Help a Musician, Support the Arts!

[Morgan Ravynswood]

Hi Everyone,
During the last six months, my career as a Baroque Violinst took an amazing turn around, and I was asked to join a small ensemble. The ensemble has concerts around New England, and this fall we will heading to New Orleans, and the possibility of going to Europe grows stronger every day. To make things better, the recording that we are working on is going to be sent to the Grammys next year.
Sounds great, doesn't it?
So what's the matter? I've been trying to buy the violin I've been using for the last year, and it's proving rather difficult to find the money. It's a beautiful violin from the mid-18th century that is still set in Baroque Standards, which is quite a rare find!
By going to
http://www.maijasviolin.com you can donate $1 to a worthy cause.
Please be assured that I am not lazy about gettting the money. I have been scrimpng and saving every penny I find, the pennies just aren't adding up.
If you feel that you can't give a dollar, then please send the link to others who might.
Thanks for your time!


Oh, and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me.
And I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post something like this.

[Ysobelle]

How about five bucks? It's not much, but good luck!

Okay, Sisters, who's next? Give a girl a hand!

[emalia]

I did it!

[emalia]

Hey BTW.. Is there a specific amount you are trying to reach? How close are you? I think that it would be cool to have an update as to what is going on with this! :D

[Morgan Ravynswood]

Well, the amount I'm trying to get is $10,000. It's quite a bit, and it needs to be done soon, or I have to give the violin back to my teacher. In this economy, she needs the money. I know it's alot, but it's actually a very affordable instrument. Because it's made by the infamous A. Nony Mouse, it makes it more affordable then say a Stradivari.
If I don't make the amount, then I have to go to a maker in Vermont and get a modern Baroque violin, which is significantly cheaper (around $7500).
How much do I have so far? Well, only about $1, 000 down on it, and the deadline is drawing nearer (end of next week).
Any little bit helps, and I thank all of you so far who have given me something!

[emalia]

Try posting this to the following boards:
AFR
The Rogues Guild Site
At the Faire
Perhaps that will help to stir the pot of income slightly. :D

[cyd]

*sigh*

I have a guaneri myself... But I got lucky. The person who gave it to me (yes, gave, as a birthday present, my 12th birthday) didn't know what she had (and by the time I was old enough to realize just what she'd given to me, she had passed away). It had been sitting in her closet for 50 years... literally. She'd played it as a child and in her early twenties, then it was put away in the closet. Copie date inside is 1721...

Ladies, trust me when I say that $10K for a quality instrument isn't bad at all... That's at least what I'd be paying in replacement value for my own... (insurance companies unfortunately don't look at "actual value", they tend to go for "replacement value"... a modern guaneri just isn't hte same as a couple of hundred year old one...).

Methinks I may be making a donation soon... ;)

Cyd

[Janelle of Warren]

Always glad to help a fellow ConnectiCute! Good luck...and say hello to the purple otters from Smoke! :D

[lauradake]

Hey... I know how it goes, having to purchase expensive items for your art. ;)

$5 on the way... wish I could spare more. Good luck!!!

[Bean]

Gave ya' what I had left in the old paypal account!! Sorry it wasn't more! BTW have you tried a bank for a loan with the violin as collateral? Just an idea.....(can you tell I'm a banker in real life?)

Betsy

[AllieSutherland]

Congrats on you successes, and surely there will be more to come!! :)

As a fellow violinst myself (since age 3), I can appreciate how much a good instrument means to you...

I know that these may not help much, but have you tried the following avenues as well?

1.) The possibility of a tax-write off (even though it would be in the future) as a part-time work related expense?

2.) A government grant? An educational grant, perhaps, if you are in school? (that's how I got mine)

3.) Private benefactors and foundations that might be found via the Web under "free money," "philanthropy musicians," "grants musicians," etc.

4.) Local groups that support the arts... when I upgraded my violin, we had a local "arts appreciation" group (mostly elderly ladies) who met once a month, invited guests to perform, and often, they donated money toward the musician/artist/performer's needs. Also, many churches/religious groups/synagogues' members have been known to help their members with such things, if you belong to a group such as that. I have a dear friend who needed a new violin to major in performance in college, and still had a student model. Her church took a freewill donation for her one night after she played for them, and paid ENTIRELY for her instrument!!!

I know that most of these wouldn't offer a "quick" solution of help for the amount of money you need, but they might help. If you can't get it this time, please, don't give up. Things may turn around quickly to where you can afford it, or a new avenue for paying for it may appear!!

Never give up! :)

XOXOXOXOX
Allie