Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Pocket full of Soul Kickstarter appeal

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Look, Ken. 
 
As I've said, I'm not a gigging Pro who's cynical about the project--all  
'I' see is that every harmonica player IN that movie is getting huge exposure 
 forever and FOR free. How could that be a 'bad' thing given the 
discussions  we're always having about the perceived lack of respect usually given to  
harmonica players? 
 
 
Here are two guys who are showing huge respect not only for harmonica  
players but the history of the harmonica in general and they get trounced for it 
 and accused of being not only charlatans, but 'sleazy'?  HIGHLY unfair.  
Have you sat down with either of them to understand their pov? You might. I'm 
 sure they'd be willing.
 
 
For the record--and I didn't even know this until I heard from Marc, but  
they DID TAKE CARE OF THE 'RIGHTS ISSUE' AS SOON AS AS IT WAS BROUGHT TO 
THEIR  ATTENTION! So while you're still on your crusade to lambast them about 
this,  perhaps it's time to tone down the public vitriol, get your  facts 
straight and give them a fair shake at this critical juncture of  their project!
 
 
I never saw either with 'trust me' smiles or 'sunnyhappy talk'. Far  from 
it--they were much too busy working to the point of exhaustion. I  saw two 
young guys nearly asleep on their feet and non-stop work on  the movie. From 
day one they had a project they were struggling to bring to the  screen with 
nothing remotely sleazy about either of them. They're nice, normal  guys. 
What you call 'odious behaviour' I saw as them being a bit  naive originally 
and perhaps not fully cognizant of how to go about  bringing a music project 
along. Perhaps they also got some  questionable legal advice about the 
copyrights--I don't know exactly-- but  whatever happened, they FIXED IT as soon 
as they knew and that's what  counts. I don't judge people quite as harshly 
as you do in matters like  this perhaps, believing that eventually it would 
all iron itself out and this  well-deserving project would lift off, 
perceived missteps and all. I will always  say good things about people I find to 
be extremely pleasant, and they are.  Jftr, I'm a pretty good judge of 
character.
 
 
 

You weren't at SPAH where the audiences (both harp players and  non-players 
alike) were buzzing about the movie and coming out of the 3 showings  with 
huge grins. At our own relatively small showing beforehand in NY the  
audience loved the film. I think we'd all have happily sat through a second  
run-through to catch what we missed the first time around since it's fast-paced.  
I just watched a video of the New Haven showing and theirs was even more 
fun:  with videotaping, a major harp lesson/audience involvement and a heckuva 
lot  more people in attendance. It's pure FUN! 
 
 
Now I DO know of a couple of disgruntled people who felt they were shunted  
aside by other players who wanted to be interviewed first and who weren't  
willing to wait for a later interview by Todd or Marc. If you saw them at 
SPAH  2006 it was a zoo, with so many people vying for attention. I wouldn't 
doubt but  many of them didn't make it into the film and perhaps you're being 
influenced by  people who still have some resentments. I've read on the 
website that  there are 9 hours worth of 'extra' footage..they had to cut out 
even  wonderful stuff they'd wanted to leave in. 
 
 
Where you're seeing charlatanism, many others are seeing contributions for  
a worthwhile cause which will stand the test of time. Look how harp players 
 today devour old vids and movies from the 40's and 50's. Perhaps those 
today are  envisioning the same thing 50 years down the road? Possible?

 
 
 
I do respect and understand your perspective 'generally' but in this  
aspect you've unfairly judged Marc and Todd. I didn't say they  were friends btw, 
more 'friendly acquaintances' over the years  otherwise I would have known 
what actually transpired earlier than  this. I've supported them all along 
mainly because I know how it all  began and watched them struggle for years 
on this project while I believed only  good would come from the exposure 
dozens of the harmonica players I DO know  will get from being in their film. (I 
still find it humorous to  hear Jason referred to as an 'up and coming 
young player'--when today so  many younger players think of him as their mentor 
or the one to emulate--that's  how long PFOS has been in the works).
 
 
If they HAD any money, do you think for a second the film would  have taken 
so long OR they'd now need a Kickstarter campaign? They've  literally spent 
years of their lives on this...without help they might have  to give up on 
the project altogether and THAT would be a crying shame after  making it 
this far. Is that what you'd prefer? The film to sit fallow on a shelf  so the 
public never gets to see it, or gets it on DVD? THINK about the  
ramifications.
 
 
If I'm able to contribute in my own small way to bring those  brilliant 
harmonicists I know to the public consciousness it's more than  worth it for 
the pleasure their music and friendship has brought me, AND  it's entirely my 
choice to do this as it was SPAHs to host the movie.  So I  feel I'm in good 
company. Feel free not to support them but don't think  you have the right 
to perpetuate a falsehood so many years later when you  really don't know 
the details or to tell others they're wrong to  support a project they believe 
in.
 
 
As for Michael Rubin, I agree. HIS kickstarter campaigns are worth funding  
too and I already personally helped with the Kalu James project. Did you?  
It's a tad narrowly-focused to declare we should choose one over the  other 
and I'm going to continue to support the PFOS project since it will help  so 
many deserving harmonica players.
 
Elizabeth
 
PS: Since you brought up musicians who won't work for free, what do you say 
 about those gigging musicians who DO 'work for free' (or for the bare  
minimum/crumbs) at Clubs/Restaurants all the time? I know quite a few of them  
who post right here - and they usually are 'older' musicians (those  you 
claim lead by example). Their typical reasoning is that there are  dozens of 
other retired pros who don't need the money and who are willing to  play just 
to keep their skills up/get the audience interaction they miss, so if  they 
don't play for free they don't get to play. Clubs simply don't pay in their  
towns, or pay the bare minimum-they've certainly discussed it here enough.  
Should they stop playing 'at all' then? I'd be interested in your 
perspective  about them.
 
"Message: 12
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 22:49:44 -0700
From: Ken Deifik  <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Pocket  full of Soul Kickstarter
appeal
To: Harp List Post  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>


Elizabeth wrote:
>You have a  different perspective as a Pro and I respect that, but I think
>you're  comparing apples to oranges withyour examples and mistaking these
>guys  for big-time movie producers when they're not.

I know these guys aren't  big-time movie producers. From the first time I 
read their request for free  music I knew they were just amateurswith 
"trust me" smiles."  (snipped)