[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [ARSCLIST] Digital oral history recorders - any recommendations?
Mike:
Why not apply for Grants from the various foundations?
http://moneywisdom-gold.blogspot.com/?
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Fitzgerald <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 1:20 pm
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Digital oral history recorders - any recommendations?
At 03:54 PM 1/28/2009, Parker Dinkins wrote:?
>5. Pay the subject an honorarium when you get the release signed.?
>?
>Some may think this last item is controversial, but when you are dealing?
>with professional musicians it's a good idea to approach an interview as?
>another gig.?
?
But you aren't asking for them to do what they do for a living. They have proven track records as musicians. They might be great for an interview or might be nearly a waste of time. Also, payment may create a "performance" idea instead of a simple factual recounting.?
?
And what about the rest of us researchers who don't have ANY funding for this? I introduced myself to one musician and asked whether he'd be willing to do a brief phone interview and the response was, "What's your budget?" I explained that I was just a person, with no affiliation, no advance, nothing; that I was doing this all on my own time and dime and would likely end up in the red; and that I was just hoping that he would cooperate so that his story could be told - this was met with, "What's your budget?" At that point, I thanked him for his time and gave up.?
?
I think some musicians have heard about this (particularly the very well-paying Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Project) and have unrealistic expectations.?
?
Not to paint such a bleak picture, because this isn't the norm in my experience (nor do I wish for it to become the norm). For the nearly 100 interviews conducted for my book, no money was paid. Folks received a copy of the book when it was published and we made them feel that their stories were important and that it was all for a good cause.?
?
We lose more history each and every day. So many of the people that I research are not even on the radar of folks with money so it's unlikely that anyone would fund the work. That's why it's called a labor of love.?
?
Mike?
?
www.crj-online.org?
www.jazzdiscography.com