Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Aaron “Woody” Wood is using a unique approach – call it social networking, or crowd-sourced funding – to get a full-length album recorded and produced.
Wood talked about his approach this morning on WNCW. Here’s a brief explanation:
Wood will post his project on Kickstarter starting June 28. As Wood describes it, he’s partnering with fans/supporters to get his album produced. Wood has a new EP out, so he’s already got five songs produced and finished.
When Wood’s project gets posted online, he’ll have a specific deadline to raise the amount of money he says he needs to get his album finished. There’s a rewards program offered by Wood as part of the project. I haven’t seen the details, but for various levels of funding, Woods will offer to play a show or provide other incentives.
If Wood doesn’t raise the project amount stated on Kickstarter, the whole project is off and nobody who pledged support will have to pony up cash. Wood says he’s also got a blog and using Facebook and Twitter to promote his new EP and work on his full-length project.
I love this model for getting an album created and honestly, I’m surprised that I haven’t heard of other Asheville musicians taking advantage of this approach. In this digital age of online connectedness, it’s all about creating a vibrant network that wants to be invested.
See Wood next on July 3 at Pisgah Brewery at 2 p.m. Later that night, he’ll play the Lexington Avenue Brewery with Malcolm Holcombe. On July Fourth, Wood will play a private pool party to kick off his Kickstarter project. Listen to Woody’s new songs at his website.
Good luck, Woody!
who needs a shower when you can sing like woody
To each his, or her, own.
I know Woody a bit and, personally, I admire and respect him for being himself, being the talent that he is, sharing that talent that he has and still being the humble, lovable, good natured, kind hearted person that he is.
Hell, even Jesus had his detractors but I guess, in some folks eyes, he needed a shower and a haircut too. He was but a humble carpenter but he made a pretty big impact despite his long hair, sandles and following his own path.
I'm glad to see you reached your 1st goal Woody. good luck with the album. I know it's the love of your craft that drives you. I hope you reach the audience you deserve and get a nickle for every time somebody forgot the tip jar in all of the small neighborhood venues you've been sharing your gift in all this time.
If that happens,………YOU'LL BE RIOTCH, BIOTCH!~!!
I'm sure you'll share whatever you've got with whoever needs it while the judgemental hypocrites drown kittens in their bathtubs before trimming up, showering and going to church.
Please…don’t feed the trolls. Woody Wood is a damned fine musician.
Right on Brie !!!!!!!!!I think I’ll look into it myself and stay away from these blogs…….thank you facebook….
The link is now available to see how people can get involved in the making of Woody’s record. Remember, it’s an all or nothing campaign, so there’s no risk to the backers. You won’t be charged unless it’s successful.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1754182080/you-and-aaron-woody-wood-make-an-album-together-0
And Europe is going broke at the moment, but if its so great Im sure they will accept you with open arms.
I don’t think that some people realize the importance of music and how our gems, like Aaron Woody Wood, usher in entirely different realms of consciousness and being through the love that is the music. I think it is a brilliant idea to use crowd sourced funding and incentives. Wavy Gravy just did it and produced and solo distributed an entire awesome movie. If I had had the money at the time, I was going to pledge $200 to get an individual recorded message on my cell phone from Wavy. It is truly a shame, in fact a complete farce that musicians like Mr. Wood and all the others (myself included) do not have big fat wallets dangling from their clean or unclean jeans (that’s up to them; art doesn’t care if you’ve showered). Europe has/had it right in supporting and treating their artists with high honor. The rest of the world is pretty much crap, as we can see playing out day by day. Woody has it all, as someone said–the heart, the soul, the music, the right action. Pretty sure the audience will support him wildly. Great way to take it back off the grid and do it ourselves!
Wow, somebody give [email protected] a hug. Actually, lets all just ignore him/her.
Anyway, keep on truckin’ AWW. Can’t wait to hear the new album! Would love to see you play another set out at Pritchard Park sometime soon.
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and W can thank me later after all the free drinks and RS t-shirts he got. Also, I think this may have all been a big misunderstading – I think W has an imposter/wannabe in the Paris Hilton of the South – so you can all go unwind your panties now…
you didn’t know that – did ya’!
@lol – "you’re obviously quite dated yourself with that sweet aol.com email address."
I kept my aol address to weed out the riff-raff. All of my junk e-mails go there.
Asheville Dweller, ladies and gentleman – an intellectual titan of the local blogosphere comment section…
Woody is a great guy. I taught his daughter in fourth grade. Every year he would come and play music for our students. Not only would he play, but he created learning opportunities for the kids. He is everything that is right about Asheville. Can’t wait to hear the whole album.
Yes im drawing alot of attention to one local blog, that is Illusions of grandeur.
I happen to love Asheville, live music, musicians and most definately Aaron Wood!!! I have watched this talented young man from the first chord he ever learned on the guitar to the amazing magician (he is quite magical) that he has become. He, as many of the best of the best, has worked his skinny little butt off to become the entertainer that he is. He loves what he does and he is amazing. Don’t wanna beleive me, go see for your self!!!! I love you Aaron Wood and I, as many others, totally believe in you!
Dude, why are you dignifying the mud-slingers with your own personal responses.? Ignore.
it’s simple…and by the way,thanks for helping me draw so much attention to this..
There are 60 days to raise the money..more or less, and there are about ten different levels at different prices….
some of the things that you get are downloads(of course) and a CD ( of course) with a hand made screen printed cover,a vinal album with screenprinted cover,screen printed posters,free admission for two to any show, hand written lyric sheets ,a visit to the studio while we record the rest of the album,you can choose a song ,a cover, that I’ll go into the studio and record and release as a free download,and all the way up to me doing a house party for you .The incentives start at one down load working all the way up to the house concert,and they just bigger at each level …
so there…now you can get the skinny straight from minnie and you don’t need to take my word for it.
now if you’ll excuse me ,i think there is a shower near by that i need to avoid….
stinkily yours, me
If it stated that originally then I wouldnt have said it the way its written is It doesnt read that way.
Still takes alot of talent to ask others for money for something you want to do, the Asheville way looking for a hand out.
ok asheville dweller……my nephpew is 7 and he understands that when you give the money now,it means you have already purchased something and don’t need to give any more money at that point.He also understands that unless the goal is hit,no body pays anything.
See Dick
See Dick Run
See Jane
See Jane Run
Run Jane Run
Run Dick
Run Dick
Dick
Dick
Run Dick
Dick Run
That should be a little easier fro you to wrap your mind around.
"W – hope you get your RS shirt – and shower, but I no longer live in, nor plan on returning to the Paris Hilton of the South! It is the most over-rated joke in the States!"
yet u still keep the name of the city in your email address? perhaps that laziness prevented u from finding a job in this town and maybe your mama or papa said come back home and one of my friends will hire u
Really i don’t get the hate, if u hate the city so much, why u keeping tabs on the this blog?
Takes talent to ask for others to support you, and still have to buy the album after it comes out. Way to double dip there, I though if someone was as talented as proclaimed this would be an issue, but thats the sad ol tale of "artitsts" in the town of one trick ponies.
Hello,greenasheville;aol.com
It takes a very sad,lonely,miserable person that has great emotional distress to be so mean.I feel sorry for you.i really do,that you can never be the great guy that Aaron(woody}wood is today,He has a heart of gold ,and is a very humble, caring ,gentle man.Because of his love for others,he has many times given his last five or ten dollars to someone he met on the street that had lost their job ,and being hungry himself.
so i have to say to you ,that maybe ,you were not taught ,to never judge a book by it;cover.
a person has to be simple minded to critize someone, that they have never met or
really know.Maybe, after you have had ,your warm shower and your shampoo hair you might want to ask your self,am i as humble or as kind as Aaron (Woody) Wood?This world today needs more love ,laughter,and what better way to have this,than good music?I do hope that you can be a happy person and find something more producive to do with your time instead of your atteck on Asheville and the great musician.Maybe you could buy a guitar and learn to play and sing.
Thanks
@lol
– LOL!
W – hope you get your RS shirt – and shower, but I no longer live in, nor plan on returning to the Paris Hilton of the South! It is the most over-rated joke in the States!
i am a men’s small……
you know,sometimes (like now) I DO need a shower…who doesn’t stink and get a little chaffed every now and then?
as far as greasy,it makes my long beatnik hair a lot more manageable.It’s new wave.
I don’t carry a wallet because i am an asheville musician ,and you greenasheville and aol ,are right.I don’t have any money.there are far more good folks like you in town than filthy jackasses like me,so thanks!!!!
as far as all the people who went to my defense ,I’ll pay you later this week,after my next gig at the lexington ave. brewery this wednesday at 9 pm.
I never had a iron maiden shirt.really.don’t get me wrong i love me some maiden,but im more sabbath,not as in sunday but as in black..sabbath…not sunday….
i would like a nice rolling stones t shirt.If you don’t like iron maiden so much,would you bring me a rolling stones t shirt to my next gig this wednesday at the lexington ave. brewery…i’d like to wear it while i play….
thanks.
Woody Wood
Hey, greenasheville:
Woody Wood is one of the most talented singer-songwriters in this region. His voice is fantastic, he is a masterful guitarist, his lyrics are compelling, he has a wonderful sense of humor, and he is a very kind and humble person. He represents the very best. And he is certainly no "wannbe." He’s the real thing and represents what’s right with Asheville. It really makes me angry to see the kind of drivel people like you post. You’re not only disrespecting a good hard-working man, but you are also insulting his beautiful family, and displaying insolence toward his rich cultural roots and his immense talent. I don’t understand your arrogance and accompanying need to be so mean-spirited. Perhaps it is masking some sad sense of inadequacy or failure on your part. It certainly displays a lack of class.
Greenasheville you are one out of touch loser. Hard working people like Woody are the backbone of the music scene. I don’t care if you think he looks dated, you’re obviously quite dated yourself with that sweet aol.com email address. Don’t hate on him because he is a million times more talented than you could ever aspire to be.
Don’t believe me? check out http://www.aaronwoodmusic.com/
Classy no comeback and you attack him for AOL . . Typical Asheville attack tactic
yeah, Drunk City, USA, blah, blah, blah
this
"old dirty clothed/Iron Maiden"
coming from a person with an aol address.says a lot about himself
Woody rocks, support your local music scene as much if not more than the beer scene
@Ami
How many bands called Mad Tea Party, Medicine Hat, This Man’s Hat, etc., etc., does the world really need?
also, I’ve always found it amusing that these broke, greasy musician/artist wannabes walk around with those wallets on chains, like they would actually have any money or anything else that anyone wants. I wouldn’t touch the wallet with a 10′ pole. Filth!
and take a shower…
is "Woody" the guy who walks around downtown with the old dirty clothed/Iron Maiden/washed up musician look? I’ve seen him more than a few times. This is what’s wrong with Asheville. This isn’t the 80’s anymore. Get a life!
I think social media is just the beginning, and I am rooting for one of WNC’s most talented musicians who is undertaking something that to me looks nothing short of amazing. I’m excited for him and I plan on pledging. Rock on, Woody, your fans are pulling for you and we are excited to be part of your success!
Social Media will be dead soon, its ran its course and flown the coop. Now its just a played out word that means Twitter or Facebook.
This is a great model. I will say, in terms of other local bands who used fan investors to create an album, we did something very similar to put out Mad Tea Party’s 2006 release "Big Top Soda Pop" and I believe that stephaniesid did it for "Spiral In" (Alli Marshall wrote an article about this in the Xpress way back when). Oh, and I think Galen Kipar used this model recently, too. Of course, we created our own systems using PayPal, etc – the Kickstarter tool is much better. My friend Sxip Shirey used it for his latest CD. And social media is much more advanced now then it was in 2006.
Anyway, we are close friends with Woody (we just played a show with him last Friday) and we’re rooting him on for sure! He is a true talent.
– Ami
Mad Tea Party