Yeah, this is another one of my periodic requests for financial support. There’s a twist on this one: I just received a substantial check from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, and that donor suggested I use this gift to inspire others to contribute as well.
The Grateful Dead Hour is doing okay in a slowly declining radio market. We lose a station now and then, and somewhat more rarely we pick up another – almost always at a lower rate than we used to command. Like almost every other creative/media enterprise, it’s getting harder to make a living. But we carry on, and the show is not in any immediate danger.
But my company is about $20,000 in debt. When the underwriting money comes in a little faster than usual, I pay that down a bit. Then something comes along that requires an expenditure, and the balance rises again. I *hate* owing money, and I can’t stand paying several hundred dollars a month in interest on that credit card. So my inclination is to use this donation to pay down the balance.
It seems somewhat counter-intuitive to me, asking for money from my friends and listeners right after receiving a large contribution, but the person who made the donation knows a lot more about this sort of stuff than I do. So I’m asking you to consider making a contribution now, too: added to the check we just received, it will be possible to make a large dent in that credit card balance and get back to something more like cash-and-carry mode. Maybe we can think of it like those “challenge grants” and “matches” we use to inspire donors in public-radio fund drives. Your gift today is being matched by our anonymous donor.
Times are tough all over – believe me, I know. I know an awful lot of people who are struggling to make ends meet, and I have been gratified by the response when I have come to this community looking for support for other causes and individuals. This may not be the best time to ask you for a donation, and I totally understand if you can’t swing it right now. But if a large number of friends and neighbors can each make a modest contribution, the net result will add up to a significant and hugely helpful sum.
If you can spare a few bucks to help keep the good ship Truth and Fun on a steady course, you can send a check or money order to Truth and Fun, Inc., 484 Lake Park Ave. #102, Oakland CA 94610-2730. Or you can go to https://www.gdhour.com/support.html and make a donation online. There is a one-time Paypal donation form, and two monthly “subscription” options ($5 per month or $10 per month). I am profoundly grateful to my monthly supporters.
If you are a business or individual who would be interested in becoming an on-air sponsor of the Grateful Dead Hour, we’d love to hear from you. Email me, or contact Dave Weissman, davew@gdhour.com, for more information.
It’s important to add that any money you send to Truth and Fun, Inc. supports all of my creative enterprises. My musical career is in no danger of forcing me to give up the GD Hour; in fact, all of my various “jobs” interlock beautifully, and I feel fortunate as hell to be able to do all the things I do without having to get a “real” job in order to pay my mortgage. So your support helps keep the Grateful Dead Hour going AND allows me to continue pursuing my musical endeavors.
And speaking of my music, that’s another way you can help: buy some! I just released an online “single” titled “Life Is a Jam,” recorded in the studio with Mark Karan (Ratdog/Jemimah Puddleduck), Mookie Siegel (David Nelson Band), Joe Kyle, Jr. (The Waybacks) and Dave Brogan (ALO) – three takes of the song, each with a unique jam at the end, totaling about 26 minutes of music for a mere three bucks. Please see https://www.dgans.com/liaj/download for more info on that. I also have several CDs for sale at https://www.cdbaby.com/all/dgans – most recently “The Ones That Look the Weirdest Taste the Best,” produced by Tim Carbone and featuring four members of Railroad Earth on all the tracks.
Thank you for your kind attention, and thank you in advance for your support!
– DG
Glad to lend a hand David!
Shine on,
Nick