She is Verity

A while back, when I went to the SA Nerds dinner, I saw a very exciting young South African artist who is using the Web and the online community to launch her singing career.  It is a great concept AND she sings really well.  I said I would mention her project on my blog and hope that one or two of you might click over to her site and support her effects to become a  a successful musician.

This is her story:

Her name is Verity and she is running a daring initiative called The Lucky Packet Project to help her raise the hefty recording budget for her first album.

In a nutshell, the project involves people (YOU) pre-buying copies of her album for R150 ($21)on www.iamverity.com BEFORE it is recorded.  Future Owners of the album are listed on her site and get to create it with her by voting for which songs she finally records. What is striking about her approach is that the money raised not only creates her album but also splits 10.6% of each sale between POWA (www.powa.co.za) to help their work empowering women in South Africa and the Live Your Dreams Foundation that gives funding to disadvantaged artists.

Verity has already sold nearly 1000 future copies in 23 countries around the world (I am future owner #900). With the support she has had already she has been able to do charities payouts of nearly R15,000 including helping a young jazz singer Mimi Ntenjwa to record her first demo and furnishing a POWA shelter with linen and crockery. Her innovative idea has seen the project gain huge media interest in Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Holland, UK and SA as a business model that is 'out the box' and making a difference at the same timel.  She is getting ready to start recording in May so now is a great time to get your name on the list of people creating her album and making music history with her.

This project is about all of us getting involved to create something out of nothing and making sure that Verity and her music can become a strong voice for hope and an example of what is possible when we dare to believe. I hope you click on www.iamverity.com/order.htm and buy your copy on line now & join me on the Future Owner's page. There is a song player on her site so you can get a feel for her music and message and her blog www.iamverity.typepad.com will help you to really get to understand why this is a woman worth supporting. You will know that you were one of the people that created a new South African star.

I hope you'll be able to help this vision become a reality!

Good luck Verity! 

Comments

[Tony Comstock]

We have had good luck with pre-selling our films. I think a couple of things helped:

1) We offer a discounted price to give people a insentive to take a chance on us.

2) To further reduce our pre-order customers' risk, we offer a 100% money back for any reason (or no reason at all) policy. So far, with 4 titles offered for pre-order, our refund rate has been under 2%

Now back to work for me. We've got a bunch of "future owners" waiting for Ashley and Kisha!

[Glen]

I did an awesome interview with Verity on my podcast called The ZA Show on episode #88. A really great person who is using the power of social media and the internet to promote her not-yet-recorded album. I wish her all the best indeed!

[Donna]

As Verity's Fairy Godmother - I think what she is up to is AWESOME! A real story of turning dreams into reality. She hasn't just cried and bemoaned her fate as a singer/ artist in SA... she has gone out, been innovative and done something incredible - that has helped and inspired many people! Well Done V!