From: "Jaimie Vernon" <bullseyecanada@hotmail.com>

> Fair enough. But if the band wants total autonomous control then they need 
> a better business model than asking for gifts to finance their recordings. 
> The act of going outside for financing means they've already lost some of 
> that control. You can't have it both ways.

I still don't understand why you think this way based upon the way the 
request is being handled.

If 100 people write them $50 checks and they generate $5000 to record and 
release a home studio album, where have they lost control? I agree that it's 
a precarious business model, because you are depending on charity, and they 
certainly have no guarantees of generating sufficient capital. I'm sure 
there's also a Plan B and Plan C (or at least I hope there is) which would 
include day jobs and generous relatives, or winning a Chili's jingle 
contest.

On the other hand, if the band specifically seeks *investors* who are 
expecting EP credit and ROI, I agree with you. But I would imagine the 
target of their efforts would be smaller and have a much higher asking price 
than $50. And if I were approached for significant dollars my expectations 
would be different (in reality I'd have to shrug and say I'm a working class 
stiff who couldn't afford to do it even if there were a reasonable chance of 
making double my money back. I'd have to approach it like a volatile stock 
offer)

b