Ye Quickie Update

[filkertom]

Had an excellent time Saturday. Went up to Grand Rapids to have my very first house concert (hosted by kender42). Very nice folks, very nice time. This house concert thing definitely has its merits, not the least of which is just hangin' out with folks after the music. Before the concert, I got together with a couple of people I've blogged with for awhile at Eschaton but never actually met. Again, great folks, great time, very good Italian at a place called Salvatore's (at Alpine and Stocking, for those who know the area).

Today and tomorrow, I have four and two-thirds buttloads of things to do, before hopping on a train Wednesday morning for OryCon. As of now, my schedule is:

• Fri 8:00 pm, Salon F - Opening Ceremonies
• Sat 11:00 am, Columbia Room - Speedfilking with Tom Smith
• Sat 3:00 pm, Columbia Room - MAIN CONCERT: Tom Smith
• Sat 8:00 pm, Mt. Hood Room - Whose Line Is It, Anyway?
• Sat 9:00 pm, Mt. Hood Room - Whose Line is it anyway? Part 2

We'll see about the Whose Line? -- if they want me to filk after, it might be a touch problematic -- but... yeah. :)

As to The Last Hero On Earth... I do believe that I will have a close-to-final version for download in the next couple of days. The final version will be even improved on that, but I really want to get that last song done, so that's what most of today is.

And I have a very important question to ask regarding the pre-order: Does $20, for the download of the complete album with near-final mix, script and JPGs of the art, the final CD with bonus tracks, and shipping included, seem like too much to ask? (And, yes, those of you who got the pre-release CD-R over the summer will get the whole kaboodle for $10, just as promised. :)

Update: Okay, this is already interesting. Yeah, I can certainly sign the final CD -- I was thinking of dispensing with the top-spine label anyway, because, although it looks kewl, it doesn't appear that I'll be getting into Target anytime soon, so it's just an extra expense for something nobody likes or wants, and therefore the shrink wrap is easier to open and, therefore, sign the CD. ;) Shipping would most likely be US, but international isn't that much more -- let me work out the numbers.

Comments

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

$20 too much? Nah, at least I don't think so.

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

For 20$, I expect an autographed CD mailed to me.

[nightface.livejournal.com]

$20 for immediate download and shipping of signed CD? That sounds okay. Same price for international shipping? (he says, hoping)

[kender42.livejournal.com]

It was indeed a great time. Thanks, Tom! (And yeah, Salvatore's has good food!)

I'd personally pay the $20 for above. We need to get you on Itunes Music Store. :)

[alicetheowl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd pay $20 for your latest, to have it shipped to me.

[darkwolf69.livejournal.com]

$20 seems quite reasonable to me.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

I hate to throw any coolish water on this love fest but... We happy few who already know and love your work will almost certainly pay $20 but most other people who are not accustomed to paying more than $10 for an album, possibly not.

Have you ever played "Whose Line" games live before? It's harder than it looks. You are one of the few people I've met who could probably handle the musical games at all. Hoedown!!!!!

[khadagan.livejournal.com]

Where are these people finding decent quality music for $10????
Most of what I'm finding is in the $15 to $20 range, and doesn't include shipping. A signed CD with shipping included is competative with that, and adding the script and the JPGs of the art is pure gravy. Sounds REALLY reasonable for everything that's included.
(Of course, I'm one of the lucky ones who got the pre-release CD, so it sounds downright heavenly to me! *grin, squee, grin*)
Hugs -- Khadagan

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, after it's out it would go to the normal $18 including shipping. And MP3s would be available at iTunes and stuff, if I opt into the CD Baby electronic distribution for this album, which I might not.

Re: Whose Line -- Indeed I have. Actually, I'm kind of an old hand at it. We've got out own improv group, Deep Fried Lemurs -- me, huskiebear, Anne, and Tom & Karen Underwood, with occasional help from markbernstein. Haven't performed much lately, as the Underwoods have a gorgeous and very active kidlet, but when she grows up a touch we hope to do some more shticking about. :)

[chirosinger.livejournal.com]

The House Concert thing is great. chasophonic and I LOVE doing house concerts. You should contact folks in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Winnipeg to do more. Contact me at becketta at gamil dot com if you'd like some contact info. Have a great time at Orycon and give hugs to vixyish and tfabris for me and it_aint_easy if he's there.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Hugs right back. Remember, also, one of the big things about those $10 CDs is volume, and I don't mean the knob that goes to 11. When you're pressing enough copies to satisfy Target, Meijer, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Wal*Mart, your expenses shift dramatically, as well as your profit per unit. There is no way in hell I can possibly compete on a per-unit basis with a chain store, but that's not my market. To be somewhat cliched about it, think of my stuff -- and, indeed, most folk and comedy music these days -- more as hand-crafted art, rather than the mass-produced decor you might buy at the mall. I charge more, yes, but I put a hell of a lot more work into it than someone who has a team of studio musicians, sound engineers, graphic designers, and marketing people. And I have, I think, a much closer and healthier relationship with my fans (evidenced by, for instance, the LJ you're reading right now). We're all buds, and we can say hi and trade hugs and all that good stuff, and I make music for you. And I don't have to sell as many as the Big Name Artists do to make a living at it.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Indeed I will, and pass on some to musicmutt! And, yeah, I'm really looking forward to the next two house concerts. Although it's kinda odd -- I don't feel that I really should do more than make myself available for 'em and see who wants to throw a party, y'know? Any insights on that?

[ericthemage.livejournal.com]

Can't hurt to ask around, stir the pot a little. "Hey, I want to do a house concert in XXXXX sometime. Any volunteers?"

[hiddenkrypt.livejournal.com]

I would pay $20 for that in a heartbeat. Unlike most big music names, You're the only artist that could possibly make a $20 album worth it.

I saw you live for the first time at ConClave 30... and now I'm a diehard fanboy.

Yay Tom!

[thingunderthest.livejournal.com]

$20 is eminently reasonable, and probably a bit low in my opinion, but that keeps you marketable or some such dren.

I'm sad that I already had commitments for Orycon weekend. Any other prospective PNW appearances in the foreseeable future?

[hms42]

Tom - When do I get to send you my $20 per copy? (And word will be passed onto others who will purchase more copies.)

Harold

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

*sobs about the dying minivan killing the best chance for years to make it to a Smith concert*

[popefelix.livejournal.com]

For $20, I expect an autographed CD delivered to me personally on a cloth-of-gold pillow by the artist, accompanied by no less than six scantily-clad pretty girls who can do justice to their scantily-cladness, along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing my praises to the tune of some Whitesnake song (who, for the sake of clarity, need not be scantily-clad.) In this day and age, I feel like I really can't expect anything less.

OTOH, for 19.99 I'll take the final CD and the JPEGs and all that other stuff you mentioned. ;)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Belly. Wet fish. Slap. ;)

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

$20? For immediate download and a CD to be delivered later? Of course! Where's the link to purchase?

Also, I hope you do get on iTunes, there's a dozen or two people I'd like to gift your tunes to. Think of it as an experiement, if it works, great, if not, you can do something different on the next album.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

The link to purchase will be up as soon as I get a satisfactory version of the last song. I'm hoping before I leave Wednesday morning.

I actually am on iTunes. And They Say I've Got Talent has been there for a couple of months, as part of a digital distribution deal through CD Baby. I have not made a big deal about it for two reasons: bluntly, I get more money when you buy the album directly from me; and it's more of a thing for people casually browsing for something new on iTunes. My fans already check out this LJ and my web site. If you'd like to gift your friends with my tracks on iTunes, go for it.

I haven't made up my mind about The Last Hero On Earth on iTunes yet; it's a fairly specialized work. But maybe that just means I should give it as much distribution as possible....

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

No, but don't rule it out for sometime in the next two years. This year's con blitz was fascinating and fun, but I suspect next year's is gonna be different... and I'm actually beginning to think in terms of (gasp!) a tour....

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

And so you are on iTunes! Am now gifting "Illuminati Polka" to several people. Sheesh, leave blog for a week or two and look what you miss.

You see, the reason I was hoping you would get on iTunes is that many friends and family give me iTunes certificates, gift cards and such so I have a hefty amount in my account, and since I'm unemployed and getting poorer, I give the gift of music to iPod owning friends. Now I can give the gift of _fun_ music.

Talk to you later
PAL

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, but... you just hosted the house concert. You get it free. ;)

[kender42.livejournal.com]

Oh. Dur. I forgot, actually! :)

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

whoo-hoo you're coming to my neighborhood!

Great!

[thingunderthest.livejournal.com]

Sweet. If you come out this way I can guarantee my wife and I in attendance, and I hound bug all the filk friendly folk I know and a few others to attend.

Sounds Reasonable

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Can't wait!
Melissa

[ixias.livejournal.com]

$20, yep. Especially for a signed copy. See you at Orycon!