The non-profit organization whose mission is to support
rising women songwriters by hosting showcases, workshops & networking
events and creating a safe community in each national and
international chapter is giving You the
opportunity to be part of their long-term development. They are launching a
crowdfunding campaign through IndieGoGo on Tuesday, September 18th. Donations from the campaign will
fund the nonprofit through the remaining months of 2018, and set its team up to
accomplish the goals in store for the new year.
The aim of the campaign is to raise money for the tax exemption application, program
costs, merchandise, and staff education. As with most startup nonprofits, the
staff has been working out of their passion for the cause, without pay.
This crowdfunding campaign, however, will bring #WCM closer to some of its
long-term goals which include: providing
a salary for the core staff members, stipends for the chapter leaders,
competitive base pay for artists and speakers who are a part of ongoing
#WCM events, and hiring even more creative women to provide
photography/videography services at events.
I had the amazing opportunity to provide you with
first hand details about the launch of the fundraiser by interviewing the
talented and passionate founder of
#Women Crush Music, Ashley
Kervabon-Stoyanov. Here is what she tells us about #WCM endeavors.
Q: What inspired you to establish #WomenCrush
Music?
Ashley: I
started #WomenCrush Music to make friends in a city I had just moved to. Two
showcases in, I realized that it was becoming so much more than just about me
wanting to create a community of like-minded women songwriters. Through the
initial expansion from Portland to NYC, then to Nashville and beyond - it was
clear to me that there was a need for this around the country and even
internationally.
Q: What
platforms /outlets do you use to educate the rising female songwriters?
Ashley: Education
is a huge part of our mission and one that we’d like to grow more in the next
year once we have some funding. Just this year though, we’ve hosted several
very cool workshops like our collaboration with the Vocal Workout studio in NYC which
taught how to balance studio vs live performance singing, our social media marketing brunch in
Austin and our songwriting and performance workshop in LA! Part of my longer-term goals for the organization is to be able
to host retreats quarterly & bring in well-known songwriters to mentor our
community.
Q:
Do you
emphasize on providing opportunities for them or on training them how to
find/create their own opportunities?
Ashley: I’d
like to think that we do a little bit of both. Our showcases are an opportunity
to not only perform but also connect with other women in the industry and meet
other people who can give them MORE opportunities. Our newest Facebook group -
The #WomenCrush Music Collective - is a mastermind type group where our
community will be able to connect with each other on a different level,
collaborate on projects and find their own opportunities through these new
relationships.
Q: Do you
exclusively organize in-person events or do you also host webinars?
Ashley: We
have yet to do a webinar but it’s certainly on the list! I am a huge believer
in in-person communication (so many of us just sit behind a computer for 8
hours a day) that I think it’s important to do these events but I also
understand the direction the industry is going. Webinars may be on the list of
things that the #WCM Collective may have to trial run! I’d love to hear the
community’s thoughts on this.
Q:How can women
who are interested in learning about the
music business and connecting to fellow songwriters join the community?
music business and connecting to fellow songwriters join the community?
Ashley: They
can sign up for our newsletter on our
website which will give them the rundown on all
of our events, new blog articles, Facebook group updates and more!
Q: You have a
solid network of chapters across the US. Are you planning to expand the Women
Crush fam overseas?
Ashley: I
WOULD LOVE THAT! Without giving too much away, it is in the plan for over the
next couple of years. Being that I have personal family ties in different parts
of Mexico, I’d love to start there & then go to maybe Australia or Europe ---#WCMPLOVDIV would be a dream come
true :)
Q: Women Crush
Music is launching a crowdfunding campaign. Tell us more about the cause and
how those who are interested can contribute?
Ashley: Yes!
The campaign will launch September 18th and will run the end of October. Donations
from the campaign (via IndieGoGo) will fund the nonprofit through the remaining
months of 2018, and set our team up to accomplish the goals in store for the
new year.
With the help of everyone who donates & shares the
campaign, I know that we can bring #WCM to even more cities in the USA and
soon, the world. Thank you for sharing our mission <3
You can learn more and contribute to the campaign on
the following link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/womencrush-music-help-us-keep-crushin-it#/
To find out more
about #Women Crush Music and join the community, check out their website: https://www.womencrushmusic.com/ and don’t forget to connect with them on socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womencrushmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/womencrushmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womencrushmusic/
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