Introduction p2 This book/CD project is a unique interactive marriage of eleven (11)
stories and songs plus illustrations designed to be a vehicle for
children and caretakers to spend time cultivating the art of listening
to each other and communicating.The model is this -
Instead of putting on a CD for children to keep them 'occupied',
why not do something interactive and valuable together?How about reading one of the stories together (setting up that
song) and then listen to the song together?Pertinent questions are provided for the parent to ask after listening
to each song as well as an option for further discussion.This Proposal incorporates two elements:
Element 1 - Proposal
Intended to inspire investorsElement 2 - Sample Pages (preliminary draft)
Three out of the eleven stories are presented here in a partial mock-up of the actual book, to give an idea of the overall character of the project. Rough draft mp3's of the 3 songs that correlate to the stories can also be downloaded and evaluated.My greatest hope is that this book make some significant contribution to the art of parents and caretakers spending time with their children listening to each other, that it become a lifetime habit for them.
Overview p3 A total investment of $15,000 is needed to complete the creation
(Phase I) of this interactive children’s book/CD.These funds will be used to complete the recording, mixing and mastering of the music, plus the remaining text and drawings, in a form that’s ready to hand over to a publisher.
All materials will be publisher-ready within 6 months of total funding.
ROI options are as follows:
This relationship is specific to this project only.
Pro-rated based on total capital invested.Earnings will be reported and payments sent to investor(s) bi-annually.
Option 1 - 20% short term
25% of net earnings from all sources of revenue generated from this project until such time as the investor has recouped their investment plus 20% ROI.
There is no time limit or guarantee as to when this will be achieved.Option 2 - 10% long term
10% of net earnings from all sources of revenue generated by this project for it’s entire market life.
Project Description p4 This Book/CD project is a unique interactive marriage of eleven (11) songs and stories plus illustrations designed to be a vehicle for children and caretakers to spend time cultivating the art of listening to each other and communicating.
When I perform for children, I make a point to offer a mix of songs that includes pieces that are an intellectual stretch for them. I give the children access to the concepts in the songs by setting each song up with a little anecdote, or story, to give them a reference point to begin to grasp the song and it’s concepts. I may use a word or two in these stories in context so that the children will grasp the word’s meaning when it appears later during the song. I basically capitalize on the fact that kids love to be told a story, to set them up to hear music that will help elevate their awareness and their thinking.
I’ve been thinking about making a CD of some of my children’s repertoire. There was a slight catch though - there would be no-one there to tell a story to set each of the songs up. The obvious solution to that would be to simply record myself live, and catch it all. Yet that just seemed too pat. Finally, I conceived this idea which I believe will be a much more fun, creative and valuable approach:
Why not let parents or caretakers tell the stories to set up the songs?
What if the music CD came packaged with an illustrated book, with a story to read before listening to each song?
The model is this: Instead of putting on a CD for children to keep them ‘occupied’, why not do something more interactive and valuable together ? How about putting on the CD, and reading the first story together (setting up the first song), then listening to the first song together? Pertinent questions are provided for the parent to ask after listening to the song as well as an option for further discussion. Then the caretaker and child(ren) could move on to the next page, the next story, the next song, and so forth.
CD’s are wonderful for a process like this because they’re so easy to cue and pause via remote.
The Goal p5 Produce and market a children’s Book/CD with five unique aspects to distinguish itself in the marketplace:
1) It contains material that is an accessible intellectual stretch for children instead of something that simply puts them to sleep, or keeps them occupied.
2) It provides a vehicle for parents, caretakers, and children to do something fun and valuable together thus creating a new form of quality time and encouraging parent/child bonding.
3) It comes packaged as an attractive illustrated children’s book and CD with complete stories and lyrics.4) It will have an unusually high degree of musicality and finesse because of Horace’s long successful track record of making world class music in his studio.
Most children’s music is produced relatively without care, because of the misconception in the industry that children won’t notice ! Horace will put exactly the same care and acumen into his children’s music as he has in all his adult related material.
Further, Little Castle Studio was the facility where “All Through the Night” by Don Jackson and Mae Robertson was recorded and mixed. This children’s lullabye CD has won every 1st place award that children’s music can win, including the coveted American Library Association’s #1 pick of the year nationwide. Horace’s input clearly had an impact on their success.
Mae Robertson recently recorded demos of her first batch of original songs at Little Castle Studio. This is a testament to her trust, allowing Horace to assist her with song doctoring. She has since garnered a major label interest due partly to this skillful first step. Mae has graciously expressed a commitment and willingness to share her resources to assist in marketing “The Magic of Listening”.
5) It will be marketed as intellectual property on the internet as well as conventional channels, to maximize it’s potential reach and market share.
The Music p6 The next obvious question probably is “What exactly do you mean by music that is an ‘intellectual stretch’ for children ?”
The following examples can be obtained on a complete 11 song CD demo at your request.
Example 1 (track 11): A song written by Dana Robinson called “Billy Wilson”.
This song is about an old man who lives way up in the woods all by himself, named Billy Wilson. Billy was special because he thought that the sounds that you hear in the woods, like the rain and the wind and the water on the rocks were all musical. He would sit for a long time and listen to this special music, kind of soaking it up like a sponge, until he was full. Then he would drive down into the city, where everything was noisy and where people were stressed out and rushed, and he would take out a fiddle to play on the street corner, to put some of this music he had soaked up out where people really needed it. Whenever people stopped to listen there would be magic and fun. When he was empty of music, he would drive back up the mountain to his home, to sit and listen to the woods to fill himself back up once more.
Keep in mind this is not a children’s song, Horace uses it in his adult repertoire The magic of the story has allowed the children to access it.
There will also be a couple of songs in the mix that are pure fun, too, for counterpoint.
Example 2 (track 3): A song written by Paul Lauzon called “Undertaker’s Ball”
This song is about a surprise party thrown for a 90-year-old undertaker named Johnny Virgil Graham. It is another true account (so it’s said) where the ghosts of all the people he’s buried show up for the gala event. There are of course, lots of sounds and noises to sing along with the song that are fun.
Marketing Plan p7 This project has been endorsed by Mary Azarian - 1999 Caldecott Winner for best illustrations, children’s book. Mary won the Caldecott for her illustrations in “Snowflake Bentley” published by Houghton Mifflin. Mary’s endorsement should enhance this project’s credibility for publishers and encourage the public to buy this book/CD. For more information on this award, please go to http://www.ala.org/alsc/c1999.html
Option 1 - Conventional Book Publishing
Acquire publishing deal with established publisher using mock-ups and endorsement from Mary Azarian as a validator.
Option 2 - Self-Publish
Sell through bookstore chains like Barnes and Noble, Borders, internet booksellers and our own website. Use resources gleaned from Mae Robertson. Mae has created a terrific market for her two children’s CD’s, and is adept at knowing how to submit the project for review for potential awards. (Refer to: http://www.folkweb.com/maerobertson/ )
Option 3 - Interactive CD rom
Online - http://www.littlecastle.com/MOL.htm
An attractive, comprehensive website is being established. Potential buyers can now audition and purchase music over the internet easily by downloading to their own CD-r’s, and printing their own booklets on their printers, etc. This is exciting because sales can be made where there are virtually no manufacturing and shipping costs, and the tracking is simple and accurate.
Traditional
Through book distributors and large bookseller chain stores
Option 4 - Limited Edition copies
Print 200 signed and numbered limited edition copies and sell for around $95 each.
Some of these limited edition copies will be selectively donated for philanthropy purposes.
Production Budget: p8 The suggested retail price of “the Magic of Listening” is estimated at $24.95.
The funds required to complete Phase 1 are as follows:
Phase I - production of audio masters, text and drawings, etc.
Studio time, tracking, overdubbing, and mixing $8,500
Tape and supplies $ 400
Side Musicians $3,000
Travel to access musicians and resources $1,500
Audio Editing and Mastering $1,200
Creation and maintenance of website $1,200
Illustrations - $2,000
_____________
Total, Phase I : $17,800
Principal’s investment: - 2,800
Total Phase I capital required: $15,000update: $3,000.00 has now been raised, ($12,000.00 still available) Phase II - Publishing
Option 1 Acquire conventional publisher
Option 2 Self Publish
Option 3 Interactive CD rom
Option 4 Limited edition Prints
Biography p9 Horace Williams Jr.
Professional recordings
Horace has been recording professionally as a studio musician for over 32 years, and has appeared on numerous pro level projects including working with Donovan and Andrew Loog Oldham (producer, Rolling Stones).
He has gone on to produce some significant projects for other artists, including Lui Collins and T-Bone Tom Stankus (no.1 on Dr. Dimento nationwide for 5 years in a row).
“Vermont is Afire in the Autumn” is on a record called “Weight of the Rose” which Horace self-produced with artist Bill Lauf Jr. It was heard on 24 of 25 radio stations in VT for a period of 6 weeks, making the ‘A pile’ (played once an hour) on 6 stations. This is a coup for a ‘local’ artist to have airplay crossing over so many formats with one single record (actually, for any artist). An instrumental from the album this song appeared on was used as NPR’s theme song for “All Things Considered” nationwide for a year and a half.
Since launching his own ‘Little Castle Studio’ in 1989, he has been instrumental in the creation of over 60 CD projects for artists from all over the US and Canada. These projects include a No.1 children’s record of the year: “All Through the Night”; and a top 10 folk album of the year: “Songlines”. Many other projects sourcing from Little Castle Studio are heard regularly on NPR, and Horace has had a surprisingly high percentage of projects reach national audiences.
PerformancesHorace’s performing career spans 34 years, and he has amassed a huge repertoire of songs that include his own originals, and exemplary songs collected from unknown but fine area songwriters.
He has done 4 walking concert tours to create venues where none existed, walking over 1200 miles and doing over 200 shows for delighted New England audiences of every manner and description. One such tour was “Montreal to Manhattan” on foot in 26 days, doing 65 shows, following the peak foliage on foot as it migrated southward.
His shows are distinguished by an extremely high level of musicality, and a strong connective thread with the audience, involving them with anecdotes and ways to participate.Volunteerism
Horace’s 25 years of experience working at children’s summer camps has given him a very clear sense of what makes children tick and how to delight them with music. Directing camps since 1978, he fulfilled a dream of creating one for migrant education children in the state of Vermont in 1984 for the Rural Education Center. This Camp was eventually taken over by group of concerned citizens from the Richmond/Huntington area, and is about to embark on it’s 16th season, renamed ‘Camp Exclamation Point’.
Investor Contract p10 The Magic of Listening Phase I This document represents an agreement between Horace Williams, Jr. of Starksboro Vermont, and ____________________________, hereinafter called ‘investor’ in this document.
Investor agrees to invest the sum of _______________thousand dollars (any amount between one thousand and fifteen thousand dollars in one thousand dollar increments) toward the total of the fifteen thousand needed to fund Phase I of The Magic of Listening.
Note: only $12,000.00 available at this timeThese funds will be used to complete the recording, mixing and mastering of the music, plus the remaining text and drawings, in a form that’s ready to hand over to a publisher.
There are two ROI options, and the investor may elect to split his or her investment between these two options as desired, in one thousand dollar minimum increments.
Each thousand dollars invested will be prorated against the fifteen thousand dollar total and entitle the investor to 1/15 of the shares described below.
Option 1 - 20% Short Term
25% of net earnings generated from sales and/or royalties of The Magic of Listening until such time as the investor has recouped their investment plus 20% ROI. There is no time limit or guarantee as to when this will be achieved.Option 2 - 10% Long Term
10% of net earnings generated from sales and/or royalties of The Magic of Listening for it’s entire market life.Investor elects to invest _______________ thousand dollars according to Option 1 described above, and/or _______________ thousand dollars according to Option 2 described above.
Horace Williams, Jr. agrees to have all audio masters, text, stories, and illustrations for The Magic of Listening in a completed form suitable to hand over to a publisher for production and sale within six months of receiving total funding of fifteen thousand dollars.
Horace Williams, Jr. further agrees to report to investor(s) bi-annually any earnings received from sales and/or royalties of The Magic of Listening, and to pay the appropriate shares to the investors at that time.
Horace Williams Jr. further agrees to report monthly to the investor(s) regarding the progress of achieving total funding (if applicable), and the progress of the creation of The Magic of Listening.
This agreement is specific to The Magic of Listening project only, and does not imply an interest of any of the other activities of Horace Williams Jr. or Little Castle Studio.
_______________________________signature date : ________/_____/_______
Horace Williams, Jr,
Director of The Magic of Listening Project
_______________________________signature date: _________/_____/_______
_______________________________name
Investor
Contact Info:
Horace Williams, Jr.
122 Fat Mountain Dr.
Starksboro, Vermont, 05487
(800) 294-7250
(802) 453-5576
Investor
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Important Updates p11 1) We are far enough ahead of our production schedule to be able to afford to re-allocate some of our production Phase I funds toward printing our limited edition run. We are currently shopping for prices and options to accomplish this.
2) At this time, only $12,000.00 of the original $15,000.00 is available for investment
3) Our website now contains a free download page (loss leader) and a rudimentary order page as the prototype for the webpage matures toward completion.