Comments on: Giving back to the community: link your music to a cause and get noticed! http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/ for independent musicians worldwide Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:44:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Manisha Shahane http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-316 Manisha Shahane Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:23:13 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-316 Thanks to Kavit for putting what I think is an important issue on the table. After reading it for the first time, my head was swimming with so many thoughts that I decided to set aside some time to address it at a later date and finally that date is here. Because I had so much on my mind, here are the sections for an overview: BE REAL ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING & WHY NOT KEEN ON ORGANIZING A BENEFIT TO DRAW AN AUDIENCE EVERY CAUSE YOU SUPPORT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE ON YOUR PERSONAL LIST ESTABLISHING THE ARTIST-CAUSE LINK AND IDENTIFYING A SPECIFIC CAUSE TRICKY, BUT CAN BE WORTHWHILE FOR CAUSE AND ARTIST IF PURSUED THOUGHTFULLY BE REAL ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING & WHY Intent is everything and I would agree with Sandra (above). Affiliating with a cause with purely an opportunist's attitude strikes me as being something insincere, however valuable it might turn out to be from a financial perspective. Years ago I often pondered whether there is any behavior that can be considered truly altruistic, or selfless. And, when it comes down to it, I suppose I’m a skeptic when it comes to true altruism. Separate from my musical life, I have volunteered a great deal of my time over the years (not so much at present because I view my current vocations themselves to involve a lot of giving). Why did I do it? It was not entirely selfless. I felt really good about myself, because of these contributions I made to the community and society. It was also a great way to meet people of like mind. So, I think it is important to be real with yourself about what you get out of supporting a cause or affiliating yourself with a cause, no matter who you are or what you do for a living. NOT KEEN ON ORGANIZING A BENEFIT TO DRAW AN AUDIENCE In the last year, there was an artist who suggested putting a show together and doing it as a benefit. I was down for the show, but not so much for the benefit part of it, because I wasn't sure of the intent. I kept an open mind and asked if there was something in particular that had inspired the benefit idea. I learned that the idea of the benefit came solely from a promotional angle due to the highly competitive nature of the market in which the show would take place. S/he is a good person, but what s/he suggested is not something that jives with me. If s/he said that something had happened to them or someone they know or they heard about some story that was touching and eye-opening, and so it would be awesome to bring awareness to a larger audience about this cause, then I would be more down with the idea of putting a show together in honor of that cause. EVERY CAUSE YOU SUPPORT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE ON YOUR PERSONAL LIST In some cases, I've been asked to be a part of a benefit concert either as a paid or unpaid artist. Sometimes it might be more of a community thing (rallying for Tsunami or Hurricane relief). At other times you might be asked to be the artist who is the main feature of a benefit. They will be using your name/performance to get people to attend and give money. If you are gung ho about the cause, then it is a perfect match. But what if you are not gung ho? Well, if it is for something you are opposed to, then maybe it is best to let this opportunity pass. If it is something you are neutral about, then I’d say go ahead and do it even if this is not the number one charity on your personal list. As long as you aren’t in opposition, an organization in need will benefit from your presence and, if they are paying you a flat fee or giving you a cut of proceeds or access to a new audience, then it seems good all around – so long as you are not expected to do anything other than show up and perform. Performing to raise money for an event doesn’t have to involve signing up to be its spokesperson for life. If your beliefs align sufficiently and they aren’t in contradiction, then go for it! ESTABLISHING THE ARTIST-CAUSE LINK AND IDENTIFYING A SPECIFIC CAUSE I am a believer in organizing a fundraiser when the cause is specific and the link is clear between artist and cause. This can be applied not only to concerts, but also to merchandise. For my first release, I sold my CD at a discounted price of $10 to certain organizations with which I was affiliated or had been affiliated and the money went directly to serve some cause within that organization. So my friends or colleagues or fellow alumni felt like they got a deal and they knew exactly where the money would be going. It felt important for me to be able to give back to something that I perceived to help me get where I was or which was helping me at the time. So it seemed to work all around and the by-product I discovered without planning for it was that this somehow enabled me to reach some folks within those organizations who did not know me personally, but who decided to give my CD a try anyway. So I think this is something that any artist can do and feel genuine about doing. Though I would be careful to choose maybe one or two organizations at most and set a time period for doing this so that you don’t burden yourself with the administrative work of telling people about it, keeping track of the CDs sold and money raised, etc. because it can be a lot of work. As for specific causes, they can include responding to something that has happened or is happening in your community. Example 1. In Washington DC, the preschool in the building where I lived was broken into. They needed to raise money to get the lock replaced. Example 2. The International Institute of Boston hosts refugees and they needed an extra refrigerator for the food. So then it is easy to set the goal for fundraising (cost of refrigerator), and it is also easy to explain the cause to people, and get them to rally around a local issue they can touch and feel and maybe they will be more likely to buy the ticket to attend. This is more of a grassroots approach. The concerts/parties to raise money for the above causes were not something that I did to benefit me as an artist personally because I was not building an image as a solo artist at the time, but I mention the causes here because they are the local, specific kind. At one of them I got a couple of local DC bands to perform (one of which I had departed from). For the International Institute of Boston, an acappella group I was directing called the Ambassachords hosted the concert. The links to me in both of the examples above are clear because in one of them I lived in the building where the problem occurred and in the other the school I was attending was focused on international relations and diplomacy so it was fitting that we would raise money for a local organization that helped refugees. And the director of the Intl Inst. of Boston was also an alumnus of our school. In the case of the CD benefit sale which has more of a link to my image as an artist, you can still apply the local, specific cause idea. Some people on my mailing list might care less about raising funds to benefit a program at a business school that tries to reach out to underrepresented populations, but the people working/studying at the business school or the alumni of that school would have more interest in that and so they are the ones rewarded with both the discount and the feeling of knowing their money will go to something they support and might even be a part of (and the byproduct I discovered – my music gets heard also). Similarly, the folks in the chorus will care most about raising funds to support a specific need of the chorus. The employees of a school will care most about sending an 8th grader onto a good preparatory high school and supporting that child by raising some scholarship funds that they know will be matched by a larger donor. And so on. TRICKY, BUT CAN BE WORTHWHILE FOR CAUSE AND ARTIST IF PURSUED THOUGHTFULLY So that sums up some of my thoughts/feelings/experiences as of now about supporting and/or affiliating yourself with a cause as it relates to your artistry and just in general. The terrain can be tricky, but I think that being genuine and honest about what you are doing is the key – and I guess that echoes the opinions of some of the others above. Thanks to Kavit for putting what I think is an important issue on the table. After reading it for the first time, my head was swimming with so many thoughts that I decided to set aside some time to address it at a later date and finally that date is here.

Because I had so much on my mind, here are the sections for an overview:

BE REAL ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING & WHY

NOT KEEN ON ORGANIZING A BENEFIT TO DRAW AN AUDIENCE

EVERY CAUSE YOU SUPPORT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE ON YOUR PERSONAL LIST

ESTABLISHING THE ARTIST-CAUSE LINK AND IDENTIFYING A SPECIFIC CAUSE

TRICKY, BUT CAN BE WORTHWHILE FOR CAUSE AND ARTIST IF PURSUED THOUGHTFULLY

BE REAL ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING & WHY
Intent is everything and I would agree with Sandra (above). Affiliating with a cause with purely an opportunist’s attitude strikes me as being something insincere, however valuable it might turn out to be from a financial perspective. Years ago I often pondered whether there is any behavior that can be considered truly altruistic, or selfless. And, when it comes down to it, I suppose I’m a skeptic when it comes to true altruism. Separate from my musical life, I have volunteered a great deal of my time over the years (not so much at present because I view my current vocations themselves to involve a lot of giving). Why did I do it? It was not entirely selfless. I felt really good about myself, because of these contributions I made to the community and society. It was also a great way to meet people of like mind. So, I think it is important to be real with yourself about what you get out of supporting a cause or affiliating yourself with a cause, no matter who you are or what you do for a living.

NOT KEEN ON ORGANIZING A BENEFIT TO DRAW AN AUDIENCE
In the last year, there was an artist who suggested putting a show together and doing it as a benefit. I was down for the show, but not so much for the benefit part of it, because I wasn’t sure of the intent. I kept an open mind and asked if there was something in particular that had inspired the benefit idea. I learned that the idea of the benefit came solely from a promotional angle due to the highly competitive nature of the market in which the show would take place. S/he is a good person, but what s/he suggested is not something that jives with me. If s/he said that something had happened to them or someone they know or they heard about some story that was touching and eye-opening, and so it would be awesome to bring awareness to a larger audience about this cause, then I would be more down with the idea of putting a show together in honor of that cause.

EVERY CAUSE YOU SUPPORT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE ON YOUR PERSONAL LIST
In some cases, I’ve been asked to be a part of a benefit concert either as a paid or unpaid artist. Sometimes it might be more of a community thing (rallying for Tsunami or Hurricane relief). At other times you might be asked to be the artist who is the main feature of a benefit. They will be using your name/performance to get people to attend and give money. If you are gung ho about the cause, then it is a perfect match. But what if you are not gung ho? Well, if it is for something you are opposed to, then maybe it is best to let this opportunity pass. If it is something you are neutral about, then I’d say go ahead and do it even if this is not the number one charity on your personal list. As long as you aren’t in opposition, an organization in need will benefit from your presence and, if they are paying you a flat fee or giving you a cut of proceeds or access to a new audience, then it seems good all around – so long as you are not expected to do anything other than show up and perform. Performing to raise money for an event doesn’t have to involve signing up to be its spokesperson for life. If your beliefs align sufficiently and they aren’t in contradiction, then go for it!

ESTABLISHING THE ARTIST-CAUSE LINK AND IDENTIFYING A SPECIFIC CAUSE
I am a believer in organizing a fundraiser when the cause is specific and the link is clear between artist and cause. This can be applied not only to concerts, but also to merchandise. For my first release, I sold my CD at a discounted price of $10 to certain organizations with which I was affiliated or had been affiliated and the money went directly to serve some cause within that organization. So my friends or colleagues or fellow alumni felt like they got a deal and they knew exactly where the money would be going. It felt important for me to be able to give back to something that I perceived to help me get where I was or which was helping me at the time. So it seemed to work all around and the by-product I discovered without planning for it was that this somehow enabled me to reach some folks within those organizations who did not know me personally, but who decided to give my CD a try anyway. So I think this is something that any artist can do and feel genuine about doing. Though I would be careful to choose maybe one or two organizations at most and set a time period for doing this so that you don’t burden yourself with the administrative work of telling people about it, keeping track of the CDs sold and money raised, etc. because it can be a lot of work.

As for specific causes, they can include responding to something that has happened or is happening in your community.

Example 1. In Washington DC, the preschool in the building where I lived was broken into. They needed to raise money to get the lock replaced.

Example 2. The International Institute of Boston hosts refugees and they needed an extra refrigerator for the food.

So then it is easy to set the goal for fundraising (cost of refrigerator), and it is also easy to explain the cause to people, and get them to rally around a local issue they can touch and feel and maybe they will be more likely to buy the ticket to attend. This is more of a grassroots approach. The concerts/parties to raise money for the above causes were not something that I did to benefit me as an artist personally because I was not building an image as a solo artist at the time, but I mention the causes here because they are the local, specific kind. At one of them I got a couple of local DC bands to perform (one of which I had departed from). For the International Institute of Boston, an acappella group I was directing called the Ambassachords hosted the concert. The links to me in both of the examples above are clear because in one of them I lived in the building where the problem occurred and in the other the school I was attending was focused on international relations and diplomacy so it was fitting that we would raise money for a local organization that helped refugees. And the director of the Intl Inst. of Boston was also an alumnus of our school.

In the case of the CD benefit sale which has more of a link to my image as an artist, you can still apply the local, specific cause idea. Some people on my mailing list might care less about raising funds to benefit a program at a business school that tries to reach out to underrepresented populations, but the people working/studying at the business school or the alumni of that school would have more interest in that and so they are the ones rewarded with both the discount and the feeling of knowing their money will go to something they support and might even be a part of (and the byproduct I discovered – my music gets heard also). Similarly, the folks in the chorus will care most about raising funds to support a specific need of the chorus. The employees of a school will care most about sending an 8th grader onto a good preparatory high school and supporting that child by raising some scholarship funds that they know will be matched by a larger donor. And so on.

TRICKY, BUT CAN BE WORTHWHILE FOR CAUSE AND ARTIST IF PURSUED THOUGHTFULLY
So that sums up some of my thoughts/feelings/experiences as of now about supporting and/or affiliating yourself with a cause as it relates to your artistry and just in general. The terrain can be tricky, but I think that being genuine and honest about what you are doing is the key – and I guess that echoes the opinions of some of the others above.

]]> By: Kavit Haria http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-262 Kavit Haria Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:16:23 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-262 Hello all, Sandra - I think you hit the nail when you wrote, "But this territory can be a slippery slope if other members begin to perceive someone as a shark without heart." That's all its about - if you do it with the right heart and passion, you'll reach new heights. Without that, you'll drop well below what you originally were. Good point. Alexa - well done for raising $3000 for charity - how did you do it with your music and what results did you personally get out of it, if any? The sense of gratitude will indeed spill over to your music. Turbo - I would contact the charity to perhaps devote your album proceeds (or some of it) to their cause and in return ask if they can give the album a mention. Otherwise just do a gig for them. All proceeds to the charity - even sales. Later on, you can do a deal to cover your costs. Worth a shot. Nuala - it's amazing how life gives you back what you give it, in truckloads. Rob - I'm impressed with the EET and have always had the idea to do something like that here in the UK. It's a great way to get your music out with them and because it's a traveling opp, you'll get the other jobs like you have. Awesome! Cheers for commenting guys, -Kavit Hello all,

Sandra - I think you hit the nail when you wrote, “But this territory can be a slippery slope if other members begin to perceive someone as a shark without heart.” That’s all its about - if you do it with the right heart and passion, you’ll reach new heights. Without that, you’ll drop well below what you originally were. Good point.

Alexa - well done for raising $3000 for charity - how did you do it with your music and what results did you personally get out of it, if any? The sense of gratitude will indeed spill over to your music.

Turbo - I would contact the charity to perhaps devote your album proceeds (or some of it) to their cause and in return ask if they can give the album a mention. Otherwise just do a gig for them. All proceeds to the charity - even sales. Later on, you can do a deal to cover your costs. Worth a shot.

Nuala - it’s amazing how life gives you back what you give it, in truckloads.

Rob - I’m impressed with the EET and have always had the idea to do something like that here in the UK. It’s a great way to get your music out with them and because it’s a traveling opp, you’ll get the other jobs like you have. Awesome!

Cheers for commenting guys,
-Kavit

]]> By: Rob Anthony http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-255 Rob Anthony Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:34:35 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-255 It's the foundation of how I have been so successful as an independent musician. My proudest example is the song I wrote "Down The Road" ~ A trucker tribute/anthem dedicated to the men and women who help the world move along day to day and the families who await their safe return. It's being used for several driver appreciation efforts around the world including Fed Ex Freight. I've also had the opportunity to be a part of the Extreme Entrepreneur Tour with my single "Inside You And Inside Me" used as the central them campaign. We toured with the group using my music and words to inspire and encourage others how important it is to incorporate an entrepreneurial spirit for a framework for success. You can hear these songs by visiting my website at www.robanthonymusic.com and see the video of how I used "Inside You And Inside Me" for the theme campaign for the Extreme Entrepreneur Tour's title sponsors video initiative at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IWiMclVllY This cause marketing has led to several other opportunities for example I have been speaking at high schools & colleges encouraging and inspiring the youth through my music to follow their passions and have used my music to find missing persons with www.411gina.org So, I'm living proof it does work and it has been extremely rewarding in contributing in this fashion in turn gaining alot of attention to myself , my mission and music. Best to all and again great advice Kavit! Cheers, Rob Anthony www.robanthonymusic.com It’s the foundation of how I have been so successful as an independent musician. My proudest example is the song I wrote “Down The Road” ~ A trucker tribute/anthem dedicated to the men and women who help the world move along day to day and the families who await their safe return. It’s being used for several driver appreciation efforts around the world including Fed Ex Freight.

I’ve also had the opportunity to be a part of the Extreme Entrepreneur Tour with my single “Inside You And Inside Me” used as the central them campaign. We toured with the group using my music and words to inspire and encourage others how important it is to incorporate an entrepreneurial spirit for a framework for success. You can hear these songs by visiting my website at http://www.robanthonymusic.com and see the video of how I used “Inside You And Inside Me” for the theme campaign for the Extreme Entrepreneur Tour’s title sponsors video initiative at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IWiMclVllY

This cause marketing has led to several other opportunities for example I have been speaking at high schools & colleges encouraging and inspiring the youth through my music to follow their passions and have used my music to find missing persons with http://www.411gina.org

So, I’m living proof it does work and it has been extremely rewarding in contributing in this fashion in turn gaining alot of attention to myself , my mission and music.

Best to all and again great advice Kavit!

Cheers,

Rob Anthony
http://www.robanthonymusic.com

]]> By: Nuala http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-253 Nuala Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:20:11 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-253 When you give with an open heart and mind, to a cause in which you really believe, it is amazing what can happen. In the late 1970's, I was one of a group of professional health professionals who started one of the first support groups, for people with cancer. There I learned that we ordinary people can deal with huge problems creatively and with dignity. It had a profound effect on me. I taught relaxation, meditation and visualization as a self help package and made tapes for the patients. Along with therapy, I began to use music and poetry. The 'tapes' became known as the 'healing. tapes'. They were used daily by patients, hospitals gave them to patients; I gave radio interviews and talks. There was never a thought of payment, except to the charity. (Not really wise to work for a long time without recompense) The years rolled by and I retired from professional life at the age 68. Then I remembered the tapes. Now, I am a record label about to release my second album. What goes around comes around................. When you give with an open heart and mind, to a cause in which you really believe, it is amazing what can happen.

In the late 1970’s, I was one of a group of professional health professionals who started one of the first support groups, for people with cancer. There I learned that we ordinary people can deal with huge problems creatively and with dignity. It had a profound effect on me.

I taught relaxation, meditation and visualization as a self help package and made tapes for the patients. Along with therapy, I began to use music and poetry. The ‘tapes’ became known as the ‘healing. tapes’. They were used daily by patients, hospitals gave them to patients; I gave radio interviews and talks. There was never a thought of payment, except to the charity. (Not really wise to work for a long time without recompense)

The years rolled by and I retired from professional life at the age 68. Then I remembered the tapes. Now, I am a record label about to release my second album. What goes around comes around……………..

]]> By: Turbo857 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-252 Turbo857 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:17:59 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-252 I tend to think cause marketing is a great idea. If an artist truly believes there is meaning behind his/her music, it can be pretty powerful when linked to the right cause. The question is: How do you get into that type of arrangement with a charitable organization? I tend to think cause marketing is a great idea. If an artist truly believes there is meaning behind his/her music, it can be pretty powerful when linked to the right cause.

The question is: How do you get into that type of arrangement with a charitable organization?

]]> By: Alexa Weber Morales http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-250 Alexa Weber Morales Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:20:39 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-250 This is a great concept. Having just raised $3000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the U.S., I'd take it a step further and say, you may not have to explicitly link your music business to working with a charity -- raise money for the charity to expand your own heart and open your mind to the altruistic universe. It's a refreshing contrast to the dog-eat-dog competitiveness of the music business as we scrap over society's financial leftovers. And it's a reminder that things could be a lot worse. The sense of gratitude will spill over into your music. --Alexa This is a great concept. Having just raised $3000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the U.S., I’d take it a step further and say, you may not have to explicitly link your music business to working with a charity — raise money for the charity to expand your own heart and open your mind to the altruistic universe. It’s a refreshing contrast to the dog-eat-dog competitiveness of the music business as we scrap over society’s financial leftovers. And it’s a reminder that things could be a lot worse. The sense of gratitude will spill over into your music.

–Alexa

]]> By: Sandra Marlowe http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-249 Sandra Marlowe Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:06:43 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-249 I am a jazz vocalist/performer, teacher/director and have sat on the board of a couple arts-related non-profit organizations. I found it satisfying, both personally and professionally. It's a terrific learning experience in collaborative leadership and accomplishment, and does hold good potential for networking, publicity, broadening fan base, performances, workshops, etc. On behalf of the organization, I donated hundreds of hours in nitty-gritty work, marketing, research, event planning, recruiting, and personal appearances over a 2-year period because I believed in the mission of strengthening and expanding a local "arts scene." But this territory can be a slippery slope if other members begin to perceive someone as a shark without heart. I found that some types are put off by high-powered marketing & sales personalities in "non-profit" arenas - and favor/benefit can easily turn to disfavor/backlash. For me, I jumped in to these organizations with total heart, and found out rather by accident (duh!) that it was a vehicle for exposure, publicity, more performance. Ultimately, the board work started to take over larger and larger parts of my energy and time to the expense of other projects, so I resigned after my 2-year stint with the org, but was proud of the work we did. I would caution against going into the cause marketing experience with ONLY an opportunist's attitude - i.e., "what's in it for me?" Most people have a gut sense and know when your "charity" is really all about you. If you find a cause you truly support and value, with a goal or mission you believe is possible, a win-win can develop - and it's a great collaborative opportunity. But the world has enough wolves in sheep's clothing and most people can feel whether you're authentic or not. Some may not care about that if it's a win-win anyway, but I personally think a lack of "being real" will eventually corrode your insides and your work and art will ultimately suffer, too. I am a jazz vocalist/performer, teacher/director and have sat on the board of a couple arts-related non-profit organizations. I found it satisfying, both personally and professionally. It’s a terrific learning experience in collaborative leadership and accomplishment, and does hold good potential for networking, publicity, broadening fan base, performances, workshops, etc. On behalf of the organization, I donated hundreds of hours in nitty-gritty work, marketing, research, event planning, recruiting, and personal appearances over a 2-year period because I believed in the mission of strengthening and expanding a local “arts scene.” But this territory can be a slippery slope if other members begin to perceive someone as a shark without heart. I found that some types are put off by high-powered marketing & sales personalities in “non-profit” arenas - and favor/benefit can easily turn to disfavor/backlash. For me, I jumped in to these organizations with total heart, and found out rather by accident (duh!) that it was a vehicle for exposure, publicity, more performance. Ultimately, the board work started to take over larger and larger parts of my energy and time to the expense of other projects, so I resigned after my 2-year stint with the org, but was proud of the work we did.

I would caution against going into the cause marketing experience with ONLY an opportunist’s attitude - i.e., “what’s in it for me?” Most people have a gut sense and know when your “charity” is really all about you. If you find a cause you truly support and value, with a goal or mission you believe is possible, a win-win can develop - and it’s a great collaborative opportunity. But the world has enough wolves in sheep’s clothing and most people can feel whether you’re authentic or not. Some may not care about that if it’s a win-win anyway, but I personally think a lack of “being real” will eventually corrode your insides and your work and art will ultimately suffer, too.

]]> By: Charity Music Inc http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-248 Charity Music Inc Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:25:17 +0000 http://www.innerrhythm.org/blog/giving-back-to-the-community-link-your-music-to-a-cause-and-get-noticed/#comment-248 Our nonprofit organization, Charity Music Inc., has found cause marketing to be a win win for all parties concerned. Our mission, "to help cultivate the next upcoming crop of young musicians" has benefited greatly from joint marketing partnerships with various musicians. We encourage and promote Cause Marketing whenever and wherever possible. Teaming up with various musicians and instrument manufactures has been an instrumental part of our success. Roger Fachini, President Charity Music Inc Our nonprofit organization, Charity Music Inc., has found cause marketing to be a win win for all parties concerned. Our mission, “to help cultivate the next upcoming crop of young musicians” has benefited greatly from joint marketing partnerships with various musicians. We encourage and promote Cause Marketing whenever and wherever possible. Teaming up with various musicians and instrument manufactures has been an instrumental part of our success.

Roger Fachini, President
Charity Music Inc

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