I don't know why it should cost us *a lot* of money. First of all, let's go
step-by-step. I'm sure people have different ideas about what we have as an
AJ List comp; Here's what I had in mind, and for those of you who have a
different plan/strategy, please share your opinions!
First of all, we can have everyone be a part of it, but one person, or a
couple of people, should coordinate this.
1. Call for submissions to bands, artists, producers, DJs etc for material.
Also, graphic designers would either compete or collaborate to make CD
booklet design
2. Submissions deadline
3. Coordinator should put sound samples of each musical entry on a web
page, for all AJ list members (and everyone else) to preview, so one will
get an idea of what the comp will sound like. Also, graphic design should
be featured on web page.
4. CD Duplicator and record pressing houses should be selected.
- CDs: mass production number should be identified (100? 500? 1000?) and
overall cost identified.
Preorders should be arranged, and list members will be able
to buy their own copy/copies. Hopefully, the number of
sold copies will be enough to pay for duplication cost.
- vinyl: Interested DJs and radio programmers should identify number of
copies made and buy their own copy/copies.
5. Copies sold to listmemebers, and general public via webpage. (Additional
publicity to internet magazines/online publications as well as AJ-related
publications (SNC, On The One, etc) should be made as well, why not?)
The Comp would be independently-produced, but we hopefully could get copies
to the labels; this is our "demo" after all, and who knows what?
Additionally, the DJs on the list would have their own vinyl copies to play
in their clubs, to generate interest and spread the noize....So basically,
the comp is exclusively for us, but it will have opportunities to get out
to the "outside world" through radio and club play. And say it does get
popular in the outside world. Won't it make a neat article in SNC or even
some Internet-related magazine to show that us net.folks did something
relatively unique (yes, I know other lists have done similar projects, but
it's not something that happens everyday) together?
So I don't think this would be a very "costly" thing in the traditional
sense. Each entrant, of course, is responsible for recording and mixing
their own submission, at their own cost. Each track would have its own
producer basically, and the entire list would be the "executive producer"
and would have a great collective say in this matter. What is really needed
is a coordinator (or coordinators) and a web page somewhere were all can
monitor the project's progress. Oh yeah, and a deadline, so none of us get
flaky!
Oh yeah, didn't we do something similar to this in some respect? The Acid
Jazz shirts? (Yo, Greg!)
We'll see what happens. Hopefully, when Gen compiles the 1997 Acid Jazz
List Poll a year from now, the overwhelming vote for "Album of The Year"
would be our own...
Elson
-30-
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Elson Trinidad
Los Angeles, CA, USA
elson@westworld.com * http://www.westworld.com/~elson
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