Forgotten Budget items

I blogged a while back about fund raising the budget for recording. One thing I have discovered both through my own trial and error as well as talking to other artists is that most of us really miss the mark in regards to planning a budget for a new CD. When we plan the budget, all we are really thinking about is the recording process itself – studio time, a producer, studio musicians, mastering, etc. But that is often where it stops. So, I want to list some of the many ‘forgotten’ items that should be included in that budget, some are universal and some may be specific only to the project I am working on, so feel free to add to the list or adapt it to your own projects…

• Travel costs to and from Nashville for recording
• Lodging and food while in Nashville
• Cost of food for Producer and Engineer and fellow musicians (just good artist etiquette!)
• Equipment costs during the recording – strings, picks, drum heads, etc.
• Buffer money for any extra recording time or studio musicians that you end up needing, not in original budget
• Duplication Costs for CD’s
• Costs of producing CD artwork
• Photography for the CD as well as advertising
• Advertising in print media once the CD is done
  • Magazine ads
  • Postcard mailers
  • Press Kit updates including new CD info
• Web Advertising
• Postage for mailing out comp CD’s
  • Radio Singles
  • Review Submissions
  • Pre-orders
• Companion Merchandise to go with CD
  • Devotional
  • CD Specific T-Shirts
• We won’t even get into Radio Servicing…

Since this is a list called “Forgotten” budget items, I know I’ve forgotten some… comment and add your own, we could all benefit from the ideas!

Chuck Norris Respect…

Thanks to Jeanann for spurring this idea… this thread of the blog has absolutely nothing to do with the recording of the new CD, but while we wait for the next round of recording, let’s discuss Chuck Norris! I will stop here periodically and jot down any great CN jokes I hear, feel free to comment your favorites back to me! So, here we go…

• Chuck Norris is not capable of hitting a target on the broad side of a barn. Every time he tries, the whole dang barn falls down.
• Chuck Norris does not read books, he simply stares at them and they give up the information.
• If you ask Chuck Norris what time it is, he says, “Two seconds till…” You ask “Two seconds till what?” and he roundhouse kicks you.
• Chuck Norris’ version of a milkshake is a raw porterhouse wrapped around ten Hershey bars doused in diesel fuel.
• Chuck Norris is suing NBC and Law and Order for copyright infringement, as Law and Order are the names of his left and right legs.
• Sticks and Stones may break your bones, but a Chuck Norris glare will liquefy your kidneys.
• When Chuck Norris gives blood, he refuses the syringe and requests a hand gun and bucket.
• If, at first, you don’t succeed, you’re not Chuck Norris.
• When Chuck Norris jumps in the ocean he doesn’t get wet, the ocean gets Chuck Norris.
• Chuck Norris and Mr. T walked into a bar and the bar imploded because it was not able to hold that much awesomness at one time.

Paying It Forward

I am currently in the stage of ‘living with the rough mixes’ until I head back to Nashville in January to finish up the recording. This is a good time because I have been able to get completely away from what we did that first week, not listen to it for a couple of days and come back to it with fresh ears.

Today, due to a couple of folks – one on an online bulletin board I am a part of and the other via a phone call while I was skulking the local Guitar Center – I am able to come at this project with a fresh heart. Doing art of any kind, it is very easy to become somewhat ingrown and insular, especially music. Most studios I have ever been in have no windows and since the whole medium is in sound it is easy to forget to see the people around you, especially the ones who have helped to put you there in the first place.

So, I wanted to take a moment to pay it forward, so to speak, and recognize some people who have built into my music and ministry and hopefully encourage you to check these folks out – who knows, your new favorite may be just a mouse click away!

My family… this goes without saying, but I wanted to say it anyway! There is no website for you to check out, but I just have to applaud my sons for the rollicking scavenger hunt they had prepared for me when I rolled into home from Nashville. However, having your mother videotape the whole thing was a bit much…

Aly and Bill at ALBIE Entertainment – No one outside of my family believes in me more than these two!
Harry Offutt – This guy is more than a musician, promoter, web developer, husband/father, jack of all trades, he is also a good friend.
Kath Anderson – Met her at the CIA Summit last year and got to co-write a song for this new CD, a wonderful lyricist!
One Foot Forward – These former fellow NYers made sure I had a place to play when I first moved to the state!
Rockin’ Ron – Simply, the best! A real DJ who still plays music he loves, check out his show online every Saturday Night at 7 central!
Chris Lucas – One of my favorite players.
Paul Guerra – This guy started a thread on the Indieheaven Network about paying it forward that really floored me, just trying to step up!

First Week Wrap Up

It is Sunday morning, and I am finally home. Didn’t get on Friday or Saturday so let me explain, no… let me sum up…

Friday was spent in Joe Hand’s studio. He was doing some initial editing on the basic tracks and had me do a second scratch vocal on several songs. I left there with a CD of rough mixes so that I can live with them for a few weeks before heading south again. To date we have the bass and drum tracks, a few piano and wurlitzer tracks and the odd acoustic rhythm here and there. The next trip or two will center on my guitar tracks as well as vocals. There is also a rumor of possible B-3 and Irish fiddles here and there… wait, what was that? Did I hear a backwards guitar??

My favorite moments of the week had to be… Joe Hand standing in the main room at OMNI directing Bill Bleistine’s drum track as though it were a full orchestra; drinking coffee at the Irish Pub down the street from the studio; seeing Danny pound the skins; talking to Irish in the control room; and seeing Joe and Aly grin and nod their heads after hearing that perfect take. Good times…

There are so many folks who helped to make this a great start to the adventure… first and foremost, my family who believe in this dream; Aly and Bill for all their management direction, housing, and amazing drumming; Joe Hand for taking on this project and working it like it was his own; Danny and Paul for being Famous Before Noon; and most of all, Jesus for more than I can put into words.

And finally… this blog ain’t over! Keep checking back to see how this turns out!