As Simple as a Tweet

This week I am taking part in the #YourTurnChallenge, a 7-day blogging challenge inspired by the Your Turn book by Seth Godin. Since being introduced to his daily blog years ago, I am constantly inspired by his views on work, art and how to treat people. A lot of what he writes about is along the lines of, "go, make something happen."

It was in this spirit that we approached starting the rehearsal studios in the first place, and most recently propelled our involvement with the SoundSwell project. Back in August of 2012 I read an article on Hypebot about the Iowa City Public Library and how they were offering free downloads of local musicians for those with a library card. I couldn't help but think that if they were doing it in Iowa, we could do it here in Santa Cruz. I tweeted as much to the Santa Cruz Public Library and the next day got an email from the virtual services coordinator.

She was aware of the ICPL work and was also about to attend a leadership retreat the next month which included the development of a year long project for which she would get help applying for grant funding. We got to emailing, she got to talking around her office and before you know it, we started to make something happen. Serendipity? It was through this one interaction that we opened the door to being involved with this amazing project from the ground up.

To date the Santa Cruz Public Library has paid local musicians over $5000 to license music for library patrons to download free of charge. This year they have another $4000 waiting to distribute to new local bands what would like to join.

This project is a win / win. Local musicians get real money in the bank ($100 for full length LP, $75 for EP). To earn that much from iTunes band would typically need to over 100 downloads. With SoundSwell, bands not only make the money up front, but only local library patrons can download the music, so bands are not only earning money, but also making new local fans. Our community also gets access to a library of free local music.

All it took was one tweet to make to make the connection to start this project. I encourage you to send one email, or tweet, dedicate a FB post or an Instagram hashtag to foster more SoundSwell connections.

If you know a local musician, tell them about the opportunity. If you have library card, download some new music. #keepsantacruzweird #liveformusic

Local Music Survey for SCPL

The Santa Cruz music scene is an integral part of the history, culture, and economy of our community. Therefore, the Santa Cruz Public Library library is investigating ways to enhance access to local music in the present as well as document local music to preserve a historical record for the future.

Please take a few moments to complete this library survey. This survey will help the library understand your thoughts on local music and how you access music in your everyday life. You can access this online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SCPL_LocalMusic. It takes approximately 5- 10 minutes and is completely anonymous.

As a “thank you”, you may opt to enter a drawing for a $20 gift certificate at Streetlight Records. If you opt to enter the drawing, you will be required to supply us with contact information. Your privacy and the confidentiality of the responses you provide to the library are extremely important. Your survey results will remain anonymous, and your contact information will not be shared, sold, or spammed in any way. The only way the library will use your information is to contact you in the event that you win!

Reading is Cool

For the past month we have had a book list posted at the studio to collect titles for the upcoming Santa Cruz Public Libraries Teen Battle of the Bands this Saturday, July 24 from 1- 4 PM at the Cruzio Parking Lot beside the Central Library (224 Church Street).

Here is the final book list for your summer reading pleasure:

1. Off the Rails: Aboard they Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozz by Rudy Sarzo.
2. Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke by Peter Guralnick.
3. Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil.
4. Playing in the Band: An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead by David Gans.
5. The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson
6. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.
7. Smile, You’re Traveling (Black Coffee Blues Part 3) by Henry Rollins.
8. Across the Great Divide: The Band and America by Barney Hoskyns
9. Motley Crue: The Dirt – Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx and Neil Strauss.
10. T.A. Z.: The Temporary Autonomous Zone (Autonomedia New Autonomy Series) by Hakim Bey.
11. Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground by Michael Moynihan.
12. Last Train from Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick.
13. Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick.

2nd Annual Santa Cruz Public Library Teen Battle Of The Bands

Where: Cruzio Parking Lot beside the Central Library, 224 Church Street, Downtown Santa Cruz

When: July 24, 2010 from 1-4pm

What: The 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Public Library Teen Battle Of The Bands is on for 2010.

Join us for an afternoon of music and fun as the next generation of young musicians takes to the stage. As always, this FREE, family friendly concert will definitely be rockin'. So come cheer on the bands as they "battle it out" for their choice of top prizes that have been donated by our awesome sponsors.

Audience members will also have the chance to win some fantastic prizes in our free raffle drawing.

The Battle of the Bands concert is an outdoor event, so remember to bring along your sunscreen and folding chairs. Don’t miss this opportunity to rock out with your favorite librarians and help support the future of the Santa Cruz music scene.

So come on down and get a library card, check out a book, and get ready to feel the power of rock n’ roll !

Official Rules http://www.santacruzpl.org/media/pdf/teens/botb_rules.pdf

Entry Form  http://www.santacruzpl.org/media/pdf/teens/botb_register.pdf

MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/469629899

BOOK LIST

If you are a musician, are in a band, or play an instrument we want to know what book(s) influenced you in your craft. We will be compiling a booklist for the young musicians in the Santa Cruz area for our 2nd Annual Teen Battle of the Bands on July 24. 

Please leave a comment with your book list suggestion. Thanks!