When was the last time....

**iriegnome** · #1 02-19-2010, 10:15 PM

Today, I donated a bass to my childrens middle school music program. Last year I donated 10 sets of Bass strings and 10 sets of guitar strings to a girls bass camp. Before that, I donated a bass and guitar to an auction to raise money for a sign at my childrens elementry school. Before that I donated a drum thone and drum heads to the middle school. When my son started elementary school, I donated a 4 channel PA with speakers to the music department...
I have worked and struggled for all my life to make myself a success and get ahead. Over the last several years I have decided that I need to give back. Pass on some of my good fortune. Just so you know, according to the government listings, I am below the poverty level for my income. Anyway,
What have you done? I think that we all sit around on our computers and boast about having 30 basses, but what have you done for the kids in our music programs? Have you given anything at all? If yes, what?? If no, why not?
Please no judgements or negativity. I understand this is what I have chosen to do, but we all get deals, we all should be able to make some sort of effort? No?
Thoughts, ideas, comments?

t bake · #2 02-19-2010, 10:37 PM

That rocks and giving back can make a huge range of things postive in life. The bands i play with have all tried to and have found good causes to to give time and performances, gear or support to. retirement homes charity groops and churches.Rembering to be thankfull of the gift of music Will make you a better player and band member. It is not all about the ego, money, gear,free drinks and dance floor ,It is about the music. GOD BLESS! GIG ON!

MIJ-VI · #3 02-20-2010, 04:34 AM

Good show iriegnome!

I haven't done anything philanthropic so far this year, but last September I made sure the youngsters at the recently-inaugurated Africentric Alternative School here in town had a couple of properly set-up & flat-wound strung (tender little fingers) shorty SX P-Basses (pink for the girls, blue for the boys) + two pro quality, light weight combos to further twig the tuneful interest of any nascent musicians amongst them.

Besides, it was my chance to do something about rap. Mwuh-ha-ha-ha!

**iriegnome** · #4 02-20-2010, 06:59 AM

Fantastic. You know even heading over to the school and donating a set up for the bass or a tuner would help the programs. Great stories! Anyone else?

LikeButtah · #5 02-20-2010, 07:13 AM

I've given a few new instruments to gospel players who really needed something better to play on. A Martin guitar, Fireglo Rick 4003, and some others... it seems to really inspire people to play and take themselves more seriously... feels good too...

**iriegnome** · #6 02-25-2010, 12:41 PM

Let me ask this - When you donate something like this bass, do you get a reciept for tax purposes? Also, you you give them something that says "If they look to get rid of the bass at any time, they need to contact you first to have the option of getting it back or even the option of getting them a new one"?

LikeButtah · #7 02-25-2010, 12:45 PM

I usually tell people, "If you want to get rid of it, just do me a favor and give it to someone with the same passion for music you've got right now"... otherwise it's not a gift to just retain control over it like that. And it probably would make them a bit uncomfortable.

I've given some instruments to gospel players, so I usually get a receipt from their church which they're cool with - it means I have more money to turn around and do the same thing again next year.

Calaverasgrande · #8 02-25-2010, 01:06 PM

I donate computers all the time.
Instruments? Never donated an instrument, though I have given cables and pedals to some teenaged kids that had nothing but an amp and a bass or guitar.
It true that when you first start you need to practice to get your 'fingers'. But I have seen a lot of folks give up because it probably just sounded too boring to stay with it.
Throw a phaser/fuzz/flange on that bass and those scales are a lot less boring!

shadowtippy · #9 02-25-2010, 01:31 PM

I gave an Ovation guitar to a young guy I know that wants to learn to play guitar. I don't use it, so maybe it will do someone some good.

**iriegnome** · #10 02-25-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LikeButtah

I usually tell people, "If you want to get rid of it, just do me a favor and give it to someone with the same passion for music you've got right now"... otherwise it's not a gift to just retain control over it like that. And it probably would make them a bit uncomfortable.

I've given some instruments to gospel players, so I usually get a receipt from their church which they're cool with - it means I have more money to turn around and do the same thing again next year.

I mean, if sometime down the road, they just decide to trash this expensive (MIA HWY 1) bass, should they not at least have a note somewhere to give me a call to have the option of taking the bass back, getting them another one, buying the bass back from the program or something?
is that wrong?