the indie contingent

con·tin·gent - [kuhn-tin-juhnt]
–adjective

1.dependent for existence
2.A representative group forming part of an assemblage.

There are several things I've been learning on my journey as an "independent" artist:
1.There is no such thing as an independent artist
2.Artists can not possibly survive independently
3.and for you math people out there I've come up with this little formula A^1=undefined

What am I saying? Am I throwing in the sweaty towel? Chucking my guitar against the wall and walking away? ummmm... here is another equation - NO x INFINITY = ANSWER :)

What the term independent means in music, is that we are free to follow our heart's passion, free to express that passion in our art as we desire, and free to distribute and use our art to benefit others with out being inhibited. But to accomplish this, we are actually very, very dependent - on people like you. A group of people that goes beyond just a "listener" or a "fan", into what I am calling the Indie Contingent.

These are the people who share a common vision with me, a vision of reaching out to the oppressed, seeking healing and justice for the exploited, and loving them with the Love that has been poured into us. Are you willing to merge your time and abilities with me in this?



Morocco Trip:

Many of you have heard me express my vision for loving the oppressed around the world, but only some of you know how we plan to let this vision manifest in the near future.
I want to take a small team of people to different countries where significant exploitation is happening for 2 to 3 months. Our goal is to hear their stories so that we can present them in forms of media - songs and other art - to raise awareness and funds to bring aid, practical help, and loving people to the sides of the hurting.
We are currently in the planning stages of preparing for the first of these trips - to Morocco, in the summer of 2008. There is a lot that has to fall into place, but we are preparing, brain storming ideas, and planning in full expectation of it happening.
ALL of these positions below aid this, either in actually participating directly in Morocco, or preparing our distribution base back in America and around the world where we hope to share the stories.



These are the talents I am specifically looking for to join the Indie Contingent -

The people we are looking to potentially have come with us to Morocco are listed below...we hope that those numbers can be replaced soon with names :)

1-2 song writers
1 photographer/video documenter
1 translator or translators in country

And maybe you aren't into traveling around the world, or simply can't... Here are several talents that we really need tons of here in America, or abroad
Graphic Design:
-Merchandise (designing t-shirts, wrist bands, and whatever your mind come us with)
-Web Work (design, Flash, and programming)
-Promotional Material (merch layout at shows, promo posters/flyers, CD designs)

Tour Management:
-Venue Scouts (finding interesting, artistic venues to play in and promote our vision)
-Booking Agents (booking shows at venues like art spaces, colleges, churches, bars)
-Local Talent Scouts (finding artists to join the show in their area and bring new people to listen who normally wouldn't be there)
-Promoters (people who spread the word about new music/shows through word of mouth, distributing flyers, writing reviews and notices for newspapers, getting announcements through connections to radio stations, etc)

Visual Art:
-Artists of nearly any medium (I love to have artists performing during the shows to turn the musical and lyrical message into a fresh visual connection)

Are you interested in joining the Indie Contingent, or just wanting more information?
email me at theothermarkmiller@gmail.com
We sure hope you are, as we are truly impotent without you. Your ideas, hearts, and abilities only make our visions more viable, and its potential reach far greater!

Timbre + Harp = AMAZING

I just got back from a really unique amazing concert - a singer/songwriter, who sings and plays the harp. Freaking out of this world. Go check out her myspace at http://www.myspace.com/timbre

On a side note, my former boss/mentor in Japan is at the onsen right now with my good friend Stephe and Sufjan Stevens. Yes, I'm jealous.

Transition

I always feel this burden to fill you, my friends, in on what has happened since the last time I made my real world existence known...but the mere thought of it talks me out of even trying (yes, I talk to myself in my thoughts, you do too, you probably just don't realize it, thoughts are tricky like that). Anyways, so here is what's happening now.

For the first time in my life I am trying to survive primarily as a musician. Yes its true. I have officially joined the masses of those doomed to love what we do and suffer the consequences :) Which usually means we don't travel unless its for a gig, spend our days networking with people, and get the social tag of "professional slacker."

But, 'tis not fully true my friends...no, the truth is that we do work hard, its just that our work is what most people enjoy, including me - most of the time. Not going to lie, there are days when I do not want to pick my guitar, but then usually be the next day I can resist no longer.

So here I am, learning, learning, and growing, in what is necessary to maintain this vision in the flesh. One things for sure I could not do it without you. And I wouldn't dream about trying to. You, my friends, make me who I am.