Crowdfunding in the Middle of Nowhere

DAYTON – Reggie Mace and Beth Rahn are Dayton entrepreneurs who love music and think that production of live concerts and recorded music has a future here. For the past few months they have been presenting live shows at Mace Mead Works on Main Street, called the “Middle of Nowhere Sessions.”

“We wanted to bring the most talented emerging artists we could find,” Mace said, “to perform, literally, in the middle of nowhere”

And the'y’ve done it. They’ve put on 18 shows since February, featuring 30 bands. Now, they’re ready to take the next step: recording the live performances on their stage and cutting records.

“We created the performance space in February of this year,” Mace said, “and have produced amazing shows here every week since.” Now he says he and Rahn want “to share these experiences with the world through live recordings.”

The only thing they’re lacking to put their plan in place, is the money to buy the equipment they need. Which is where Kickstarter comes in.

The internet crowdfunding site allows creative people to raise money from supporters – locally and around the world – to get projects started. It’s been online since 2009.

Kickstarter bills itself as “a new way to fund creative projects.” Filmmakers, musicians, artists, writers and designers can show off their projects and ask for pledges. Backers usually get something in return, but they don’t become shareholders.

Project creators set a funding goal and deadline. If people like a project, they can pledge money to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing – if the goal isn’t met by the deadline, the whole deal is off.

Mace and Rahn have launched their Kickstarter campaign with a minimum pledge goal of $11,111. (They want to turn the music up to eleven, they say on their video.) They plan to use the money to buy equipment such as a sound board designed for studio and live recording, a computer for capturing and editing audio, along with recording software, and microphones and other equipment. If they are able to go beyond their goal, they will add additional goodies, such as professional lighting and new stage monitors.

The pledge period is underway and ends July 7. As The Times was going to press this week, $4,534 had been pledged so far by 47 backers.

Pledge packages are available in amounts from one dollar to $1,000. They include: • One dollar gets you a big

“Thank You!” • $5 – “Middle of Nowhere Sessions” sticker and button •

$12 – A tote bag or the first MONS record: a seven inch vinyl disc featuring previously unreleased singles by the bands Branden Daniel & the Chics and Old Age. •

$20 – A compilation download album containing more than 30 songs, from all of the bands that have supported the Middle of Nowhere Sessions •

$25 – A Middle of Nowhere Sessions T-Shirt •

$50 – A five-show Middle of Nowhere Sessions pass

There are several higher pledge levels, including a $175 overnight package with room and two show passes, a $450 slumber party (includes show passes for six and a night at the Weinhard Cottage) and, for $1,000, a pass to all Middle of Nowhere Session shows through 2016.

The best way to find Mace and Rahn’s Kickstarter page is to go to kickstarter.com and search for “middle of nowhere.”