Thursday, February 18, 2010

March Survey: Mandatory!

Dear Co-Op Member:

As in the past, your Music Office Co-Op will be conducting an Economic Impact Study during the month of March 2010.

This Economic Impact Study is your Co-Op's most effective marketing and fundraising tool. Because of the Study your Co-Op has been able to grow into a statewide network of offices, and secure State funding. To see the most recent Study, follow this link:
http://tipitinasfoundation.org/_data/global/images/economic_impact_2009_V05.zip

Your Music Office Co-Op is a workforce development program, so the Study asks some very specific, and personal, questions about earnings and revenue sources. We collect this information in a private, closed-door interview that takes five minutes or less. For accuracy, and your ease of use, the Co-Op manager will explain the questions and enter your answers directly into an online database; no paper copies are created. Co-Op managers are under strict non-disclosure orders; they may not reveal any part of your information to anyone, including me. The survey is designed so there is no way to identify you; no names, no addresses, and no other identifying information is collected.

Unlike previous years, participation in the study is now mandatory for Co-Op membership. If you use the Co-Op in March, you must participate in the survey. It's that important.

Please be prepared to answer the following questions as accurately as possible:
- What was your total annual income, from all sources, during 2009 and 2008?
- What was your income from music/media activities during 2009 and 2008?
- How many gigs did you do during 2009 and 2008?
- What were your average earnings per gig?
- What are the sources, and rough percentages, of your music/media income streams (gigs, teaching, CD sales, tech work, etc.)?

To ensure accuracy, please look over - or bring along - your last two federal income tax returns, your calendar or schedule for '08 and '09, Quicken/QuickBooks, ledger, bank statements, or other applicable music/media business financial records. If such materials are unavailable, please try to recollect and reconstruct as accurately as possible. We ask that you be ready to do the survey upon your first Co-Op usage in the month of March.

Feel free to consult with your Co-Op manager, or call/email me directly, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the Study. Thank you in advance for your participation in the Economic Impact Study, and in your Music Office Co-Op. With your help we can continue to serve Louisiana artists, and help you make more money.


Best regards,
Todd Souvignier
Co-Op Director
Tipitina's Foundation, Inc.
4040 Tulane Avenue #6000, New Orleans LA 70119
todd@tipitinas.com
(504) 669-4406

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

February means Quality AND Quantity.

February may be the shortest month, but it won't keep us from cramming more things into it!! We have three great workshops and two fundraisers this month. We really need your help financially, so please check out the opportunities to help out below.

Wed, Feb 3rd 5:30
Managing and Booking Bands with Johnny Palazzotto and Lisa Stafford
I’m not going to candy coat this: it’s hard work to book shows and it’s hard work to manage a band. But you can do it! Whether it be your own career or someone else’s, Lisa and Johnny have countless years under their belts working in the music industry and will spend the time to pass their knowledge on to you. Lisa Stafford has worked at Festival International booking the bands for as long as I can remember and manages all sorts of bands from Cedric Watson to Feufollet. Johnny Palazzotto is a forty year veteran of the regional, national and international entertainment industry, has been instrumental in making the rest of the world aware of numerous Louisiana artists, and is making the trek from Baton Rouge just to co-present this workshop!

Wed, Feb 10th 5:30 Intro Final Cut Pro with David Webber
David Webber is a teacher among teachers, and will join us this night to go over the basics of using Final Cut Pro. If you are interested in video editing and want to learn how to go more pro, or if you’re already pro looking for a refresher, join David’s journey into the wide ocean that is Final Cut Pro.

Thurs, Feb 25th 5:30 Inside Tube Amps with Joel Savoy
Beginner tube amp safety, repair and modification. We'll talk about how to safely work on your own amp and the basic principles of tube audio circuits, including reading schematics. Joel will discuss some common problems and general troubleshooting techniques as well.
Joel is a musician among musicians and turns out he’s an amp-builder among amp-builders, too. If anyone would be interested in a 3-class course on building your own 10W Class A tube amp, please email Joel Savoy at joel@valcourrecords.com. Price is $350 per person, all parts (except speaker and cabinet) supplied. Some tools required.

Feb 26th-28th – Support your Co-Op through Barnes & Noble purchases!
We will have some Co-Op members doing an in-store, & meanwhile if you buy some books and tell your cashier you want to support the Tipitina’s Co-Op, a portion of your purchases will go towards the Co-Op all weekend!

Feb 27th – Bonsoir Catin & Art Opening at Café Des Amis Co-Op fundraiser!!
We will be Café Des Amis’ non-profit of choice during their next Art Opening by the sisters Norma Thompson & Gerta Kilchrist! Spend your evening with their irresistible food and the sweet sounds of Bonsoir Catin, and leave some money behind to support what we are doing here at the Co-Op! If you’ve eaten there before, you know I’m serious when I say I’m already hungry.