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"Full of Holes" Reverse Kickstarter

When I recorded Acrophobe, I funded it using Kickstarter. For my new digital single, "Full of Holes", I've decided to go another route. A reverse Kickstarter.

Instead of paying in advance for something I plan to create, I went ahead and made the music. Now... and here's where it gets weird... you get to buy it.

And? AND! Bonus Reward Levels! Also in reverse.

Here's how it works.

• The thing already exists. It's done, and available in the present (and the past).
• You pledge money, but that pledge is fulfilled right now.
• You get the music immediately. The funding goal is reached.

The minimum pledge (which we'll call "the price") is $1.00. You can pledge (or "pay") more.

At higher reward levels, you'll be able to choose something you already have, so you know you'll be happy.

Reward Levels

$1.00: "I love you, man"

Receive "Full of Holes" in your favorite download format, and I'll throw in a bonus track, "What I Just Said", for free.

$2.00: "Whoa! Thanks!"

Everything above, plus that spare key you can't find. It'll turn up, watch.

$5.00: "Starbucks cash!"

Everything above, and your most-beloved object within reach at the moment of purchase. Like that red stapler? You're welcome.

$10.00: "For reals?"

Everything above, and one or more of your favorite, comfy, well-fitting T-shirts.¹

$25.00: "Have you thought this through?"

Everything above, and... are you sure? You should perhaps consider spending less on this, and buying my CD. Oh, and tomorrow? Hit the snooze button one extra time, guilt-free. I know. I'm awesome.

$50.00: "Please don't do this."

Everything above, and -- I presume -- a refund, when you realize your mistake. Don't drunk-pledge, kids!

Where do I sign up?

Glad you asked. Head right over to music.paulroub.com, choose your price, and download away.

You can also buy from the usual suspects (and the other usual suspects), but none of the bonus levels are available², and the free bonus song isn't free. Your call.

I've been visiting my friend Mark for a few days, and we've been making music.

This music. Please check it out; I'm really proud of this one. First time in forever I've done a "band" recording... "band" in quotes since it's mostly me, but with Mark (thankfully) taking over the drums.

Full of Holes by Paul Roub

If more than two people ask me about something I'm using, especially if it's more than two people at one show, it seems worth the time to write it down.

It may look like my friend Brian is paying close attention, awaiting the moment when he'll add some more harmonies. Actually, he's looking past me, at my iPad, attached to a nearby stand.

It's held there by an IK Multimedia iKlip mic stand mount. There are a number of products that do this job; this is the one I happen to own, and it does its one job very well.

So why is it there? I know folks who run GarageBand onstage this way, but in my case, it's just lyric sheets and/or setlists. So when I need a memory jog on a new song, the occasional cover or (as sadly happened last night) when I blank on an older song of mine, it's right there.

There's any number of ways to get those lyrics on there, but like any good nerd, I lean toward plain text files. Something I can edit on any machine I own, view on my phone if need be, etc.

The app used for viewing the songs is GoodReader. I like that it will read almost anything I throw at it, but especially like the way it syncs with Dropbox. I have a "Lyrics" folder on my laptop:

and I've told GoodReader to sync that folder and its contents. If I add a new song to that folder, it will automatically be mirrored to GoodReader. Tap a song, and off I go:

If I'm feeling particularly grown-up and professional, I'll "star" some of the songs ahead of time, and let GoodReader show me just those songs as something approaching a setlist:

That's it. No more binder of lyrics for me, and I'm pretty happy about it. I do recommend putting the iPad in airplane mode before your set, to avoid the temptation to tweet mid-song.

"Disappear", "One Man at Best", "The Great Unknown" and "Mind of Its Own", live at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

"Disappear"

"One Man at Best"

"The Great Unknown"

"Mind of Its Own"

All four songs are from my album "Acrophobe", available for purchase (CD or download) at music.paulroub.com.

Had the pleasure, last Saturday, of joining Michael Stock in studio on his Folk and Acoustic Music show. This is one of the songs performed therein.

And... uh... sorry about the sunburn. It didn't look that bad on the radio.

"A Little Bit Wiser" is $0.89 at Amazon MP3 - proceeds will go towards sunscreen and common sense.