document.write('\x3cmeta http-equiv=\x22x-dns-prefetch-control\x22 content=\x22off\x22/\x3e\x3col class=\x22tumblr_posts\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eWebsite update imminent\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eI\x26#8217;m updating (and simplifying) this website!\u00a0 Some pages may not match!\u00a0 Please stay tuned\x26#8230;everything will be back to normal in a week or so.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e~Ivy\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_video_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_video\x22\x3e\x0a \x3ciframe width=\x22400\x22 height=\x22300\x22 src=\x22http://www.youtube.com/embed/g1P3Lb6JeaM?wmode=transparent\x26autohide=1\x26egm=0\x26hd=1\x26iv_load_policy=3\x26modestbranding=1\x26rel=0\x26showinfo=0\x26showsearch=0\x22 frameborder=\x220\x22 allowfullscreen\x3e\x3c/iframe\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_caption\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eApparently I\x26#8217;m a soprano! \u00a0:) \u00a0Here\x26#8217;s proof.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e\u00a0I also uploaded a few other songs to my YouTube channel (\x3ca href=\x22http://youtube.com/ivyrichmusic\x22\x3ehttp://youtube.com/ivyrichmusic\x3c/a\x3e) from Friday\x26#8217;s gig at Cuppa Joy in Vancouver. \u00a0Check out some fun flute playing on Livin\x26#8217;, hear the encore of Star of the County Down on flute, and hear Doesn\x26#8217;t It Mean Anything and 3 Days In December live.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3e~ Ivy\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e20 Feb 10\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eUpcoming Show!\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eAhhhh\x26#8230;.I\x26#8217;m back from the abyss, so to speak, and have finally booked a solo show for \x3cstrong\x3eFriday, February 18th\x3c/strong\x3e, \x3cstrong\x3eat Cuppa Joy in Vancouver\x3c/strong\x3e.\u00a0 (Located in Kitsilano at 4th \x26amp; Alma).\u00a0 \x3cstrong\x3eMusic from 8-10\x26#160;pm\x3c/strong\x3e.\u00a0 \x3cem\x3eAdmission by donation.\x3c/em\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eI\x26#8217;ll be singing, playing guitar AND playing flute!\u00a0 Mark your calendars - I don\x26#8217;t have anything scheduled after that!\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eMerry Christmas \x26amp; Happy New Year!\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eI made it to Edmonton (home!) to visit friends \x26amp; family and also got a chance to play at my \x26#8220;alma mater\x26#8221; of open stages - the Sunday Night Songwriters\x26#8217; Stage, hosted by Rhea March.\u00a0\u00a0\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e\x3cimg src=\x22http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_le9o5pL1wk1qamspz.jpg\x22 height=\x22287\x22 width=\x22161\x22/\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eIt\x26#8217;s now at Expressionz, but has moved locations at least 3 times since I started going there in 2006\x26#8230;two years before I picked up a guitar.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eIt was fantastic to see Rhea, and I also got a chance to play some music with Tim Chesterton (him on guitar, me on flute).\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eWishing everyone a very Happy New Year. :)\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e~ Ivy\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3e\x3cstrong\x3eTHERE WILL BE NO OPEN MIC ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, 2010.\x3c/strong\x3e\x3cbr/\x3e Please honour those who fought to give us the freedom we have today by attending a Remembrance Day ceremony.\x3cbr/\x3e\x3cem\x3eLest We Forget\x3c/em\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eLive Song Upload \x26amp; Open Stage Page\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eHey, I\x26#8217;m a poet and don\x26#8217;t know it. :P\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eJust a couple of quick updates!\u00a0 I took August and about half of September totally off of practicing and performing, so there\x26#8217;s not much to update.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eGreg \x26amp; I continued to run the open mic at the Wired Monk, AND it now has a Facebook page:\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e\x3ca target=\x22_blank\x22 href=\x22http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Thursday-Open-Mic-at-The-Wired-Monk/154836864534401?ref=ts\x22\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Thursday-Open-Mic-at-The-Wired-Monk/154836864534401?ref=ts\x22\x3ehttp://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Thursday-Open-Mic-at-The-Wired-Monk/154836864534401?ref=ts\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eAND I got a great live cut of 3 Days In December, so it\x26#8217;s first up at \x3ca target=\x22_blank\x22 href=\x22http://myspace.com/ivyrich\x22\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://myspace.com/ivyrich\x22\x3ehttp://myspace.com/ivyrich\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/a\x3e.\u00a0 Check it out!\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e~ Ivy\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eThe SAC, File Sharing Levies, and Independent Musicians.\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3e\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cstrong\x3eThe Songwriters Association of Canada\u2019s proposal to monetize music file sharing just doesn\u2019t cash in.\x3c/strong\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eThe Songwriters Association of Canada, or SAC, an organization which seeks to develop and recognize Canadian songwriters, recently released the details on a Music File Sharing Proposal which has, apparently, been in the works since 2007.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eBut when I joined the SAC in 2008 there was nothing on their website, or in any issue of their \x3cem\x3eSongwriters Magazine \x3c/em\x3ethat I received.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eUntil last month.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eMy most recent issue of \x3cem\x3eSongwriter Magazine\x3c/em\x3e had a disturbing article about the proposal, called \x3cem\x3e\x3ca target=\x22_blank\x22 href=\x22http://ivyrich.com/Filesharingarticle.pdf\x22\x3eLet Our People Share\x3c/a\x3e.\x3c/em\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eThe full details of the proposal is available at \x3ca target=\x22_blank\x22 href=\x22http://songwriters.ca\x22\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://songwriters.ca\x22\x3ehttp://songwriters.ca\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/a\x3e (Click on \u201cAdvocacy\u201d), however, in short, the SAC is pushing for a levy to be applied to internet access fees to make up for the massive amounts of illegal file-sharing of music \u2013 \x3cstrong\x3ein other words, they\u2019re advocating that the cost of providing internet to you, the user and consumer, should go up, \x3c/strong\x3eto the tune of $4 or $5 per month.\u00a0 Then \u201c\x3cem\x3ethis money would go into a pool and a pro rata distribution made to the artists, songwriters and rights holders whose songs are being shared\u201d\x3c/em\x3e. They think this is a great idea, and that it will put money back into the hands of the musicians who work so hard to create this music, and help them to make more music, because they\u2019ll have the money to do it.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3cstrong\x3e\x3cspan\x3eHave they so quickly forgotten the current issue with the Private Copying Tariff?\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/strong\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eImplemented in 1999, and which increases every year, the Private Copying Tariff currently adds $0.29 to each medium deemed to be used for recording.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3e29 cents per blank CD regardless of your use of it.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eThis was, in theory, to make up for the illegal copying of music CDs, which caused record labels, artist management companies and the artists themselves to lose money.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eHowever, as Joseph Stalin succeeded in demonstrating, what works in theory often does not work in practice.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eMusicians and songwriters who aren\u2019t represented by an independent label or agent have yet to see a penny from the sale of recordable media.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eThis won\u2019t change with the addition of an internet usage levy.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eThe SAC seems to forget that as songwriters - composers, really, of lyrics, melodies, and supporting music all in one song \u2013 the end result is not only our intellectual property, \x3cstrong\x3eit is our work \u2013 like a job\x3c/strong\x3e.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eI\u2019m sure no one in the SAC would neither ask nor advocate for a lawyer to work for free.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eYet, by supporting the legal file-sharing of independent music, that\u2019s exactly what they\u2019re doing.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eOn their website, as well as on the Canadian Private Copying Collective website, there are artist statements in support of these levies.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eIndeed, artists like Amy Sky, Randy Bachman, \x3c/span\x3e\x3cspan\x3eFaber Drive\x3c/span\x3e\x3cspan\x3e and The Trews would definitely support this; they stand a chance of actually seeing some of the money collected through the levy.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3cstrong\x3e\x3cspan\x3eHowever, for the rest of us, the math just doesn\u2019t add up.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/strong\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eThe current population of \x3c/span\x3e\x3cspan\x3eCanada\x3c/span\x3e\x3cspan\x3e is just over 34 million people.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eThe current number of people using the internet in \x3c/span\x3e\x3cspan\x3eCanada\x3c/span\x3e\x3cspan\x3e is about 25.5 million.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eIf a $5/month fee per person is levied, then the amount of money that will be divvied up will be just over \x3cstrong\x3e$1.5 billion\x3c/strong\x3e.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eThat\u2019s a lot of money.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eBut how many musicians are now vying for this?\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eAccording to Statistics Canada the number of people who might be sharing in this $1.5 billion pot of gold \u2013 songwriters and others who have a partial claim in each recorded song, such as composers and producers \u2013 is just under 94,000 people.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eThis works out to about $16,500 per person, per year. But wait\x26#8230;there is a \u201cpro rata distribution\u201d method, which means that number is moot.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eWho will determine the pecking order in which the musicians line up for their piece of the pie?\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eIs it based on the number of songs each rights holder has available?\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eIf I only have 5 songs professionally recorded and publicly available but Band X has 25 songs recorded then do I make only 20% of what Band X makes per year?\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eAnd do they only make 25% of what Band Z makes because Band Z has 100 songs?\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eHow much, if any, of that $1.5 billon can any of us down at the bottom of the pile expect to see?\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3cstrong\x3eThe SAC\u2019s proposal to implement a levy on internet access fees and purportedly monetize file sharing just isn\u2019t viable.\x3c/strong\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eAll it will do is rob the true independent musicians of another $60 a year that none of them will even see a percentage of a royalty from.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eTherefore my advice to independent musicians is this:\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eFirst,\x3cstrong\x3e if you are a member of the SAC, repeal your membership \x3c/strong\x3eand put your money towards something else that will actually support you.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eSecond, \x3cstrong\x3espread the word\x3c/strong\x3e about this to all the independent musicians you know who are working towards someday having a full-time future as a songwriter.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3eAnd in closing, my words to the SAC: \x3cstrong\x3eGet real.\u00a0 \x3c/strong\x3eStart talking to some true independent musicians and find out what issues they\u2019re really coming up against.\u00a0 \x3cspan\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3cstrong\x3eTalk to those who aren\u2019t represented by a label, agent or publisher\x3c/strong\x3e because they can\u2019t afford it.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eTalk to those who have to run their small business of music on evenings, weekends, and lunch hours.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eTalk to those who have made recordings with money from their own pockets.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3eTalk to those who work day jobs and hope that they\u2019ll have enough time, energy \x26amp; creativity left at the end of the day to pick up a guitar and write a song that might stand up to critical reviews.\x3cspan\x3e\u00a0 \x3c/span\x3e\x3cstrong\x3eInstead of advocating for us to work for free, go and work with SOCAN and the Copyright Board of \x3c/strong\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3cstrong\x3e\x3cspan\x3eCanada\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/strong\x3e\x3cstrong\x3e\x3cspan\x3e and start getting some of the money from the current Private Copying Tariff out of the government\u2019s pockets and into ours.\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/strong\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cstrong\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/strong\x3e\x3cspan\x3eSincerely,\x3cbr/\x3e\x3cstrong\x3eIvy Rich\x3c/strong\x3e (stage persona)\x3cbr/\x3e\x3cem\x3e(aka. Amity M)\x3c/em\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp class=\x22MsoNormal\x22\x3e\x3cspan\x3e\x3cem\x3eThis article has been cross-posted by the author at \x3ca href=\x22http://amitym.com\x22\x3ehttp://amitym.com\x3c/a\x3e.\x3cbr/\x3e\x3c/em\x3e\x3c/span\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eBreak Time! (Aug 7, 2010)\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eI canceled today\x26#8217;s outdoor gig in Port Coquitlam due to cold \x26amp; rain.\u00a0 I have a limit to what I will do for a free gig that doesn\x26#8217;t even provide a meal!\u00a0 In the meantime I got Thursday\x26#8217;s open mic webcast up - we had a fantastic small crowd which gave some shyer performers a chance to come up and dazzle us with some fun covers.\u00a0 Really a very enjoyable night all around.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eThe rest of August is BREAK TIME for me - I have no more gigs scheduled indefinitely, and it\x26#8217;s needed.\u00a0 I have 5 more custom songs to write and some flute studio stuff that needs to be worked on.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eI will continue to host the open mic and post the webcast here but other than that I am taking August off of music!\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e~ Ivy\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eSummer Open Mics \x26amp; Wedding Songs\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eJuly 30, 2010\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eSummer is upon us which means that many people are on vacation - the past couple of weeks have been much less busy at our little open mic.\u00a0 This is, in a way, kind of nice - a wonderful, quiet crowd that listens to the performers, and a chance to play a bit longer.\u00a0 \x3ca href=\x22http://ivyrich.com/omcurrent.php\x22\x3eCheck out last night\x26#8217;s open stage by clicking here!\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eAaaaaand\x26#8230;.all those custom songs are finally rolling - the first one, for my long time pal (and former roomie) and her new husband, premiered in a campground in the Kootenays last weekend.\u00a0 I couldn\x26#8217;t look at them while I was playing - I\x26#8217;m fairly certain it would have resulted in me bursting into tears.\u00a0 They loved the song.\u00a0 A sample of it is \x3ca target=\x22_blank\x22 href=\x22http://amitym.com/?page_id=11\x22\x3eon my business website HERE.\x3c/a\x3e\u00a0 This version was recorded in early May, but I\x26#8217;d like to re-record it in a month or so.\u00a0 My vocal \x26amp; guitar skills have improved since May. :)\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3eOnly 5 more custom songs to go!\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x3cp\x3e~ Ivy\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eOpen Mic from Thursday! (Jul 24, 2010)\x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x0a \x0a \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a \x3cp\x3eIt\x26#8217;s up!\u00a0 After some FTP issues I managed to get in and get the webcast uploaded for your listening pleasure.\u00a0 We had a lovely small crowd which meant that a few people got a second go.\u00a0 Have a listen at \x3ca target=\x22_self\x22 href=\x22http://ivyrich.com/omcurrent.php\x22\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://ivyrich.com/omcurrent.php\x22\x3ehttp://ivyrich.com/omcurrent.php\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a \x3c/div\x3e\x0a \x3c/li\x3e\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a \x0a\x0a \x0a \x0a\x3c/ol\x3e');