Kickin' & Startin'
Phase Two Begins : Fundraising & Merch Sales
It’s almost SXSW down here in Austin. I’ve got gigs in Lockhart, at The Whitehorse and The Saxon all within the next 11 days (as well as two radio interviews that you can listen to live from anywhere), and I’m gearing up to announce a big run of shows in May and June up the SE corridor and down through parts of middle America very soon.
Check Out All Upcoming Dates HERE
I’ve been really lucky. Receiving the Live Music Fund Grant in 2024 helped me cover the costs of basic recording at The Finishing School and get me to this next step in releasing music. I’m so happy with my time there, and really expect to be able to put something into the world that I’m super proud of and feels like “me”.
I’ve been really nervous about the next part - because I hate money, and I hate asking for money. But artists today really rely no less on patrons than they did 500 years ago, and this process is insanely expensive. To be transparent about it, the cost of pre-production, recording, mixing, artists, mastering, and some promo/outreach for a single release party cost the entirety of my grant : $30k. And you’d think you only need a little bit more to just get it out in the world, but that’s unfortunately not the case. I still need to print CDs & Vinyl, run ad campaigns to get listeners, and do all the promotion/marketing - plus lots of little annoying things that just add up.
I spent this past week digging into costs, and figuring out what I can get by just doing now and what I can try and do a Kickstarter Campaign for later (my plan was to do one right away to raise funds, but they take a LOT of time and I have to focus on getting the album ready and some tours I’ve already got in the works - so this will come later). Vinyl may have to wait, as well as a decent amount of marketing budget, but I do need to get this album into some of the right hands and print some form of physical audio (CDs). That gets me somewhere in the $10k-12k range of funds I need to raise for this next leg (there are three legs).
This is a LOT, but it’s also doable if I break it down. For example, about 170 of you guys read this email every single time it comes out (!). That’s pretty amazing, and I’m so grateful that you take the time to read everything going on. Without any additional fundraising, $70 from each person would get me to my 12k goal. Now I know $5 is a lot for some people, so obviously this isn’t exactly how it works, but even if half of you sent me $70, or if everyone sent $35 that gets me halfway! Yes yes, I can math sometimes.
I have applied to multiple grant programs, am throwing clothing sales at my house, and will be doing all I can to raise these funds in a lot of different ways. And there will be a Kickstarter down the line with all the treats and rewards. But for now, all I have the ability to do is ask to see if anyone is willing to send me funds to help get this project to the next step.
How To Support the Album :
VENMO - a tried and true direct line. If you’d like to Venmo my business account, you can do so with this link.
PAYPAL - another way!
ZELLE - if you have my phone number, that can be used to Zelle me. If you don’t - shoot me a direct message on FB, IG or here and I’ll get that sent to ya!
Purchase some Merch (see below)
Become a Paid Subscriber :
** I am also happy to provide a break down of my full budget for anyone wondering/asking how any funds donated will be spent.
Thanks, Travis Beverly, for taking these videos in the studio :))
MERCH









Shipping included in all costs :
“I Have a Thing For Funeral Songs” unisex tee , black = $40
”Oh Honey Wanna Dontchya” v-neck women’s tee , dusty rose = $40
”Anna La Mare” ladybug sunflower lightpost tee, sage = $40
SALE : ”Dean Martin x La Mare” women’s crop top, white = $30
SALE : ”Dean Martin x La Mare” pocketed unisex tee , black = $30


”Damn Sam” hand stitched flatbill cap = $50
"Yellow Ladybug Tote = $25
Bumper Stickers = $10
Bumper Sticker Packs (comes with one of these above, plus 3-4 others) = $20




Demo CD (six tracks) = $20
Damn Sam Live CD (5 tracks) = $20







Sending email to order some merch. You've got this!
BIG, DEEP breath, and slowly exhale. You have so got this!