No More Invitations

I Really Don't Know Clouds At All

2012-01-02T08:33:00.000-05:00

Second day of the New Year. Starting a cleanse. Scribbling notes for fun & soulful songwriting workshops I hope to lead in 2012. Watching the sky full of plump, pink clouds moving quickly by, pulling their puffy cotton ball offspring behind them.

Where are they going, these clouds? What awaits them when they get there?

In December, a cloud stopped me in my tracks. Dark and rainy highway. On my way to a show of mine in Cambridge MA. Fog thick as cheese cloth. A patch of road littered with debris distracted me and then BAM a stopped car appeared through the ground-kissing cloud. I stomped on the brake. I hydroplaned into the ditch. I sat breathing hard in that ditch for a long time, bruised and shaken with my heart still going 65 mph.

Aren't clouds supposed to be the dreamy proverbial cushions against harm and fear?

Ah, but maybe I misread it. Perhaps that low-hanging cloud was actually protecting me from the tough path ahead. Maybe it fully intended to get me solidly stopped and turned back toward home. Sometimes our own well-meaning trajectory puts us on the wrong course. Or at the wrong time. Or without the tools necessary to be capable of the trip.

And so, white-knuckled and wobbly, I did make my way back home. Which is where I sit now, watching the clouds glide. They make it seem so easy, don't they? Shape-shifting and mysterious. With a watchful eye over my next moves forward. Ready to prevent the next collision I might unintentionally (or otherwise) create.

Happy New Year!
Jennifer

PS....Awe and Thanks to Joni Mitchell for the subject line song quote and my soundtrack for this day.

Tenderness and Relief

2011-10-13T12:55:00.001-04:00

No matter the path you walk or where you hang your hat, sometimes the wolf is at the door or following close behind. An illness sneaks in and the creditors won't stop calling. There are no clean towels for guests and the lawn looks like nobody lives here anymore. You can't stop eating the crap food you can barely afford and you no longer recognize what your swollen body has become. You are somehow desired and quite ravenously revered by an older, wealthy gentleman who's pretty creative in the "Let's try this" department, but all you really want through and from any of this is some tenderness and relief.

Sometimes a songwriter like me isn't always inspired by the dark, hidden corners of real life. Sometimes it's just shitty and difficult to navigate the map of your own making. Sometimes some navel-gazing reality-check reflection and replenishment is required, if you're as sensitive to the world as I unfortunately am.

So for several days you disconnect from the noise, moving fully into the breakdown and pizza binges. Embracing the lactose-intolerant reactions to some self-inflicted punishment for being a 40-something person who hasn't yet figured it all out. You wake up knowing you're destined to flip burgers with the college kids very soon and forever if you don't figure at least yourself out, but that thought alone is too heavy to bear so back to bed with you. You're clearly not done purging the self-pity yet.

The good news is, after a few days of unplugging the phone and feeling sick as a dog, the cloudy poor-me haze begins to clear again. Everything from the first paragraph remains the same, but you and your attitude have started to shift. You notice how wonderful it is to keep finding creative ways to bounce back. You're grateful that in spite of all the belongings you've sold to stay alive, you still have your guitar and lots of places and people inviting you to play it. You realize that your former boss was right. "You are responsible for your own happiness at work." A sentence that enraged you at the time, but holds such raw and lovely truth. If you can't find the beauty in what you have and what you do, who can really do it for you?

And so you become aware again that you chose this and that you actually do love this live-moment-to-moment life that happens to allow you to stay in bed for 3 days when the need strikes. In spite of how your waistline has expanded beyond any of the waistbands in the drawer, you know you are growing more than physically. There is tenderness and relief everywhere and you are learning, sometimes the ridiculously hard way, how to recognize them and sometimes even point them out to the other down-n-outters around you.

You're not quite yet ready to answer the phone, but your guitar is by your hip and your cat is at your feet and the rain out there makes you feel steadier and more safe in here.

You write a blog post about it. You close by wishing your readers lots of tenderness and relief when they need them most, too.

On Being Someone You Might Wish Would Shut-Up

2011-07-30T11:09:00.000-04:00

Author/Speaker/Publisher Seth Godin sends out an email to his mailing list every single day. In fact,there have been 24 hour periods when he shows up in my inbox more than once. I'm a huge fan of this guy and his ideas about creating your own success and happiness. Have I ever rolled my eyes at seeing yet another Seth Godin note mucking up my email feng shui?

Yes, by gawd. Eye roll. Heavy sigh. Even now and then a swift and satisfying delete click right where it counts.

Yet the day Seth Godin stops showing up in my inbox to share, teach, scold, charm, market, promote, and sell what he's out there fully engaged in selling is a day I hope never comes. I might roll my eyes sometimes at his passionate persistence, but I'm also doing my very best to learn how to duplicate it.

So this is a letter to everyone I might be annoying on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, via Email, Yadda Yadda Yadda. I apologize to you if you're already sick-to-death of my endless pursuit of album sales, CD reviews, gigs & attendance, PR opportunities, etc. The last thing an artist hopes to do is turn off and turn away her audience just because she won't shut the hell up already.

But, folks, here is the thing. When a singer/songwriter jumps off the very steep ledge of making-a-living-making-music it's a long, loooooong way down if we don't work insanely hard --- and make an annoying amount of noise while doing it -- to stay in the air somehow. If I sell a few CDs a week and only book a couple of gigs a month, I can't survive. I want to sell a hundred CDs a week. Book 20 gigs a month. Get 50+ people to every small venue show, for starters. Not to mention a label deal, licensing income, and the pie-in-the-sky list goes on.

Thanks for your patience as I try to find the right balance. As I work toward inspiring more than I annoy. As I raise both my expectations and my investment returns high enough that I can then hire someone to do all the loudmouth marketing for me.

For now, I'm a one woman show. And every time I ask for a CD sale, a review, your presence at a show....know that it's because I believe deeply in what I do and would love to keep on doing it.

I hope you feel the same way -- and shout just as loudly and proudly -- about what you do, too.

Best,
Jennifer

PS....Oh, and please buy my CD! And write a review! And come to my shows! ;)

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jenniferhaase2

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

"No More Invitations" HQ Command Center

2011-07-04T08:17:00.000-04:00

My Gawd, this album is finally done and sitting in my kitchen, waiting to be distributed as quickly as my package-handling hands can seal & send 'em. Today is Monday. They arrived from Oasis Disc Manufacturing on Friday. The July 4th holiday weekend has allowed me time to get organized and take several thousand deep breaths before tackling the tasks at hand.

Mail to investors first. Then pre-orders, reviewers, bloggers, radio, on and on and on!

Since I am CEO, Creative Director, VP of Operations, Publicity & Marketing Dept, Sales Division and Warehouse Manager for all things NO MORE INVITATIONS, it's ultra-important to have a 24/7 HQ Command Center scattered with various lists and "What the hell have I gotten myself into?" affirmations.

NO MORE INVITATIONS Office of Operations

It's also very important to create a working atmosphere that gives as few hints as possible of the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing. One Woman Show = Make it Up As You Go.

And so. Off the the races! If you are an album investor, expect your copy of the disc ASAP. Will send them in waves over the next week. Pre-order Folks, you get yours immedately after.

Thanks for the notes of congrats and support! Every word of encouragement pushes me forward with a smile.

Best,
Jennifer
For CD Pre-Orders, please use the PayPal link on the sidebar of this blog or visit http://www.rhymeswithclassy.com/ Every order is deeply appreciated.

To hear the title track from the album, please click the SoundCloud link below. No More Invitations (Artist: Jennifer Haase) by JenniferHaaseMusic

Design Stage!

2011-01-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

Hey, Campers!

We've finally reached the design stage for my album "No More Invitations" and I couldn't be happier to be working with friend and amazing singer/songwriter Patti Witten as my graphic designer.

I'm in the thick of typing out final pages of lyrics, album credits, thank you's and fundraiser donor features for the CD package, while Patti riffs on design ideas.

Please take a look and a listen at Patti's website. She's another artist you should have in your mp3 player immediately.

http://www.pattiwitten.com/

More news to come!
Best,
Jennifer

FULL ALBUM DOWNLOAD FOR FIVE BUCKS! Now through the holidays 2010

2010-11-16T09:16:00.001-05:00

Hey Folk-Pop Music Fans!

If you don't already have a copy of my first album "Listening Chair", it's currently available as a download only and I'm running a SPECIAL DONATION OFFER now through the holidays of FIVE BUCKS per full-album download!

In order to receive a full-album download of my 1st album "Listening Chair", please donate $5.00 via the PayPal link here on my blog OR ask me for assistance if you have any trouble with that link. Be sure to include your email address with your PayPal donation so that I can email the album download code to you!

I really appreciate your support. Your donation helps pay the PR expenses of my forthcoming album "No More Invitations" and puts food on a starving artist's table, too. It's a WIN-WIN!

Let me know if you have any questions or need PayPal assistance.

Thank you!
Jennifer Haase

To hear snippets of songs from my album "Listening Chair" please visit: www.cdbaby.com/cd/haase

To keep updated on my NEW album release set for January 2011, please keep checking this blog AND sign up for my mailing list at http://www.rhymeswithclassy.com/

Two Songs to Go!

2010-10-17T13:19:00.000-04:00

Well, we had to postpone our recording session for this past Friday due to the hacking and sniffling emitting from my record producer's sick self.

However....we're just two songs away from mastering this mo'fo!

Yes, that's right, folk-pop fans.  Just two more songs to finish and mix, then we can master the album.

Gawd, that's SWEEET.   After 4 1/2 years of highs and lows, stops and starts, and the most AMAZING fundraiser journey I could possibly have imagined we're finally almost done with recording my new album called "No More Invitations."

Oh, there's still design to do.   And then the time it takes for manufacturing.   But we're on the downhill slide now and it's finally becoming clear I'll have an album to release by the New Year.

B-vox on "No More Invitations".......Cello on "3,000 Miles".......a few track tweaks in-between......and we'll be there!

Stay tuned. The album is almost done but I'm just gettin' STARTED, World!

xoxo,
jennifer

Listen, Discuss, Edit, Listen, Edit, Discuss

2010-09-20T18:04:00.000-04:00

September she's so beautiful in New York State where my hat is hanging for several weeks between final recording sessions.   We've reached the part of the journey of this album where we're all bouncing emails and voice mails and song files back and forth as we listen and listen and listen again.

My amazing fundraiser now completed, there's a finite amount of money in the coffee can for the finishing of this record so I've become a bit of a Ms. Miser as we excitedly proceed.   Having track edit discussions from home saves me many hundreds of studio dollars, so I'm mighty grateful to The Boys (Record Producer Mike Leslie & Recording Engineer Robert L. Smith) for allowing these initial talks to happen from separate rooms.

Five songs done & mixed. (Though, we're revisiting those with listening ears to be sure of them, too.) Two songs ready for a backing vocals ("b-vox") session. One song waiting to see if we have enough funds for cello. Three songs resting on the windowsill to cool before determining if they need longer to bake. (Is gtr solo complimenting vocals and vice versa? Does it need something special on the outro? Is that a sneeze behind the 1st chorus? Etc. etc.) When you spend over $25,000 on the making of a folk-pop album, it certainly makes sense that you would be damn sure of it before sending it out into the wild.

And so we listen. On our computers, from our stereos, in our cars.   Mike and I throw edit ideas at the wall to see what sticks then we toss 'em over to Mr. Smith for his magical mixin' man touch.

We love what we're hearing.   We hope you will, too.

--jennifer

New b-vox recording session in a couple of weeks! Stay tuned for updates right here....we're getting close, kids, SOOO CLOSE!

ALBUM FUNDRAISER NOW COMPLETE!! WE RAISED $15,000!!!

2010-08-19T07:59:00.000-04:00

Dearest Family, Fans and Friends......

There truly ARE Angels among us and one of them is a generous young woman named Stacy Mayfield who took it upon herself to donate enough money for me to reach my donation drive's grand total of $15,000.

How much did she donate to get us there?

Over the past month, she donated $7,000!!!! First bringing my fundraiser total to the $10,000 mark by donating $2,000....and then yesterday taking us the rest of the way home with a final donation of $5,000.

STACY MAYFIELD you rock my musical world, Girl!! THANK YOU more than I will ever know how to properly say.   I will be forever grateful and YES I promise to PAY IT FORWARD someday. I look forward to that.

And THANK YOU to EVERY SINGLE ONE of my album donors over the past year, for every single dollar you gave. Every supportive email you sent to me. Every time you spread the word, asking others to help me out, too.   YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME! I will always ALWAYS be so very grateful to you and I will pay all of your kindness forward someday, too.

So....the fundraiser is DONE but our journey is not yet over! I HAVE AN ALBUM TO FINISH NOW, WOOOO-HOOOO!!

Stay tuned to this blog for lots and LOTS of updates now on the completion of my album.

We've already got two new recording sessions booked for next week and I'm getting my album graphic designer started next week, as well.   Am looking forward to keeping you in the loop of our final progress toward a finished album in your hands....and mine!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

love to all,
jennifer
http://www.rhymeswithclassy.com/
http://www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com/
www.cdbaby.com/cd/haase
www.cdbaby.com/cd/jenniferhaase

Follow me on twitter! www.twitter.com/jenniferhaase

Album Fundraiser Details!

2010-07-27T11:48:00.000-04:00

Hey, Gang! My folk-pop album fundraiser is going STRONG and I'm kickin' up the momentum so that we can afford this thing by our planned SEPTEMBER release! Thank you so much for spreading the word and here's a reminder of my Donation Drive details and the GIFTS all donors receive!

You can find a handy PayPal DONATION link on the sidebar to the right.

Thank you for helping....so much!
Jennifer Haase

HERE ARE THE DONATION PRIZE LEVELS, FOLLOWED BY TERMS & CONDITIONS.

$15 Donation=CLASSY FAN

One copy of the full album (as a download or printed package, your choice) sent to you at the release date, PLUS a fun surprise goodie and we're not saying what it is yet!

$25 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN

One ADVANCE copy of the full album (at least 2 weeks before the rest of the planet gets theirs) which I will sign if you order the printed package (download alternative available), PLUS the aforementioned surprise goodie that we're designing now.

$50 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT

Same gifts as the ULTRA CLASSY FAN level, but YOU get a thank you in the credits on the album itself as an extra special bonus. Neat!!

$100 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT & A MERMAID

Same great gifts as ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT, but in addition to your thank you from me in the album credits & all that jazz YOU get a very special custom "The Mermaid Sessions" t-shirt signed to you (or to a gift recipient name of your choice) by me, my NYC record producer Mike Leslie and my NYC recording engineer Robert L. Smith. To read more about The Mermaid Sessions, please visit my website @ www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

$500 Donation=BEYOND CLASSY BENEFACTOR

My, aren't you generous! Your gifts include all the benefits of the $100 donation level (including that rockin' mermaid t-shirt!) but YOUR thank you in the album credits will have a special Benefactor section all its own. PLUS you'll receive a custom, and very cool, messenger bag that we would be happy to sign for you or as a gift for someone special on your shopping list.

$1,000 Donation=CARD-CARRYING CLASSY HAASE V.I.P.

Gosh, that's a LOT! So YOU--in addition to the $500 Benefactor Benefits--get a special laminated VIP pass which will allow you and a guest FREE entry into all of my shows through 2010 (including backstage schmoozin' at some Way Awesome Venues With some Way Awesome Performers Who Accompany Me). You will have VIP status, seating and treatment at my CD Release Party in New York City (date/venue TBD) and you will get a special feature spot on my website with your photo and a big thank you message from me.

$2,500 Donation=EXECUTIVE CLASSY HAASE V.I.P.

Wait, REALLY? That's incredible!! You, my friend, get ALL the VIP status perks and goodies (See you at the VIP table at my CD Release Party!) PLUS you and a guest will be treated to a very special (and darn swanky) New York City Executive VIP Thank You Dinner with my mega-talented NYC record producer and recording engineer in tow, plus all the other Exec. VIPs. We will wine, dine, talk music and we'll play you a song or two if you ask us to. (Date/venue TBD around the time the CD releases)

$5,000 (or more) Donation= PATRON SAINT OF ALL THINGS CLASSY

OMG, WOW!!! My Dear, if you donate that much money to my musical dream you not only get every incredible gift mentioned above, with full Executive VIP benefits, but you will also get your VERY OWN "THANK YOU" PAGE in the CD booklet featuring your photo, a printed Q&A between you and me, and crediting you with your AMAZING generosity! AND LAST BUT NOWHERE NEAR LEAST a FREE house concert in your honor at a time and place agreed upon by you and me where I will sing a song I personally wrote all about YOU and then gift you with a recorded copy of that song, as well. Holy Cow, that's a SWEEEEET Gift Package and YOU EARNED IT, thank you so much!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

THANK YOU FOR DONATING! When you make your donation, we will ask you to give us some personal information (your name, address, email, phone, etc) in order to be able to award you with the fun Donation Level Perks & Prizes. You agree to provide this information and we agree not share it with any persons or parties not involved with the organizing and managing of our donation drive for NO MORE INVITATIONS and of Jennifer Haase's fan base mailing list.

IP address information gathered via the web server when paying via PayPal might be used to analyze any instances where abuse or fraud is suspected.

'All PayPal transactions are protected by the security of PayPal themselves and we (Jennifer Haase & Donations Crew) will NOT have access to your payment information (credit card #, bank account #, etc). If you have any questions regarding PayPal's policies, please visit their website at www.paypal.com.

When you donate to Jennifer Haase's NO MORE INVITATIONS DONATIONS DRIVE, you agree to letting us add your name and email address to our email mailing list and we will send you periodic updates related to Jennifer's music, live shows, and general this-n-that.

These terms are subject to changes and amendments at any time, but we will post announcements of any changes on www.rhymeswithclassy.com on the home page.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO VERY MUCH!

Movin' The Mercury

2010-07-11T13:42:00.000-04:00

It's deep push time with my making-of-the-album fundraiser. I've got my eye on my September release goal but still nearly half way to go to reach my total expense estimate of $15,000. But LOOK at that mercury moving up the thermometer over there on the right! My Gawd, I can't believe I've raised nearly $8,000 toward the final goal. THANK YOU to YOU if you have contributed!!

And if you'd like to contribute, all the details are at my website on the "buy" link at http://www.rhymeswithclassy.com/

I'm looking for INVESTORS, too! If you'd like your money to turn a profit, come talk to me about the terms you require. I'd love to wheel and deal with you to make some great music together.

Onward! Come back often to watch that MERCURY move.

love to all,
jennifer

NEW PINK SWEATER Radio Play!

2010-06-07T13:49:00.000-04:00

Hey, Gang.

Just a quick post to announce that THIS IS THE WEEK that my 1st song single from NO MORE INVITATIONS releases out into the great unknown, where hopefully the listening masses will perk up and purchase my sassy (rhymes with Haase!) little song called NEW PINK SWEATER.

And these supportive internet radio folks will playing the NEW PINK SWEATER this week, as well, HOORAY!

Wrecking Ball Radio at http://www.norwoodradio.com/
The show featuring NEW PINK SWEATER airs 1pm and 9pm Eastern on Wed & Fri this week.

Women of Substance Radio at http://www.womenofsubstanceradio.com/
The show featuring NEW PINK SWEATER airs this Tues from 5-6pm Eastern, on their new "Spotlight on Great Songs" show.

Tune in and turn it up! Hope you like it.

Song will be available for purchase at http://www.cdbaby.com/, iTunes, Amazon, etc. by the weekend. Watch for the official release announcement in a couple of days!

Thanks for all you do to make my musical dreams come true.

Jennifer

1st Single Release NEXT WEEK!

2010-06-03T10:36:00.000-04:00

Just a quick annoucement that my first single from my forthcoming album NO MORE INVITATIONS is set for release NEXT WEEK on the web, YAY!!

The song is called NEW PINK SWEATER and is a saucy, playful ditty about taking fashion matters into your own hands to get what you need. ;)

I'll post another announcement when the song is available for purchase, so stay tuned and thanks for supporting me as we've been working so hard to get this beloved new album done.

We're very close to finishing NO MORE INVITATIONS and will keep you posted about that release soon, too!

Jennifer

Europe Reflections Finale: To Norwich With Love

2010-05-25T11:25:00.001-04:00

My last gig in England. A sole sojourn on the train from London for an overnight in Norwich UK to play Jurnets Bar.   By now, I'm singing OK but not yet past the cold that had been pulling me down since my arrival.   Luckily, I'm travelling through the land of overflowing healing tea and have been blessed with the care of healing Brits. People (Brits and Non) had been joking with me "Sooooo...how's England TREATIN' yeh?" with the assumption that I would find this country's citizens to be a rude or indifferent bunch. Happily, that hadn't been my experience to this point for even a moment.

But I sincerely feared that was all about to change here at Jurnets Bar in Wensum Lodge, with a Friday night Norwich UK crowd made mostly of fashionably unfashionable persons who were all no doubt carded at the door.

A good twenty-ish years older than the rest of the performers for the night (and weighing as much as two of them combined), I sat in the back of the room nursing my glass of red wine and talking myself out of bailing the gig.

Alex, our young and ultra-friendly sound man, graciously put me 2nd in the line-up right after another singer-with-guitar. I would play before the bands, thank gawd, which relaxed me a bit.   I started taking in the look of the room itself, as a young British man with an acoustic (whose name I have sadly forgotten) sang some really great original reggae-folk.   I would later learn from Andrew, the equally friendly man who booked me for the night (via awesome & very generous UK booking agent Lauren Razavi @ Jigsaw House) that this gorgeous old building has been around for a handful of centuries with a rich history of music and the struggles of its Jewish owners during 12th century anti-semitism. (For more info, check this link I found while writing this post: http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/norfolk-life/norfolk-history/content/17JurnetsHouse.aspx)

Tonight, it was all about the Norwich college crowd and in spite of the beautiful venue vibe I felt like a forty-something American fish out of water.   I enjoyed the guy playing before me who sat and soulfully belted out some bare protest songs.   I think he knew people in the audience, maybe not, but they treated him as such.

And when an MC (in this case, Alex the Sound Man) announces that the next act is from New York, you never know if the locals will sneer or be impressed that you've hopped on their merry-go-round.

I was up. No stage, just a spot against the front wall and a folding chair behind the microphone.   I tried to forget myself and just sink into the song.   Put the songs before me and my Curvy Middle Age New Yorker identity. I had again put together a set list of songs I felt I could pull off in spite of my cold and started with 'Listening Chair' from my 1st album with the same name.

19-year-olds right in front to my left. 19-year-olds right in front to my right.   I played a song.   They were completely quiet. They listened, with their faces relaxed from alcohol but their eyes attentive and bright. My first song done.   The room thundered with the most amazing, receptive, blood-pumping applause.   My Gawd, I couldn't believe it.   These music-lovin' kids in this music-lovin' room were mine.

After a couple songs, the people from the smaller room back by the bar had moved into the back of the main room, standing for lack of empty available seats up closer to me. After 3-4 songs, the room was fully engaged; smacking their knees to my rhythm and shouting out "Yeah!"   I could have kissed them all. In my between-song banter, I said that I'd played London a few days before to a much tougher crowd. Someone shouted "London is RUBBISH!" and we all laughed.

This room in Norwich was teaching me a very valuable lesson as I finished my set with some of the best and most appreciated applause I've ever received. Never judge a small town UK pub by its cover. And never underestimate anyone's ability--no matter their age or location--to enthusiastically cross a musical bridge.

After my set, I chatted with Andrew and Alex and a handful of the totally friendly listeners who said hello. I handed out a few of my album download cards to some of them, one being a man named Neil who I discussed the trials and joys of guitar playing with and who is now a fun Facebook friend (Hey, Neil!). They asked me to come back to Norwich someday. They gave me the names of other places I should play. Alex offered me a place to stay should I ever be in their neck of the UK again.

It was somewhere near midnight. Andrew walked me up to the Taxi Station, my borrowed Epiphone 6-string from another wonderful Neil (Thank you, Neil Sumner, so much!) tucked safely away in my gig bag strapped to my back.   Another lovely convo with my 2nd cab driver of the night (seriously, so friendly these guys) and I crawled into my B&B bed (which wonderful Joanne Sumner booked for me, THANK YOU Jo!) with a satisfied grin.

To Norwich, With Love.   I would love to come back someday.   Thank you--more than I can say--for asking me to.

--jennifer

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

2010-05-21T22:44:00.000-04:00

In between recording sessions for my forthcoming album "No More Invitations" (due for release VERY SOON) I've been throwing down some demos for a lullaby collection I hope to complete immediately after my latest album is done.

I'm adding a demo of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to my Reverbnation player, here on the blog. I would love to know your thoughts about my simple version of this sweet beloved lullaby, so please add a comment to this post if you have something to say.

Particularly if you have something NICE to say. ;)

That's me on guitar and vocal, with the AMAZING Josh Dodes (rhymes with "Otis") on keys. Recorded by the AMAZING Robert L. Smith who suggested Josh for this song and made that connection happen for me.

We like this version. We think it's a keeper. Do you agree?

Well, if nothing else I hope it helps you drift sweetly off to dream.

--jennifer

2ND CUSTOM SONG DRAWING WINNER IS.....

2010-05-11T21:17:00.000-04:00

ANGELA HIPP!!! HIPP, HIPP HOORAY!!!

Sorry, my crappy digital camera isn't cooperating tonight, so I don't have visual proof to show you that Angela's name is the one I pulled from the hat, but she's the very legit winner and I'm SO HAPPY that this prize is going to such a wonderful, supportive person as she.

Angela, thank you for donating to my fundraiser and for downloading my 1st album "Listening Chair" by the deadline yesterday.   Your name being in the hat twice probably helped you snag this prize, so way to go!!

I will write a custom song for you about the person or people or occasion, etc of your choice. OR you can choose to give this prize to someone else to use, if you'd like.   Let's please write this song for you within a year from today and I'd appreciate having 2-3 weeks to complete and record (vocal and guitar) it for you.

Whenever you're ready, let's chat!   And CONGRATS to you!!

Thank you EVERYONE for participating, for your enthusiasm and for your DONATIONS that are making my forthcoming album "No More Invitations" possible.

Please watch for more album updates coming soon!

Jennifer

Europe Reflections, Part Four: Playing The Troubadour

2010-05-11T19:20:00.002-04:00

When I walked out of the back room into the dimly lit performance area of The Troubadour, London UK, I headed straight for a cluster of smiling faces and waving hands.   Here I was a bizillion miles from my home New York and there were about 9 wonderful people there specifically to see me at my first ever London gig.

Well, OK, it was officially my 2nd London gig, but I'd been battling Laryngitis since I got off the plane early that previous Saturday morning. I had to bow out of my special fundraiser show at the Ram Jam Club on Sunday because I could barely speak and certainly couldn't sing.   Now here I was speaking a bit more clearly but still croaking out hellos at The Troubadour on Wednesday and hoping my singing voice would somehow be there once it was my turn to take the stage.

Whether I would sound great singing or not, I knew the highlight of that evening was already upon me as I said my first hellos to new UK friends I'd met on Facebook. Nigel, Pete, Kim and Dave all drove various amounts of hours from their homes to come meet me and see an otherwise online stranger from the states play.  And there was Neil and Jo and Isabel and Susan, too.  My lil UK fan club corner was so supportive and excited for me and I couldn't have been more grateful.

My dear UK Friends, if you're reading this, I am still so humbled and happy that you were there. It lifted my spirits and it gave me the courage I needed to brave my raspy-voice dilemma and get on up there anyway.

The Troubadour was packed.   It was Songwriter Sessions night, but you'd think the crowd didn't know there was live music at all when the host played a few songs and the first singer/songwriter played her full 30-ish minutes.   I would later learn that it was a night better for full bands, but when the eve started I and my little group looked around in astonishment that the place was so dang loud and not a soul was paying attention.

I started thinking it might be just fine if I sang like shit.   Only 9 people would hear me anyway.

I was 2nd to play.   The host introduced me.   We cracked some jokes, he exited. I stood tuning the beautiful Epiphone 6-string acoustic guitar that Neil Sumner loaned me and repeated in my head the words that Susan's dad had said to me that morning.

"I think you'll transcend the physical...transcend the physical....transcend the physical...."

I can't even remember now what song I played first. The lights were so hot and bright, I could no longer see my supportive corner of listeners. The talking voices were loud and the clinking of glasses constant and I just chose my pocket of rhythm in the middle of it all and began.

Intro chords. Strumming, strumming. Don't think, just sing. Don't THINK, just sing.

And it was there.   In my rehearsal, I couldn't get enough breath and I couldn't sing above a hoarse whisper, but on stage my singing voice, she was THERE.

I was so elated, I didn't care that no one was listening.   I was so happy to be there in freakin' London, where I had never been before, and I was SINGING! I was playing the same club that incredible troubadours like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan had played.   The entire time I was up there singing, I was curled into the warmth of it, the sweet floating high of it.   I have no idea what songs I played. I have no idea what I said to the crowd, other than sincerely thanking Neil for letting me use his wonderful guitar.   That guitar helped me feel grounded and maybe even a little bit at home.

I played. I sat down with relief and to the hugs and high-fives of my friends. We listened to the young rock band that played after me and a bit of the next band's set. Though we really had no choice. When a young rock band hits the stage, you can no longer hear anyone around you. The rest of the room was forced to finally listen, too.

Over the next couple of days, my voice got better and better.   And Friday I headed on my own to Norwich UK, a 2-hour train ride from London, to play a small club called Jurnets Bar.

By Norwich, I had my confidence back. I was still dealing with a cold, but I could sing through it. I showed up at Jurnets with Neil's guitar in tow and walked up to the sound man, Alex, who looked to be about 19-years-old. We said hello.  He was lovely. Said he was doing sound checks and asked if I needed one. Nope, I was fine, just throw me up there when you're ready.

I bought a glass of red wine. I parked myself in the back of the room. And I started looking around and noticed that most everyone else in the busy club looked to be about 19-years-old, too.   Including the very punk band in the middle of a very loud sound check. Including the punk band's entourage sitting right near where this 41-year-old singer/songwriter from NY was going to be playing.

A club full of 19-year-olds.   Sharing the stage with punk bands.   No one I knew within miles...uh, kilometers.

I sipped my red wine and kept saying to myself under my breath "Don't leave. Don't leave. Just play the set. Don't leave...."

__________________________________________

Did I play to all the 19-year-olds in Jurnets Bar, Norwich UK? And if I did, were they nice to me?

STAY TUNED for the FINAL blog post of Europe Reflections coming SOON!

And the winner of a FREE CUSTOM SONG IS........!!!!!!!!

2010-05-02T19:49:00.000-04:00

MELISSA GRAY, come on down!! YES, IT'S YOU! IT'S YOU!! Yeah, OK, I know you can't see the photo clearly, but the winning name drawn for my 1st CUSTOM SONG prize for my eligible making-of-the-album "donators" is, in fact, the very generous music-lovin' Melissa Gray. And how wild and a little bit cosmic that shortly after pulling her name from the hat, she called me on the phone to chit-chat. And she said "I'm really looking forward to finding out who won the song tonight!" To which I replied "Are you now?" and played quite convincingly dumb. heh heh heh. THANK YOU, MELISSA and CONGRATS to you!

All of my "No More Invitations" making-of-the-album donors were eligible to be in this drawing IF they asked me to send a FREE download card of my 1st album "Listening Chair" either to themselves or to someone else they think would enjoy it. And those had to be requested from me by yesterday, May 1st. All of those "donator" names went into the hat tonight and Melissa won.

Melissa has one year to ask me to write her a FREE Custom Song for whichever special person and/or special occasion she sees fit. OR she can choose to give this opportunity to have a custom song written to someone else.

Now....also remember, my dear "donators"....those folks who actually DO use the FREE download cards that I mailed out will be eligible for a 2nd drawing for another Custom Song, but those downloads have to be used by May 10th! And each "donator" who requested that a free download card be mailed---whether they used it themselves or not---is eligible for this 2nd drawing, as well, if used by May 10th.

Everyone but you, Melissa. You won the 1st drawing and we'll take your name out of the hat for the 2nd drawing, but if you gave that free download card away then THAT person can get their name in the 2nd drawing hat! Does that make sense?

Well, there you have it. CONGRATS to Melissa and BEST OF LUCK to those of you who still have a shot in the 2nd drawing happening on May 11th!

Love to All. Especially my amazing "donators." I couldn't make this album without you.

jennifer

http://www.rhymeswithclassy.com/

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL CURRENT DONATORS!!

2010-04-19T10:06:00.000-04:00

Dear ALL Generous Donators to my Making-of-the-Album Fundraiser....

As we close in on the completion of my forthcoming folk-pop album called "No More Invitations" I'm going to start showing more appreciation for all your help!!

ALL MY CURRENT MAKING-OF-THE-ALBUM DONATORS will receive a SURPRISE GIFT via email this coming Wednesday, April 21st!

Please WATCH YOUR INBOX by end of day on Wednesday for a SPECIAL THANK-YOU from me to you!

We're still working our way toward our fundraiser goal to be able to afford the final recording sessions....the mixing and mastering process...and the manufacturing of the discs....so THANK YOU for keeping this here fundraiser fire burning for me!!

Love to All,
Jennifer Haase

For Donation Drive details, please see the "buy" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com THANK YOU!!

PS....YES YES, I will CONTINUE my Europe Reflections blog posts ASAP, too! Thanks for wanting to know how it all turns out. :)

Europe Reflections, Part Three: Transcending the Physical

2010-04-17T12:21:00.000-04:00

Susan and I left London around 10:30pm after the Ram Jam Club show, in the red Mini her brother Peter graciously loaned us, and headed for Sheffield UK where Susan's parents live.

Me sinking into the passenger seat on the left side of the car while Susan drove on the "wrong" side of the road.

Me, sick. Coughing and voiceless. Me, disappointed and hormonal and homesick for the comfort of my bed in New York. Me, wrestling with battling emotions after having just experienced a truly great night of music in London that I couldn't be part of other than standing in the back of the club, trying not to pout.

We arrived at Susan's childhood home around 1:30am. The house so quiet; her parents sound asleep. Peter's old room was made up for me, on the 2nd floor. We hauled our heavy luggage (OK, Susan hauled our heavy luggage) up the steep staircase. I got a little tour of Susan's old room and her sister's old room in the attic, where Susan would be sleeping. We raided the kitchen for late night sustenance then tiptoed back upstairs for some much needed Z's.

I pulled on my PJ's in a sleepy stupor, pulled back the twin bed's purple duvet and gasped a voiceless, grateful gasp. There was a hot water bottle warming my bed, right at chest level where the congestion in my body was at its worst. A big, red hot-to-the-touch water bottle placed lovingly by Susan's mother under the covers so I'd (yes, Susan had one in her bed, too) have a warmed place to rest my sick, cranky, weary, homesick self....

...the same sick, cranky, weary self who suddenly wasn't quite so homesick anymore.

I will never forget those wonderful couple of days in the English countryside, in spite of the cold I was trying to heal from and the fear of not being able to sing at The Troubadour back in London on Wed eve.

Susan took me walking along the moors. Sloping hills of long wild grasses, everywhere dotted with grazing sheep. She took me up to the top of the stone ridge where actress Kyra Knightley stands, with windswept skirt and tendrils all a'flutter, as Elizabeth Bennett in the film Pride & Prejudice. We took a day trip with Susan's parents to the incredible Chatsworth estate, where that same version of Pride & Prejudice filmed some of the scenes for Mr. Darcy's massive estate. And, as you might imagine or have seen for yourself, it's even more beautiful and impressive up close.

Susan took me to Howarth, where we visited the Bronte parsonage. I've seen Bronte-based films, but had never yet read a Bronte book (I know, I know...). So in the gift shop attached to the Bronte home, Susan found the pretty hardcover copy of Jane Eyre she insisted I must read first. (Am still reading it...please don't reveal any juicy details until I'm done!)

Yes, it sometimes rained. But I love the rain. And each time it rained over where I stood on British soil I felt more and more connected to the English side, my mother's side, of me.

In Howarth, on Tuesday afternoon, my voice started to break though in tiny bits of stronger sound. By Wednesday morning, as we packed up to head back to London for my show that eve, I was speaking much more clearly but still unable to sing well in my private little rehearsals from locked away in my room.

All morning I was walking under my own little emotional storm clouds. I could not pass up a chance to sing at The Troubadour, but it was doubtful that my singing voice would do anything better than cut in and out in tone-deaf chunks. No, I didn't sound anywhere near husky-voice sexy. Underneath the fleeting laryngitis, I still had a cold as well as unpredictable vocal chords like those of an adolescent boy.

Before we left, Susan's father asked how I was doing. Was I going to sing that night? I shrugged my shoulders and said it was a wait-n-see.

He said "Jen, I think tonight you're going to transcend the physical. I think you'll feed off the excitement and the energy of the crowd when you're up there and be able to sing. I really do."

I almost melted into a pool of tears. I was so grateful to hear those words and I didn't believe him for a second.

We said our goodbyes. We drove the 3-ish hours back to London. We unloaded back at Jo & Neil's. Susan dashed off to meet a friend for dinner and would meet me later at The Troubadour. Jo dashed off for an appointment, leaving me with some rehearsal time to myself and instructions for how to catch the bus to meet her at the tube station. We would make the trip to The Troubador together in a few hours.

With a gorgeous old Epiphone acoustic 6-string loaner from Neil Sumner, I rehearsed. I pushed and pushed. I tried and tried. I croaked and squeaked and cried. I went through every song I had hoped to sing and selected the strongest few. I would attempt 2 or 3. I would go play the Troubadour, by gawd, no matter how briefly and badly.

Met Jo. Found the Troubadour. Was led to the back room to stash my stuff. As I slid through the back room door with my loaner guitar-in-gig-bag in tow, I heard someone say "Hey, that must be Jennifer!" Hands waved at me from the dark corner of the club. Having no clue yet of who those hands were attached to, I smiled and waved back.

Alone in the small back room cramped full of musical gear, I shrugged off my jacket. I breathed deeply, giving a hopeless shrug toward my humidity-hair reflection in the cloudy mirror on the wall. I chanted three powerful words in my head as I made my way back into the packed and noisy club where some new and supportive faces were waiting with welcoming smiles.

Transcend the physical. Transcend the physical. Here we go.....

jennifer

(C'mon, you didn't think I'd give you that entire epic story in one shot, did ya? haha! Stay tuned to find out who I met and how I sounded at The Troubadour, in my next blog post coming ASAP...)

Europe Reflections, Part Two: The Ram Jam Club

2010-04-07T14:05:00.000-04:00

It was Sunday morning, March 21st, at Jo & Neil's home in London UK. They graciously let me camp in their spare room, while Susan slept in the lounge. (That's the living room to you cats from The States)

I rolled heavily out of the air mattress and was completely afraid to speak. I was afraid to open my mouth and find out that A) I had no voice at all to sing with or B) I had just enough voice to sing really badly.

It was Option A. I couldn't sing my way out of a paper bag (or a bright red London phone booth) if I tried. And I had friends now responsible for the decision about what to do with a private party fundraiser gig that I couldn't play.

We discussed options. Jo and Neil made phone calls. We drank lots of tea. Mine a special blend of sage & thyme that we bought at Neal's Yard (www.nealsyardremedies.com)in Covent Garden (London) the day before. Recommended as great for the aid of laryngitis. Steeped with lemon and ginger and honey, I drank that healing tea throughout most of my week in England and it will probably always be the flavor I connect with the UK the most.

That and meat pies. OMG, those heavenly meat pies.

So, The Ram Jam Club show. Sick-ass singer. What to do?

The original line-up for the night was to include two additional sets with mine. One from Isabel Saunders, a jazz singer friend of Jo's, as well as a short set from a jazz singer friend of Isabel's, Fay Madi.

Jo called Isabel and broke the news about my voiceless state. Did Isabel still want to go on? Yeah, man. Isabel was in. And, yeah, we still had Fay on the roster, too.

Neil, Jo's husband and a musician himself, made some calls to musical friends asking if anyone was interested in stepping in to take my place. We would drop the fundraiser element and try our best to give the attendees a show worth the £10 we'd been planning to ask from all who entered the door. Without 3 acts total, we felt we'd have to lower that price. So a new "headliner" for the shindig would be grand, if we could find one.

A recommendation came to Neil for someone named Mark Aaron James. An acquaintance of a bass player friend. An American singer/songwriter, in fact, who'd been living and working in London for a couple of years. We'd never heard of him. We'd never HEARD him. And we didn't freakin' care. Was he free? Could we afford him? Did he want to do it? Yes, yes and yes. The night of music we'd promised was now changed but very clearly saved.

Of course, it wasn't the night that folks were expecting. And it ended up being a night that surprised us, too.

I made the initial introduction. "Hi there. I'm Jennifer Haase. And I have laryngitis." said I, in my best Marlon Brando-esque raspy whisper. I explained my predicament. I apologized for the inconvenience. I gave a free download card for my 1st album "Listening Chair" to everyone who came, which Susan handed out as I was begging for mercy and bowing gracefully out. I explained this was no longer a fundraiser for me, but that their dollars were now paying for topnotch music in a fabulous London club and thanks so much for being there.

I said we had a great night of music for them, in spite of it all. And, wow, was I right.

Isabel Saunders sang first. Backed by Dominic Grant on jazz acoustic guitar and Chris Fletcher on percussion. I swear my mouth dropped open when Isabel started to sing. For a moment there, I was almost glad I couldn't sing a note myself so no one would have a chance to compare us. She was that wicked-good. Put every songbird to shame. So gorgeous was Isabel's pipes wrapped 'round the jazz standards she performed.

And her band? Damn those boys could PLAY! And had obviously been playing together for many years. Tight and smooth and rhythm-tastic. You need players in London? Look those boys up. Seriously, wow.

Next up was Fay Madi. Fay Jazz-Vixen Purring-Cat Madi, as I now like to think of her. Fay wasn't just soulful jazz under a bright London moon, she was swaying hips and winking eyes. It was her first time playing with these musicians and she was so good...and THEY were so good...it was all seamless from where I sat, no matter what Fay might tell you herself.

Earlier in the eve, I cornered Fay back by the bar to croak out a hello and a thank you. She cooed and complimented. She'd heard my music and apparently loved it. She wrapped her arms around me and said "Honey, you're a ripe piece of fruit ready to be EATEN!"

Ahhhh, Sweet & Saucy Fay. That whole dang ordeal was worth hearing you say those words to me. Lottsa love to you, wherever you are.

Well, Campers, there was just one act left and we had no idea how he'd do or WHAT he'd do. After booking him, Neil and I listened to a bit of Mark Aaron James' singing on his myspace page (www.myspace.com/markaaronjames) and we loved what we heard. But Mark himself described his stuff as "weird" and we weren't sure how "weird" would go down after the two sets of jazz.

We needn't have worried. Mark wowed us all from moment one.

No, he wasn't "weird." He was freakin' hilarious. And mega-talented. He played songs that made us laugh. He played songs that made us say "awww." He was wonderful with just his acoustic guitar and he was wonderful playing with some electronics via his magic foot pedals that recorded his singing and his guitar-smackin' percussion and then played it back as he sang over it. I don't describe that well, which is fine because maybe that means you'll go see Mark play and learn what I'm talking about for yourself.

And if you're a New Yorker, you'll have that chance pretty soon. Apparently London has cancelled all their artist visas and Mark is being forced to return to the States this summer, hopefully bringing him back to NYC stages ASAP.

Susan and I will be some of the first in line to hear him again, you can count on that.

The door draw made enough money to cover the cost of the club and the players who played. Some folks who received my free download card have already downloaded my music, so that feels good. I heard and met incredibly talented people I never would have otherwise known. It was a great night, it really was.

Alas, come Monday morning, I could still barely speak. But I wasn't yet done with the UK gig list, Folks. Booked for the legendary Troubador Club on Wednesday, I kept downing my special Neal's Yard healing tea and followed friend Susan to Sheffield to her family's home where she grew up. The next couple of days would be spent with her parents and friends in the countryside before returning to London in time for me to play (or not play) my Troubadour show.

Susan's brother, Peter, was at The Ram Jam Club with us and said to me "If there's anywhere you can get well again, it's at my mother's house." Susan agreed. In fact, everyone agreed that by Wednesday night at the Troubadour I'd be completely healed and singing my heart out.

But I knew better......

What happened at The Troubadour? Did I grace the same stage where Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell played? Or did I curl up under the covers and drown my sorrows in a seriously savory authentic English meat pie?

Please check back for that story in "Europe Reflections, Part Three."

(And HUGE THANKS from me to Joanne and Neil Sumner for organizing, hosting and saving the Ram Jam Club event. For giving me a place to stay. For feeding me amazing food and making my special tea. For caring for me and about me and for your incredible patience and good humor. I am so grateful to you both, THANK YOU!)

Europe Reflections, Part One: Jetlag Introduction

2010-04-06T09:14:00.001-04:00

England. Italy. Elation. Exhaustion. Illness. Illusions. Excitement. Irritation. Enlightenment.

The post-Europe trip jetlag finds my brain folded into itself and my body has felt swollen and heavy and foreign for days. My memories of the past two weeks are being mined slowly by my typing fingers this morning. Pickaxe and hard hat and metal pan? Gawd no, those tools won't do. I need lots and lots of pillows and sweet tea and comforting quiet time to catch up to me properly.

My friend and British-born travel companion (and fellow Taurean), Susan, bounced out of bed and dashed off to see friends at the start of our first morning back on American soil. I marvel at that. Am baffled by that. I forget that she is a seasoned traveler, as well as an energetic spirit who feeds fully off productive activity and consistent social connection. That and the fact that she's 7 years younger and a great deal more physically fit than me, thank you very much, finds her much more suited for days with little downtime in any time zone.

I was not so capable of centeredness (is that a word?) without sleep, without good health (more details in a minute), without my laptop, without my cell phone, without my journals and purring cats and the groundedness (is THAT a word?) of home.

Wow, I make it sound like I just spent 2 weeks feeling lost and homesick and exhausted. That's true, but it's only true of fleeting moments, not full days.

And that's the jetlag talking. The deep weariness that finds me surfacing with eyes half-closed.

The week prior to my first cross-Atlantic plane ride, I was battling an oncoming cold. Thought I had it under control. In fact, I got a little bit cocky about how I'd kept the sniffles at bay. Had my cough drops and bottle of water and had been downing the liquids and Vitamin C for days.

In spite of my applaudable pre-trip self-care, I lost my voice mid-flight. The closer the London horizon crept, the harder my vocal chords fought against the stale airplane air and the all night, no-sleep effects of cramped-body flight.

We arrived early morning Saturday, London time. My 1st show--a special fundraiser for me hosted by an amazing and ultra-generous Londonite friend, Joanne Sumner, was scheduled for the next night, Sunday eve, at the Ram Jam Club in Kingston on Thames, London UK.

Turns out, I had laryngitis for three whole days. I could not sing. I could only rasp and croak and cough. I was sick and depressed and guilt-ridden and needed convalescence that there was simply no time to take. My brain was folded over with jetlag then, too, at the very challenging beginning of what did become a life-changing trip full of great times, gratefulness (one of my FAVORITE words) and grace.

What happened at the Ram Jam Club? Did we cancel the show? Did I recover in time for my additional shows at The Troubadour in London and in Norwich at Wensum Lodge?

Stay tuned for "Europe Reflections: Part Two".

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

300 Downloads NOW. Please HELP!

2010-02-16T13:53:00.000-05:00

Starting RIGHT NOW I am launching a massive and ultra-important mission to sell 300---that's right, THREE HUNDRED...downloads of my first album "Listening Chair" by end of day Saturday, 2/20!!

I am doing that specifically via CDBaby at my album page for "Listening Chair" which is www.cdbaby.com/haase

I simply cannot finish my forthcoming album "No More Invitations" without raising/earning more funds. My cookie jar savings, my available credit--it's all tapped out, dried up, no more. As I was sitting here last night thinking about what furniture or body organs I could sell to make this new album happen, the answer finally hit me.....DUH!! I spent thousands of meaningful dollars and many creative hours making my FIRST album, "Listening Chair". Why am I not putting it out there as my calling card in a major way AND making it earn its keep?? Well, HELLO, Good Morning, I have finally awakened to my biggest asset and that is the music I've already made, invested in, still believe in and would love to keep sharing as much as I look forward to sharing the new album, too.

Why via CDBaby specifically? Because I earn a bigger percentage from CDBaby than from iTunes and other such distributors. But it's gonna take a big chunk of CD downloads to earn me a hearty chunk of new album-funding cash as CDBaby takes a cut from every $10 download. And that's fine, I'm happy to support CDBaby 'cause they do right by me and a zillion other indie singer/songwriters like me, Amen.

Why specifically selling downloads only this week? Because CDBaby just sold out of my pressed/packaged discs, so I currently only have the album download available. Once I sell more downloads, I can afford to have more discs pressed.

Why 300 downloads via CDBaby this week, my GOODNESS that's HUGE!? Because in order to get a large sum of money coming in quickly, and get the attention to the quick money-raising goal I need to make it happen, I've got to do it in a big way. I've got to make it a challenge that requires a lot of hard work hard on my part and a challenge that would inspire people to buy the album, spread the word and cheer me on.

So What Am I Asking of YOU, Dear Fans?

If you don't have a copy of my 1st album "Listening Chair" yet, please buy the full album download at www.cdbaby.com/haase this week! Just $10 gets you some new music for your mp3 player, you help fund my new album AND you're helping build really important buzz for my new album release and my overall singer/songwriter career path. Bless you for that!

SPREAD THE WORD! If you already have my 1st album "Listening Chair", please help me spread the word about my 300 download goal by Saturday! Nothing is worth more than word-of-mouth from existing fans. Your support is unbelievably important to my success and I appreciate it so very much. Please forward this email to your folkie-twang-pop lovin' friends!

WRITE A REVIEW!! CDBaby allows you to post album reviews on my page, so if you already have my 1st album "Listening Chair" and happen to enjoy it, please write somethin' nice to help me promote more sales and keep that review section fresh.

There's no question that making my 300 "Listening Chair" album downloads happen this week requires a lot of help, so THANK YOU in advance for being my STREET TEAM by spreading the word and participating in this challenge in whatever way you can.

It's an incredible time to be a DIY artist, supporting myself and my new creative pursuits one album sale, donation, gig wage and, yes, maybe sale of a kidney at a time. Thanks for all you do to help me keep making this musical dream come true!

Watch for daily updates this week on our 300 download progress, thanks!!

love to all,
jennifer haase

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

To buy the download of my 1st album "Listening Chair" please do so at www.cdbaby.com/haase.

Watch for updates on Facebook and twitter and myspace this week, too.

Fall down, Get Up, Fall Down, FLY.

2010-02-14T11:25:00.000-05:00

It's Valentine's Day and I'm trying to slow my brain down to match the near complete stop my body has made since catching a nasty not-yet-defined virus a few days ago.

But I can't stop. I can't. I ditched my cushy but ultra spirit-depleting day-job-with-benefits almost a month ago. Though I do not regret that important move toward a happier life, there's no new income yet from the songs, the writings and all the other creative output I've been putting out there. So I'm curled up with the laptop in spite of the swollen lymph nodes and the heavy, heavy weariness I'm feeling because this is what a freelancer does, baby, to build the proverbial dream.

Yes, it's daunting, absolutely. I'm nearly 42-years-old (birthday in April) and starting over from absolute scratch. Out here building something from nothing, like a carpenter cutting a hammer from tissue paper and believing, in spite of the odds, that she can make it work.

Is it ridiculous to be EXCITED by this creative life hustle? This change-of-life ledge-leaping "I'm my own boss, damn it!" faith in whatever comes next? Well, so be it. No matter how difficult it might get, it's all mine.

The hard part for me is to think like a small business owner now, not just a creative woman rollin' out of bed at any hour she pleases.

And I'm very aware that I have to build a support team, have some collaborators and YES Please Hear Me Universe, I need an Angel Investor to get my "No More Invitations" 2nd album finished, designed, manufactured, promoted & released. I've tapped out all my means and credit to fund this album on my own, but I just keep breaking the big picture down into "what has to happen TODAY to make it all keep happening TOMORROW" managable slices and somehow we keep on keepin' on via the fundraiser and couch cushion coins I find along the way. I'm deeply proud of my resilience, in spite of the anxiety and exhaustion it all sometimes brings.

Finding financial support for--and finishing--the album, booking a tour with paying gigs, making a living on song licensing and custom song commissions and other writings....that IS my day job now.

24/7, Darlin'. In sickness and in health. Til death do I part.

Fall down, get up, fall down, FLY.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Happy Heart Day to You...

jennifer haase
www.rhymeswithclassy.com

A Dream of Patty G.

2010-01-28T08:23:00.000-05:00

I dreamt last night that I was playing a CD for Patty Griffin of one of my own songs. We were in my disaster of a bedroom, like teen girlfriends sharing music and talking about which was worse; chemistry class or boys. But Patty was the grown-up sitting cross-legged on the bed, while I was the teen searching through piles of clothes and CDs and notebooks trying to find the lyrics to the song spinning round.

I'd apparently been inspired by her while writing it. I wanted her to know that, but couldn't find a way to say it. I thought maybe the lyric sheet would say it for me. And it was nowhere to be found.

The song ended. I looked at Patty. She looked at me and said "You know what I like to do in times like these?" And the scene changed. She was at a podium, singing to a mass of people swaying and clapping in church choir robes. Singing so deep and mighty from her tiny woman frame. Singing of climbing out of sorrow and reaching high to God, 'cause that's home, that's home, that's home.

This dream came after watching her livestream performance last night on Facebook, promoting her new album "Downtown Church."

My interpretation of the dream? That singing and songwriting, for me (and probably Patty, too) IS reaching high "to God" and coming home. Look to your heroes and mentors for guidance, but trust yourself and your unique voice and when you don't trust it...find your audience and do your thing like only you can do. They will respond to you when you let YOU shine through.

Sing out. Watch 'em sway. You sway, too.

That's home, that's home, that's home.

j.

phabulous fortysomethings

2010-01-21T17:54:00.000-05:00

Today is my dear friend Summer's 42nd birthday. I wish her an amazing day of love and laughs and I hope she's just as excited about turning 42 as I will be in April of this year, just a few short months from now.

Yes, EXCITED. I'm not exactly certain why, but the thought of slipping into my turn at 42 soon feels really, really good. Like there's a special sliver of sun called 42 and I'm about to scoot my porch rocking chair right over into that warm beam and bask in it.

Summer and I, we've EARNED 42. She's there first to set the tea kettle to boil and then I'll join her in the spring, with a ribbon-wrapped bouquet of her favorite iris blooms in my hands.

But don't go thinkin' that 41 is done with me yet. Here are some wonderful things absorbing my time and attention between now and then....

new album!!

We're progressing BEAUTIFULLY toward finishing my forthcoming album called "No More Invitations." My ah-MAZE-ing recording engineer, Robert L. Smith (www.defyrecordings.com), is about to mix 2 new finished songs and we're gaining on several more. I'm really excited about the guest musicians and guest vocalists we'll be working with in February as we continue to enjoy the heck outta putting this album to bed. I've been listening to our song tracks as I drive and drive and I'm so grateful to my musical team for helping me make the album I've wanted to make for sooooo very long. THANK YOU to my ah-MAZE-ing record producer, Mike Leslie, for working so hard and with such "i love playing with tape recorders" passion on this project with me!

gigs!!

THE BITTER END, NYC
www.bitterend.com
Sunday, January 24th @ 8pm
147 Bleecker Street (Manhattan)
30 minute set, solo acoustic
Part of the Songwriter Sessions from 7pm-12am
$5 admission

My aforementioned ah-MAZING-ing recording engineer, Robert L. Smith, has graciously agreed to film this performance for me so I can use pieces of it for my Video Blog Launch. More details about the video blog coming soon. Thanks, Robert!

GOOGIE'S LOUNGE above THE LIVING ROOM
www.livingroomny.com
Thursday, February 25th @ 8:30pm
154 Ludlow Street, NYC (Manhattan)
45 minute set, solo acoustic
FREE admission

At Googie's, I'll be testing a new song or two and maybe I'll have my Bee Gee's medley all set to go by then. ;) Dy-no-MITE!

ETG BOOK CAFE
http://www.etgstores.com/bookcafe/
Friday, February 26th @ 9pm
208 Bay Street, near Victory BLVD on Staten Island NYC
45 minute set, solo acoustic
FREE admission

SO EXCITED to be back at ETG! It's a really great coffee house-meets-used bookstore and I LOVE these music-lovin' locals on SI so much.

And please check my website for MARCH dates in the UK, too!

commissions!!

I cannot express strongly enough how much i'm enjoying writing custom songs for special occasions. I just got a new commission for a wedding dance song for a couple in the UK who have been following me on Facebook, wow! Writing these songs absolutely melts me and it's incredibly moving to act as messenger in this way. I love this work and I'm grateful to those who trust me with it.

donations!!

Gang, we've received over $6,100 in donations so far toward the expense of making my new album and I want to shout out another THANK YOU to everyone who is helping us make it happen with your tremendous generosity. At a time when we're all doing what we can to support efforts toward aid in Haiti (in addition to other folks in need across the planet) and we're all struggling to make ends meet in our own daily lives, I KNOW what a huge and ultra-significant gift these funds are from you to me. I will never be able to thank you enough for helping me bring this dream to life, but I hope sharing the album with you (and the fun gifts all donators will receive!) when it's finished will be even half as rewarding for you as your help in making the record has already been for me.

Many Thanks & Blessings to Thee,
Jennifer Haase
www.rhymeswithclassy.com
www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com
www.cdbaby.com/haase

PS....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Summer Shea!

THANK YOU, New Blog Followers for Participating in our Haiti Relief Drive

2010-01-18T07:37:00.001-05:00

Gang,

I changed up the Haiti Relief Fund Drive yesterday from $1 for each NEW blog follower to a $10 promised donation for each new blog follower. I got 6 new followers yesterday and just made a $60 donation to Haiti Relief via www.planusa.org.

As I stated in my last blog post, I'm a child sponsor via PlanUSA. I currently sponsor one child, but he is my third child total via PlanUSA and I'm so impressed by this organization's work and philosophy. It's also EXTREMELY important to me to be associated with an org like this who supports, and does not have the agenda of trying to change, the individual religious choices of each person and community they help.

I'm very proud to work with PlanUSA and appreciate their immense efforts to help in Haiti right now in every way they can. Check out their website for more information about who they are and what they do.

www.planusa.org

And THIS JUST IN, I just got ANOTHER new blog follower this morning, wow, YAY! And I will add $10 in her honor to the new Haiti donation pool. I can afford to give $40 more this week to Haiti Relief, so here's our first $10 toward that effort, thanks!

Onward. Thanks for helping and for reading me.

Jennifer Haase
www.rhymeswithclassy.com
www.sonicbids.com/jenniferhaase

Let's Help Haiti TOGETHER

2010-01-17T10:35:00.000-05:00

I'm a child sponsor at www.planusa.org and have donated to Haiti Relief via PlanUSA.

I'm going to donate again. As much as I can. And TODAY ONLY I thought it would be great to create some let's-do-this-together energy by promising to donate $1 (up to $100 total) for every person who signs up to follow my blog today, Sunday January 17th.

So please sign up! Thanks for helping and joining the circle and for reading me.

jennifer

Jumpstart January

2010-01-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

Hey, Blog Followers, You Gorgeous Bunch.

So sorry to leave you hangin' since my last post in December, back when I was on a mission to make the final $275 to reach the $6,000 fundraiser milestone. We not only MET the goal that day, we surpassed it! I announced this all over Facebook and sent out a notice to my email mailing list members, but somehow forgot to splash the news right here, too.

Our Donation Drive total funds raised sits now at $6,126 and we're on our way toward $7,000 with gusto. THANKS AGAIN to ALL my DONATORS! We're busy not only finishing the album, but creating and rounding up your donation gifts, too.

The Mermaid Sessions t-shirts have been designed and they look great! BIG THANKS to my sister, Julie, for being my designer with the mostest.

MORE COOL NEWS:

***Several new gigs booked! I now have 2 shows in the UK in March (London & Norwich), 2 NYC shows in Feb (Manhattan & Staten Island), and am working to confirm a possible Maine show in March before my trip to England. See the sidebar Calendar on my blog for details and please check back often for updates.

***2 more album songs DONE!! My genius recording engineer, Robert L. Smith, will soon start mixing "Chapter You" and "Follows Me Still" to add to the pile of growing tunes that are lining up for the final song tally for my forthcoming album called "No More Invitations." I don't know how to fully express how very good this feels to be making such spirited progress and seeing the finish line up ahead.

If you'd like to help us fund the album, we appreciate the support so much. All Donation Drive details can be found on the "Buy" link at my website, www.rhymeswithclassy.com

January 2010 has been unbelievably good to me so far. She's been exactly the boost I've been needing to jumpstart this year on the right foot.

As my thoughts turn to the current heartbreak and hellish conditions in Haiti after the massive earthquake devastation, their tragedy is a solid reminder to appreciate every single minute and not let any of the time we have to make a difference go to waste. I wish them hope and help and healing as we all press on.

Thanks for reading me.
jennifer

AlMoSt TheRe!!

2009-12-20T13:25:00.000-05:00

It's Sunday, December 20th and I'm on a very serious and exciting mission TODAY.

Just $275 more funds raised in my making-of-the-album Donation Drive will get me to the $6,000 mark and I am COMMITTED to doing everything I can to raise those funds TODAY!!

If you are able to donate, THANK YOU! If you already donated, please help me spread the word and I will be so grateful.

And if you would be so kind as to respond to this email with a GOOD LUCK, JENNIFER, YOU CAN DO IT!! message that will help stir up some really great fundraising energy and keep me motivated until I get it done!

I'll stay up into the wee hours making this happen if I have to. And I'm happy to. This is the part of making a Dream Happen that I love the most. The hard work and the connecting. The deadline adrenaline. The deep-gut BELIEF that drives us there.

Just $275 TODAY, Sunday!! Wish me luck!!

To donate, please see details on the home page at my website: www.rhymeswithclassy.com Paypal link provided here, too!

Love & Holiday Wishes to All,

Jennifer Haase

$15 Donation=CLASSY FAN

One copy of the full album (as a download or printed package, your choice) sent to you at the release date, PLUS a fun surprise goodie and we're not saying what it is yet!

$25 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN

One ADVANCE copy of the full album (at least 2 weeks before the rest of the planet gets theirs) which I will sign if you order the printed package (download alternative available), PLUS the aforementioned surprise goodie that we're designing now.

$50 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT

Same gifts as the ULTRA CLASSY FAN level, but YOU get a thank you in the credits on the album itself as an extra special bonus. Neat!!

$100 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT & A MERMAID

Same great gifts as ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT, but in addition to your thank you from me in the album credits & all that jazz YOU get a very special custom "The Mermaid Sessions" t-shirt signed to you (or to a gift recipient name of your choice) by me, my NYC record producer Mike Leslie and my NYC recording engineer Robert L. Smith. To read more about The Mermaid Sessions, please visit my website @ www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

$500 Donation=BEYOND CLASSY BENEFACTOR

My, aren't you generous! Your gifts include all the benefits of the $100 donation level (including that rockin' mermaid t-shirt!) but YOUR thank you in the album credits will have a special Benefactor section all its own. PLUS you'll receive a custom, and very cool, messenger bag that we would be happy to sign for you or as a gift for someone special on your shopping list.

$1,000 Donation=CARD-CARRYING CLASSY HAASE V.I.P.

Gosh, that's a LOT! So YOU--in addition to the $500 Benefactor Benefits--get a special laminated VIP pass which will allow you and a guest FREE entry into all of my shows through 2010 (including backstage schmoozin' at some Way Awesome Venues With some Way Awesome Performers Who Accompany Me). You will have VIP status, seating and treatment at my CD Release Party in New York City (date/venue TBD) and you will get a special feature spot on my website with your photo and a big thank you message from me.

$2,500 Donation=EXECUTIVE CLASSY HAASE V.I.P.

Wait, REALLY? That's incredible!! You, my friend, get ALL the VIP status perks and goodies (See you at the VIP table at my CD Release Party!) PLUS you and a guest will be treated to a very special (and darn swanky) New York City Executive VIP Thank You Dinner with my mega-talented NYC record producer and recording engineer in tow, plus all the other Exec. VIPs. We will wine, dine, talk music and we'll play you a song or two if you ask us to. (Date/venue TBD around the time the CD releases)

$5,000 (or more) Donation= PATRON SAINT OF ALL THINGS CLASSY

OMG, WOW!!! My Dear, if you donate that much money to my musical dream you not only get every incredible gift mentioned above, with full Executive VIP benefits, but you will also get your VERY OWN "THANK YOU" PAGE in the CD booklet featuring your photo, a printed Q&A between you and me, and crediting you with your AMAZING generosity! AND LAST BUT NOWHERE NEAR LEAST a FREE house concert in your honor at a time and place agreed upon by you and me where I will sing a song I personally wrote all about YOU and then gift you with a recorded copy of that song, as well. Holy Cow, that's a SWEEEEET Gift Package and YOU EARNED IT, thank you so much!

CUSTOM DONATION LEVEL:

Or email me and we'll negotiate your earned "goodies" for a different donation level than what you see above!! How about THAT? :)

Doin' the Can-Can

2009-12-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

My Food Pantry food can donation mission is underway. Between Jenn (my food pantry mission co-manager) and I, we've purchased just over 50 cans so far and have spent less than $35, YAY!! Our goal is to donate at least 100 cans by next week (split between New Jersey & New York) so we're halfway there and are out combing for more deals to create a nice variety of canned goods to give.

We are funding the food pantry cans by taking $1.00 from my donation drive earnings for every donator who has given so far. That's 43 donators, at the time of this writing, for a $43 total. We're stretching that $43 as far as it will go and then kicking in whatever is needed to reach the 100 can total goal.

I have to say, it really feels good to do this. Should you need a sweet distraction and pick-me-up from daily life woes, helping somebody else survive troubled times in even a small way is quite the spirit-lifter for all.

Amen, my Sistahs & Brothahs & All Who Fall In-Between! ;)

____________________________________________

In Musical News:

Ed's Mixed Bag podcast will be spinning my song "Loose Strand" on 12/19! Listen in for the recorded "liner" I'll be sending Ed, too, for his on-show promos. You know, the "Hi, this is Jennifer Haase from www.rhymeswithclassy.com and we're listening to Ed's Mixed Bag!" type of thang. How fun, right?

Women of Substance Radio podcast played my song "Heat Risin' From the 109" this past Thursday and I'll be providing them with a recorded liner for promos soon, too.

I offered a SPECIAL IMPROMPTU PROMO on Facebook last week to the first person to donate $150 to my making-of-the-album fundraiser. What did that donator win? A custom song written & recorded (vocal & guitar) by ME for a special someone of their choosing to receive by Dec 20th! WE HAD A WINNING DONATOR WITHIN 10 MINUTES and I'm so flattered that a song written by me would motivate someone to act & donate that quickly, wow. I'm keeping her name a secret for now so that her special someone doesn't find out about the gift until the holidays, but I'm working on her song now. In fact, started writing the melody in my head on my way to Price Chopper this morning. Oh, the glamourous songwriter life. :) If YOU want the opportunity to be in on a special offer like that, befriend me on Facebook and follow me on twitter! I will post/tweet with some special incentives at least once or twice more before the holidays hit.

We've reached $5, 575 total raised in our fundraiser so far, out of our $15,000 final goal. I am still so knocked over by this help from all of you. THANK YOU!!

Lottsa Love to You & Yours,

Jennifer Haase

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

100 CANS

2009-11-21T08:31:00.000-05:00

Ah, November. This past week, my father turned 73. I turned the thermostat up just a smidge more. And we turned around to find that we'd sailed solidly past the deadline we were hoping to meet for CD manufacturing in order to have an early January release for my forthcoming album NO MORE INVITATIONS.

Yeah, that's a difficult disappointment for me right now. But sometimes you've just gotta wipe out your pout and say "deadlines schmedlines." Delays do not mean Defunct. We've done a ton of really great work on this record that we're really proud of and I know that the rest of the means will come in order to get her done.

In the meantime, it's time to shift the flow of prosperity outward. Because what I also know is that an important part of receiving is the art and act of giving and it is most definitely time to turn our focus on opportunities to GIVE.

I have always known that my making-of-the-album fundraiser would grow into a Pay It Forward campaign, as well. Most of that will happen once the album is done and we have earnings coming in, but we want to shift gears to GIVING in even a small way right now because we think it's important, it will feel good to help others and it will encourage some really lovely karma flow for us all.

Where shall we begin? With 100 CANS.

Food cans, that is.

THANK YOU to my good friend Jennifer Lavonier for helping me brainstorm & carry out the Give Back Plans and for recommending that we begin with Food Pantries locally.

And THANK YOU to my donators for your contribution to this endeavor as well.

How, you ask?

We decided that we're going to spend $1 for every person who has donated to my making-of-the-album fundraiser so far. We'll apply those dollars to the purchase of canned goods and we're out searching for great canned good deals now so we can make each dollar really count.

I have a total of 43 donators for my fundraiser so far. That's $43 bucks we will definitely spend on helping feed folks in need.

But Jenn & I want to donate at least 100 CANS to split between at least 2 Food Pantries, most likely one in New York and one in New Jersey as those are the states where Jenn (NJ) and I (NY) live. So we'll kick in whatever it takes from personal funds to reach that 100 CAN number and then we'll fill up the back of the Pacifica with corn and carrots and all colors of beans, etc. and drive those goodies to the drop-off spots sometime by mid-December.

And you can count on me bloggin' and emailin' all about it as we go. :)

Someday our outreach will include giving back nationally, as well as globally, but for now we're starting locally and we think that holiday time is a great time to begin.

My NO MORE INVITATIONS fundraiser began on July 9, 2009. ALL OF YOU, in some way, have helped keep us working on this album or networking or building the mailing list for nearly 5 months and I'm truly at a loss for words to express how much that means to me.

We'll get back to recording soon when we can, but for now PLEASE JOIN US on a brief and festive holiday journey of making a difference for others, too.

It's gonna FEEL good!

More 100 CANS and other Give Back Endeavor updates coming soon.

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

SHOW DATE CHANGE! Nov 22nd @ The Bitter End has moved to Jan 24th

2009-11-03T07:27:00.000-05:00

Kids,

We've rescheduled my 30 minute set for the NY Songwriter Sessions @ The Bitter End from Sunday November 22nd 2009 to January 24th 2010. Full show begins @ 7pm. My set begins @ 8pm.

Please note that in your new 2010 calendars and see you there!

jennifer & crew

Of Sweaters & Snippets & Travellin' Onward

2009-11-03T06:54:00.000-05:00

Personally speaking, October was a big kick in the teeth in some ways and an incredible gift in others. I am grateful that I survived the rough stuff and I am grateful for the extra DElightful seeds that were planted due to loads of tenacity, a new finished song and some hooked-in friends and fans who helped make some magic happen.

NEW PINK SWEATER is finished, WOOOOO-HOOO!!! And I just posted a teaser snippet of the song to my website at www.rhymeswithclassy.com on the "music" link. Please take a listen and leave a comment in the "Guestbook" link letting me know what you think! This is a playful n'saucy little ditty that we had a lot of fun recording. We will officially release it on the new album, but we're already sending it around for licensing opportunities so cross your fingers that you hear it in a film or TV commercial (Victoria's Secret, perhaps?) soon!

HUGE THANKS to Mr. Frank Thompson (a J'Ha music fan AND a two-time making-of-the-album donator) who actually DID forward a sample of this new song on to a film director buddy of his who responded to Frank with a "Me Likey! Send me a copy!" for possible use in an upcoming film that's in pre-production now. Frank, I can't thank you enough! There are no guarantees that this specific opportunity will happen, but to have you out there asking folks to listen and building more buzz for me is a tremendous gift that means more to me than I know how to express. Thank you, thank you, my friend.

We have 2-3 more songs on the BRINK of being finished and a slew of others waiting in the gate for their turn at the plate. We have a NEW recording session booked for the eve of November 12th and I've got to raise at least $400 more in donations by then in order to be able to afford it. And so I will, my friends. And so I will. :)

Every time you send someone to my website to hear the song samples, we build the fan base, the outreach, the album buzz, the Street Team so necessary to make this musical engine keep on runnin'. THANK YOU for your continued support. It FEELS soooooo GOOD!

We've raised $5,300 of our $15,000 goal! We have miles to go before we sleep, but we'll get there. And we're having an amazing time on the journey with you. Thank you again for being there.

Please listen to the song teaser cut of NEW PINK SWEATER and let us know what you think!

www.rhymeswithclassy.com at the "Music" link.

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

To DONATE, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com. THANK YOU for helping us stretch and push and climb and find our way to $10,000 total raised by the end of November!! (Hey, if you don't dream big, why dream at all, right?)

To see THANK YOU NOTES to all my donators, as well as keep up with my making-of-the-new-album called NO MORE INVITATIONS happenings, please keep checking RIGHT HERE at www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

PLEASE REMEMBER that GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE AVAILABLE! Email me for details.

And for those BIG INVESTORS who have been hoping for a DEAL, it takes just $2,500 (normally the $5,000 level!) in total donations by November 15th to earn the PATRON SAINT OF ALL THINGS CLASSY donator goodie package that includes a song ABOUT you, recorded FOR you and gifted TO you at a HOUSE CONCERT in your honor at a time & place we agree upon in 2010. See the rest of the details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com!

Thank You, KELLY ROBERTS!!

2009-10-14T19:45:00.000-04:00

Dearest Kelly,

You are a bright, warm light in what has been a very dark week for me, my friend. Your generosity, your friendship, your own talented self as a very gifted writer and singer and photographer....I appreciate all of that about you so very much, in addition to your wonderful donation today to the making of my new album.

Thank you for always being so supportive and keeping my spirits up with your cheer and humor and insight.

BIG HUG AND BIGGER GRATITUDE!!! You are wonderful to MEEEEEE!! :)

Much Love to You,
Jennifer

Bold Like A Dare

2009-10-12T20:23:00.000-04:00

It's been $200 more making-of-the-album funds raised and a new 5-hour recording session since we last gathered here around this warm fire. Among other tunes in mid-progress, we're nearly finished with a song called "New Pink Sweater" that's turning out so playful and fun and is sounding so gooood I've played the pre-mixed version of it about 800 times in the past 2 days. Mike Leslie, my record producer, and I sang "Bold like a daaaaarrrrrree...." triple-layered backing vox between bouts of giggles from Mike's impromptu impressions of various hilariously over-exaggerated characters and celebrities. (His Sean Connery KILLS me every time...) Meanwhile, Mr. Robert L. Smith....Mr. Magic Man at the Controls...whipped up said backing vox into sparkly crystal-choir quality that made us hit playback an embarrassing amount of times just to hear ourselves sound like that again and again.

WOW, that felt good, Boys! I needed it and I thank you for providing it.

UPDATES:

**Got feedback from a Top Exec at a NYC Company that Helps Songwriters Like Me Get Great Licensing Deals. He likes my new not-yet-released song "Oneonta" (with special guest vocals from Rosanne Cash) and wants to hear more. So we're about to send him more. I invited him to attend my set at The Songwriter Sessions @ The Bitter End NYC on Sunday, November 22nd @ 8pm and he said he would. Cross your fingers that he does and I hope you and your friends come, too!

**Podcast Show "Indie Music Sampler" played my song "Loose Strand" this past week, hooray!

**Lovely MAGGIE SMITH, from the UK, downloaded my 1st album "Listening Chair" this past week and has been feeding me gig venue ideas & contact info for London and surrounding area. THANK YOU, MAGGIE!! I hope to play one of those stages near you in 2010!

**Received an anonymous (and so very generous, thank you!) donation for $200 toward the making of my new album NO MORE INVITATIONS and that gives us a juicy head-start to the next $5,000 raised, YAY!!

We're working, we're playing, we're plotting, we're pushing one song, one session, one Sean Connery impression (KILLS me!) at a time toward the completed album collection and some exciting licensing and performance ventures now and beyond.

Bold Like A Dare, Baby. On much more than a Wing and a Prayer. Amen.

Thank you for helping us get there!

Love to All,

Jennifer

I'm going to ask The Boys if we can release a teaser song snippet of "New Pink Sweater" when we reach $6,000! Just $800 to go to hear some new SNEAK PREVIEWS of the work we've been doing behind the scenes with the funds you have lovingly provided. I'll be out here marketing my brains out to get us there! Thanks again for spreading the word via email, Facebook, song swaps, planes, trains and automobiles.

TO DONATE and/or PRE-PURCHASE my new album-in-progress, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

TO PURCHASE my 1st album LISTENING CHAIR, you can hear songs and read reviews and make that purchase at www.cdbaby.com/haase. My songs are also available on iTunes and at amazon.com.

TO READ UPDATES AND THANK YOU NOTES TO DONATORS please keep reading right here on a regular basis, thanks!

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

www.cdbaby.com/haase

www.sonicbids.com/jenniferhaase

www.wrmusicreview.com/profile/jenniferhaase

www.myspace.com/rhymeswithclassy

Our first $5,000 RAISED!!!

2009-10-01T07:46:00.000-04:00

YOU DID IT!!! OMG, THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY!!

Out of our total goal of $15,000 to finish funding the recording of my new album called NO MORE INVITATIONS, YOU all helped me reach our first $5,000 raised last night!

Special thanks to Stacie Rose, Amanda Auch, Todd Gottschalk, Joanna Kirkland and Jennifer Lavonier for taking up the challenge yesterday to collectively donate the last $200 it took to get me here, between sun up and sundown.

And special thanks to Judi French Scarmuzzi for downloading my first album "Listening Chair" yesterday and posting a note to my Facebook wall that you "love it", thank you! Hello down Atlanta way and welcome to the mailing list, Judi. It's wonderful to have you here.

And, of course, another round of heartfelt applause to ALL OF YOU who have donated so far, who sent your friends to my website, shared new email addresses, gave me advice and support and kicked my keister when I needed some help getting back on the road. We have a lot of great work to do to finish the album in the next few months--plus $10,000 more to raise to fund it--and I'm looking forward to all of it! But right now, I'm so happy basking in this moment and this incredible accomplishment with all of you.

HOORAY TEAM!!! YOU'RE BEYOND CLASSY!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Love to All,

Jennifer

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

www.cdbaby.com/haase

www.myspace.com/rhymeswithclassy

www.wrmusicreview.com/profile/jenniferhaase

www.sonicbids.com/jenniferhaase

Thank you AGAIN, JENNIFER LAVONIER!!

2009-10-01T07:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Jennifer,

HOOOORAAAAAAYYYYYYYY and THAAAAANK YOUUUUUU!!!!!

You saw that we had just $90 to raise to reach our first $5,000 and you took it upon yourself to get us there! In spite of the fact that you'd already donated $100 weeks ago, My Gawd Woman, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Jenn, I'm more grateful than I know how to say. Seriously. You are such an amazing person and a deeply important friend and to get this gift from you is making me all weepy like a girl in a really wonderful way.

THANK YOU for wanting this for me bad enough to make it happen.

Wow, really, THANK YOU!

Love to You,
Jennifer

Thank you AGAIN, JOANNA KIRKLAND!! :)

2009-09-30T20:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Joanna,

Well, here we are again so soon! Me thanking you for hittin' that donation button for ANOTHER $25 toward my fundraiser so I can finish this album and kick-start this creative career. And you know what every creative career needs?

Support from fans and friends. In more than just financial ways. In all the ways that you already provide by listening, spreading the word and being a friend.

It all means the world to me! Thank you for wanting to help PUSH me up, up, UP toward this first $5,000 goal and cheer me on as I get there!

Love to you,
Jennifer

Thank you, TODD GOTTSCHALK!!

2009-09-30T18:20:00.000-04:00

Dear Todd,

I will never be less than amazed when people I haven't yet met reach out to help me with my fundraiser goal. THANK YOU for chatting with me on Facebook today while typing your way over to my website to listen to my songs, which somehow convinced you I was worthy of the $50 donation you promptly gifted to me! All the way from BRAZIL, too!

I'm still in shock and I'm forever grateful that you said hello across the many miles and chose so quickly to support the music I make.

And thanks for recommending Steve Earle's stories to me, too!

All the Best,
Jennifer Haase

Thank you, AMANDA AUCH!!

2009-09-30T17:39:00.000-04:00

Amanda,

Your donation to my making-of-the-album fundraiser today was such a lovely surprise and I THANK YOU very much for helping me get to my first $5,000 raised that much faster!! Thank you for being such a wonderful friend and supporting the music I make by pre-purchasing the new record, as well as seeing me play a local coffee house in Illinois a few years ago.

When you need help making a dream come true, you give me a call, ya hear? I would love to be able to do the same for you. :)

THANK YOU!!

Love,
Jennifer

Thank You, STACIE ROSE!

2009-09-30T16:50:00.000-04:00

Stacie,

When another singer/songwriter that you admire donates toward the making of your musical dream, there's something ultra meaningful about that gesture and gift. Thank you so much for adding yourself to the list of my benevolent peers today, with your $20 donation to the making of my album NO MORE INVITATIONS!

Watching how hard you work to make your own incredible career grow and prosper helps keep me on this road. Helps keep my spirits up. Helps me see how it should be done. Thank you for being that kind of influence on me, as well as being an artist whose music I really, really love.

Here's to raising the bar and clearing it again and again and again, baby!

To everyone reading this post, please check out Stacie's really great songs, her own fundraiser details and glowing press at www.stacierose.com.

Love to You, Lady Rose. THANK YOU!

Jennifer

NYC Songwriter Sessions @ The Bitter End: SAVE THE DATE!

2009-09-30T08:02:00.000-04:00

We're CONFIRMED for the NYC Songwriter Sessions showcase @ The Bitter End for Sunday, November 22nd @ 7pm! HOORAY!

My 30 minute set begins at 8pm sharp, but please be there by 7pm for best seating. The show features a handful of really great artists and runs from 7pm-Midnight.

I'm really excited to play this show and will totally TEASE & TANTALIZE you with new songs from the new album-in-progress, called No More Invitations, and wet your whistles for the full CD release show & tour dates happening in the new year.

Looking forward to seeing you and your friends on Sunday, Nov 22nd at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village NYC!

www.bitterend.com

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

www.cdbaby.com/haase

www.myspace.com/rhymeswithclassy

www.sonicbids.com/jenniferhaase

www.wrmusicreview.com/profile/jenniferhaase

ditchin' the cat suit

2009-09-26T12:50:00.000-04:00

I'm all gooey-eyed and sniffly with a 24-hour sore throat I can't seem to shake. Wearing that tattered n'soft set of jammies you'd never let anyone see you in. Hair all a'tangle. Kitchen counter cluttered with pill & tincture bottles, as well as yesterday's dishes that you'd just as soon throw away than rinse clean.

So, yeah, I'm sick this weekend and I'm also still healing from a bad attitude I "caught" at our recording session this past Thursday where I pouted and cursed and plowed my agitated (a nice way of saying bitchy) way through take after take of the lead vocal for the title track of my album, No More Invitations. And I just wasn't gettin' it to sound the way I wanted it to sound no matter how hard I tried. My voice just couldn't live up to my expectations of her and I felt like a pretty big loser that I couldn't figure out how to coax her up and over the bar I had set for us both.

What I was thinking, as I was SHRINKING into a deeper funk about it as we worked, was this...."Here I am trying to fit into the Cat Suit again."

I don't know about you, but I have always wanted to be Cat Woman. I mean, c'mon, need I really explain why? Long, Lean & Curvaceous. Strong and Agile and Wicked. Shiny skin-tight black outfit with killer heels. Meows at men to stun 'em and then kicks their unsuspecting ass. I mean, C'MON!

But my very real girl truth is I'm just not someone who is meant for (and certainly not built for) a cat suit. In fact, nothing about me says cat suit, though I have meowed a time or two and will live to meow again. (SNAP!) The problem here is that I never seem to be able to fully "forgive" myself that I'm not meant to wear a cat suit....or look like Halle Berry....or sing like Patty Griffin...etc, etc, infinity etc. So instead of learning to work with my strengths, I'm always tuggin' at my weaknesses until all the good stuff I've got is no longer stuff I can see.

That's what happened to me on Thursday. I was lost in the age old Comic Book Pipe Dream Metaphor. I just sat there behind the microphone trying to tug that dang cat suit on but the shiny good-for-nothin' teensy-tiny sexy vinyl jumpsuit just wasn't stretchin' to fit the likes of ME no way, no how.

So I'm going to work harder at ditchin' the cat suit, 'cause if I don't I'll never get from here to there. Or pretty much anywhere.

Next time (I promise, Boys) I'll just come as I am to the party and be grateful to sing like plain ole decent-singer me. Yes, my voice can sometimes do some really beautiful things. I know and appreciate that. As for when she struggles and falters and goes sharp over and over and over?

Well...

....maybe I'll just start to purr instead.

:)

JUST $200 TO GO TO REACH $5,000 RAISED!!!!!!!

I'M SICK, BUT I'M NOT DEAD SO I'M GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD TO REACH THAT INCREDIBLE MILESTONE THIS WEEKEND, HOORAY!!! I'LL BE OUT HERE NETWORKING LIKE A MAD WOMAN (MAYBE EVEN CAT WOMAN, HOW ABOUT THAT?) AND YOU SPREADING THE WORD WITH ME WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL, TOO, THANK YOU! I may get cranky about my shortcomings, but my eye is still on the ball. I cannot express strongly enough how much your support continues to mean to me and how important it is to all of us on this music-makin' end.

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

TO DONATE, please see the details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com, including the special perks you earn for each donation level.

Thank You, MOM!!

2009-09-26T11:34:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

Well, you've done it again. Come to my aid at just the right time in just the right way. Your letter to the "fans" was so lovely and generous, so to top that with TWO donations (yes, this new $85 donation being your second) toward the making of my album is above and beyond and I am very very thankful.

You are the songwriter where the songwriter in me came from. You are the singer where the singer in me came from. You are the entertainer where the entertainer in me came from! Need I go on? :) I am so grateful for the DNA, too, Mom. And for how supportive you've always been of the creative side of me.

Here's to dreaming big and not stopping until the goal is reached and having some fun along the way.

I got THAT from you, too.

THANK YOU FOR DONATING, MOM!!

I love you...
Jennifer

super-quick update

2009-09-21T10:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Classy Haase Friends & Fans--

1. SELECTED! "Songwriter Sessions @ The Bitter End" Upcoming Showcase in NYC (date TBD).

2. SELECTED! Women's Radio Upcoming Podcast Feature. (Sending songs to them now, date TBD.)

3. PLAYED! My song "Heat Risin' From the #109" was featured this weekend on the jazz/blues/worldmusic "Lonely Fella" Podcast show #32, via my profile on www.musicalley.com. Hope all you lonely fellas out there tuned in and swayed! ;)

4. DONATIONS RECEIVED! We got $75 more in donations this past weekend and WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH!

In among the challenges, no responses, full-on rejections and our constant push for funds to keep working, some really wonderful stuff is starting to happen to keep me keepin' on. It feels GREAT!!!

THANK YOU for all your support, advise, donations, all of it. It's incredible to be on this journey with you.

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

TO DONATE, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

I can also be found at:

www.cdbaby.com/haase (my first album, Listening Chair, is available here)

www.myspace.com/rhymeswithclassy

www.sonicbids.com/jenniferhaase

www.wrmusicreview.com/profile/jenniferhaase

Yes, my songs are on iTunes! And at Napster and Rhapsody and at amazon.com.

Thank you again, MELISSA GRAY!

2009-09-19T11:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Melissa,

I am torn. Should I hug you for donating AGAIN to my fundraiser, which as you know gets me so close to our first $5,000 mark I can barely breathe from the excitement of it? Or should I come over there and smack you around for spending all your hard-earned pay on the likes of lil ole me?

NAH!! HUG, HUG!!!! ;)

Here is your SECOND heartfelt THANK YOU for your SECOND heartfelt donation. You get an advanced, signed CD (or the download), a special surprise gift, a "The Mermaid Sessions" t-shirt, a THANK YOU in the album credits as a donator, lots of recognition all over the web (thanked you at Facebook! thanked you on twitter!) and, of course, me bowing in grateful humble-ness at your feet.

Merci, mon ami!! THANK YOU!

Love to you...AGAIN!
Jennifer

the quiet man always laughs last

2009-09-19T09:21:00.000-04:00

My recording engineer, Robert L. Smith (nope, NOT the lead singer for The Cure, but very very close...), and I have known each about 135 years now, give or take. When I first came to NY & started working with him on some demo recordings in his teensy little apartment in mid-town, his response to my half-finished tunes and starry-eyed chatter about a business I knew nothing about (that biz being music) was to sit quietly and nod his head. Never saying I was great, never saying that I stunk. Never saying I should quit, but never saying I had a big shot either. No, he just sat there very still-like, taking it in, while I crooned & I rambled, with that little twinkle in his eye that I now know meant "She doesn't get it yet, but someday she will."

Soon I was making my scared n'tentative way toward a few low-key NYC (and surrounding area) stages. I played a couple of Round Robin gigs with my songwriter cronies, which Mr. Smith attended. I played a coffee house near Vassar College owned then by another songwriter buddy, with Mr. Smith again in tow. I started to share the songs I had moved from Nebraska with and battled my way through stage fright, self-esteem struggles, the NYC venue mentality of "fill our room with all your friends or don't come back again" non-paying, play-fast-and-leave even faster competitive whirlwind craziness. And all the while, when I was teary and ranted and cancelled and sometimes got some pretty decent praise, Robert L. Smith sat quietly, listened and patiently waited, waited, waited.

Years passed. I set all that songwriter stuff solidly aside and then picked it up again about a thousand times. But I was writing. I even wrote a song for Mr. Smith, called "Fragments", for a project of his own. As I grew into my later 30's, as I experienced deeper hardship and bigger joy, as I watched and learned and tried and tried, better songs started coming out of me. Better demos. Better performances. A better grasp on what being a part of the musical collective actually meant and a more clear picture of my place within it.

And Mr. Smith's quietly supportive silence started speaking volumes to me. It became incredibly tangible. It started feeling very very good.

Today, as we work on my new album NO MORE INVITATIONS, I still have trouble reading those silences of his when I look over in his direction, after a stab at a lead vocal, with a big question mark on my face. When I ask "What do you think?" his tendency still, developed over many years from many different artists (and many quite famous) behind those microphones, is to wait until the light bulb goes off for me before he says a darn thing.

But lately he looks back over at me more and more with a new twinkle in his eye and he'll actually laugh out loud when a really great performance comes out of me. And I know what that all means, too...

"You're almost there, Kid. You finally earned it. And I'm damn proud of you."

FUNDRAISER UPDATE!!

We're so close to our first $5,000, I can feel it in the air! Got another $25 donation this morning, WOO-HOOOO!! We still need $335 to get there, so PLEASE keep those cards & letters comin' in!! We can't meet our completion deadline without the funds, so THANK YOU for all the extra marketing you're out there doing for us to help make it happen!

TO DONATE, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

ROBERT L. SMITH has more than 20 years experience working all the knobs and flashing buttons in practically every dang recording studio New York City has to offer or ever did. He has worked with a zillion amazing artists including David Bowie, Ricki Lee Jones and the late great Michael Jackson. There are very few recording engineers here or anywhere who have a handle on great sound like Mr. Smith does and if you don't believe ME just ask my record producer or a thousand other folks who will put Robert on the top of the Who's Who in Audio Genius lists. Don't make your album (or commercial, or voice-over, or film score) without him. Seriously. You can find Robert (and tons of great press about him) at www.defyrecordings.com.

and find me here...

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

www.cdbaby.com/haase

www.myspace.com/rhymeswithclassy

www.wrmusicreview.com/profile/jenniferhaase

Thank you, JOANNA KIRKLAND!!

2009-09-19T07:57:00.001-04:00

Dear Joanna,

From the moment we connected on Facebook, it's been so fabulous to know you. We've talked about music and careers and our various struggles and successes. You've led me to some AMAZING new songs and songwriters. You introduced me to Scott Register's really great radio shows. You bought my first album and bragged about my music in various places on the web, including a fan site for Patty Griffin. And NOW a $25 donation to my NO MORE INVITATIONS fundraiser on top of it all, WOW!!!

That $25 just earned you an advanced, signed CD (or the download, if you prefer) about 2 weeks before the official release date, PLUS a surprise gift in the package to you from me. I hope you enjoy the record when you get it, as much as we're really enjoying making it. We couldn't make it without you and all my other generous donators out there.

Thank you so much for being such a lovely, ultra-supportive new friend and a creative, talented woman in your own right and in your own ways.

Thank you for all of it!! Very much!!

Love,
Jennifer

the princess & the mission statement

2009-09-18T13:07:00.000-04:00

Many moons ago, Mike Leslie (my record producer) and I sat down over coffee at Kitchenette in uptown NY and talked about making an album together. I talked about the kind of record I wanted to make. He talked about how he'd like to help me make it. I knew I had the right producer before the cups o'joe were drained, but when we shook hands on it and he said "Now I want you to go home and write a mission statement for this record" I about died on the spot with sensitive, overly-expressive singer/songwriter elation that I was being asked to write out what I wanted from this album and this experience.

The original Mission Statement that I wrote and shared with Mike a few days later was several paragraphs of runaway thoughts and meandering points, but what rose to the top from those words and still resonates these many more moons later is this:

No matter what, always serve the song before the songwriter.

As in....I may be considered a folk singer, but let's not set out to make a folk album. Let's take each song and serve it individually and the sound of the album will unfold organically from there.

As in....I will sometimes play the "But it's my song, so I get my way" Pouty Princess when I'm behind the microphone or otherwise, but don't listen to ME, listen to the SONG. (Uh...and Mike has been a dang PRO at this task since moment one, much to my pouty princess chagrin...)

Going back to that Mission Statement has been a way to ground myself again, over and over, in what we're all trying to do here and reminds me that this is the stuff that will find us happy with the final result. Of the whole album. Of each individual song that we served. And how much we got out of the music-makin' process.

No matter what The Princess in me might say when those headphones are back on my head.

$360 to go to reach our first $5,000!!

C'mon, you KNOW you want your name in the CD booklet as a donator, don't ya? OF COURSE YOU DO! So get on over to the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com for details of how to make that happen and the other cool things you'll get for your very appreciated generosity.

New recording session coming up next week, HOORAY! Gigs being scheduled. Press being sought. Seeds A-Plenty Gettin' Planted Every Day.

And I will be asking The Boys if we can share a NEW song snippet with you in a week or two, as well, so don't touch that dial...there are more updates and new song teasers to come.

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

MIKE LESLIE is a multi-instrumentalist and an incredibly talented Musical Idea Guy who loves to "play with tape recorders." He's a bass player by trade and I just might step aside for a few seconds so that you can hire him, too. Mike can be reached at mleslie438@gmail.com. You can hear some of Mike's bass work and check out his rock band's happenings at www.citizensofcontraryknowledge.com. Or just give him a shout to tell him THANK YOU for all he's doing to make these new songs sound so very GOOD and make my lil musical dreams come true.

I (Afore-mentioned Pouty Princess) can be reached at:

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.cdbaby.com/haase

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

www.wrmusicreview.com/profile/jenniferhaase

www.myspace.com/rhymeswithclassy

Yes, I'm on twitter. Follow me! @jenniferhaase

Yes, I'm on Facebook. Come Befriend Me!

Yes, the songs from my first album "Listening Chair" are available at cdbaby.com, amazon.com, iTunes.com, rhapsody.com and napster.com, etc, etc, etc.

Hello, Serena. :)

2009-09-16T10:17:00.000-04:00

This is a shout out to lovely, creative, poetic Serena who I met at twitter and seems to have added herself to my blog followers within the past 24 hours.

I see you, Serena, and I am so flattered that you came.

Thank you for being here.

:)

jennifer

Thank you, CLARE COOPER!!

2009-09-16T10:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Clare,

Well, you just swooped in like a refreshing rain, comparing notes on being a musical mid-lifer, like me, sharing your songs, listening to mine and then DONATING to my making-of-the-album fundraiser, WOW!! I love that we've both worked with my producer, Mike Leslie, and that we're both doing what we can to lead satisfying, creative lives.

Your support means so much. I look forward to getting to know you and your music even better as we go!

Thank you!!
Jennifer

out here WORKIN' IT...

2009-09-15T12:22:00.000-04:00

Dear Haase Fans & Friends,

Cats are snoozin'. Sun is shinin'. Had a vegan sugar-free cupcake on Sunday from babycakes in NYC that is still making me smile from the creamy, rich memory of it, mmmmmmmm. Could life POSSIBLY get any better?

Why, yes, My Pretties. Here's some really way cool stuff to add to that list of good, good things.

What I've done in the past handful of busy, productive days:

1. Submitted songs for 2 different independent films, one Canadian.

2. Submitted for a podcast slot with Women's Radio and built a website, complete with 3 blog posts, at www.wrmusicreview.com. My blog posts were featured on the home page (by the website host) within the first couple of days, as well, hooray!

3. Requested a coffee house gig in upstate NY. Waiting to hear.

4. Sent another (reminder) email to Bug Music, asking for their interest in representing me with song licensing, etc.

5. Submitted song lyrics for the American Songwriter Nov/Dec Lyrics contest.

6. Bugged my record producer and recording engineer daily. I've become very good at this one. If you need tips for how to bug your musical team consistently and find them still answering your calls 7 times out of 10, you let me know.

7. Made chutney for the first time, wooo-hooo!! Sweet & Sour Apple Chutney with honey & agave nectar instead of sugar. I've been avoiding sugar for 7 months now. And, wow, does that feel good.

We're hoping to reschedule a recording session planned for 9/9 into sometime next week and I'll update you about all that soon, too. I've got lead vocals for 4 songs to get "on tape" right away as well as a couple of rhythm guitar tracks to lay down, too.

AND...as always....we're trying to raise some money to keep workin, dude!

As a reminder of my NO MORE INVITATIONS donations drive details, I've included them below.

TO MAKE AN ACTUAL DONATION, please visit the home page at my website at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

We're still in NEED of $375 to reach our first $5,000 raised and I will keep working to raise it with your support, your help and your cheers from the sidelines.

It all helps make it happen and I appreciate you being part of this project and this journey so much!

______________________________________

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

www.cdbaby.com/haase

www.myspace.com/rhymeswithclassy

www.wrmusicreview.com/profile/jenniferhaase

www.sonicbids.com/jenniferhaase

Yes, I'm on twitter! As jenniferhaase

Yes, I'm on Facebook, too! Just a profile for now. Hoping to load in a Fan Page there this week, too.

___________________________________________

HERE ARE THE DONATION PRIZE LEVELS, FOLLOWED BY TERMS & CONDITIONS. TO DONATE, PLEASE VISIT THE HOME PAGE AT WWW.RHYMESWITHCLASSY.COM FOR THE PAYPAL LINK OR TO GET A SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS.

HAPPY "SHOPPING" AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!

$15 Donation=CLASSY FAN

One copy of the full album (as a download or printed package, your choice) sent to you at the release date, PLUS a fun surprise goodie and we're not saying what it is yet!

$25 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN

One ADVANCE copy of the full album (at least 2 weeks before the rest of the planet gets theirs) which I will sign if you order the printed package (download alternative available), PLUS the aforementioned surprise goodie that we're designing now.

$50 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT

Same gifts as the ULTRA CLASSY FAN level, but YOU get a thank you in the credits on the album itself as an extra special bonus. Neat!!

$100 Donation=ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT & A MERMAID

Same great gifts as ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT, but in addition to your thank you from me in the album credits & all that jazz YOU get a very special custom "The Mermaid Sessions" t-shirt signed to you (or to a gift recipient name of your choice) by me, my NYC record producer Mike Leslie and my NYC recording engineer Robert L. Smith. To read more about The Mermaid Sessions, please visit my website @ www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

$500 Donation=BEYOND CLASSY BENEFACTOR

My, aren't you generous! Your gifts include all the benefits of the $100 donation level (including that rockin' mermaid t-shirt!) but YOUR thank you in the album credits will have a special Benefactor section all its own. PLUS you'll receive a custom, and very cool, messenger bag that we would be happy to sign for you or as a gift for someone special on your shopping list.

$1,000 Donation=CARD-CARRYING CLASSY HAASE V.I.P.

Gosh, that's a LOT! So YOU--in addition to the $500 Benefactor Benefits--get a special laminated VIP pass which will allow you and a guest FREE entry into all of my shows through 2010 (including backstage schmoozin' at some Way Awesome Venues With some Way Awesome Performers Who Accompany Me). You will have VIP status, seating and treatment at my CD Release Party in New York City (date/venue TBD) and you will get a special feature spot on my website with your photo and a big thank you message from me.

$2,500 Donation=EXECUTIVE CLASSY HAASE V.I.P.

Wait, REALLY? That's incredible!! You, my friend, get ALL the VIP status perks and goodies (See you at the VIP table at my CD Release Party!) PLUS you and a guest will be treated to a very special (and darn swanky) New York City Executive VIP Thank You Dinner with my mega-talented NYC record producer and recording engineer in tow, plus all the other Exec. VIPs. We will wine, dine, talk music and we'll play you a song or two if you ask us to. (Date/venue TBD around the time the CD releases)

$5,000 (or more) Donation= PATRON SAINT OF ALL THINGS CLASSY

OMG, WOW!!! My Dear, if you donate that much money to my musical dream you not only get every incredible gift mentioned above, with full Executive VIP benefits, but you will also get your VERY OWN "THANK YOU" PAGE in the CD booklet featuring your photo, a printed Q&A between you and me, and crediting you with your AMAZING generosity! AND LAST BUT NOWHERE NEAR LEAST a FREE house concert in your honor at a time and place agreed upon by you and me where I will sing a song I personally wrote all about YOU and then gift you with a recorded copy of that song, as well. Holy Cow, that's a SWEEEEET Gift Package and YOU EARNED IT, thank you so much!

________________________________________

TERMS & CONDITIONS

THANK YOU FOR DONATING! When you make your donation, we will ask you to give us some personal information (your name, address, email, phone, etc) in order to be able to award you with the fun Donation Level Perks & Prizes. You agree to provide this information and we agree not share it with any persons or parties not involved with the organizing and managing of our donation drive for NO MORE INVITATIONS and of Jennifer Haase's fan base mailing list.

IP address information gathered via the web server when paying via PayPal might be used to analyze any instances where abuse or fraud is suspected.

All PayPal transactions are protected by the security of PayPal themselves and we (Jennifer Haase & Donations Crew) will NOT have access to your payment information (credit card #, bank account #, etc). If you have any questions regarding PayPal's policies, please visit their website at www.paypal.com.

When you donate to Jennifer Haase's NO MORE INVITATIONS DONATIONS DRIVE, you agree to letting us add your name and email address to our email mailing list and we will send you periodic updates related to Jennifer's music, live shows, and general this-n-that.

These terms are subject to changes and amendments at any time, but we will post announcements of any changes on www.rhymeswithclassy.com on the home page.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO VERY MUCH!

Jennifer & The No More Invitations Donations Crew

The Students & The List

2009-09-09T18:36:00.000-04:00

My very talented singer/songwriter friend Patty Ocfemia called me today and said "I got us tickets to see Rosanne at St. Ann's Warehouse on October 10th!"

And as I was listening to her voice mail, I laughed out loud with total pleasure, thinking "As it should be...", while looking right at the St. Ann's Warehouse brochure I'd received in the mail a few days before, which was on my kitchen counter and already opened to Rosanne's page.

Patty and I are both former songwriting workshop students of "The Essence of Songwriting" with Rosanne Cash. And all these years later, we take turns treating each other to a new Rose show in NYC. We've seen her at the Rubin Museum several times. We've seen her at Battery Park City. We've seen her once before at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn and that's where we'll see her again for the launch of Rosanne's new album "The List" in October. (For more about Rosanne's new album and her tour dates, please visit her website at www.rosannecash.com).

We are NOT groupies, Patty and me. Well, OK, we're a little bit groupie-esque, yeah yeah OK. But it's still the student deep inside each of us that finds us wide-eyed with delight and awe at show after show. We always learn something new from Rose and always discover something new about our musical selves in the process. We always come away from hearing her play saying 2 things, "THIS is why we do this" and "We're so proud of our girl."

And after every Rosanne Cash show, I call up Mike, my record producer, and say "OMG, she was so AMAZING! I'm so excited! Let's get to WORK! Let's make an album! Let's take over the WORLD!" And he chuckles knowingly every time, saying "That's awesome, Jen! How about we do just one of those things first, OK?"

Um, whatever! ;)

This year at St. Ann's, I hope we can drag my recording engineer, Robert L. Smith, with us, too. Robert knows Rose's bass player, Jeff. And he knows her drummer for this gig, too, I think. In fact, that guy is so well connected I wouldn't be surprised if he knows the lighting crew and the catering staff and half the attending audience. I wanted to drag Mike along, as well, but alas....he'll be bass-playin' his brains out across the great USA that eve, so he'll just have to be happy with his late night phone call hearing me bounce off the walls from the fabulous night we all know it will be.

Sometimes I need these shows as very important reminders from people who know how it's done and are out there doing it. Personally, I think I should get college credits for every single Cash gig I catch. I come away from them completely inspired to excel creatively and ready to recommit to the hard, rewarding work all that requires.

Thank you, Rosanne. And thank you, Patty. See you both in October!

Love to All,

Jennifer

FUNDRAISER UPDATE!!!

We're just $375 away from reaching our first $5,000 raised, HOORAY!! Please help us make that happen by sending your music-lovin' friends to my website for details & song samples, please-oh-please!

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And PLEASE NOTE: If you cannot donate gobs of money but you'd like to pre-purchase my new album called NO MORE INVITATIONS due for release January 2010, you can do so from my PayPal Donation link on my website home page for $15. With that $15 you will also receive a special gift along with your pre-purchased CD, when released, so INVEST TODAY!

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My first album "Listening Chair" is also available for purchase for $10 at cdbaby.com/haase and all the money earned from those purchases are applied to our fundraiser efforts, too.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS & INDEPENDENT MUSIC!

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To DONATE & see what special perks and GIFTS you will earn with each donation level, please see the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

Thank you, DANA PARISH!!

2009-09-06T18:55:00.001-04:00

Dear Dana,

Finding your card, with donation check enclosed, made my day. Not just because your help is so very appreciated, which is it. Not just because your note to me was so lovely and supportive, which it is, too. It made my day, in addition to all that good stuff, because I know that YOU KNOW what it's like to get up every day and fight the good fight to live the creative life that you have always wanted. And every single day there's something new waiting in the shadows to leap out and try and knock the ball out of your hands.

So here's to getting up every day and trusting ourselves. Here's to knowing that sharing our creative gifts is a beautiful and admirable thing. Here's to believing in the dream when we're not living it and living it even when we don't quite believe in it as much as we used to do. Because that belief is still there, underneath all the struggle, and will recognize our voices when we next dare to call it home.

Thank you, Dana. For your friendship and your support and the amazing talent that you own and bravely share, too.

Love to You,
Jennifer

(To my Fans & Friends, please listen to Dana's beautiful songs here: www.myspace.com/danaparish. You'll be so very glad that you did.)

Thank you, KATE SULLIVAN!!!

2009-09-04T19:12:00.000-04:00

Dear Kate,

It's difficult to think of new ways to say how grateful I am and none of those words ever seem strong enough. I'm at a loss for the right words again now as I try and think of a way to THANK YOU for your donation that will fully express how much this means to me. Please know that I am deeply appreciative of your thoughtfulness, Ms. Garden Goddess!

Thank you so much for your support and your friendship. And for getting me up to the $4,600 mark in my fundraiser today, WOOO-HOOOOO!!!! You're the best!

Love,
Jennifer

Thank you, ANGELA HIPP!

2009-09-01T06:47:00.001-04:00

Dear Angela,

Never NEVER underestimate the power of FACEBOOK and the way it can reconnect people you haven't seen in years and years, eh? :) I'm so happy that you are one of those people I have reconnected with and I am so very grateful that you wanted to be part of this creative collective which is helping me find a way to do what I love to do.

THANK YOU for your donation, you Ultra Classy Haase Fan!! And for your very kind words to me in your donation message, which you can COUNT ON me quoting in my fundraiser updates, haha!

Big hug and Big gratitude to you...

Love,
Jennifer

THANK YOU, Karen Gutherless!!!

2009-08-31T19:15:00.000-04:00

Dear Karen,

My Dear, your donation today was support I really needed and I can't thank you enough. You are one of the most inspired people, hard-working, intelligent and loving people I know. It's a huge honor to have reconnected with you via Facebook (gotta love Facebook!) and to have you on my team of donators who are stretching deep in their pockets to help me reach my goal.

Thank you, my friend. Here's a big hug across the miles from me to you.

Love,
Jennifer

YAAAAY!!! $4,525!!!

2009-08-31T19:12:00.000-04:00

We're up to $4,525 in my NO MORE INVITATIONS making-of-the-album fundraiser! Can you believe that fabulous money-raising madness??!!

HOORAY!!

I am so keyed up about reaching $5,000 ASAP that I'm back in here to keep the momentum up and keep your brains working about who on your list of music lovin' friends might want to be part of our mission and our buzz.

Please get their OK first, but I would love it if everyone would send me TWO names this week of folks I could add to my mailing list. A friend, a co-worker, a family member, your stock broker (only if he's still employed, of course), your lawn care professional, your favorite bartender down at the Choke N'Puke, ANYONE you think would really enjoy the music I make and would like to be part of the barn raisin' for which we've all gathered here to do.

THANK YOU to my donators this past week, one of which is my former high school choir conductor Mr. Fred Ritter. Let me tell ya....when you're 41 years old and your teacher from high school throws you some money so your big mid-life dreams can come true, THAT'S what makes the world go round, my friends. THANK YOU, Mr. Ritter, for being so helpful to me both back then and now.

PLEASE help us reach our first $5,000 raised by sending us TWO NAMES of pre-approved folks who would like to be part of our journey and would like to be kept in the loop for updates on our album-makin' progress. We appreciate it very very much.

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

TO DONATE and receive some way cool stuff for doing so, please see details on my website's home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

TO LISTEN to a snippet of a new song-in-progress off my new album, called RESCUE DREAMS, please listen at the "music" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com. Please leave us a comment at the Guestbook, too!

TO KEEP UP with our album-making happenings and to READ THE THANK YOU NOTES that I post there for my donators, catch my blog at www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com.

____________________________________________________________

"All I need to say is that Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris are gonna be BUMMED they weren't on this one." --Robert L. Smith, NYC recording engineer for NO MORE INVITATIONS - www.defyrecordings.com

"Hi Jen, It was so great working with you. What a vibe you guys have going. I left feeling so good & took that with me to gig I had. Could use more days like that....Love to hear what you do with the tracks & be a part of that team anytime. Peace, Denny" Dennis McDermott, drummer - Email after Recording Session for NO MORE INVITATIONS

"The first time I heard Jennifer Haase sing, I got chills. She has an aching sincerity that you just cannot manufacture or cultivate. I think it stems from how deeply she throws herself into her songs and as a listener you are forced to feel it all with her and that of course is the good stuff." --Stephen Kellog (Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers) - www.stephenkellogg.com

"...it is the sense of melody combined with her evocative voice that really makes this a standout release." --Tom May, radio show host - River City Folk
"Jennifer is someone you could listen to for hours and beg for more when she's done. Highly Recommended." --Songwriter's Monthly magazine

"Introspective, lite guitar and big idea music from a voice that Can Sing." --Ben Ohmart - The Muse's Muse

"A brilliant, wonderful cd." [Listening Chair] --Derek Sivers - former owner of CD Baby

"Charming, down-to-earth folk-pop songwriter with catchy melodies and a devious sense of humor" --Alan Young, Bookings - www.theblulounge.com

THANK YOU, Mr. Fred Ritter, My Choir Teacher from High School!

2009-08-29T12:57:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Ritter,

You will likely always be "Mr. Ritter" to me, Fred, so please forgive the formality. It's what's familiar and it's full of respect, as always, for the great years I had in high school being a choir student of yours and under your wing as "Mrs. Peterson" in our high school production of "Bye Bye Birdie."

Those were tough years for me, overall. But in choir, I felt I belonged. And in choir was where the singer/songwriter in me grew to be.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your surprise and very generous donation today to the making of my new album. I cannot express strongly enough how much this means to me, especially coming from you.

Thank you for the gifts to me, then and now. I will not forget them. Ever. :)

Love,
Jennifer

Thank you, Julie Jo!

2009-08-23T15:00:00.000-04:00

Ah, My Sister My Sister....

This donation goes not just to my album-making bank account, but straight to my sappy sentimental heart and bounces all around my ventricles making my energy level jump and pop and thump and lub dub some deep love right back to you.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Julie, for your $200 donation!! A lovely surprise in our PO Box and such a generous thing to do when I know you could use that money, too.

Thank you for the letter you wrote for my donations drive. For the prize T-shirts you're designing. Heck, by the time this thing is done and with all the work plus money you're donating, you'll be sitting at that VIP table at the CD release if you can make it! :)

I love you. I appreciate you. And wow do I appreciate your hard-earned cash, too, haha!!

Love,
Jennifer

Thank you, Carolyn Edwards!!

2009-08-20T19:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Carolyn,

Seems like a thousand years ago that we worked together at Shakespeare & Co Booktore on East 23rd and Lex, NYC, doesn't it? I was a newbie to NY and hiring you was the first smart thing I did as a resident of this crazy faraway land. You were so supportive of me then and looky there....YEARS later and from your home in MA with your family that includes adorable twin boys....you're STILL so very supportive of me with your fabulous $100 donation to my making-of-the-album fundraiser!!

Thank you so much for helping me and for being a friend I miss and would help in a New York minute, too

Much love and many thanks!
Jennifer

Lil Miss Tenacious Flies Her Flag Higher

2009-08-17T12:15:00.000-04:00

Dear J'HA Peeps,

Just in case you wondered...

I am not about to shut-up and sit down.

$900 still to go to reach our first $5,000 raised.

RAH, RAH, FREAKIN' RAH, BABY!!

YES, WE CAN!!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Haase

To DONATE, please see details at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

What we did last week:

Recording Session! Rhythm tracks for 3 songs done, YAY!
Reached out to Joe's Pub NYC asking for a CD Release Show spot in Jan or Feb 2010. Please Stay Tuned. www.joespub.com
Requested an Autumn show at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC, for an intimate acoustic gig to help build the buzz
Requested an Autumn show with the Roxbury Arts Group in upstate NY to build buzz upstate, too
Sent a song to a top exec at Bug Music (www.bugmusic.com), asking his interest for more. Let the song licensing convos & contracts begin!
Recruited Ms. Jennifer Lavonier to help with publicity and she's already earned me a new donation from her efforts, thanks Jenn!

Please keep passing the music and our mission on. There ARE folks out there with the means and the desire to help. Thank you for helping me connect to them and they to me.

We'll be back in the studio very soon and our deadline for this album to be done, designed, mixed and mastered is November 15th. Everything we're doing is pay-as-you-go, so I HAVE to keep working the fundraiser every single minute possible in order to make the album happen at all.

Which is why I'm happily spending my lunch break today with all of you. :)

Thanks for all you do!

yes, I said THE WALDORF

2009-08-16T08:06:00.000-04:00

Dear Jennifer Haase Fans & Friends,

While you've been out there working your tails off, taking kids to the bus stop, healing from various ailments and doin' that day-to-day survival thing I have been begging for favors, pullin' some strings and budgeting my brains out in order to do THIS as a pampering TREAT for YOU....

Anyone who DONATES $1,000 or more to my NO MORE INVITATIONS Donations Drive TODAY, Sunday 8/16, will get two PAID nights--at the time of my CD Release show at Joe's Pub in NYC in Jan or Feb (date TBD)--at none other than...

The Waldorf Astoria!! www.waldorfastoria.com

That's right, The Waldorf. A gorgeous abode with rich history and very much a New York treasure.

We will also cover your cab ride to and from the CD release show so the only worry you'll have is what the heck you're gonna wear for your night of live music in the Big Apple.

PLEASE REMEMBER that donating $1,000 also earns you the Perks & Prizes of the CARD-CARRYING CLASSY HAASE V.I.P:

Advanced signed CD (or download, your choice) at least 2 weeks before the rest of the world gets one
A special THANK YOU in the album credits for being a donator
Signed THE MERMAID SESSIONS t-shirt
Way Cool NO MORE INVITATIONS Messenger Bag
A VIP pass that allows you free entrance & backstage access at all of my shows through 2010
Special seating and Classy Haase VIP treatment at the CD release show itself

No matter WHEN you donate $1,000, you will receive the VIP perks, but THIS WEEKEND ONLY earns you the two PAID nights at the WALDORF, so if you were thinking of giving generously we're gonna reward you in a BIG WAY for doing it NOW.

Because you deserve it. Because we love you. Because it will be really fun to see how happy you are to be spoiled like that and we think you'll really enjoy seeing how happy WE are that you helped us out in such an important way.

It's a win-win, Baby! See you there!

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

TO DONATE, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

"Jennifer, Thank you for playing for us. You are surely a class act. We have had a lot of artists come through, but you really rank up with the best of them. You are a true professional in the highest regard. We loved it, and we had quite a few comments the next day about your music from people who came in. Thanks again, and I hope whenever you come back to Omaha that we can have you again." --Jeff, bookings @ The Foundry

Weekend SPECIAL! Act NOW!!

2009-08-14T16:04:00.000-04:00

I've received lots of great messages on Facebook today after announcing that I've made my initial request to book Joe's Pub for my CD release show in Jan or Feb 2010, thank you!! A handful of you that live in other states, and even other countries, have expressed that you'd love to be there if the timing works out for your travel schedule.

So I'm going to offer up an EXTRA SPECIAL INCENTIVE this weekend only toward that goal!

Anyone who donates $1,000 or more between now and the end of the day Sunday 8/16 to my NO MORE INVITATIONS Making-Of-The-Album Donations Drive will not only receive the rewards of my donation drive's CARD-CARRYING CLASSY HAASE V.I.P. status but you will ALSO get TWO NIGHTS FREE at a really nice NYC hotel (TBD) at the time of my CD release show (date TBD).

If you give now.....we give back to you in this way then. And we'd LOVE to have you at the New York City CD release show!

Let us know if you have any questions and remember that PayPal accepts credit cards, wink wink! ;)

THIS OFFER ENDS SUNDAY NIGHT 8/16, SO PLEASE ACT NOW!

And thank you. You are supporting the arts and independent music and a woman who is so very grateful for the help in making my album happen.

To DONATE and for more details about the donations drive in general, please visit the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

THANK YOU!

Jennifer Haase

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

PS...WELCOME, WELCOME all those new to my blog! Please visit www.rhymeswithclassy.com to hear music samples at the "music" link....see fun fan quotes at the "press" link and to learn all about my donations drive. Please say hello in the "Guestbook" link there, too!

Another Incredible Mermaid Session Down, Baby...

2009-08-14T07:32:00.000-04:00

There is a deep inner buzz inside my body that I feel for days and days after a really fun & productive recording session. It's a mix of satisfaction and excitement that makes it hard for me to sit still, in a very good way.

Add that feeling, that I am still feeling after our August 11th rhythm track recording session, to the additional and even mightier feeling of gratitude I feel for all of you who have helped me do this and you've got yourself one musical girl bouncing off clouds like a fairy who's smoked a great deal of moon dust, dude.

Or a mermaid who's very high on her life's creative waves.

We knocked out rhythm tracks for songs called BEAUTIFUL MAN.....NEW PINK SWEATER....and ALL OUT OF TRY in that little, funky bohemian FABULOUS hidden gem of a studio in Long Island City called A BLOODY GOOD RECORD. (www.abloodygoodrecord.com) Denny McDermott on drums once again WOWED us with his enthusiastic genius and Way Cool-ness Factor while being the nicest down-to-earth guy you'd definitely want on your musical team. Mike Leslie, my record producer, on bass provided--as always--EXACTLY the right deep tone bass line stepping stones that guided my rhythm guitar strummin' as close to the pocket as I could get on that particular day.

And where would be be....I say where would we BE without that make-it-seamless-and-smooth professional hand of our engineer, Robert L. Smith (www.defyrecordings.com), at the controls. Seriously, there is NOTHING more worthy of your time and money than investing in a REALLY GOOD recording engineer and every musician to back-up singer worth their salt will say the very same thing, amen.

We worked hard. We laughed. We feasted on a picnic of sammiches and cold risotto. We praised the success of my donation drive with the shock and awe that we still feel from receiving this kind of support and generosity. Seriously, thank you so much.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Getting to the $5,000 mark and to our $15,000 goal ASAP!!! To keep this album moving forward, I've got to raise a lot more dough right the heck now. Mike and I studied the calendar and determined that in order to release this album in early January 2010, we've gotta have it all done by mid-November to get recording-plus-design to the manufacturer. That gives them enough time to press and ship my completed discs to arrive to me just before the holidays. So in this pay-as-you-go process, I've gotta keep raising funds and FAST.

Toward that goal, I've recruited my good friend Jennifer Lavonier ("LAW vone yay") to my "Street Team" in an ultra-important capacity of Part-time Publicist-Slash-Right-Hand-Gal to help me with networking, out-reach, building my mailing list and regular brainstorms about how we can get the job done. Jennifer is a brilliant, hilarious, creative, hard-workin' go-getter who was my boss years ago at a children's bookstore in NYC called Books of Wonder and I find it maybe a little bit TOO satisfying to now be HER boss in some small way, haha! Payback, Jenn! Bring me some coffee and get to WORK! wheee, this is fun!

Thank you, my generous fans, for helping me do this. Please keep those new mailing list names and hearty donations coming. We love you madly for it. We really do.

Jennifer Haase

TO DONATE and see the fun PERKS & PRIZES you earn for doing so, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

TO HEAR A NEW SONG-IN-PROGRESS we're working and leave us your comments at the Guestbook, if you're so inclined, please click in the "music" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com and listen to RESCUE DREAMS.

My Sister In Your Ear

2009-08-10T18:40:00.000-04:00

Dear Fans & Friends of Jennifer Haase...

NOW my target is the mighty $5,000 mark. We need $950 to get there. We're adding new names to the mailing list every day. Please keep 'em comin'! We're marketing our brains out via social media and that's working wonders, YAY! We're compiling your promotion idea suggestions and getting started on other outreach, too. Details to come.

But to reach this first big $5K milestone, I decided it was time to bring out the Big Guns. The Crown Jewel. The Ace in the Hole.

My Baby Sister, Julie. :)

Julie is two years younger than me (that makes her 24...ha!) and never did quite understand that it's the OLDER sister who is supposed to be the boss and the tougher of the two. I think she takes a bit of secret delight in the fact that I still have scars to prove that she used to kick the crap outta me as a young, fragile thing but she sure taught me a thing or two about fighting for myself and for what I want.

And now, with the note to YOU from her below, she's helping me fight the good fight to make this album happen, too.

Here you go.....a word from my SISTER.....

I have to admit, when my sister first started taking guitar lessons, I thought it was . . . cute. When she told me she was writing songs, I was a little nervous. What if they suck? Do I have to pretend to like them?

It’s strange to think that you can live your whole life with someone and not know how unbelievably talented they are.

I don’t remember which song she played for me first, but I distinctly remember the night she played me “Dear Mrs. Claus.” We were in our dad’s house in North Platte, Nebraska, for Christmas (how appropriate!). Sitting in Dad’s back family room after he had gone to sleep for the night, Jennifer sat down and played me this little song she’d been working on. Holy crap, I almost cried! I don’t know if it was the lovely sentimental lyrics, the sweet soothing melody, or my sister’s amazing, clear, beautiful voice. All I know is that I was an instant fan.

A lot of people, myself included, have been very anxious and even more impatient for Jennifer’s sophomore release. The freshman effort, Listening Chair, is so freakin’ great that expectations are, not surprisingly, very high. I think it’s safe to say that we each have just a handful of favorite artists whom we KNOW will never let us down musically. If Jennifer isn’t on that short list for each and every one of you, then you haven’t been paying attention.

The bottom line? If you don’t help her pay for this CD, then I’m going to have to, so step up people!!

Just kidding! The truth is that whatever support you can afford to give is more of an investment than a gift. You’re investing in a crazy talented musician who’s music will not disappoint. I guarantee it.

(Seriously, don’t make me pay for this thing!!)

Thanks! --Julie Haase, wicked proud sister and #1 fan

Just $950, folks.

YES, WE CAN!!

To DONATE and for details about the PERKS & PRIZES you earn by doing so, please visit the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

To HEAR a snippet of a song-in-progress called RESCUE DREAMS off the new album called NO MORE INVITATIONS, please visit the "music" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

To READ a collection of some of the great QUOTES I've been collecting since we started our fundraiser, please see the "Press" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

Thank you, Julie Jo, I love you!

Jennifer Haase

www.pattiwitten.com

2009-08-08T09:07:00.000-04:00

And here's a link to Patti Witten's beautiful brilliant music, Folks.

Please treat yourselves to her songs and CDs!

jennifer

Thank You, Patti Witten!

2009-08-08T09:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Patti,

THANK YOU for donating, my incredibly talented friend!

Here's to all the times we feel empowered by the craft of song.

Here's to all the times we know that craft, that gift, is there for the taking when we next need it.

THANK YOU for appreciating my struggle and wanting to help. THANK YOU for knowing what it's like to want something really special happen and the hard work it takes to get it done.

Much love to you. THANK YOU!!

Jennifer

4,050!!! 4,050!!!

2009-08-07T08:25:00.000-04:00

We've raised $4,050 in just over FOUR WEEKS, OMG!!! I am so grateful to ALL OF YOU!!

Less than 10 minutes after I sent out my last email, stating that we had just $79 to go to reach the $4,000 mark, Mr. Frank Thompson donated exactly $79 bucks to make it happen. THANK YOU, FRANK! And this morning, having learned that we got to $4,000 and wanting to give me a nice headstart toward the big $5k milestone, Jan-Oliver Wenzel donated 50 more bucks. THANK YOU, JAN!

Because both men, Frank and Jan, have donated more than once....and because they each are so very talented in their own rights as a writer and filmmaker (Frank) and photographer (Jan), I'm including their websites below so that I can spread the word about their work. It's the LEAST I could do!

Frank Thompson: www.frankthompson.tv

Jan-Oliver Wenzel: www.janoliverwenzel.com

Thanks again, Gentlemen!

And thanks again to my generous friends Patty Ocfemia, Jennifer Lavonier, Mike Moran and Suzanne Henry who all donated gorgeous heaping piles of sparkly coinage over the past week or two, as well. YOU COMPLETE ME! ;)

Onward to our first $5,000!! just $950 needed to get there, YAY!!!

Our next recording session is just a few days away (Tuesday, Aug 11th in NYC) and I have to buckle down now and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Denny McDermott (drums), Mike Leslie (bass and record producer), Robert L. Smith (recording engineer) and I are all heading out to a Long Island studio to lay down some rhythm tracks for 3-4 new songs.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME PAY FOR IT! I look forward to telling you all about the session late next week.

Please keep sending me mailing list names and your fundraising ideas! Those are JUST AS IMPORTANT as actual monetary donations, so if you'd like to contribute to the cause but can't spare some dimes PLEASE KNOW that you helping me build my mailing list is a huge step toward building momentum, awareness and, don't forget, ALBUM SALES.

Amen.

Dear $5,000, get ready. Here we come....

Love to All,

Jennifer

To DONATE for the making of my new album called NO MORE INVITATIONS, please see details on the home page of my website at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

To hear a brief snippet of a NEW SONG we're working on, called RESCUE DREAMS, please click on the "music" link at my website at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

"79 bucks, huh? Okay, you're at $4000. I'm a miracle worker, huh?" --Frank Thompson, PayPal donation message

"As the 79 USD slot in week 4 has been filled by others let's make a headstart to week 5 ... ;-)" --Jan-Oliver Wenzel, PayPal donation message

Frank Thompson, YOU ARE SO AWESOME!!!

2009-08-05T20:10:00.001-04:00

Dear Frank,

You donated $100 earlier this week, which was incredibly generous. You already helped in a huge way and I thank you!

Then I sent out an email about 10 minutes ago telling the world I just needed $79 to reach our first $4,000 raised and BAM here came $79 from your wallet to mine. JUST LIKE THAT.

YOU ARE SO KIND!! And I laughed so loudly and joyfully when your paypal donation came through, at exactly the amount I needed to reach a goal, that my poor cat jumped sky high from shock, too, haha!!

THANK YOU, Frank!! Thank you so much!

love,
jennifer

idea me

2009-08-05T20:03:00.001-04:00

"Diamonds are only chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs, you see." --Minnie Richard Smith, poet

Dear J'Ha mailing list,

Former President Bill Clinton hopped on a billionaire's plane, had cup after cup of green tea with North Korea, and brought two weary, pardoned journalists home.

Now THAT, my friends, is a kick-ass NEGOTIATOR.

Mine eyes spilleth over with joy from this news. And my own negotiator spirit has kicked back into highest gear, inspired by this and by your voices in my ears.

Thank you for all your notes of encouragement this week! Our donation drive is one very successful month old today.

We've raised ALMOST $4,000, but there's STILL $79 to go to reach it! Please keep passing me along to new music lovers and WELCOME to those of you just joining us for this crazy, wonderful ride!

This week, I want your ideas. If YOU were raising money via donations to pay for an album, how would YOU raise it? Who would YOU contact? How would YOU build your mailing list more quickly? Where would YOU go for the support you needed?

Besides to the guy who gave Clinton a lift across the ocean and back.

Unless you have his number, of course. ;)

Please "idea" me!

Love to all,

jennifer

To see the GREAT perks & PRIZES you earn with your donations, please see the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

To keep tabs on our album-makin' and fundraising progress, please visit my blog at www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com.

To hear a brief piece of a NEW SONG called "Rescue Dreams" from my new album called NO MORE INVITATIONS, please click on the "music" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

"Keep swimming my friend! Soon you will see the shore - and maybe even some dancing penguins!" -- Matthew Gallagher, very supportive & a little bit silly email (muah!)

just keep swimming

2009-08-03T20:38:00.000-04:00

Dear Jennifer Haase Fan Mailing List...

When I first moved from NYC to the Catskills, I was feverishly reading every biography I could find about women overcoming monumental obstacles in their pursuits of healing or happiness or both. One of my favorites is called SWIMMING TO ANTARCTICA: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer by Lynne Cox.

Lynne Cox is an incredibly tenacious athlete who for years made it her specialty to swim through sub-zero temperatures for long distances to beat unbeatable records and test her own stamina and strength. From a young swimmer training in swimming pools to a tough, seasoned medal-winner training between stunning ice floes, this woman not only convinced her body and brain that she could survive those crazy-cold swims she convinced many a persnickety hard-won foreign government she could swim their wild waters, too.

Back in the days before the Internet, Lynne wrote letter after letter asking permission to swim various wicked far away waves. If a letter wouldn't work, she'd show up and plead her case in person. And once given permission to make her swims, she needed sponsors, coaches, navigators, boat captains, interpreters, accommodations, and medical assistance at the ready should the freezing waters harm her like they would most warm-blooded folks like you and me.

Tomorrow marks the end of the 4th week of my Donations Drive and I can feel this swim, MY swim, starting to get harder. The $4,000 mark is eluding me by $129 and I experienced just a few indulgent moments today of self-doubt.

But then here comes Ms. Cox swimming alongside me, handing out some tough love over the choppy sea. Telling me to stop being such a Sissy and get a MOVE ON. "The water gets colder when you stay still, Haase!" And, wow, is she right.

Though I'd still like to splash her right up the nose, just the same. ;)

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

PS...WELCOME to all those who just joined my mailing list! Thanks for being here!

TO DONATE to the making of my new album called NO MORE INVITATIONS, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com. To keep up with my making-of album happenings, please visit www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com. To hear a brief snippet of a song-in-progress off my new album, called RESCUE DREAMS, please click the "music" link at my website at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

"The first time I heard Jennifer Haase sing, I got chills. She has an aching sincerity that you just cannot manufacture or cultivate. I think it stems from how deeply she throws herself into her songs and as a listener you are forced to feel it all with her and that of course is the good stuff." --Stephen Kellogg, http://www.stephenkellogg.com

Please Send Me Six!

2009-08-01T10:41:00.000-04:00

Dear Haase Fans,

I'm listening to Michael J. Fox's audio book ALWAYS LOOKING UP. I'm reading THE TIPPING POINT and GETTING TO MAYBE: HOW THE WORLD IS CHANGED and THE SEED HANDBOOK: THE FEMININE WAY TO CREATE BUSINESS. I'm rehearsing, writing press kit bios & blurbs and networking on Facebook like a mad woman. I will soon be booking some local gigs and showcases. I'm meditating and praying and writing notes of intent to pass through the smoke of late night candle flames and then store under shiny chunks of amethyst and tiger eye. I'm falling asleep with the pages of Performing Songwriter magazine stuck to my face.

My dear friend Lillian Penchansky, who also donated to the making of my album, said to me about the fundraising work I'm doing "That's a full-time job." She is so very right. Most of the minutes not already spent on my day job are soulfully tied to this fundraiser and the making of my album and my life's biggest push toward a creative career. And I couldn't be more thrilled to be working this hard.

But there is a great deal of hard work to do, so I want to say a huge THANK YOU again for the donations you send and for the people you add to my mailing list. It takes a village and I'm very grateful that you are mine.

I'm aiming hard for the first $5k. I'm aiming for it until my eyes get blurry and my knees start to shake.

There's only $1,129.00 to raise to get there.

And I have a new, specific request based on the Law of the Few and Ye Ole 6 Degrees of Separation. If you send me just 6 names to add to my mailing list, of folks you think might love what I do and want to support it, I'll bet I could get to that first $5k in record time. Just six new people. Six degrees between this dream and you and me.

So send me six, won't you?

With their permission, of course!

With Great Gobs of Joy & Gratitude,

Jennifer Haase

Thanks for all your wonderful comments about my song-in-progress RESCUE DREAMS, which you can hear on the "music" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com! Here are some more great quotes I've been receiving about the song, below.

To DONATE, please see details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

To keep up with my "making of..." album blog, please visit www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com.

_____________________________________________

"Love it! Knew I would! Can't wait for the whole album!! Your voice makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!" --Michelle Ragle, Facebook Wall Post after hearing the song snippet of RESCUE DREAMS.

"Oh my freakin Lord!!!!! That is awesome!!!!!!! I loved your other album, but this little taster is even more up my alley, and you sound deliciously mellifluous!!! LLOOOOOOOOOOVVE IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! Move over, Dar Williams! Rock on, Lady"--Susan Stillman, email after hearing the song snippet of RESCUE DREAMS at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

"No "B" sides just beautiful on all of your music, Jennifer. Me and my big mouth with spread the word. Keep on keepin' on and thank you for sharing yourself with us." --Kathryn Boccardi, Facebook wall post after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet

"I'm liking this a whole lot, Jennifer. Makes me pretty impatient for the finished product. Get a move on!" --Frank Thompson, Facebook wall post after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet

"It is beautiful Jennifer. I can't wait to play the new CD over and over and over and over!" --Denise Moser, Facebook wall post after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet

"classic haase. i loved the rhythm (and rhyme) of 'to where our soulmates
aren't the bad guys
and a scandal's not a franchise
and you don't have to be
alone in this at all' i wanted to build on that sound. that's the power in this song" --Bill Baskett, Facebook wall post after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet

"Hi Jennifer, fantastic song, keep the updates coming, i know England is a long way away but it needs more of your songs!!!! keep up the great work." --Nigel Sholl, Facebook Wall Post after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet

All 1:21 minutes of the Rescue Dreams snippet is addicting! If this is any indication of the rest of the cd,i can't wait to hear it! Jennifer Haase has a voice that contains so many different feelings and emotions,it makes you want more. I've heard this woman sing in person. There is no studio trickery going on here. She is a naturally great singer and songwriter. And a pretty good 6-stringer as well. " -James Vasquez, Guestbook post at www.rhymeswithclassy.com

--

Storytime...

2009-07-29T18:51:00.000-04:00

Dear Beloved Haase Fans,

I was once passionately kissed by a handsome complete stranger while standing on the sidewalk in Harlem NYC.

Picture it. Full sunny day. Girl easing down the sidewalk toward home.

Girl walks by Boy. Boy looks her up and down. Boy stops. Boy grins. Boy says a soft n' slow hello. Girl says "ooh, noooo you don't..." from her own grin, wags a "no-no" finger at him (blushing, delighted, her hips swaying just slightly more than before) and keeps on walkin'.

Girl feels good. Knows Boy is watching her go. Girl turns around to do the quick-peek-check and, sure enough, Boy is watching. And still grinning. And begins to slowly, confidently follow Girl.

Girl's heart gets all fluttery as she giggles, turns back around and keeps going. Girl rounds the corner of her block. Girl peeks again.

Boy is right there. Two feet away. Boy stops just short of girl and smiles. Boy asks Girl's name. Boy is wearing long shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt. Boy's exposed skin is beaded with sweat and absolutely glistening.

Boy and Girl exhange names. Girl says to Boy "I think your name is Trouble." Boy smiles at this and shakes his head. Boy asks for Girl's phone number. Boy inches closer. Boy glances at Girl's lips. Repeatedly. There are several beats where neither Boy nor Girl say anything. Slow, warm blood-rushing seconds between two strangers who just might never see each other again.

Boy leans in. Boy holds Girl's face between his big, warm hands. Boy softly touches his mouth to Girl's and kisses her like she's the only girl alive.

A few years later, Girl writes about it to her fan base while trying to decide if this story actually has a relevant point.

Other than as a damn good attention grabber, of course.

Maybe the point is to illustrate the Art of Attraction. Attracting abundance (donations) so that I can finish my album is a little like attracting a man on the sidewalk. Have faith in yourself and walk confidently forward and certain special folks will see the beauty in that and follow.

Though I find it helps to sway the hips a bit, in both situations, just in case.

Maybe the point is to ACT NOW. Fight for what you want and need and when it gets hard, work harder. Live like you only have today. Take a leap. Kiss a stranger. Trust yourself. Trust yourself. Trust yourself.

No, we didn't meet our $4,000 total funds raised goal by yesterday, the end of our third week of my NO MORE INVITATIONS making-of-the-album donations drive.

But we WILL raise it. And we WILL surpass it all the way to our final goal of $15,000.

How do I know?

Because I know how exciting it's going to be to follow it down the sidewalk toward home.

Because I know what toe-curling good stuff waits for me when we get there.

Thank you for your donations. Thank you for spreading the word. Thank you for supporting the Creative Girl in Me.

Love to All,

Jennifer Haase

TO DONATE, please visit the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com. To hear a snippet of a new song-in-progress called RESCUE DREAMS, click on the "Music" link at www.rhymeswithclassy.com. To keep tabs on our album-making progress, please visit www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

"congrats jen and more bravery putting up this partial song - you sound really great and that line 'a scandal's not a franchise' is genius. the whole idea of a song about rescue dreams is super good. gee, i think you'll go far!!! i know this will get you a lot lot lot of attention - all of it good, too. you go!!!!!" --Anne Carley, email after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

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"I just listened to it Jen and it is BEAUTIFUL.

This is going to be the most gorgeous album.

I am really proud of you." --Carrie Beehan, email after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.
___________
"You go girl!!!! Just listened to the snipe of Rescue Dreams…………Love, love, love it!!!! I am so happy that you are getting all these donations………..Well deserved!!!

Go for your dream!!!!!!"--Lillian Penchansky, email after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.

___________

"Like all of your other masterpieces, this little gem gave me the goosebumps on my arms and warm feeling in my heart that I have come to love and expect from all of your music. I am so excited! It's really happening!" --Melissa Gray, email after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet at www.rhymeswithclassy.com.
_____________

"That's fantastic, Jennifer! And, I love the song - and you." --Mom, Facebook Wall Post after hearing RESCUE DREAMS song snippet. (Thank you, Mom! I love you, too.)

Thank You, Dear Patty O!

2009-07-29T18:46:00.001-04:00

My Friend, Patty Ocfemia
Ye of the LIBERAL, DEMOCRATIC Maverick Mind ;)
I thank you from
the deepest place in my
fellow songwriter heart
for your generous donation
for the laughs and the guidance
and the songs,
always and OF COURSE
the songs
that we have shared
since rooming together
at Camp Cash 1997
when you took this star-struck
mid-western fraidy cat
under your wing and
made me feel OK to step
forward and keep stepping
forward from that little cabin room
on into the big big world

You are an inspiration
and a blessing
and I love you

HEAVY SET!
BIG BONED!
GOT HIS OWN
ZIP CODE!

Rock On, Dolly Lovah!

THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Love,
Jennifer

Thank you, Suzanne Henry!

2009-07-24T13:59:00.000-04:00

Suzanne,

Now THAT was a surprise!! Our first donation via mail, from such a talented songstress in your own right and one of the infamous Red Roomers from Camp Cash 1997. I appreciate it so much that you wanted to be part of the bonding fundraiser magic, too, with this help.

THANK YOU, SUZANNE!! For your generous donation of $100 and your really sweet note to me. Which I will quote in my next email to the fan base, YAY!!!

You'll get your signed advance copy of the CD, along with your signed Mermaid Sessions t-shirt AND a thank you as a donator in the album credits, too.

Thanks for your friendship and kindness from afar. I hope we can all get together and catch up in the Red Room flesh someday!

Love,
Jennifer

Thank You, Jennifer Lavonier!!

2009-07-23T06:38:00.000-04:00

Dear Jenn,

Yet another, but oh-so-fabulously-individual, long-time supporter of the music I make. A former boss lady of mine, too, back in our Books of Wonder days! And someone I have always respected and admired for your creative brilliance and tenacity in matters of a zillion things.

Plus, you're just a freakin' fun chick, haha!

Thank you VEEEEEDY VEEEEEDY MUCH for your rockin' awesome donation of $100, Girl!

I appreciate your investment in my musical moves forward.

Now let's start that Social Change Think Tank we keep talkin' bout, ya hear? You bring the notebook, I'll buy the wine!

THANK YOU!
love,
jennifer

Well, I didn't see THAT comin'!

2009-07-22T08:16:00.000-04:00

Dear Classy Haase Fan List,

Well, I was so certain we'd reach $2,000 total dollars raised by midnight the end of week two of my NO MORE INVITATIONS Donations Drive, but I was sorely mistaken.

We reached $3,471 total funds instead!!!!!!! OMG!!! OMG!!!

I got two final donations that bumped us up that high in the final hours.

First, an ULTRA CLASSY HAASE EX-BOYFRIEND WITH CLOUT & A MERMAID, Clyde Hollins, donated a very generous $100. :) As I stated on my Facebook page last night, maybe I wasn't quite as crappy a girlfriend once-upon-a-time as I thought I was, eh Clyde? haha! Thank you so much!

And second, weighing in at a whopping $2,000, was my very own dad. Doesn't that just make you say "awwww!!" with your hand over your heart? Actually, that huge donation came in the way of a debt to him dissolved. I recently sent him a check for $2,000 to repay a loan, which he ripped in half and sent back to me with "Jennifer Haase, ATTN: Donation Drive" written on the envelope. Soooo sweeeet!! So instead of paying back my father for helping me with a new house rental deposit and other bills paid, I get to put those funds into my NO MORE INVITATIONS Piggy Bank. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DAD!

WHAT NOW, JEN?

You shall hear a song-in-progress snippet off my new album!! Let me huddle with The Boys and figure out what we'll send you and beg them to let me send it later this week. Stay tuned!
We've already booked our full day Drum Session for August 11th in NYC, Wooo-hoooo!!! We're bringing back the GREAT Dennis McDermott on the skins & my producer, Mike Leslie, on bass to knock out rhythm tracks for 3-4 songs. More details to come.
We keep on working toward our final goal of $15,000 by sending out press releases this week, booking a few fund-raiser gigs, seeking corporate sponsorship, issuing a "limited edition" EP, linking with organizations that support our cause, etc. etc!

You will hear about all that AND MORE in the days and weeks to come!

THANK YOU!!

Love,

Jennifer

For details about our NO MORE INVITATIONS making-of-the-album Donation Drive, please visit www.rhymeswithclassy.com. To follow our progress, please check out my blog at www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com.

"This is one TALENTED, smooth voice little lady. After hearing Listening Chair, anyone would want to see a second CD happen. But beyond my own listening pleasure's selfish reasons, this is one very cool Gal." --Clyde Hollins, PayPal Donation Message

___________

"I'm pulling for you, Jennifer!" --Kelly Roberts, Facebook wall post

___________

"Hi Jennifer, wow what a nice person you are. And a great fundraiser - you just got a 50 bucks donation from my paypal account." --Jan-Oliver Wenzel, Facebook Message from Germany after donating the first time (Jan donated again the following day)

___________

"Jen: So excited to hear about your new album. That is so great. Of course, I will steer anyone and everyone your way." --Dave James, Facebook Message

___________

"Wheeeeeeeee!!!!!!! Yay! So glad you made your goal! Can't wait to hear the record girl!!!" -- Snow Bunny, email after donating

___________

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

Dear Clyde Hollins, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

2009-07-21T19:59:00.000-04:00

My Dear Ex-Boyfriend-Turned-Supportive-Friend-&-Benevolent-Donator, Clyde...

Oh, how lovely it is to receive such a GENEROUS donation from you, Clyde, thank you!! You once survived me as a romantic partner and somehow continued to be one of my biggest musical supporters and that really means a lot to me.

I will never forget our first date. It was raining on the Upper West Side when we sat down to dinner and you pulled out the CD booklet from my first album, Listening Chair, and asked me questions about the lyrics. I sat there staring at you with awe, thinking "Ok, this guy either has learned that asking a songwriter about her lyrics is the BEST way to woo her and FAST or he just lucked into it by accident." :)

Nah, I know it was no accident. That you were truly impressed with me as a singer from moment one and I am grateful that moment has brought us all the way to here, where you are once again making it clear to me that you like what I do and want me to be able to keep doing it.

That, my friend, is a gift all by itself. And it means even more that you are the giver behind it.

THANK YOU!!! ULTRA CLASSY HAASE FAN WITH CLOUT AND A MERMAID!! I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH!!

love,
jennifer

The FAQS, Ma'am...

2009-07-21T07:52:00.000-04:00

It's Tuesday Morning, last day of week two of this here NO MORE INVITATIONS album Donations Drive. Early morning, lunchtime, and all through the eve I'm knockin' on doors, dancin' on subways and generally making a happy fool of myself asking folks to support the arts, in particular mine.

Yesterday, we raised another $161, YAY!!! My dear friend Lillian Penchansky, my own record producer Mike Leslie (what the? I pay HIM!) and none other than THE Rosanne Cash, who already donated her gorgeous voice to my new song "Oneonta", donated funds to the cause. To say that I'm pleasantly surprised is a huge understatement. To say that I'm deeply grateful is just not strongly said enough.

To meet our goal of $2,000 by midnight tonight ('cause it just makes all of this more FUN when you get your Telethon On!) we need to raise an additional $629. A mere drop in the proverbial bucket toward our final goal of $15,000! But don't think I don't know how much money that is to most people. And don't think for a second that it's not a TREMENDOUS amount to me, too, or I wouldn't need to be here in your inbox shaking my coin can under your benevolent nose. :)

As your incredible donations and support emails keep coming in, I'm getting lots of questions, too, that I'd like to answer for you below. Keep those cards and letters a'comin', kids! And I'll keep answering to the best of my ability as we go.

And check out the NEW quotes from donators and other supporters below. Seems you all loved the quotes from yesterday and I have to agree that my fans are wonderfully quotable folks!

Thanks for making all this hard work fun, Everyone.

Love,

Jennifer

To DONATE, please visit www.rhymeswithclassy.com. And to keep up with our "making of..." album happenings, please visit www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com.

"This is payola. That harmony vocal comp better be stellar." --Rosanne Cash, PayPal Donation Message

___________

"All I need to say is that Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris are gonna be BUMMED they weren't on this one." --Robert "Lucky" Smith (NO MORE INVITATIONS Recording Engineer, a way cool nod to both me and to the incredible R.C.)

___________

"i'm completely floored by how you've taken this donation thing and made it work. you are truly a force, missy." --Mike Leslie (NO MORE INVITATIONS Record Producer)....(email prior to donating....stop donating! I owe you money!)

___________

"I've been a fan for many years...I love to play the 1st CD when driving...Can't wait for the next one!!! OK Jen I promise not to play it when we're driving together!" --Lillian Penchansky, Facebook wall post prior to donating

___________

"I am so proud of you for taking this leap of faith." --Amy Cassner-Sems, Facebook message after donating

___________

"Hey good to hear from you Jennifer, glad that things are going well for you and I am looking forward to hearing some new material from you. I would be happy to spread the word about your music to my friends so will ask as many of them as I can think of to visit your website :) You take care and you never know we may meet one day on your world tour!" Stuart Crawford, Facebook message from Glasgow

___________

"Its incredible how much has been raised so far and long may it continue. Its a shame you couldn't bottle up that voice of yours as you could sell a million bottles of that there honey!! Take care and keep on running." --Ricky Weaver, Facebook message (from the UK) after donating

__________

FAQS:

Q: Hey Jen, is it possible to donate to your NO MORE INVITATIONS album Donation Drive anonymously?

A: Hey, you betcha! Yes, of course, you can donate anonymously. I will know who you are, but if you prefer that I don't splash your name and/or your donation amount across my blog, website and emails, I am happy to thank you privately and leave you be.

Q: Yo, Haase! If I donate today and then donate again in a few weeks, does that bump me up to the appropriate higher Perks & Prizes Level in your donation drive?

A: YES, INDEED, IT DOES! For example, my good friend RBW donated $30 which made him an Ultra Classy Haase Fan. Then RBW decided that he needed, and I quote, "more CLOUT" so he donated another $20 in order to be at the $50 ULTRA CLASSY HAASE FAN WITH CLOUT level. Yes, if you donate more than once, we will keep bumping you up to each new prize level you've earned.

Q: So, Jennifer Lynn...how long will you be conducting your NO MORE INVITATIONS album Donation Drive?

A: Very good question and very easy to answer. We'll keep going until we reach our goal of $15,000! No matter how long it takes, Baby.

Q: Jen, I read in your Donation Drive announcement that you've already spent over $10,000 of your own on this project, PLUS you're looking to raise a whopping additional $15,000??? C'mon, Girl, this is the age of very affordable DIY basement recordings with an Mbox for 1200 bucks! Why in the world would you be spending so much money to make a record?

A: Ah, yes. I was wondering when that question would come. I didn't make an album at home in the basement because I wanted to make a really REALLY good one. See, I'm no techie. I'm just a songwriter. I had to hire someone to run the recording gadgetry. So I hired the best engineer I could find to make my REALLY good album. I had to hire someone to give me direction, who has a musical mind and a calming presence, to guide me and hire musicians and be able to speak musician-speak to us all. So I hired the best producer I could find to make my REALLY good album. And, folks, when you have Very Special Guest Vocals by Grammy-award winning Rosanne Cash on your album, you don't make that album in your basement for 1200 bucks, you feelin' me? Trust me, $25,000 total to make and promote (remember, some of those funds are for marketing costs, too) an album is a handful of PENNIES in comparison to the bulk of albums made in New York City. And we fully believe we'll earn that money back, when our REALLY good album returns our investment and then some, someday.

Q: I don't understand why your donation drive is called NO MORE INVITATIONS. Explain please!

A: Oh, gosh, sure! NO MORE INVITATIONS is the name of my new album-in-progress, which is named after the new song of mine called NO MORE INVITATIONS. There, see? At some point during the donations drive we'll share a snippet of this song, but because it's the title track of the album we'll probably save it until the very last. Anticipation!! Can you dig it??!! :)

www.rhymeswithclassy.com

www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com

Thank You, LILLIAN PENCHANSKY!

2009-07-21T05:21:00.000-04:00

Dearest Lillian...

Imagine your name in lights, glittering across The Catskills sky, with a flashing red neon sign that says "THANK YOU.....THANK YOU.....THANK YOU...." over and over and over above it.

Those thank-yous are for your years of friendship, for always supporting the music I make and for your spirited donation to the costs of making my new album in NYC.

Bless You, My Friend.

And THANK YOU for not playing my songs while we're riding in the car together, haha!! Play that stuff for your friends, not for me! :)

Much Love to You,
Jennifer

And You Shouldn't Have, Either, Mr. Leslie...

2009-07-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

So part of the reason I'm trying to raise money for this album is because I have a top-notch NYC record producer--who is also my bass player, guitar player, etc--who earns his living this way and, you know, I've gotta PAY the guy for his talent and his time.

So when that guy I'm trying to raise money to pay turns around and DONATES to my fundraiser, I first fall over from shock and then I scratch my head a little bit at how that works exactly.

But only for a minute, you see. Because after working with Mike Leslie for over 3 years now, I have become pretty good at what I refer to as "Mike Math" and here's how that does work, exactly.

Mike + Jen's Music= Really Magical Stuff
Mike x Jen's Emotionally Charged Music-Makin' Style = A More Centered Songwriter
100% of Mike's Patience, Mike's Compliments, & Mike's Unwavering Support= Everybody Survives Jen After All!

Dear Mike,
Thank you for supporting me and surviving me.
And paying your own way by always giving much more to this project than I could ever afford.

Thank you for your donation.
I'll have it back in your wallet in a matter of weeks....so there.

;)

love,
jennifer

Dear Mrs. Leventhal, You Shouldn't Have...

2009-07-20T18:42:00.000-04:00

...but wow does it feel amazing that you DID.

Rosanne, thank you. First for the gorgeous vocals on "Oneonta," one of the new songs that will be featured on NO MORE INVITATIONS when we get back to making this album happen again. The focus piece, the crown jewel, because you made it that way.

And now, your donation to the cause. Your empathy for DIY-ers. Your support of song makers and your support of me.

I wish I could say this more eloquently, but I am struck a little bit dumb by your generosity.

I told you recently that I will ALWAYS be a student of yours because you are constantly showing me how it's done. On stage, in the studio, in print, everywhere. I agree with you that Beginner's Mind is a great place to be and I'm so grateful to continue to learn from you.

I am happily and forever humbled by your prowess and your kindness.

Thank you, Maestra!!

Love,
Jennifer

$790, You Don't Scare Me...

2009-07-20T18:40:00.000-04:00

Dear $790,

You'd think I'd be even a teensy bit intimidated that I still have YOU to raise before we reach our $2,000 total funds goal reached by Tuesday night.

But when I re-read what folks have been saying to me about this NO MORE INVITATIONS fundraiser of mine, as they've been sharing their coins and mailing lists and cheers of support with me, well.....

...I don't doubt for a second that you'll find your way to me in a New York minute, Darlin'.

And it's YOU who should be scared, how 'bout THAT!

Very Sincerely,

Jennifer Haase

To DONATE to our NO MORE INVITATIONS album Donations Drive, please visit www.rhymeswithclassy.com. And don't forget to follow our "making of..." album blog posts at www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com.

"This donation carries my deepest respects for what you are doing. Build your dream, baby! I'm honored to stand behind you with a hammer and nails." --Deb Eisloeffel, PayPal Donation Message

---------------------------

"Jen, I'm so inspired by how you're making this happen. lots of love, Jo." --Jo Sumner, PayPal Donation Message

-------------------

"I saw you play at the ETG Bookcafe a few years ago, and got your CD which I enjoy. I think you are really good and am happy to support a rising star, even if in a small way." --Elke Lerman, email after donating

-------------------

"...it was completely MY pleasure. oh the pearls that shall be unearthed, oh the pearls..." --Mike Moran, email after donating

--------------------

"Does this donation drive of yours mean you're gonna ask me to cook for that swanky Executive VIP dinner? Don't think I don't see that comin'..." --Matthew Stillman, hilarious phone message (before donating handsomely...)

--------------------

"I love your voice and feel proud to know you! I wish
I could do more! You go girl!!!" --Michelle Ragle, email after donating

--------------------

"Good luck, looks like you have amazing friends and fans, I know you'll do it!" --Hugh Smith, email after donating

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"I just realized I need more CLOUT. And I need to see my name in print as much as possible, so I'm sending an extra $20 your way." --Robert Burke Warren, after donating a 2nd time. (Did I mention his name was ROBERT BURKE WARREN?)

--------------------

"Jennifer, are you sure you can handle all the stress from the excitement? I'll bet you already pee'd your pants! --Jennifer Swain, email after 1st $1,000 raised in the very first week. (Yes, I did, Jen. Yes, I did!)

Blessed Be The Quiet Days, Too

2009-07-19T19:18:00.000-04:00

Although we're still sitting at $790 to raise before Tuesday night in order to reach the $2,000 2nd week goal...

Although we haven't raised a single dime since yesterday...

I am still grateful for the "quiet" days.

Because that quiet is very deceiving.

Because quietly is how all seeds grow.

And I'm over here planting them. Row by Row.

Fistful by fistful sprinkled liberally into the summer wind.

Just like the quiet children, watch out for those Quiet Days.

They're so much more powerful than what they seem.

Amen.

There is a Songbird Named Denise...

2009-07-18T19:23:00.000-04:00

who sings
"why not me?"
bravely and joyfully
and I am listening
Denise,
I am listening
and feeling so brave and joyful, too.

THANK YOU, DENISE MOSER!
For your donation to my NO MORE INVITATIONS making-of-the-album fundraiser
For wanting to be part of my barn raisin'
For making your own creative magic happen in a way
that moves me to make some of my own

You are what the world means when they brag on Sisterhood
and the power such a connection can produce

Thank you for giving my dream a nice, cool drink of water, my friend.

Let me know when I can do the same for you.

Love to you,
Jennifer

Thank you, MICHELLE RAGLE!!

2009-07-18T18:32:00.000-04:00

Dearest Michelle,

Separated, like so many of us, by the years and wildly meandering direction of our lives since high school, you spotted me on Facebook a few months ago and started sending me the most heartfelt and complimentary notes after listening to my songs that I wondered how I'd ever survived as a struggling singer/songwriter without your benevolent voice in my ears!

Thank you, Michelle, for your donation today toward our next fundraiser goal of $2,000 total this week! I know we will get there and I will never forget that you helped me do it.

Love,
Jennifer

Thank you, HUGH SMITH!

2009-07-18T18:26:00.000-04:00

Dear Hugh,

To a fellow writer and one of my strongest supporters over the years, your donation to my NO MORE INVITATIONS donations drive is yet ANOTHER way you have humbled me with your kindness. Here's an official J'HA solute to you!! Can ya see me dancin'? I'm SHAKIN' it! I'M A SHAAAAAAAAAAKIN' IIIIIIIIT!!!!!

Bless you, my friend.

Love to you and your beautiful family, too.

Jennifer

What That Buys...

2009-07-18T13:01:00.000-04:00

Dear Jennifer Haase Mailing List,

It's been a week and change since we started this fabulous NO MORE INVITATIONS donations drive and our total to date is $1,160. I keep staring at my paypal account total with my mouth wide open and a fluttering in my chest. We have accomplished AMAZING stuff in record time and I THANK YOU!

But the recording work doesn't start happening again until we reach $2,000 and lemme tell you what that buys...

1. 8-10 hours in a recording studio in NYC for a very important drum session for 3-4 songs

2. Producer for said drum session

3. Engineer for said drum session

4. Drummer for said drum session

5. Bass Player for said drum session

6. Food, gas, tolls to get players to said drum session and keep their energy up and their musical minds and hands workin' hard

So that $2,000 mark is where we're all trying to get as soon as we can get there. That $2,000 mark is when our recording work comes back to life in a VERY BIG way.

Which is why I'm going to add a couple of fun benefits to helping me get there THIS WEEK! Yes, you read that right. We're going to reach $2,000 by midnight Tuesday night, the end of week two, and if you have your doubts about that then don't touch that dial because we're about to blow your mind, baby!!

If (WHEN!) we reach $2,000 total funds raised by midnight Tuesday night, July 28th, we will....

1. Release a snippet of a song-in-progress for NO MORE INVITATIONS so you can hear EXACTLY what your generous donations are paying for! When you help me reach my $2,000 goal THIS WEEK, I will share that song snippet with you later THIS WEEK, too!

2. At our drum Mermaid Session, which the $2,000 will buy us, I'll record a Donations Drive anthem that I am writing right now as a very special ode to everyone who is helping me. Post-session, we'll share that song with you along with details of what we accomplished at the session itself.

As of today, we have a MERE $840 to raise by Tuesday night.

EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY, Friends and Neighbors!

And I thank you in advance for all you are doing to help us get there. It's really incredible to be taking this journey with you.

Love to You & Yours,

Jennifer Haase & The Donations Crew

To DONATE, please find the details on the home page at www.rhymeswithclassy.com. And don't forget to keep up with our "making of..." blog posts at www.nomoreinvitations.blogspot.com.

First Week's $1,000 Goal MET & SURPASSED!!!!!

2009-07-15T07:06:00.000-04:00

YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS, WE DID IT!!!

Well, OK, YOU did it! All of you with your wallets in your hand and your music-lovin' heart on your sleeve, YOU made my first week's goal of $1,000 HAPPEN with $90 to spare toward the 2nd week's goal!

I'm sincerely all choked up. And I am so motivated to make this 2nd week of my NO MORE INVITATIONS Donations Drive just as good, if not better, but I've gotta take a few minutes to catch my breath and enjoy this moment with all of you.

Please know that I know how very VERY lucky I am because of your support of me.

THANK YOU, Jan-Oliver Wenzel for donating AGAIN to help me reach my first week's goal and thereby bumping yourself up to the $100 level and all the perks & goodies it provides! Wow, TWICE, Jan? High Five!!

THANK YOU Elke Lerman, for the CLASSY HAASE FAN donation from someone who saw me play a way cool coffee house in Staten Island way back in 2006, during a really nasty rainstorm. You braved the storm to see a stranger play. You bought my first CD. And here you are, back again to lend me another hand. PRICELESS!

Love to All,
Jennifer

You truly DO Rock, Ring Leader!!

2009-07-15T06:54:00.000-04:00

Dear Robert Burke Warren,

I haven't yet received your OK to mention your name and that you donated to help me reach my first week's fundraiser goal, but quite frankly Ring Leader, I don't give a damn! I'm gonna shout it out anyway, so there.

From day one at Camp Cash all the way to now, you have always been one of my biggest supporters and one of those folks who could turn my frown upside down just be being in the room. And I think that I can speak for everyone who knows you that they feel the same way about your presence and your personality, too.

I have learned much of what I have learned by watching you make your own career take the shape you wanted it to via all the blood, sweat and cheers.

Thank you, my very talented friend, for giving like you did and you do.

For those of you who aren't in the know, Robert is an amazing singer/songwriter of incredible songs for grown-ups, as well as for kids as his EXTREMELY successful alter-ego "Uncle Rock." You can find him at the links below and I encourage you to go seek him out right the heck now.

www.robertbwarren.com
www.unclerock.com

love ya, RL! Thank you!!
Jennifer

I Love Me Some Snow Bunny!

2009-07-15T06:45:00.000-04:00

Dearest Snow Bunny...

I shall protect your anonymity, my dear, but it won't prevent me from saying quite publicly how much it means to me that you donated to help us reach our first week's goal. And I know there is an incredible amount of love and support behind that donation and I send a heart full of the same sentimental stuff back to you, too.

You once planted a prayer flag on the top of a faraway mountain with my name on it. I still cry grateful tears when I think about that incredible gift. Add this gift to THAT and, well....it renders me a thousand times stronger than I was yesterday. Amen. :)

Thank you so very much!!

Love to you,
Jennifer

Thank you, Amy Cassner-Sems!

2009-07-14T06:47:00.000-04:00

Amy attended our mutual friend Lori's wedding back in the late 90's in my home state of Nebraska, a wedding for which I wrote and performed two songs. If Amy and I met back then, I don't remember it. So it was maybe a couple of months ago, when I was reading our friend Lori's wall posts at Facebook that I noticed a woman asking if there was a new album by Jennifer Haase available yet, 'cause she and her husband were fans of my first one already. That was WAY COOL for me to read, as you can imagine. So I chimed in and said "There IS a new album coming from Jennifer Haase, I'm absolutely positive. And I know that because I'm she!" Or something like that. :)

Amy, THANK YOU THANK YOU for donating $25 to my donations drive this first poignant week of our fundraiser! Your ULTRA CLASSY HAASE FAN status gets you an advanced CD (yep, I'll send you the printed package, as requested!) and an extra surprise gift AND my truly sincere gratitude that you dig the music I make and want to hear more.

I can't express deeply enough how thankful I am that it's fans like YOU who are making the new music possible for me. HOORAY!!!!

Love,
Jennifer

Thank you, Ricky Weaver!

2009-07-14T06:43:00.000-04:00

Ricky is someone I met on Facebook many months ago, who resides in the gorgeous UK. When I asked Ricky if he wouldn't mind rounding up some music-lovin' folks for my mailing list, he trumped that request by donating $50 to my fundraiser!

Ricky, THANK YOU SO MUCH. Your presence on Facebook, with your silly posts and your unbelievably supportive attitude, has been a blessing to me since day one.

I am humbled! I will try to be worthy! :)

Thanks again, Ricky, you ULTRA CLASSY FAN WITH CLOUT. You will get your advanced CD, a special extra surprise goodie and a BIG THANK YOU in my album credits, too!

Love,
Jennifer

www.janwenzelphotography.com

2009-07-13T08:11:00.000-04:00

So I struck up a convo with a fellow Mary Chapin Carpenter fan on Facebook early this morning. Turns out not only does he love much of the same music I do, but he's a really talented German photographer who sells his work online and has published a book of his photographs, as well.

And quicker than I could say "Hi, I'm a singer/songwriter in New York. Wanna be Facebook friends?" Jan-Oliver Wenzel, kick-ass photographer in Germany, donated $50 bucks to my Donations Drive!!

Will I ever stop saying WOW!! with my mouth wide open during this fundraiser? I sure hope not.

So THANK YOU SO MUCH to Mr. Wenzel, who can be found at www.janwenzelphotography.com, who not only gave me the thumbs-up regarding the music I make but was really honored and said YES to my suggestion that we might want to use one of his stunning photographs in my new CD booklet, too. Because the photos truly are beautiful and it would help his career in The States and what could be better than THAT?

This is incredible! Our Donations Drive is pulling people in from all over the GLOBE! And not just any people. Really talented, creative, thoughtful, inspired and inspiring people, by gawd.

Just $125 more to go to reach our first week's goal of $1,000!!

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!

Love,
Jennifer

www.joannesumner.com

2009-07-13T07:21:00.000-04:00

Dearest Jo,

Your $100 donation this morning put our drive up over the $800 mark and that finds me bouncing around here with sheer glee and, yes of course, GRATITUDE!

And you're my first overseas donation, too, Blighty Girl! How AWESOME is that??!!

You were there (yes, yes I know it was YOU!) when we found the mermaid in the antique shop in Delhi NY. And I think of you and Susan every time I see her, every time I channel her into empowering goddess energy she brings.

ULTRA CLASSY HAASE FAN WITH CLOUT & A MERMAID! If anyone should wear a signed Mermaid Sessions t-shirt, it's you!! (And Sue Sue, too...)

I'm going to put a shameless plug here for your work, as well. Anyone in the London area and beyond who seeks a truly insightful creative coach, meditation coach or bach flower consultant, Jo Sumner is IT!!

www.joannesumner.com

Lots of love and thanks to you, Jo...
Jennifer

The Dawn of Day Six=$825!!

2009-07-13T06:49:00.000-04:00

It's early morning Wednesday and I woke up to more money in the donations drive "bank." I keep checking my vitals. Pinching my arm. Yes, I'm awake. Yes, this is REAL. Yes, we're really DOING THIS!!

What I love about this donations drive is how it's bringing people hand-to-hand in a big, supportive circle with me. That feels incredible to me and some of you who have donated have said that it feels incredible to you, too.

And what I love, too, about this whole thing is not only that it makes me want to make an even better album than I was hoping to make before, but it also finds me thinking, thinking, thinking about the actions I will take beyond this project. I don't want to just be an artist who was helped by her fans. I want to go out there and make us all proud by becoming someone who reaches down and lifts others up, too. I have always wanted to become that person and this donation drive is turning into a tremendous wave of collective support that is exciting me to get started. Global Civil Rights. National Food Drives. Local Shelters and Schools. Music Programs Everywhere. My mind is buzzing with all I'd love to get my hands into and I have all of you to thank for inspiring me to stretch further toward making a bigger difference with my life as a whole.

That sound kinda sappy? So be it!! 'Cause I seriously mean it, I do.

Yesterday, I decided that I would work as hard as I could to raise $1,000 by the end of this first fundraiser week. That means getting just $175 more by the end of the day Tuesday, tomorrow.

Can we do it? YES, WE CAN!!!

Thank you so much for your part in it, now and as we go.

Lottsa Love from Me to You...

Jennifer

DAY FIVE: We've reached $725, YAY!!!!

2009-07-12T11:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Blog Readers,

You get the news first.

We're on DAY FIVE of my NO MORE INVITATIONS fundraiser and we've reached the $725 mark already and I find that truly AMAZING!!!! WOOOOO-HOOOOO!!!

My heart is full and I'm prone to weeping like a rainstorm as each donation comes in.

Every single dollar is so very important to me. Whether you give just a little or a whole lot, you are all equally valued and valuable in this pursuit of a creative girl's goals.

And speaking of goals, our first major goal is the $2,000 mark. THAT amount will pay for a full-day drum session for 3-4 songs. That full day drum session will get so much work done for this record, it's a huge dream for me to get to that first $2,000 so THANK YOU THANK YOU for all you do to help me find my way!

Love to All. And boy do I MEAN THAT!

Jennifer

Thank You, Deb Eisloeffel, for Raising My Barn Higher!

2009-07-12T11:18:00.001-04:00

Dearest Deb,

We talked today about those days we worked together at the bookstore in Nebraska. Those days when we used to chat about how people really DO feel a sense of excitement and empowerment when they can lend a hand to build someone else's dream. Or "build their barn" as the saying goes. I have been remembering that conversation between you and me as I have put together this fundraiser. So you reaching out to me today with your incredibly supportive words and your $50 donation? Well, that feels very much like I've come full circle from those days of dreaming in a way that closes the gap from Dreamer to Doer in the nicest, nicest way.

Thank you for believing in me. Way back then and all the way to now.

I believe in you, too.

CLASSY HAASE FAN WITH CLOUT! I look forward to sending you your advance CD (plus extra goodie and album credits thank-you), when the time comes, thank you so much!

love,
jennifer