue my dream of a successful career in music, and eventually, that voice became louder and louder as the days rolled by, until it was an undeniable, torturous scream that I simply couldn't ignore any longer. My fears of vulnerability and rejection had finally been overpowered by my innate need to create music, so I picked up my pen and my guitar, and I started to write.
You see, I know something about keeping feelings in because I have done it my whole life, and eventually, those feelings begin to eat you from the inside out. Writing and singing about the sadness and hardships in my life is healing for me, and I hope to help others by saying to them in my music, I've been there too. I know how you feel. You are not alone.
With my music, I strive to share a message of kindness, strength, and love to those in need. Music has been my rock and steadfast companion throughout my entire life because music says to its listeners, "You are not alone. Someone else has been there before. You will get through this." Love and acceptance are said to be the two things that we as human beings ultimately must have, and sometimes it seems like those two things are hard to come by. Music gives us hope during those dark times, or it gives solace by saying that someone else has gone through what we're going through. In that sense, music is power, and if I have the power to make someone feel even just a little bit better and less alone because of a song of mine that they can relate to, then I've done a small part in making the world a better place. Music is my gift to the world, and my ultimate goal is just to share it with a willing and responsive audience that will use my words however they need, to get where they're going.
The Impact
In addition to helping me spread a message of love and kindness through the power of music, you are, by donating, giving me the opportunity to fulfill another creative calling of mine by allowing me to become what I call a "warrior of the arts," specifically music. It is my belief that good music, music that has both substance and appeal, is dying a slow and painful death, due to the new and ever-evolving mechanics of the music industry that hardly, if ever, benefit the artists and songwriters who work so tirelessly to create the music you know and love. Simply put, because of ever more common music streaming services that pay artists a mere $0.00058 or less per song play, there is virtually no money to be made for independent artists such as myself, until a certain threshold has been crossed, and oddly enough, this threshold is extraordinarily difficult to cross without proper funding. It's a catch-22, as you all can imagine. There's a definite "chicken or the egg" dilemma, and it is a problem that I face head-on every single day. So, in addition to fulfilling my own creative musical needs and aspirations by recording this new record, my hope is that with more visibility in the public eye that results from a very successful record release, I can fulfill my intentions of advocating for all musicians and artists in every way necessary to insight real change and ensure that we are, one day, paid fairly.
Other Ways You Can Help
I understand that some of you just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean you can't help! The best way to help, other than donating, is to share, share, share. Copy and paste this link to all your social media accounts, text the link to your friends and family, and email the campaign link to everyone you know who loves music and might be willing to lend a helping hand. Help me get the word out, every little bit helps! Remember to use the IndieGoGo share tools, and go out there and make some noise!
Important Campaign Update Tuesday, April 11th, 2017:
Hello to all of my lovely, supportive friends! I am excited to announce that I am now 51% funded, thanks to YOU ALL!! Now go on and give yahself a pat on the back - you've earned it! In addition, I'm delighted to announce to you all that we've extended my campaign by 12 days from yesterday, to include a fundraising party in Montgomery, AL this upcoming Easter weekend! That means that my campaign now officially ends on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 9:59 pm PDT, and will include a fundraising party event to benefit my campaign, held this upcoming Saturday, April 15th at 8 pm, at The Luquire Lodge. That address is:
2015 E 2nd Street, Montgomery, AL 36106
The party will be generously hosted by my great friends Keyton Luquire and Andrew McCorkle (live sound by Penn Cook), and I'll be performing with my band, all the way from Nashville, TN! This is a BYOB event for all ages, so please bring your friends and family, and stop by for a great night of music and fun if you live in the Montgomery area! We'll be playing the new record from start to finish, so you'll get a sneak peak of the music you've all so generously supported.
Here's a special ticket link to the fundraising party (event poster and 10% off new merchandise coupon included upon purchase!): https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2016276/x/15937714?secret_perk_token=b93c425f
But wait! There's more! We've just added three brand new merchandise apparel items (my first merch ever!) to the campaign to bring in some last minute donation orders, and to help us cross over that finish line in these last 11 days. We've still got a hefty 49% of the total goal left to raise, so help us out, and treat yo'self to a new vintage dyed hat, a 100% cotton jersey knit t-shirt, and/or a summer-ready backpack cooler bag, available now in two colors each: T-Shirts available in white or heather gray; Hats available in navy or black; Bags available in yellow or red, all (tastefully!) embroidered with Lottie's hip new logo. Get the bundle of all three and save $5! Hurry and snag yo "Lottie" swag!!! And remember, when you purchase this weekend's fundraising event ticket, you will receive a 10% off coupon for 1 piece of merchandise of your choosing, so buy both and save money! I love you all!!! Can't wait to see you this weekend!!!
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