The Mandolin - a history on Kickstarter

[Knox Al]

Just signed on as a backer, the book looks to be something every member of this site would want.

Al

[David Lewis]

I ended up signing on for an ebook I'd love a hard copy. But I'll take what I can get.

[Pete Jenner]

Just signed on as a backer, the book looks to be something every member of this site would want.

Al

I agree Al. It really is an incredibly comprehensive book. It's astounding to me that this hasn't been taken up more widely. I've read the whole thing and have put in for one of the leather bound volumes. I realise I've been pushing this book hard but would like to say I have no pecuniary interest in it, I just want it to succeed so I can get my copy.

If anyone has trouble reaching the kickstarter page, try disabling ad blockers. I was having trouble until I did that.

[Pete Jenner]

I see it has been shared on the Reddit Mandolin forum. Not sure where else you might want to share it.

Ha! I had never heard of that forum before.

[Dale Ludewig]

Graham, have you put an ad about it in the classifieds? I don't know if that's allowed under forum guidelines, but it might get more hits for the project.

[JH Murray]

Reddit is one of the busiest sites on the web. Their mandolin forum is smaller than mandocafe, and is mostly beginners. It has 3,400 members. The book has also been posted on their bluegrass forum, which has 8,400 members.

[Graham McDonald]

Thanks for passing the information along. Every bit helps.

I had thought about an ad in the Classified but I thought it might lead to some confusion, as I am not actually selling anything, more the 'probability' of being able to purchase something in a few weeks' time. The Kickstarter pledges are still coming in, not as fast or as many as might be preferable, but the total is slowly growing.

Cheers

[Bill Snyder]

Have you asked Scott if he could mention it on the home page of the Mandolin Cafe? Might get a few more eyeballs seeing it there.

[David Lewis]

Have you asked Scott if he could mention it on the home page of the Mandolin Cafe? Might get a few more eyeballs seeing it there.

I think it might have been there, but I wouldn't object (as a frequent visitor, and probably too frequent commenter) to have it mentioned again...

[harper]

It looks like a large number of backers are still needed. I signed on last week. Yesterday I emailed many of my mandolin friends around the country and at least two have signed on. I sincerely hope this project succeeds. Best of luck, Mr. McDonald.

[Pete Jenner]

I think it might have been there, but I wouldn't object (as a frequent visitor, and probably too frequent commenter) to have it mentioned again...

Good idea.

[MK in NC]

Signed up for a copy. Best of luck meeting the goal!

[Gary Leonard]

Thanks for passing the information along. Every bit helps.

I had thought about an ad in the Classified but I thought it might lead to some confusion, as I am not actually selling anything, more the 'probability' of being able to purchase something in a few weeks' time. The Kickstarter pledges are still coming in, not as fast or as many as might be preferable, but the total is slowly growing.

Cheers

I think an ad would work for this, and you are selling something, with the Kickstarter caveat of course. I think if it is clearly stated in the ad text, and you link to the Kickstarter page, there should be no confusion.

Gary

[Pete Jenner]

Only 9 days to go folks! If you want this book to happen, get on board now.

[Franc Homier Lieu]

I want this to happen. I want my leather bound edition that I upgraded to when more became available. But I'm not sure what else can be done to drum up interest. I notice that this thread is in fact in danger of being overtaken in terms of page views and replies by 'Do you drool when you play?' It is a shame that there are so far only 157 people who have pledged. It will take nearly 300 pledging 60 bucks to make this happen.

[Pete Jenner]

[QUOTE=Franc Homier Lieu;1423183 I notice that this thread is in fact in danger of being overtaken in terms of page views and replies by 'Do you drool when you play?' [/QUOTE]


Yes, it's a bleak day for the magnificent mandolin's future when facial incontinence commands the same attention as the most comprehensive book ever written on the history of our esteemed instrument.

[Eddie Sheehy]

Bump.
This needs to be where it can be seen until it happens...

[brunello97]

The fix is in, Graham.

Sorry to have been out of touch and not weighing in sooner. I hope we get a coalescification to reach your goal.

Looking forward to reading the opus.

Mick

[Eddie Sheehy]

bump

[David Lewis]

Would it be possible, if it falls short, to still do the ebook?

[Bernie Daniel]

Still $11K short with 8 days to go. I am thinking about pledging again and use the extra copies as Xmas gift.

[Graham McDonald]

That is a very generous thought Bernie, thank you. Also thank you to Scott for the home page feature and the group of you who have been quietly bumping the thread for the past week or so. There is beer owed as we head into the last week.

There will certainly be an ebook version (versions?) available. I am on the hunt for a way to turn the book into some kind of stand alone app in the way that a lot of magazines are produced. There are software platforms out there, but geared towards monthly magazines published by large publishing companies who pay hefty monthly fees. Any suggestions welcomed. I have found a rather elegant software package called Vellum which works as basic ebook layout and then for a small fee generates various ebook versions. Vellum copes with lots of images, which ebooks generally don't deal with well.

Cheers

[Dale Ludewig]

Graham, I'm rooting for you! I want to see this come through. Come on people! And I want to see it on paper, in my hands, to drift off to sleep looking at it.

[Graham McDonald]

In a couple of hours, a little after 2pm Australian Eastern time, I will be talking about the book on ABC Radio National during their afternoon program. That will be a little after midnight US EDT, 9pm PDT or 5am in the UK.

If you are interested you can listen live at http://www.abc.net.au/radio/stations/RN/live

Cheers

[mrmando]

I occasionally wonder what became of the girl on the postcard.

Ah, Hélène ... we had a whirlwind romance, but the heat of our passion should have given us a clue that it would burn out sooner or later. Although left-handed, self-taught and a bit unorthodox in her technique, she was nonetheless a formidable soloist: her expressive intensity made up for anything she lacked in the way of formal musicianship. We parted ways in a heated disagreement over the ideal fingering for Calace's Bolero. I entertained hopes of patching things up with Hélène in the aftermath, but when I finally was discharged from the hospital after six weeks, she had moved out of the flat.