I was asked to play for a Halloween festival at a nearby Early Childhood Center and, in spite of Friday traffic, I got there in the nick of time at 4 pm. Unfortunately, this year the crowd of families got there earlier and the bulk of the crowd was on the way out.
I set up outside in the grassy play area and launched into my hour set, with kids playing instruments and engaging them as best I could. Never quite made it to a critical mass, but had several young families enjoying songs as we went along. Quite a few good moments and as it got later, colder, cloudier, things rolled to an end. It was a good session and folks were pleased. I said it would be nice to return as an assembly, rather than the scattered side show I was today. And, as incentive I gave them two CD’s.
As I was chatting with one of the teachers who enjoyed the music, I pointed out that I was leaving the CD’s with the school. At that point, the owner of the facility said, ‘Oh, I’ll make copies for all the rooms.’ This time I spoke up and mentioned they could also buy copies. It didn’t sink in.
As I picked up my check from the owner in her office, I repeated my concern with copying my music. She assured me it would only be distributed in the school. That’s when I realized she didn’t get it at all. I replied that it was like copies of a painting; it’s still being copied.
This is the exact situation that happened at an ECLC in NJ last year. It was another example of a corporate school that assumed my artwork, given in the form of physical CD’s, can be used without the consideration that I support myself from CD sales as well as personal appearances.
The Phillipsburg area pre-school buys my CDs (and I’m glad to do it at a discount) and puts them in the rooms of every class. That’s the way its done.