BACKSTREET RECORDS + JOHNSTOWN = GENEROSITY TO THE MAX

Yesterday I recieved a response to a post I made on the Vocal Youth forum from Dave Anderson of Indiana's Backstreet Records:

"I want to donate some gift certificates to the fund raising cause. Hit me up, please." Not only that, he wrote, but he'd also like to stick our fliers in with their purchases. Nick and I went out to the store this afternoon and he generously donated four (4) $10 Gift Certificates for Backstreet Records to be raffled off at Saturday's Variety Show.


I had no idea that when I posted on Vocal Youth, the discussion forum for Johnstown Area musicians and artists, I'd get so many helpful offers. Not only did Dave hear about our project through the post, but a few other bands who are planning to play at some of our benefits (Sussex Pledge, Discordia, Soundrive...) also contacted me in this way. It makes the whole "booking" experience slightly more enjoyable when you have bands responding to you with such good and light-hearted attitudes. Their emails say things like "We really believe in what you're doing," and "I think this is a really great cause, we'd love to play for you."

Vocal Youth aside, the 709 Railroad Street performance space in Johnstown, which is run by some very good friends, also has been a great help. I phone friend Ian Rummel a few weeks ago asking for his help and if he had any suggestions as to who might be interested in playing. We talked about Endless Mike, about my friend Kevin from Philly who can hopefully make it for the July 19th show, about other friends of ours who make music and would probably like to be involved. (He and Jacob Koestler have a band called Lung Rip and will also be playing for us later in July.)This past Monday I went to a show at 709 where I got to talk to Mike Miller of Endless Mike and the Beagle Club and explain our "position" and what we're doing and why. He was very, very into it.
We got Matt Miller's The Higher Five, and even though I knew this weeks ago, Dan Oatman, also from Johnstown, volunteered to play for us at both shows on the 5th, and donate his CD sales.

Thanks everyone.
So much.
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