Forced to withdraw with apologies and an important note about theeconomics of selling CD/DVDs

[Rick Walker <looppool@cruzio.com>]

Title:

Hi guys,
I feel embarrassed but I didn't know that a run of a thousand CDs was planned
nor that we would be sharing the costs of said manufacturing.

I just dont' have any wheres near the $200 it would take to invest in this so I"m going to have to be
forced to withdraw from this exciting project.

Please give my spot to the next deserving Looper.

Please forgive me for pulling out.  I am just really having a hard time economically right now.

yours,  
Rick Walker

ps   Dear David and everyone:    A Note about the manufacturing and selling of CDs in this economy:

   For what it's worth,   I have this gratuitous advice for the project:

I propose a different method for having our CDs made that will be far less costly per participant
and have several efficacious results.   Please read on and since this is gratuitous advice, I don't mind
at all if it's an irritant and you don't want to follow my suggestions.   I do it in the spirit of promoting
ourselves and also in not losing money on the project:

To Whit:

In the past four years CD sales have almost ceased to exist for most independent musicians.
I use to sell 20 - 50 CDs a show back in 2001-2003 and I don't even take the CDs to shows any more.

Consequently,  it's almost always a money losing proposition to manufacturer 1,000 CDs and it ends up
that you end up sitting on a tremendous amount of bulky inventory,  not to mention the ecological impact of
making more plastic.

Most artists I know who still put out CDs have gone to the model of having them manufactured (at a higher but not by much
per CD basis) when they are sold (Krispen Hartung is a really good resource for this method and has used it very successfully
for his releases).

This has several advantages to running lots of 1,000 CDs at a time:

1)  you don't have to spend money that is not necessary
2)  you almost always make a profit on your investment
3) you lower your ecological impact
4) you lower your space impact (for storing unsold CDs)

Addtionally,   you can put URLs on the artwork and have printable artwork stored online for the people who want it
(surprising to me, how many people DON'T want the artwork)  which further reduces your cost.

This all looks, nominally,  a bit less professional but it is a strategy designed for a world in global recession
and one that is experiencing fewer and fewer sales of CDs.

One can even have 'one off'   DVDs made that have the audio files for playing in CD players and computers,
high and low quality MP3s for those who want iPod play,  all the graphics for booklets in a printable form (.pdf)

All of this only costs about $3 a DVD,   or $2 a CD.

Please consider all of this,   David and if you change your mind on the plan of attack and adopt
this approach,  then I'll be back in on it.

If not,  no hard feelings and I apologize for wasting your time.

respectfully,   Rick Walker

david kirkdorffer wrote:

186144.72624.qm@web55202.mail.re4.yahoo.com" type="cite">

Hello -

 

Yesterday I proposed creating another Loopers-Delight compilation CD, gathering examples of our Looping music.

Today we have a full roster of participants!

 

THE LD CD IV TEAM

1. Matt Stevens

2. Duke Sexton

3. Ted Killian

4. fabio

5. Tony K

6. Antony Hequet

7. Andy Butler

8. Dennis Moser

9. Edward Yuhas

10. Andy G

11. Rick Walker

12. David Kirkdorffer

 

The basic details will be no surprise:

- 12 particpants each submit 1 track no longer than 6 minutes.

- Please consider the track submitted 100% finished as far as you are concerned.

- All costs for preparation and production of 1000 shrink-wrapped CDs with 4-panel color artwork in Jewel Cases are to be divided among the 12 participants.

- All 1000 CDs to be divided among the 12 participants (so 80 CD's each).

- Delivery costs will be charged based on mailing costs (from Boston, MA) to participants' addresses.

 

I propose using the following service for CD production: http://www.wonderdrugrecords.com/ 

They've done great work for me for my own UNDO CDs.

 

What will this cost me?

Final costs to be commnicated, but expect to pay something in the $200 dollar range, not including postage delivery of your CDs.

I have used some top-flight mastering in the past for 12 other CDs I've produced: http://www.peerlessmastering.com/.  I want to master the collection to ensure the collected music plays well together. However, to keep costs down, I know another option I can use that I believe will work great and not cost us anything. Stay tuned.

 

What will I get?

1. Each participant wil receive 80 shrink-wrapped CDs with 4-panel color artwork in Jewel Cases.

2. Depending on if everyone agrees, I can also arrange electronic distribution for this CD through IODA: http://www.iodalliance.com/. However, that brings up the question of distribution of any sales income (which I'm happy to do for 24 months).

 

Are their any restrictions on the music?

1. Please do not submit anything that contains ANY samples of other people's work.

2. Please do not submit anything that contains profane language. :-)

 

How do I pay?

1. I'm not 100% sure yet. 

2. I don't have a PayPal account, but that might be the easiest way to do this.

 

What are the deadlines and timelines?

1. I propose that all musical submitions must be received by May 1, 2010.  That's six weeks away.

2. I propose that all payments must be received by May 1, 2010.

3. Please allow 2 weeks for mastering.

4. I need to confirm CD production turnaround time - 4-8 weeks, depending on when we send this in (oddly, this si a seasonal business).

 

What do I do next?

Please send David an email with the following details:

1. Your Full Name:

2. Your Musical Project's Name:

3. Your Phone Number and Email for communication related to this project:

4. The full mailing address to which you would like to receive your CDs:

5. Would you like David to arrange IODA electronic distribution (iTunes, Amazon, etc..) YES or NO. (See "What Will I Get?", above): 

 

What does David need to do next?

1. Calculate and communicate exact costs for CD duplication.

2. Confirm mastering costs.

3. Find a graphic artist to donate services.

4. Communicate to participants if there is universal agreement for IODA electronic distribution.

 

What else?

Is there anyone who would like to volunteer to create the artwork to match these specifications: http://www.wonderdrugrecords.com/sub5.htm

If you decide to back out, please do so in writing to my YAHOO email address, and NOT the LD list - I can only read every 3rd Digest, they come so quickly!

 

What is David's motivation to do this?

1. Its been a while since LD CD III, so it seems like a good idea.

2. I need more work to do in my life / I must be crazy.

3. I generally like the process.

4. Good karma.

 

I hope this email helps answer questions you may have. It really doesn't need to be complicated as long as we can all follow the process and deadlines.  

 

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Kind regards,

 

David