When you see as many crowdfunding campaigns in a month as I do, you notice trends in the backer perks. In addition to the obvious album pre-orders, you will almost always find merch like t-shirts, hats, and koozies on offer. Handwritten lyric sheets also tend to be a popular offer. And, at the high dollar end of the pledge tiers, many bands offer a house show. One way for a crowdfunder to stand out from other campaigns is to also offer experiences; some kind of personal interaction with the artist that may or may not even have anything to do with music. This month, I've got three campaigns on tap with personalized artist experiences built into their campaigns.
Amy Speace- The Blue Rock Sessions (click here to view campaign)
I've been fortunate to have seen Amy Speace a number of times over the years, both solo and with her band Applewood Road. I've always come away impressed with just how poetic and literate her lyrics are and how much soul she can put into a stripped down set with just a guitar, a contrast from the lush, full-band productions that usually populate her albums. Now fans are getting that same stripped down sound from Speace's new album. The Blue Rock Sessions was recorded in just three hours at a writer's retreat Speace attended recently. On this one, it's just her and her guitar or piano, with most songs recorded on the first or second take. While the album is already recorded, Speace is running a $15,000 Kickstarter campaign for things like mixing, mastering, production, and promotion. She's offering the album in digital, CD, and limited edition vinyl (only 50 copies are being made) formats. For those wanting an artist experience, you can pledge to co-write a song with Speace. You can also get a Zoom concert or hangout, a handwritten lyrics sheet, or a house concert.
Secret Emchy Society- Queen of Assholes (click here to view campaign)
Secret Emchy Society is another band I've caught live and they always bring the hard-living, hard-drinking, hard-fighting outlaw country spirit. Additionally, frontwoman Cindy Emch is one of the nation's hardest working champions of queer country music, having curated queer country showcase nights at festivals like Americanafest and the National Queer Arts Festival. But, like many artists playing in a small, if growing, niche genre, Secret Emchy Society is very much a DIY project. So the band is launching a $15,000 IndieGoGo campaign to release their newest album. You can get the album in digital, CD, or translucent red vinyl. For those wanting a person encounter with Emch, you can pledge to have her do a “witchy gay goth” tarot card reading for you. You can also get a virtual or in-person house concert.
Trevin Nelson- Solo Debut Album (click here to view campaign)
Trevin Nelson is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who is best known as banjoist for the bluegrass band The Ruta Beggars. Now Nelson has decided to embark on a new adventure and try recording a solo album. The $7,000 Kickstarter campaign he is running for the album is heavy on experience-based perks. The album is available in digital download format and you can get physical items like chart and lyric sheets, but if you want to meet with Nelson, this is the campaign for you. A certified yoga instructor, Nelson has several yoga packages, from virtual to in-person, group or private, on offer. You can also attend a group music workshop, or get a private lesson in banjo, guitar, or dobro.
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