Only 5 days left of my Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for “In The Holiday Spirit,” and these final days are critical to success!
Through the support of amazing fans and friends, I’ve raised over $6,500, about 1/3 of the total goal. I have a steep hill to climb to reach the goal before Monday, and I know I can do it – but not without your help.
So many wonderful things have happened!
I am woefully behind in thanking folks for their support in getting us to this 30% milestone, so hang on, ‘cuz here we go!
A large group of folks contributed earlier this week to get us to the $5000 mark so that I could submit the paperwork to the record label for inclusion in the 2015 Holiday Release catalog – thanks to the “5K Club”: Sarah Kling, Terence Abad, Marcus Pon, John Scott, Alfred Moye, Dave Davis, Nick Hill, Candace Forest, Paul Kagawa Photo & Video? (who shot the great concert footage at our Feinstein’s show), Jennifer Lee (who helped Paul Kagawa shoot the video, and is a fab jazz singer in her own right), Mikael Blaisdell, Peter Jay Ohm (again!!), Linda Parker, Savannah Hall, Daniel Fabricant (who will be the amazing bass player on the CD!), and Dan Geller & Dayna Goldfine (who already helped by shooting my Indiegogo campaign video!).
I am wayyy behind in thank you updates for the Indiegogo campaign (I’ll make up for that later today), but I have good reasons – we are firing on all cylinders getting ready to start the project!
– The distributor has confirmed our inclusion in the 2015 Holiday Release catalog!
– We have an official release date! (more on this later)
– The recording studio is BOOKED!
– Some AMAZING musicians have signed on to be a part of the recording! Here’s one I’m super excited about:
Billboard Magazine says “his guitar work is fluent, and his feel for the groove is unerring…” JazzTimes proclaims, “(He is) A melodic improviser with an exquisite tone and an abundance of soul…” The San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “(He) has a natural, inviting sound that instantly transports you back to the heyday of classic jazz guitar…”
Who is “he,” you ask?
I am thrilled to announce that “He” is my friend, the amazing jazz guitarist Terrence Brewer?, who played with me during the 2008 run of my “Standard Time” show! Besides lil’ ol’ me, Terrence has worked with such esteemed artists as Diana Krall, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers), Mary Wilson (The Supremes), and Pete Escovedo, among many others.
Take a listen to our duet together on a song called “Danglin’,” recorded live at the Metropolitan Room? in NYC:
Please visit the Indiegogo? campaign at http://holidayspiritcd.com – today’s goal is $770 – that’s how close we are to the $6000 level! Can we make it happen today??
#holidayspiritcd #tbt #crowdfunding
While we still have a ways to go to reach the ultimate goal, we’ve hit a major milestone!
Tomorrow marks the deadline for submitting the paperwork to my record label and distributor to ensure a slot in the release catalogs that retailers like iTunes, Amazon and others use to promote the holiday season.
I’m planning to pull the trigger and submit the paperwork with the faith that the funds will come in to make this CD a reality – will you help me?
As of today, I am over 50% of the way through the campaign, and thanks to the help of friends and fans like you, I’ve raised $4600, which is 23% of the goal. I still have 2 weeks to go, but frankly, I am behind when it comes to the funding I need to make this project a reality, and I need your support.
Please take a few moments to visit http://holidayspiritcd.com, choose the incentive package that makes you smile, and make a donation using your Credit Card or PayPal – it’s secure and simple. Let’s see if we can get to 25% funded – $5000 – before I submit the paperwork!
This project is important to me personally because there just isn’t a lot of this type of music being made today.
Steve Vaught?, one of my bestest buddies, made a wonderful donation this week. Steve and I met back in 2009 doing a show about an exploding volcano, and life’s been one big disaster movie ever since, LOL. He guested in my show at Feinstein’s earlier this month, and will next be appearing in “Where’s Charley?” at 42nd Street Moon, opening May 2. Thanks Steve-o!!
The Ohm brothers have been very good to me during this campaign! Peter? started the ball rolling, and now Nathan? has come through with an extremely generous donation, pushing us over the 20% mark!! Thank you so much, Nathan – you and Eduardo? are such a blessing!
Linda Kosut?, one of my “cabarangels”, and her wonderful husband Stephen Lyon? have been such great supporters and friends. Linda actually pointed me toward Indiegogo, where she raised the funds for her fabulous last CD, “Easy Come, Easy Go – the music of Johnny Green.” Daniel and I got to contribute to that campaign, and now Linda & Steve have returned the favor. Thanks, you guys!
Daniel’s cousin Jackie Baltierra Jakob? and her husband David? (part of the LA crew!) helped push us over the 21% mark – thanks so much!!!
Finally, my teacher, great friend, and huge inspiration – also known as the “Queen of Cabaret” – Andrea Marcovicci? has gotten “In The Holiday Spirit” with a generous donation. Thank you for always being so supportive of me, and inspiring me to do more. MWAH!
http://holidayspiritcd.com #holidayspiritcd
First up, Terry Rosenstock, Owner of Golden Gate Group Tickets, which provides entertainment, activities and dining options for all types of groups.
Thanks to the latest batch (herd? clutch? gaggle?) of Santa’s little helpers:
For those of you who came to my most recent show at Feinstein’s, you heard me tell the tale of a “forgetful” pilot friend of mine, Chuck Nelson. Luckily, Chuck didn’t forget about joining the campaign! Thanks for keeping us in the air, captain!
At that same show, you would have also heard me tell the tale of a trip I made to an exotic food restaurant in the Philippines, where I enjoyed several local delicacies like monitor lizard, giant python and whole frog. Vickie Lim was with me on that trip and can attest to my culinary bravery – thank you Vicky for your delicious donation to the campaign!
Fern Yaffa, a longtime supporter who has come to many shows and has been such a cheerleader for me and music!
We’ve just completed our first week of the campaign, and we are now over $3000, at just over 15% of our goal.
OK, that post title isn’t my best work…but it’s still time to say thank you to our latest batch of Santa’s helpers!
First up, Silvia Martinelli, who is such a big supporter of local artists! Thanks for the contribution AND for coming to my last show at Feinstein’s!
What can I say about the incredible Richard Skipper – it sounds like a clich
First up – our BIGGEST contribution thus far comes from someone very special to me (and not just because of his donation!): Danny Goggin, creator of the “Nunsense” series of shows that have played all over the world. Danny & I worked together on 2 of the shows, “Nunsense Jamboree” and “Nuncrackers.” You are a super angel dear friend!!
Next up – my beautiful mother-in-law (you don’t often hear those words together!) Elvira Barajas. We are so thrilled that she beat lymphoma last year, and I am so proud when she calls me “son.” Gracias, Mama!!
Gregory Hales – one of my very best friends in the world – and someone who is helping me run this campaign – THANK YOU!!!
Skyleur Steffensen, a new friend and colleague at the “day job”, snagged one of the eight “Elf” spots we had (now sold out), so I am excited that he will finally get to see one of my shows in person! Thank you sir!
And finally, Geoff van den Brande and Michael Markham have certainly been good to me this month. Not only did they surprise me by coming to my April 1 show in San Francisco, they also bought a CD at the show. And now, they’ve joined the campaign as the latest Dancers! Thanks guys!!
More thank you’s to come!!
http://holidayspiritcd.com #holidayspiritcd
Visit the campaign at http://holidayspiritcd.com
Today’s thank you’s go out to another wonderful set of folks who are helping move us toward the goal!
First, 2 dear friends that I’ve known for years, and have been so supportive, even before I started performing in nightclubs or recording – Ross Adams and Leslie Thompson! Love you both so much!!
Next, Yvonne DeShayes, someone whom I don’t know personally, but who has been a super supporter through the magic of Facebook.
Elaine McKenna, who’s been a trouper and been to several of my shows in person, including our first meet-up during my long run at the 2010 Something C.O.O.L. Cabaret Festival in San Francisco.
And finally, thanks to Broadway & cabaret star Karen Mason, and her husband, the award-winning Composer/Arranger/Producer Paul Rolnick. One of Paul’s songs will be on the new CD and you can see a video of me performing at Feinstein’s this past December here:
I “stole” it from Karen after she sang it during a guest appearance in my annual holiday show a couple of years ago. I’m so happy we get to record it with the big band!!
Thanks to all of you for your support!!
We are now over $2500, and it’s time to start saying THANK YOU to those who have gotten us this far!
Our first contributor was Wesley Wilson!!
