Re: [HG-new] Digest for [email protected] - 6 Messages in 2 Topics

Kazimierz Verkmastare Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:52:07 -0700

Michael.

I have never met you, but I too own your book. I cannot afford an instrument (could have just a few years ago), but I am a capable craftsman, and so I am building stage by stage until I own an instrument I can be proud of. I am currently working on 2 different instruments, moderately different versions of the gurdy the satyr is playing in the Bosch tryptich, and they will incorporate what I have learned from many sources. They should be significantly better than my last, as it was significantly better than the one before. They are being built in an ancient style, without many of the techniques and technologies we use today, as I am a student of early and ancient music, not just instruments that look ancient.

I am not poor, I am not destitute, I can read music and have for 44 of my 49 years. I like your book, I have absorbed much that it has to offer even though I can not yet put it fully into use, because I am not at that stage of instrument yet.

I bought your book years ago, because years ago I could. But several years ago a little thing happened to the economy, and I found that the money I earned was no longer able to buy as much as it could just a few months before.. Then a year later the same economic turn hit my employer, and I found that while our household income could still feed the family and pay the electricity and water and phone, doing anything else was a bit hard. And no matter what they say, things aren't improving as much for the average person as they want you to believe - discretionary money is still harder to come by than it was.

I have since started my own venture, building and selling (mostly) pre 17th century instruments. I am having a hard time being able to build and produce, every time a tool breaks or something comes up with a health or family issue, I have to divert funds and delay production. Not because I want to, but because I have to during this time.

I belong to several 'hobby' organizations, I used to go to events and meetings every weekend, spending money for gas and site entry fee and on merchants each time. I have not been to a single event this year. And in these organizations, the attendance at events across the board has dropped dramatically, to the point that many events do not even break even any more. Average, middle class folks like my family and I are simply having a hard time coming up with money for anything more than the basics and the emergencies.

Your book has a specific niche. It is not required as a textbook for a repeating class at a university, so you cannot expect to get a particular number of annual orders. It is not a required technical manual for a professional - most professional HG players probably own your method, but the number of new pro players is not growing by leaps and bounds. Your book is a 'wish list' item, not a mandatory item. It is a discretionary item. And discretionary items aren't selling as well today as they were just a few years ago.

The trend is to be able to provide good instruments for lots less, Mel is doing a great job at that, but even then the ability in the last few years for people to spend even modest amounts of money on this musical 'hobby' is dwindling to probably a recent record low level. For those who can afford an instrument, it is no as easy to just go get all the 'accessory' items as it was just a few years ago.

Add to that the trend towards new, experimental music, and the equation adds up to some periods where you simply won't sell a book. That doesn't mean the book is worth any less, that means that discretionary income for a whole lot of people can now buy fewer things on the wish list, and you book may not be high enough on that list at this time to be purchased.

So don't take your toys and go away, thinking that people must be copying or stealing from you, we are not. Blame the general economy instead, it is most likely the culprit, I know it is for many other folks with niche products as well, including me. This is the thing I fear most about what is happening in the world, people rely on a reasonable economy to survive, and when a continued crunch occurs, it grates on people and they become less friendly, less hospitable, less generous. Money in itself means little except the ability to keep grubbers off your back, but when the effects start to alter the general tone between people, when constant pressure wearies us to the point where we no longer start off giving benefit of the doubt and being decent until we have proof that we need not be, that is when we are, as a species, really in trouble.

My only answer? This storm must end, either well or badly, but ride it out as most of the rest of us have to. And you know, print on demand can reduce your risk in this time when risk is great just breathing, and keep your work out there to help the players.

Chris

> Thank you, Melvin, Also Gary and Arle,Am I tilting at windmills? Or

> will no one own up?. Colin. Searching for 'hurdy-gurdy method'

> will (should) bring up my website. What could be simpler?

> I had fondly hoped that the book would be available as long as

> people made HG's.,but it seems to be difficult. I am really puzzled

> as to why sales, which have been largely steady for 20 years

> should have fallen to 0. Sales are so small that publication is not

> a commercial proposition and firms have shied away from it in the

> past. And there is no point if copies of are indeed being made.

> It seems that the only solution is to make it available on line,

> but this task is beyond me personal;y. There is nothing like a book

> for convenience and I would not like to read music from a screen!

> Most awkward. And an online copy may still be reproduced I am told.

> Sheila had the bright idea that we could tag each tune on its page!

> , Brilliant! But. ..

> It seems that few players can read music and I wonder if the text

> would be sufficient, but then i realise that most people just want

> the technical details, many of which are now available on websites.

> This, of course, may be the real reason for the loss of interest in

> the book and is more likely than its being copied. So I'm afraid we

> shall just have to accept the march of progress, such as it is.

> Bigger changes to our lives are on the way.

> I am really sorry that I have not made it to the US to meet you

> guys, but I wish you all happiness and success. I've played my part

> and it is time to depart.

> Michael and also Doreen, who appreciated your words of praise,

> Gary, with a glow.

> 2013, at 08:30, [email protected] wrote:

>> Today's Topic Summary

>> Group: http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics

> - Vielle for sale [1 Update]

> - Digest for [email protected] - 1 Message in 1 Topic [5

> Updates]

>> Vielle for sale

>> [email protected] Aug 12 08:16PM -0400

> Hi, folks. I was hoping that someone on this list had been loooking

> for a really good vielle, and since Craigslist has not gotten any

> bites on this, I thought I would send the address of the website so

> that you could see it.

> http://lafayette.craigslist.org/msg/3950406178.html Obviously, I

> would have to ship it, regardless of what the text might say.

> Cheers, alice Wallace

>> Digest for [email protected] - 1 Message in 1 Topic

>> Michael Muskett <[email protected]> Aug 12 02:50PM +0100

> My anger is not directed at the general membership, who I consider

> to be my friends, but to those people who make copies instead of

> doing the decent thing and paying. I see there has been no response

> agreeing or denying my opinion, but my overall impression is that I

> am right in my assumption and that my anger and disappointment are

> justified, By being so mean and dishonest they have prevented the

> next generation from having use of the book which they have found

> so useful. As the book has been available up to now there was no

> need to steal it unless, of course, they can't afford an

> instrument. While I hope you will all enjoy the forthcoming

> `festival I also hope that these people will be discomfited and

> sleep badly. As you are on scene perhaps you would enlighten me.

> Thanks,

> Michael

>> Gary Plazyk <[email protected]> Aug 12 09:28AM -0500

> Hi, Michael!

> I can only speak for myself, but I purchased a copy of your Hurdy-

> Gurdy Method (3rd edition) and the supplement CD. If you came out

> with a new edition, I would certainly buy it.

> I appreciate the work you and Doreen put into writing and revising

> such fine instructional material for our exotic instruments! Very

> best regards,

> -Gary P. (in rural northern Illinois near Marengo, between Elgin

> and Rockford IL) Gary Plazyk, [email protected] Fuzzy Bear

> Farm http://www.KishwaukeeRamblers.com http://www.BearCreekMusic.us

> "Music is too important to leave to the professionals." -Robert Shaw

>> Arle Lommel <[email protected]> Aug 12 04:35PM +0200

> Michael,

> Maybe one thing to consider is actually going to digital

> publication. I know that that sounds like it would be playing right

> into the problem you identify, but you could line up a publisher

> that would indelibly watermark the copies sold. Each page would

> have "This copy licensed to Joe Schmoe" on it and if anyone else

> has a copy with that, you would know who "leaked" the copy.

> -Arle

>> Melvin Dorries <[email protected]> Aug 12 12:35PM -0700

> OK Michael,

> You want someone to weigh in on this? The general letter was

> scathing and caused me to wonder if you are doing alright. I have

> never seen even one customer made copy of your book or made one

> myself though we are down to our last copy.

> Sure it is not fair when someone takes what is not theirs. I would

> contend that we as a whole are not that kind of people but we had

> to read your venting too. Why not just remind people where to get

> the book and then have them when we want them.

> I have bought many of them and resold them for you here in the

> states at full price as a courtesy to our customers. Now we just

> tell people to order it on the net. Some of them have told us that

> they cannot get a hold of you.

> Isn't it better to build bridges than walls?

> Mel

> ________________________________

> From: Michael Muskett <[email protected]> To:

> [email protected] Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 9:50 AM

> Subject: Re: [HG-new] Digest for [email protected] - 1

> Message in 1 Topic