JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Please don't take JPF for granted!!!

Lisa,

What it's about? Well, it is about working for 31 years for free or at a deficit to support songwriters and musicians around the world without making it about my music (as so many others did who started similar ventures after us) and bringing over 40K musicians together at events in 49 states and over 40 additional countries so they could network, make friends, share what they do all without any requirements of any kind beyond participating. It's about doing the worlds largest music awards of any kind ever conducted in world history to recognize mostly unknown and under appreciated but still world class talent in over 100 genres of music. We (the collective volunteers) have spent literally years and years an years of time 24/7 screening music round after round flagging the music that moved each of us so that when combined with others around the world and their feelings, we could bring forth the music that collectively moves us the most each year. We don't judge on any other criteria including production, fame, or who pays what for recognition. We've provided over 100,000 performance opportunities for musicians at all levels from people playing live for others for the very first time, to Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, Tony and JPF Music Award winners (and every other small and large music competition including American Idol, Rockstar, The Voice, America's Got Talent and many others, for the sole purpose of building community, networking and sharing music with others who understand what it is like better than any other audience. We've made it possible for countless artists and bands to perform at respected venues which serves to kick start their efforts to tour because venue owners get to see them live often when no other possible circumstances could have gotten them in the door and on that stage. It's about teaching valuable information on all areas of making music, using world class teachers who donate their time, their articles and their expertise, all for free, year after year after year for anyone who asks. It's about mentoring people who need the help and recruiting those with experience to give back, for free when the only time they do it is for us and our members. It's about the wonderful corporate partners we've had who have financially supported us, in some cases for decades, so we could keep doing these things completely for free for 31 years and counting. It's about having one of the longest running message boards where people, often who never get to a live event or even leave their homes can still find community and learn and share their music and passion with each other. Oh, and each year, anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple dozen people give a little donation money back to supplement the sponsor money because they feel like they are getting a lot for nothing and know that those that CAN share a little back, should when it is possible.

Did you think it was about something else?

PS: It seems that you simply want to find fault, problems and disagreement with everything I say or some others say. I am not sure why that is necessary, but if you felt shorted by us for your donation, you should have said something 8 years ago. It is clear you harbor anger over it. I know we sometimes got larger donations (like one person who donated 10K and asked me not to name them unless I wanted to use it to motivate others, but I said I don't want to make people feel bad who can't afford it and the whole idea is no one is forced to give us a dime. Frankly, the most valuable donations we get are those who spend literally 100's of hours screening music Last awards we had over 10K people spend over 10 hours screening music. It may be less this year, but so far we've had people who have screened 10-20 hours of music a week for an entire year. I've spent, on average, 80 hours per week on the music awards, skipped all 10 weeks of my wifes vacation (she spent all but 3 days of it working on the awards) and when I can, I stop in here, usually while entire albums play in the background in these final weeks before nominations. The fact that you donated money twice is wonderful. I have always made it clear that people should not donate money unless they can afford it. I am sorry it caused you problems at home but if you divide the money up over the days, weeks and years you've participated, it comes to a lot less than other activities you might have spent time doing instead. Because we had no process to track donations or T-shirt sales by name, especially when we toured, we found a way to start by using this honor list on the board. By the way, I may not recall the amount of donation, but either I or Linda sent thank you notes to every person who sent money to us if there was contact info included with the donation. After meeting 40K members and countless other people, and all the travel and hours spent on the awards and other JPF activities, I am sorry that your specific donation did not return to you whatever it was you expected in return. We try our best to do as much as we can for people, but we are human and we can only stretch out so thin. So again, my apology for any slight you felt. It isn't something that happens often, but it apparently did in your case.

Brian