The Mission
Music is a universal language. Music unifies, provides comfort, makes us
feel good, highlights moments, makes us all feel alive and it can take us into the
depths of our imagination or pull us strongly into the present moment. It's this power and potential of music that drives me to write songs and share them with the world.
I’ve spent
years growing as a songwriter, recording artist and live entertainer. It is one of the best feelings in the world
to impact other people with melodies, stories and connection; to use music to
help people feel happy and free – and it’s time to do this on a much bigger
scale. Over the past 5 years I’ve
written more than an album full of songs.
Myself, people on my team, trusted ears in the industry and fans at
shows over the past 2+ years feel that these songs and this album will fulfill on that
purpose. We just need to come together
to enable top-notch production of the music and to get these
melodies/messages/songs out in as big a way as possible.
Check
out everything on the page to learn more about how we can help people feel
happy and free with The Wow Project.
Contribute and let’s bring this mission to the world :)
Ways You Can Help
These are HUGE ways to help out.
1. Share via Email & Facebook
A personal email and outreach to your network with a heartfelt
message is a great way to help this campaign. This link makes it easy
to do both:
http://bit.ly/1g4HX89
2. Make a Contribution Today
See the section below this one or the column on the right for details on all the Perks, then contribute today. Thank you!
3. Reach Out via Phone
There's nothing like a phone call for someone to know how important this is. For those you are close to or think would really love to support The Wow Project, give them a call.
4. You May Know Someone Like This...
If
you know others that would be inspired to contribute to this campaign and/or
help get the word out, ask them to take a look (the video is 3.5 minutes). Speaking in person, phone calls and direct
text messages feel the most personal and would show how important this is to
look at and be a part of.
If
you know of business owners / executives that could be inspired by this
campaign and be in a position to make a larger contribution, please connect us
with them at hello@johntayles.com
Make a Contribution Today - The Perks
Contribute
today to help make this dream a reality.
Pay-It-Forward Rewards
Rewards $45 and above come with a gift-able “Pay-It-Forward-Reward” to share with someone you
love. For example the Physical
Pay-It-Forward gives you 2 CDs and 2 digital download one week before the album
release - and that is included for the other perks from that point on.
For the second digital download: I’ll send you an email form once the project
is complete, just reply with the email and first name of the recipient. We will automatically send them your
Pay-It-Forward-Gift!
The
whole point is it makes this project a reality, you get to enjoy contributing
and we get to give someone else a gift … Awesome x3!
Album Credits:
Put your name on the Wow Album forever by having your name in the CD booklet artwork. We're building this together and this is a HUGE way to impact this campaign.
Acoustic House Concert:
Something you can do with your friends and family, that would be different than a party and most things experienced the rest of the year. An intimate setting with 20+ people in a living room, common room, backyard, etc. I'll play music off the new album and other releases, tell stories, and create moments of laughter, excitement and being moved. I promise a Wow Experience for your friends and family.
Company / Client Appreciation Concert:
If your organization's value line up with being happy and free, then it's time to create that experience for your teams or for your clients. This is NOT background cover music at a Christmas party, where's the Wow in that? I have experience in boardrooms helping groups in a company come together with music. We will create an event that truly unites a team. And we can also share this same vibe with the customers that make your work possible.
Your Very Own Wedding Song:
Want to do something crazy unique for your / your friend's wedding? How about I write you a song, professionally record it and come to your wedding to play it live! Here's a custom wedding song, unveiled for the first time on their big day...
Videos
Single from 'Thoughts Out Loud', Get It Right - filmed in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico:
We Are Ready - this whole recording, done in Nashville, and the video filmed over 2 days were created by several passionate people on a slim budget. Imagine what we'll be able to do with The Wow Project videos and release...
The $'s
Professionally
recording an album is expensive. Professionally releasing an
album is VERY expensive. I’ve invested
$5000 of my own savings so far and will invest at least double that over the
course of the project. This has allowed
for the recording of the first single, Wow, and the putting together of the
production team, creating the project plan, and the initial development of an
industry-standard promotional plan. I
will cover all travel costs associated with creating this album.
Now we need to raise the rest of
the funds to create an amazing album and give it wings around the world.
We
are starting by raising $33,300, which is the minimum needed to achieve
world-class sound quality. To begin meaningfully promoting the project
nationally would entail a total budget of $50,000+. And to really achieve the dream and promote
the album INTERNATIONALLY we would need upwards of $70,000.
When
we surpass the first goal, I’ll share with you more about
how the extra funds above that will be distributed in spreading the word
Nationally, and then Internationally :)
The Team
Darren
Grahn (Vancouver - Production / Mixing):
Based
in Vancouver with over 20 years of experience in the recording studio, Darren
has worked on over 175 albums as either an engineer or producer. These include popular major artists such as
Metallica (4 albums), Elvis Costello, Bryan Adams, The Cult, Bon Jovi, David
Bowie, Blask Eyed Peas, Nickelback, Sarah McLaughlin, Michelle Branch,
Christina Aguilera, Hedley and Cher. Darren
produced John’s first full length, Thoughts Out Loud and in regards to this
project he remarks, “life changing success for John is just a matter of the
right team behind him with great sounding recordings. It’s very achievable with
focused work.”
Marcus
Bell (LA - Production / Mixing):
Artist,
producer and entrepreneur; Marcus causes people to fulfill their dreams. He has marketed, produced, mentored and
developed some of the world’s biggest superstars including Usher, Britney
Spears and the Black Eyed Peas. Bell has
written and produced hits in Turkey, Lebanon, Asia and Europe. He is developing unique projects with NASA,
Toyota and Virgin Galactic to engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts and Math (STEAM). His promise is,
“A world happy, healthy and creatively self-expressed.”
Johnny
Simmen (Toronto - Production / Mixing):
As owner/producer at A Stare Away Studios, and as a songwriter,
multi-instrumentalist and recording artist in his own right, Johnny
Simmen brings a unique set of talents to every project he takes on.
Simmen’s natural instincts in the studio and his ability to draw out the
best possible performance he can from the artists he works with are a
product of his intimate understanding of the dynamic between producer
and artist.
Richard
Yagutilov (Music Photographer & Video Director):
Having
worked with Lady Gaga Directing her Video Tour Diaries and being her Toronto
music tour photographer for a week, Richard has also worked with Kardinal
Offishall as his personal photographer, album cover designer, music video
director on several hit videos under Kon Live and Universal’s label. Hailed at Toronto’s leading music
photographer and music video director, Richard brings incredible experience and
originality to the Wow Project.
TV/Film/Commercial
Song Placement (Syncing): Bellringer
Music Library
PR
& Radio: As the recordings progress and we are ready to begin this phase of
the project (3-4 months from funding), we will announce the full team we’ve
partnered with to enhance and carry out our plan to spread the music around the
world.
The Plan - Creation
My
team and I have put together a detailed concrete plan and budget for creating
full-length album that is high quality and a true expression of the word
‘Wow’. Here are the components of the
recording / creation process in order of size.
Production
& Mixing – This is where it all starts, with a great song being turned into
a great recording. Two-thirds of what is
raised in our initial $33,300 goal goes directly to making that happen. There’s studio time and compensating our
amazing, experienced producers / mixers.
Music
Video – As our budget grows, more will be allocated to the music video. Furthermore, we will be applying for every
grant possible in Ontario and Canada to create a budget above and beyond what
we raise here so that we can add more impact to those melodies and lyrics in a
world class music video.
Behind-the-Scenes
& Exclusive Videos – We will document this process, the highs, lows, the
interesting, special and funny moments.
Some of the videos will be released first or even exclusively to those
who contribute to the The Wow Package. But everyone will definitely be updated and
sharing in this process every step of the way.
Mastering
– This is what takes great recordings and makes them sound loud, pleasant and
oh so sweet on any type of speaker (iPod, car, radio, ghetto blaster, phone,
laptop, etc).
Duplication
– Gotta press those album copies. An
initial 1000-CD run will allow us to fulfill your Indiegogo Perks in exchange
for your Contributions.
Artwork
& Design – Making the CD, insert booklet, digital image and other materials
look pretty.
Guest
Musicians – We may need violin, string players or other talented musicians to
help bring these songs to life in the studio.
Equipment
Rental – We demand perfection of our sound vision! There will likely be an exotic amp, synth
keyboard or other piece of audio gear for us to rent that will be the icing on
the cake for a song or two.
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The Plan - Release
As
we surpass $33,300 and I add more of my own savings, we’ll be able to implement
the Wow Release Plan. Depending on what
is raised will determine how big we can go, and for how long. Regardless of what that is, the Wow Project
will be the biggest event I have been apart of as a recording artist – and it’s
exciting to be creating it together.
Publicity
– A great music PR firm is essential for a release. They get high priority editorial features in
magazines, blogs and newspapers. They
get you on television shows, web concert series, radio performances. Essentially they build awareness of an artist
& their music by taking them EVERYWHERE around the media landscape.
Radio
– Yes, it ain’t what it used to be when radio, TV and the newspapers were the
unchallenged mass marketing pillars for label releases. BUT it’s still one of the popular ways for
people to find music. We’re fortunate to
be connected with major radio promoters in the US and Canada who are able to
push the music to their contacts and get it on college and mainstream
radio. This is easily the most expensive
thing to do in a campaign, and we will scale up as we raise funds.
Videos
– The first music video, behind-the-scenes and exclusive video content is
included in the Creation Plan, and there are subsequent videos we envision
creating. We’ve created a catalogue of
ideas for cover videos, funny clips, live videos and more sweet music videos of
songs from the album.
Advertising
– There’s a way to use online advertising most effectively, and we’ve gotten
incredible insight and planning advice from some of the world’s best internet
marketers … which is just someone that knows how to reach the right person,
with the right message (or song ;) at the right time. We have some best in class ideas to implement
here on Facebook and online/offline magazines.
Mailings
– Licensing songs from the album helps build awareness and our ability to
re-invest in amplifying our efforts.
Getting songs in film/television/commercials will be a focus of the
release and we will be mailing out the music and press kits to influencers and
decision-makers in those fields.
Tour
– This will be the final stage of the entire process … there will be shows
throughout, but an organized, expertly crafted and smoothly run tour is vital
to actually creating those moments that make people say ‘Wow’, in person. Booking the dates and generating local press
for each show and appearance will be vital to this fully involved campaign.
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Experience
I
feel so confident about making this a success. I've had lots of experience executing a big projects.
- I co-led 2 fundraiser dinners and
missions trips to Uganda, where we donated the funds and our time to the
Missionaries of the Poor in Kampala, Uganda.
- I, along with some close team members
and an army of supporters, won the $30,000 singer/songwriter contest at
Slice The Pie. We coordinated an
ambitious campaign on Facebook and added to that with print coverage and
TV appearances to win the contest. We then recorded 'Thoughts Out Loud'.
- I recorded the single 'We Are Ready' in Nashville and pulled a team together of 50+ to help create the music video, standalone website and We Are Ready Challenge campaign.
Read below to see how these experiences will make this project the biggest of all, and how we will help people around the world feel happy and free with music.
Let's use music to help people feel happy and free.
