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Underground Overdrive - Get Your Act Together!

Our platform, like you, is independent and fully responsive to your music career. We are the growth engine that supports your creativity.

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Project Description

 

 

Our Mission at Wicked Cool Music

To create a growth engine for the underground music community by offering a path through the gray areas of the industry that seems to paralyze even the most talented artist into playing small.

 

Alexx, age 16 in his 3rd band

Everyone knows a musician. This is our eldest son, Alexx, who (in high school) announced that he would barely graduate because he was going to be a professional drummer. He spent almost all his time practicing and networking with his peers. Seeing entrepreneurship in his decision, we began to research the music industry to find a path forward.

We are here to support DIY artists, agents and managers, even if you are just a parent helping your musical child get organized. Because we get that!

 

The Catch-22

Creative types are not the best business people, given that there is little to no guidance nor are tools to help manage themselves as professionals. Yet these same startup acts must prove themselves to be revenue-generating, hard-touring business people before a manager or booking agent will take them on, which can be the key to better gigs and more money. That's the catch!

Artists, in general, are more focused on self-expression and birthing their creative works, than on the drudgery that provides food, shelter and that never-ending supply of drumsticks. This includes organization, planning, communication, promotion, touring and managing money. That's why they need business people on their team.

 

Google Sheets are the norm (eww)

This is the only tool available to a self-managed musician.

 

Spreadsheets are 2-dimensional, humans are not.

We've crushed those limitations with a data-driven app.

 

  • They’re a blank canvas, providing no structure
  • They aren’t meant for group work

  • And they’re awful on a phone

  • With no reminders, so you have to use a calendar as well

 

 

The Times They Are A-Changing

Our research has uncovered a positive trend regarding independent musicians: they are increasing in both number and their ability to generate revenue.

The global recorded music business generated wholesale revenues of USD $17.4bn in 2017 – up 8.5% year-on-year.

 

Underground music platforms are flourishing

In 2017, bandcamp.com alone reported 1.39 million artists on their self-release music platform with over 500 new artists daily (this is our demographic).

This trend means that we are poised to be part of a truly unique revolution in the music industry, one in which a little business savvy and organization can make the difference in getting to the next level of their careers.

The Grenon Band (high school students who are turning pro) on the Community Stage at Harmonium Fest 4

 

 

Introducing Underground Overdrive™

Our subscription service allows an act, band manager or booking agent to manage as many or as few gig negotiations as they wish, add and assign tasks to other team members and track revenue for every gig.

We’ve invented a killer web app for the artist who knows they need to get their act together in order to succeed. We aren’t reinventing the wheel, we’re the new hub that makes it go faster.

 

 

 

Our product allows a creative type to transform the uncoolness of required business chores into manageable steps to success. We believe that our special sauce can infuse confidence into your musical life. Delphine™ will ask questions about your workflow, your digital assets, and more importantly, your goals, while offering suggestions and reminders as you progress.

You won't even realize how pro you are until you show someone your next gig on your phone... then send them the details. Just like that.

This is our mobile view of a Gig in which you have instant access to important information.

- You are one click away from contacting the venue, getting directions and where to park, and finding nearby lodging.

- You can see the local weather, times for sound check, who to speak with at the venue and more. So much more.

 

 

Welcome to the virtual business manager
specifically designed for DIY performing artists.

 

 

 

We Need Your Help

We are finishing up Alpha Loft's Accelerate NH 2019 cohort with the NH Tech Alliance.

We have bootstrapped this as a side project for almost 3 years without asking for any monetary help from anyone. At this juncture, we are about to launch and making some great offers for folks to raise the last bit of funds to finish building this road to success - one that has BIG signs pointing our customers in the right direction. There is a formula, and we intend to infuse our platform with its intelligence through Delphine™.

 

solo version of Haunt the House at Harmonium Fest 4

 

These funds will be used for growing the business through targeted marketing and setting up experienced musicians to be able to assist newer artists when they have extra time.

 

 

 

 

Our Team is Family

My co-founder, Mike Morrison, is also my husband of 20 years (this May 15th). We have worked on 5 tech startups together and have been in software development since the early 90's, but this is the first we have worked from the ground up, as a duo.

We found a variety of ways to make a career in the music industry. It's been years of research, trial and error. As a business analyst, I look for custom solutions to specific technical problems. So, believe me when I say, there was no magic guide nor online tools for someone like Alexx to succeed. After being aggravated at this inconvenience, Mike and I realized that we were more than just qualified to create a solution, we were inspired to take action.

 

my boys at Harmonium 2 (Mike, Alexx, Declan and Maxx)

 

Let me clarify how we roll.

When Mike and I were building our house, we didn’t know all the real estate rules of engagement, so we became licensed Realtors. When the time came to dig into the music industry, we didn’t just read books, we started a few side hustles

  1. became a band manager and booking agent;
  2. then a music publisher with ASCAP;
  3. created a live music venue with a killer music series that ran for 8 years, engaging our community;
  4. and produced a small music festival for 4 years (Harmonium).

All the while, dealing with promoters, agents, managers and venues and learning the game from both sides of the table.

 

Rabbit in the Rye (plus the stragglers) day after The Big Room show and sleepover because they drove 7 hours to play for us

 

By default, we had immersed ourselves into the network of musicians that came in and out of our lives, asking the same questions of those who had “made it” to the next level and those who still struggled for a sustainable career, and we heard the same pain points over and over again.

Success comes down to this:
building confidence
through organization,
sharing the work and
efficiently learning the game through experience.

 

Underground Overdrive™ will guide them wherever they want to go.

Will Dailey at Harmonium Fest 3

 

 

We'd Also LOVE Your Help ∞

A long time ago, we realized that knowing a musician is closer than 2 degrees for most people. If that is the case for you, please support our cause by gifting a Gig Pack, sporting our logo or sharing this with anyone who could use our platform.

 

Thank you,

Nani

co-founder of Underground Overdrive™ by Wicked Cool Music

 

p.s.

 

We believe in supporting local art as much as possible, so our tees are hand-pulled with love by this guy who does it for a living.

artist, Cole Gove, owner of T-Shirt Beardo

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Q. What's a Gig Pack?

A. Gigs are performances that an artist or band books for a particular venue on a specific day. A Gig Pack is the maximum amount of Gigs you can be working on at any time in the future. Any time you send out a Gig Request to a venue, you should create an Active Gig which allows you to add the date that you sent your correspondence and create tasks for following up and negotiating payment. etc. Underground Overdrive doesn't count past Gigs.

 

Q. When is Underground Overdrive going to be live?

A. If funding is sufficient, we will begin promoting to the general public by the Fall of 2019 with additional features. If it's not, we are still launching, but with less fanfare :-(

 

Q. Are you looking for testers?

A. We are open to early adopters for our Pilot Program this summer. You must be a touring artist and using some form of self-management, such as a spreadsheet.

We also have a sweet perk if you are part of our Pilot... it's a secret.

 

Q. Do you offer services to get all my touring history into the system?

A. We absolutely can do that for anyone with a backlog of dates because it's important to show talent buyers where you've played in the past, and our app will feature an EPK that will include your tour history. Since we do it lovingly, by hand, we ask for a small fee, unless you are selected for our Pilot Program. OK, the secret's out...

 

Q. Who are some of your favorite bands? 

A. Some of the best shows were right in our (now) office, as it was known as The Big Room to our community. We also created a music festival called Harmonium for 4 years and got to know quite a few artists well, such as Darlingside, Heather Maloney, Will Dailey, The Ghost of Paul Revere, The Ballroom Thieves, Parsonsfield, GoldenOak, Soggy Po Boys, Dwight & Nicole, and Rising Appalachia.

Heather Maloney and Darlingside performing at Harmonium Fest 1 off our back deck to our community and their local fans.
06/09/2019
Monetary Contribution
$75
06/05/2019
Monetary Contribution
$50
06/03/2019
Indie Music Grab Bag
$22
Jaybird
06/02/2019
Monetary Contribution
$40
Michael Goldberg
05/30/2019
Monetary Contribution
$20
SHARON DAMBRA
05/29/2019
For the Love of Tees
$50
Holly Eaves
05/22/2019
Schwag Party Gig Pack
$900
Tara
05/22/2019
Monetary Contribution
$20
05/21/2019
Monetary Contribution
$20
M. Drew
05/19/2019
For the Love of Tees
$50
Monetary Contribution

$5, $10, $20? For the Love of Creativity and/or us :-) 
Infinite gratitude is returned even for just considering this.

31 Supporters
Select this reward
99.00 USD
Gift the Gifted (2-year Student Starter)

We wish we had this when Alexx was younger! This is meant for students (13 - 18 years old) with adult supervision (mentor/manager/parent).

  • 2-year Annual Subscription 50 Gig Pack for one act (valued at $298)

Whether you gift this or use it for your own family member, this is a great option for a parent/manager helping an artist within their sphere of influence.

97 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
99.00 USD
Locked-in 100 Gig Pack

This is the perfect choice for the side hustle or project that is gigging close to 40 shows a year.

  • One Annual Subscription for one act (Valued at $149/yr)
  • Locked-in pricing for as long as you renew ($99/yr auto-renewal)
  • Use it for yourself or send as a gift to an artist you support

Booking 40 shows means you have probably sent out 400+ gig requests over one year.

 

98 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
199.00 USD
Early Adopter 250 Gig Pro Pack

This is a great choice for the truly working artist or band that is gigging more than 100 shows a year.

  • One Annual Subscription for one act (valued at $399/yr)
  • Locked-in pricing for as long as you renew ($199/yr auto-renew)
  • Use it for yourself or send as a gift to an artist you support

Playing 100 shows means you have probably sent out hundreds of gig requests over the year.

19 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
499.00 USD
Wicked Gigs Lifetime Subscription

Invest in your music and this will pay for itself in 2 years!  This is a great choice for the solo artist or band that knows they are in it to win it through the good times and bad. 

  • One Lifetime Subscription includes the 100 Gig Pack for one act (reg: $249 per year)
  • We'll even load all your past gigs and future gigs from your spreadsheets ($300 value)
  • Use it for yourself or send as a gift to a budding artist you support

* How can we offer this exceptional deal? Because we want true, working musicians on our platform and that takes a leap of faith for us both. 

20 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
22.00 USD
Indie Music Grab Bag

One new CD from an independent artist from our own New England collection of indie pop rock and folk. Plus one UGOD sticker.

2 Supporters
None available
330.00 USD
Schwag Party Gig Pack

One Schwag Bagel plus a VIP experience for 2 at our public launch party in Southern New Hampshire. No question - we know how to throw a party!

  • September date to be announced with musical lineup
  • travel not included; access to party is transferable
32 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Barrington, NH
Created 1 Campaign
Business Services
Lifestyle
Tech

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

$5, $10, $20? For the Love of Creativity and/or us :-) 
Infinite gratitude is returned even for just considering this.

31 Supporters
Select this reward
99.00 USD
Gift the Gifted (2-year Student Starter)

We wish we had this when Alexx was younger! This is meant for students (13 - 18 years old) with adult supervision (mentor/manager/parent).

  • 2-year Annual Subscription 50 Gig Pack for one act (valued at $298)

Whether you gift this or use it for your own family member, this is a great option for a parent/manager helping an artist within their sphere of influence.

97 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
99.00 USD
Locked-in 100 Gig Pack

This is the perfect choice for the side hustle or project that is gigging close to 40 shows a year.

  • One Annual Subscription for one act (Valued at $149/yr)
  • Locked-in pricing for as long as you renew ($99/yr auto-renewal)
  • Use it for yourself or send as a gift to an artist you support

Booking 40 shows means you have probably sent out 400+ gig requests over one year.

 

98 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
199.00 USD
Early Adopter 250 Gig Pro Pack

This is a great choice for the truly working artist or band that is gigging more than 100 shows a year.

  • One Annual Subscription for one act (valued at $399/yr)
  • Locked-in pricing for as long as you renew ($199/yr auto-renew)
  • Use it for yourself or send as a gift to an artist you support

Playing 100 shows means you have probably sent out hundreds of gig requests over the year.

19 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
499.00 USD
Wicked Gigs Lifetime Subscription

Invest in your music and this will pay for itself in 2 years!  This is a great choice for the solo artist or band that knows they are in it to win it through the good times and bad. 

  • One Lifetime Subscription includes the 100 Gig Pack for one act (reg: $249 per year)
  • We'll even load all your past gigs and future gigs from your spreadsheets ($300 value)
  • Use it for yourself or send as a gift to a budding artist you support

* How can we offer this exceptional deal? Because we want true, working musicians on our platform and that takes a leap of faith for us both. 

20 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
22.00 USD
Indie Music Grab Bag

One new CD from an independent artist from our own New England collection of indie pop rock and folk. Plus one UGOD sticker.

2 Supporters
None available
330.00 USD
Schwag Party Gig Pack

One Schwag Bagel plus a VIP experience for 2 at our public launch party in Southern New Hampshire. No question - we know how to throw a party!

  • September date to be announced with musical lineup
  • travel not included; access to party is transferable
32 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward