JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum NYC chapter 5/6 meeting recap

Hello Everyone,

Just to update all of you on our Just Plain Folks New York City Chapter Meeting on May 6.....

In spite of informing 17,000 people about our meeting, we only had 5 dedicated Just Plain Folks members in attendance. However, we five had a wonderful two hour meeting that developed into a very deep conversation about the music industry as a whole.

In attendence were myself, Christine Mascott, my husband Paul Mascott, Paul Ewing, Gregory Giebler, and Cady Finlayson.

Because of the intimate size of the meeting, the five of us were able to network and brainstorm extensively... here's a brief background on us all. (or..... this is who most you missed meeting!)

Paul Ewing was a VP with Warner in Asia for many years and is currently a manager for several acts in the US and Europe. Paul is the President of Wings Music Entertainment Limited. (www.wingsmusic.com)

Cady Finlayson is a fiddle player with the Irish band Gael Force and just completed her first solo CD, Shines Like Silver. (www.violincady.com)

Gregory Giebler is a VP (and lawyer) with the Woodlawn Foundation, a charitable organization and is an aspiring songwriter.

Christine Mascott: I am a singer with The Drop Band, (hard rock), and we're releasing a new album, There's Only Sound, shortly. I also run my own design company, Digital Daisy which creates promo materials for performing artists (graphics, websites and video). Also, I handle marketing for Uptime Recording Studios. (www.dropband.com)(www.digitaldaisy.com) (www.uptimestudios.com)

Paul Mascott: Owner of Syberdelix Records, an indie label with a steadily growing catalog of music in a variety of genres. Paul is the creator and guitarist of The Drop Band and is also an experienced producer and audio engineer. (www.syberdelix.com) (www.dropband.com)

In terms of Just Plain Folks business, we discussed a few ideas for future events.

Showcases: We all think performance opportunities in the form of member showcases are a good idea. However, we also discussed the possibility of giving each showcase a specific objective. For example, having a night that is dedicated to the songwriter - non performer type, who is looking for artists to record their music. They would be performing for an audience of artists and industry pros who are looking for songs. Or perhaps having a night that is dedicated to singer/songwriters or a night just for bands.... at the next meeting we will discuss this topic further, take suggestions for showcase ideas and we'll try to set up a gameplan for executing one of them. (to start).

Community Service: Once we get an interested and active membership, part of the chapter mission is one of community service. I spoke this week with an Arts-In Education Company about beginning a relationship that might bring some of our member musicians in contact with kids in an educational format. Nor sure what this means yet, but I'll keep you posted. If anyone has any community service ideas, just let me know.

Panelists: We would also like to set up a speaker of some kind for our next meeting (date TBA), and I'd like suggestions for what kind of industry pro you'd be interested in meeting. Also, if anyone has connections with someone who you think should be our speaker (for this or future meetings), please let me know ASAP

My Take: Why Just Plain Folks is important
by Christine Mascott, NYC

Today's music industry is in flux. Whatever you read, wherever you surf, all the sources say the same thing. Today's major labels aren't operating the same way they have in years past. There are very few opportunities for artist development and when there are, if an artist's first album doesn't succeed, they get dropped from the label and all the money invested into the project by the label serves like a loan paid back by the artist at huge interest rates. Commercial radioplay is monopolized by current payola style/kickback systems and is not really a financially practical publicity source for the indie market. The economy is down, record sales are down... the government is investigating this whole crazy music system...so needless to say, as businesses..the major label/conglomorates are choosing to cut their losses and play it safe...

Because of these non-risk practices, the indie market is the only place today that creativity in music is occurring. It's actually an exciting time for the independent artist. More and more indie artists in the current climate are choosing to start their own labels and produce their own recordings. Some are now succeeding well in their niche markets and are earning incomes by keeping their music business in their own hands. Today's music artist must be able to exist as a business person as well as a creative spirit. This is where I believe the future of music is headed and where it can prosper.

It is through organizations like Just Plain Folks that the indie market will thrive. As a collective of independent professionals we can gain the level of attention that can only be attained under normal circumstances by major record labels and artists. When we combine our collective force, as indies we can compete in this market which is begging for a greater diversity of musical options.

Brian Austin Whitney, founder of Just Plain Folks has already proved this can work. The deal he created with Radio Free Virgin has placed his indie musicians on a par with the majors. Now any web user can log onto that website and right beside Brittany and Madonna, find an independent alternative... an alternative provided by Just Plain Folks.

This concept can be applied to our Chapter locally. For example we stand a greater chance of attracting industry, press and audience as a group backed by the power of 17,000 members than we do as just 'Joe Indie' trying to put out his one man singer/songwriter act.

We all at this point should decide what needs we have as individuals in terms of advancing our musical objectives and then come together to plan ways that as a group we can achieve them for the benefit of us all.

The future of music is in our hands...our own music and the music we create for current and future generations. It is exciting to have a voice in the future of the music business as a whole; helping to develop new business models which can transform the industry. I hope that you all will join with me in taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity offered through Just Plain Folks to work toward this end. As the logo aptly says, 'we're all in this together'.

I welcome any ideas from all of you.

Peace,
Christine Mascott