Underdog Victorious

March 24, 2008 9:05 PM

Update: Fans of MeFi's own Jill Sobule dished out a whopping $80,832 to fund her next album.

That's over $5,000 more than she initially requested. From the message on her site:

"Not only have these last few weeks been fun (watching the tote board rise), but it has really given me a sense of empowerment (in the good way). I have always been a sort of special needs child (like a good percentage of artists in my industry) who wait for the label, the manager, the 'man' to do everything for them – after taking any or all profits. But now I’ve learned to rely on myself and... well, you.

So, don’t go, and keep coming back to this site for updates and stuff – like I need a name for my 'record company.' Today I thought of: 'monkeypants records,' 'crankypants records,' or 'pastel colored pantsuit records.' For some reason I was into pants. I am sure you guys can come up with something better – suggestions are welcome.

I will leave you today with my favorite comment someone wrote on the site:

I am donating, not because of the music (the music is good, but not really my kind of music), but because I think it is a worthy project. The idea of using the internet to get small donations from a lot of people is great, and once you have a small fanbase it is doable. So I am giving a small tip in the hope that you one day make a great album."

posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] to MetaFilter-related at 9:05 PM (70 comments total)

Dear Jill---
Dig You Dig You Dig You.
Why aren't you bitter?
posted by Dizzy at 9:10 PM on March 24, 2008

Awesome.
posted by arcticwoman at 9:14 PM on March 24, 2008

Hmm. Wonder if I can get the Internet to fund my first novel?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:21 PM on March 24, 2008 [1 favorite]

This is going to become another thread about hermitosis, isn't it?
posted by slogger at 9:23 PM on March 24, 2008

Clownsuit Engine Records would be cool.
posted by BeerFilter at 9:27 PM on March 24, 2008

I interviewed her yesterday for the podcast and hoped to release it today, but it'll go up tomorrow. She's great and we talked for about 10 minutes about the project.
posted by mathowie at 9:28 PM on March 24, 2008

Not to be a wet reality blanket, but how, with one comment total, is she "Mefi's own"?
posted by orthogonality at 9:32 PM on March 24, 2008 [8 favorites]

If we favourite this post 500 times, she'll pay $80000 to close [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST]'s account.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:35 PM on March 24, 2008

Not to be a wet reality blanket, but how, with one comment total, is she "Mefi's own"?

Well she'll have clocked more time on the podcast than most of us will ever have, that must count for something!
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 9:37 PM on March 24, 2008

Seriously. For a hundred grand in donations, I'll quit my job and write a novel all about you. Yes, you. Everyone who donates $100 gets a mention in the book. Everyone who donates $1000 gets included in the space orgy scene. Everyone who donates $10,000 gets a minor character with their own story arc, a fictional flying car, and a condo in East Boca Valley Hills Flats Heights.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:45 PM on March 24, 2008 [11 favorites]

What a rip off, with $10000 I can buy my own fictional flying car. Or ten space orgies.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:48 PM on March 24, 2008

Does $80,832 include the MeFi membership? I bet she could have made it for $80,827.
posted by Horselover Fat at 9:52 PM on March 24, 2008

Oh, yeah?! Can your fictional flying car space orgy do this? Nyearrrrooooooooommmmmmm-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack!!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:53 PM on March 24, 2008 [10 favorites]

I need to make a kickass album tooooooo... *looks around the room*
posted by miss lynnster at 10:18 PM on March 24, 2008

I know lots -- really not exaggerating to say "lots" -- of people who don't require $75,000 to put out and promote their own records. Really. People who are making a living from their music. That is a veritable shit-ton of money and the whole thing kinda feels weird to me.
posted by loiseau at 10:29 PM on March 24, 2008 [2 favorites]

I'll have whatever space orgy she's having.
posted by maudlin at 10:34 PM on March 24, 2008

Dear Jill. You probably don't remember me. I used to catch your shows at that club in the upstairs part of a cool old house in Denver. The name escapes me now, its been so long but I remember a song titled 'Paper or Plastic.' Ah, ggod times. I ran into you again briefly at Rockrgrl in Seattle in 2000 and caught your show. You're wonderfully talented and if I ever thought that money for an album was for a good reason, this would be it. Congrats on raising the dough.

/fanboy
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:57 PM on March 24, 2008

I know lots -- really not exaggerating to say "lots" -- of people who don't require $75,000 to put out and promote their own records. Really. People who are making a living from their music. That is a veritable shit-ton of money and the whole thing kinda feels weird to me.

She explains it in the interview I'll put up tomorrow. Basically she's going to record, engineer, release, and tour up to three albums on the money. She knew you could literally create a record with much less (I mentioned to her that my friend did a full blown album + promotion + tour for $5k) but she thought it was a decent amount to do something major and mainstream and is much less than an artist working for a record company would require.
posted by mathowie at 11:17 PM on March 24, 2008

I got written into one of the first Vampire the Masquerade novels, because I happened to be in a chat room when the author was between chapters and I asked. I didn't have to donate any money, but I did buy the book.
posted by empath at 12:31 AM on March 25, 2008

God, "You Better You Bet" is a terrible song, isn't it? Sorry, we're not talking about The Who?

I can better IRFH's offer: I'm a far worse and much less imaginative writer, which means I'll undoubtedly be more successful in the marketplace. Let's see. For $10 you will get one punctuation mark set in your name--the very small type will appear to the casual observer to be simply a period or comma, but careful examination and a decent spyglass will reveal the truth.

$100 gets an entire page of commas in your name.

$1,000 gets an entire chapter's worth of semicolons; the way I typically write, that's a bargain.

$10,000 will net you not only an entire page's punctuation in its entirety, but I will also keep your photo nearby while editing said chapter and glance at you quite fondly from time-to-time.

$100,000 will find the phrase of your choice repeated throughout a chapter's punctuation instead of your name; with Amazon's "Look Inside" technology, this is a bargain for the SEO specialist in the audience.

Please contact me for other opportunities at prices commensurate with your desires ($20, same as in town).
posted by maxwelton at 3:54 AM on March 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

Actually I think this is genius...all the donors will be people who will also feel emotionally invested in the success of her cd which will lead them into acting accordingly.
posted by konolia at 4:52 AM on March 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

I can better IRFH's offer: I'm a far worse and much less imaginative writer, which means I'll undoubtedly be more successful in the marketplace.

Quoted for tickling-my-funnybone. And it's sort of true: I often wonder how some writers get published just before I throw a really bad book across the room in disgust. But there are enough great books out there that keep me in the reading game.

I think "lose weight now!" would be a great SEO phrase for my book. Alas, I don't have the funds to pay anyone to write my life story, which I hope won't be finished for many years to come.

Looking forward to hearing the podcast. Maybe it will get You Better You Bet out of my head. Argh!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:46 AM on March 25, 2008

Dear Jill,

FISHPANTS RECORDS.

Love,

quonsar
posted by quonsar at 5:49 AM on March 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

Production credit? Mention in the liner notes? All unnecessary. Todd Rundgren solved this problem in 1974.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:04 AM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

So is she going to turn my comment into a hidden track or something?
posted by Eideteker at 6:20 AM on March 25, 2008

I like this idea a lot, only because it fucks with the exploitative record company paradigm that's existed so long. But the idea that huge dollar sums make records "major and mainstream" sticks in my craw. Then again, I can't expect other people to listen to the same things in music for the same reasons I do, and there are loads of folks who can't get past lo-fi production. So maybe three records for $80k isn't so astronomical; maybe it's necessary if you want to give the right kind of music the right kind of reach.

So good luck, Jill Sobule. If I had money for anything other than food, clothing, shelter, and weed, I'd have donated something. As is, you have my ear and my best wishes.
posted by breezeway at 7:11 AM on March 25, 2008

Not to be a wet reality blanket, but how, with one comment total, is she "Mefi's own"?

Yeah I was just about to express the same sentiments. I mean good for her, and all, that's great; but with one comment, in a thread about raising money for her album no less, I'd hardly call her MeFi's own. But still, congrats!
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:13 AM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Not to be a wet reality blanket, but how, with one comment total, is she "Mefi's own"?

Even the lurkers are "MeFi's Own", in my book. Community is as narrow or wide an entity as one chooses to define it. Congrats to Sobule and the swell folks who contributed!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:49 AM on March 25, 2008

Jill Sobule, like Woz, is the vermouth in the metafilter martini. Only a ghost, a whiff, the slightest hint perhaps drifting lazily past the rim of the shaker on a serendipitous wind—but inescapably and essentially a part of it, nonetheless. An irreplacable part of the gestalt, however slight the literal footprint on our collective soil.
posted by cortex at 8:09 AM on March 25, 2008

Also, I have tied Miguel up in my backroom and am forcing him to ghostwrite my comments.
posted by cortex at 8:09 AM on March 25, 2008 [3 favorites]

MeFi's Own

I wish I could erase this phrase from... everything. Applying that label-of-ownership to anyone of modest fame who happens to pass through here is about you, not them, and it's gross.
posted by mkultra at 8:21 AM on March 25, 2008

Bold words from MeFi's Own mkultra.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:25 AM on March 25, 2008 [4 favorites]

Underdog Victorious

I'll be another wet blanket and say that she's also not really an underdog. She's already moderately famous and popular, and this is the reason why she's able to raise that kind of money.

So I'm not sure exactly what we're cheering here besides the unbridled glee of having a celebrity in our midst.
posted by dhammond at 8:37 AM on March 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

I just collectively soiled our pants.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:44 AM on March 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

I'm not sure exactly what we're cheering here besides the unbridled glee of having a celebrity in our midst.

There has to be another reason?
posted by Brad Pitt at 8:47 AM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Was that really worth five dollars?
posted by inigo2 at 9:09 AM on March 25, 2008

I see what you did there.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 9:10 AM on March 25, 2008

My $5 is not the same as your $5. Even still, I see your point.
posted by Brad Pitt at 9:11 AM on March 25, 2008

My $5 is not the same as your $5.

Valid point. While we're talking, any chance you'll buy me lunch?
posted by inigo2 at 9:25 AM on March 25, 2008

Sorry, I just spent my last $5.
posted by Brad Pitt at 9:43 AM on March 25, 2008

Look, "Underdog Victorious" is the name of one of her (really great) songs, as well as one of her albums. And though she's been more successful than many musicians, it's crazy to think that she's NOT an underdog when you consider almost everything about her act and personality and how poorly they fit in with the music industry.

As for all the flap about "mefi's own", it was a brief way of pointing out that she came to the site and joined in order to comment in that thread. I didn't realize that MetaFilter didn't subscribe to the One-Drop Rule or that it would defend its own purity so vehemently.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 9:46 AM on March 25, 2008

For $75k I could probably to 10 or 12 albums. Don't know if they'll be as good as what Jill writes, but I do have a day job, y'know.
posted by chimaera at 10:08 AM on March 25, 2008

For $75k I could alter the contemporary conception of "music" and do a lot of coke.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:23 AM on March 25, 2008

is that dude from givewell also a "mefi's own?"
posted by shmegegge at 10:26 AM on March 25, 2008

MeFi's Disowned.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:27 AM on March 25, 2008

I didn't realize that MetaFilter didn't subscribe to the One-Drop Rule or that it would defend its own purity so vehemently.

I'm totally happy for Jill Sobule and I'm looking forward to hearing the podcast where she talks about this. That said, I really like to reserve the "mefi's own" slogan, myself, personally, for people who have either commented more than once, or for situations in which it's clearly and obviously a total joke (i.e. woz commented once, calling him "mefi's own" is more clearly tongue in cheek, jennydiski would probably not like the designation, that sort of thing.). She doesn't belong to us and we don't belong to her but I'm happy her fundraiser went well.
posted by jessamyn at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

MetaFilter: Fucking The Exploitative Record Company Paradigm
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:31 AM on March 25, 2008

i.e. woz commented once, calling him "mefi's own" is more clearly tongue in cheek

That's exactly the spirit in which I intended it, FWIW.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 10:38 AM on March 25, 2008

Mefi Owns Me.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:39 AM on March 25, 2008

Holden would be the olive juice, yes.
posted by cortex at 10:41 AM on March 25, 2008

Mefi's Own should only apply to people who actually participate in the back and forth on mefi, not drive-by self-promoters (not that there is anything wrong with that)
posted by empath at 10:43 AM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

To be fair, Jill drove by to defend against comments saying that her expectations were greedy and exorbitant-- that's a lot different than self-promotion, whether there's anything wrong with it or not.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 10:48 AM on March 25, 2008

Jill Sobule, like Woz, is the vermouth in the metafilter martini. Only a ghost, a whiff, the slightest hint perhaps drifting lazily past the rim of the shaker on a serendipitous wind—but inescapably and essentially a part of it, nonetheless. An irreplacable part of the gestalt, however slight the literal footprint on our collective soil.
posted by cortex at 8:09 AM on March 25 [+] [!]

I like chilled vodka with olives as much as the next guy, but it's not a martini unless it's at least one-seventh vermouth.
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 12:00 PM on March 25, 2008

I'll have whatever space orgy she's having.

How about Elf-orgy?
posted by Chuckles at 12:14 PM on March 25, 2008

Vodka? Fightin' words. That's like saying "I like lightsabers and chainmail as much as the next guy, but it's not medieval costume unless you're wearing an aventail."

Though I agree with you, personally, about vermouth actually being meaningfully present in the drink. But opinions differ.
posted by cortex at 12:17 PM on March 25, 2008

I'm not sure what I could do for $75k, but I'd be happy to find out.
posted by Grangousier at 1:03 PM on March 25, 2008

Cool. Looking forward to pirating it.
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 1:21 PM on March 25, 2008

This seems somewhat problematic. If you give an artist money to create work, in normal everyday life, you'd expect to own some portion of or interest in that work. So here we give Jill money to make an album to sell and to play at (presumably) paid performances. Essentially providing startup capital for limited term business.
I'm not a hardcore capitalist, so I don't really care how this works out but it seems like something you can do once because people/fans are generous, but I doubt it would work twice. Seems like donors should either get a free album or preferred seating at shows or something. Otherwise she's abusing the generosity of her hardcore fans, which in the long run will probably turn your fans away.
posted by doctor_negative at 1:48 PM on March 25, 2008

So when's Woz going to show up on the podcast?
posted by danb at 2:03 PM on March 25, 2008

Seems like donors should either get a free album or preferred seating at shows or something

From her site:

"$10 - Unpolished Rock (but with potential) Level: A free digital download of the album, when it's released.
$25 - Polished Rock Level: An advance copy of the CD. Weeks before the masses.
$50 - Pewter Level: An advance copy and a "Thank You" on the CD.
$100 - Copper Level: All the above, plus a T-shirt saying you're a junior executive producer on the album.
$200 - Bronze Level: Free admission to my shows for 2008. "
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 2:04 PM on March 25, 2008

I like chilled vodka with olives as much as the next guy, but it's not a martini unless it's at least one-seventh vermouth.

It's not a martini unless it's gin.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:07 PM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Also, I have tied Miguel up in my backroom and am forcing him to ghostwrite my comments.

A waste of both your talents! You should build "MetaFilter's own" Miguel a site to collect an advance on his first English-language novel.

I'd donate for that.
posted by timeistight at 2:14 PM on March 25, 2008

What Cortex wrote:
Jill Sobule, like Woz, is the vermouth in the metafilter martini. Only a ghost, a whiff, the slightest hint perhaps drifting lazily past the rim of the shaker on a serendipitous wind—but inescapably and essentially a part of it, nonetheless. An irreplacable part of the gestalt, however slight the literal footprint on our collective soil.

What I heard/envisioned:
Cortex on the phone with Jill:

"So Jill, did you get the animal skins I mailed ya?"
"Ummmm...no...who is this?"
"Just a fan. A big fan."
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 3:00 PM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

It's not a martini unless it's gin.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:07 PM on March 25 [+] [!]

I agree, but for some reason whenever people talk about martinis these days, they're referring to a vodka drink. All of these people are wrong.

Cortex, sorry I assumed you were one of these people.
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 3:36 PM on March 25, 2008

And by "wrong", I mean "morally wrong".
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 3:38 PM on March 25, 2008

I think we can safely go as far as "worse than Hitler" on this one, in fact.
posted by cortex at 3:49 PM on March 25, 2008

You know who else was worse than Hitler? That's right: Hitl- aw, fuck!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:41 PM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

It's not a martini unless it's gin.

A thousand times "Damn Straight." Anything else is merely a vodka concoction.
posted by nevercalm at 7:49 PM on March 25, 2008

Jeez. I should start up a collection plate for my own self.

Tell ya what: for five bucks, I'll masturbate one of my fish. On video. With audio. And I'll send you a vial of milt, too. With sprinkles on top.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:32 PM on March 25, 2008

I'm happy to know that Jill Sobule has been keeping busy since she recorded that fake-lesbian song with Fabio in the video.
posted by box at 12:32 PM on March 26, 2008