****NEVERMIND****
It seems that music is not supported as much as some of us would like. I propose that we form some sort of scholarship where we donate basses, amps, cabs, straps strings etc to a worthy candidate. I am not considering money as an option at this time however I have proposed an idea below.
Right now I have an Avatar 212 cab that I am not using. I am thinking of giving it to someone in NEED of it, and would like an avenue for doing so.
Please discuss the following topics and add any you see fitting. These are just proposals, and my ideas. Nothing is set in stone.
Age of participant:
Does it matter? Should we only help young people? The only other case I can think of is someone who has recently been through a natural disaster and has lost their gear. Otherwise I believe it is up to an adult to help themselves. Also I feel a greater effect can be had in strengthening the presence of music in our culture by aiding children.
Grades(for those that apply):
I believe grades in school should be irrelevant, however a strong desire to learn music would be needed and some proof of it would be needed before a scholarship would be awarded.
Race, religion, bedroom habits etc..:
Should
not be a factor in this scholarship. This is intended to unite people. The above mentioned categories are often used to separate people from one another in a hierarchical fashion. The ideas of good and bad should only apply in the realm of "growth of musical community and musical knowledge."
Financial status:
Really rough patch here. I don't want anyone doing backgrounds checks on anyone else. But I don't want people taking advantage of generosity when they don't need it. We will have to take someones word for it and have another TB member be able to check it out on an obvious level. Meeting with the applicant, jamming with them, seeing where they live and what equipment they already own.
Requirements:
I am thinking a ~2 page typed response on why they believe they deserve the item for scholarship. background, year playing, goals, dreams etc. Genera will not be a factor nor will location. 2 musical references. The applicant should be trying to get out and meet people and play whenever possible. The idea is to help people who are promoting music with their action not just playing in their bedroom. However, Gigging experience is not a must. Just the desire to get out and know other musicians.
Shipping: Award winner will need to front the money for shipping unless extreme circumstances such as a natural disaster are in effect in the situation. Also, items would ship from the person making the donation. That way there is no central person with any chance of buggering up the works.
Partial payment into a scholarship fund(Not something I think is currently feasible but I will post it anyway): If money is to get involved here is the only useful way I see it going. Some Scholarship winners will be asked to pay a portion for the piece, very reduced cost. This money will be put into an account (run by some member of TB that we has an impeccable track record and is monetarily stable. Not by me.) and once that account reached enough uses the interest to start giving monetary scholarships to support the growth of music in a community. This money would not be used for gear. It would be used to promote new schools, venues to play, and/or other avenues to give children a safe place to play and socialize with music as a binding interest.
Other options for funding would be to auction items instead of giving them away and take the proceeds and place them into the account.
Award time periods:
Since things might come up for this at random when will things be awarded? I don't know how generous people will be or how often so to presume there will be something to give ever 3 months is ignorant at this point. However holding on to gear for a year that you are not using is almost impossible to do
Should it just be an as it comes along basis? I have found that things without a schedule do not work very well.
Application review board:
I propose the board is made up of a few forum members.
I would think that 5 would be a good number. Each board member would review the applicants on a set of ideals. Say there are 7 applicants. Each will be rated 1(First pick)-7(last pick) by each judge. The applicant with the least points wins the scholarship.
Items donated allocation:
Do we put together whole rigs? Or does the applicant let the board know what they are in need of...I.E. Everything, an amp, a bass, a cab, strings, small items, tuner, books, lessons, or staff paper.
Thanks for your time guys, I hope we can help some people out and influence the state of musical education instead of leaving in the hands of the powers that be. I hear people complain about the arts being lost in schools. Lets put our gear where our mouth is.
Jonathan
