Coming off the success of the 5th annual CIA Summit conference, the Mission:Possible Seminar will be a town hall/round table open discussion on topics important to the independent music mission! Based on the format of the Indieheaven Network, the MISSION:POSSIBLE seminar will provide you the opportunity to help others find their voice as you find yours.

Attendees will be welcomed to share information on what is working for them, how to make it as an indie artist, ask questions, and much, much more! The entire event will be video recorded for broadcast on the upcoming Indie Mechanics website.

Hosted by the team at IndieHeaven.com, the Mission:Possible seminar will be hard hitting, truth seeking, and rocket fuel for your indie engine! If you want to be a full time Musicianary, this is a great place to learn how to make it happen!

TOPICS INCLUDE:
1- marketing/promotions
why should i book you or buy your music?
2-booking
how to increase your live performance opps
3-merchandising
selling yourself and your faith
4- management
what is management and am i manageable?
5- publicity
telling your story to a skeptical world
6- branding/image
you are who you look like to people!
7- multi-media
it’s a high tech world!
8- education
smart artists succeed, dumb ones don’t
9- music
what can you do to get the ears of people?
10- resources for musicianaries
what indieheaven and the christian independent alliance can do with you

ALL THE DETAILS
When: Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 9:00am-6:00PM
Where: Journey/Ecclesia, 230 Franklin Rd. Building 8, The Factory, Franklin, TN 37064
View On Google Maps

On Saturday evening from 7:00pm until we drop, we’ll draw names out of a hat for an open mic! Bring your guitar! We’ll also have a keyboard there.

REGISTER: Go to: MISSION:POSSIBLE to register! Space is limited to the first 100 who register!

I recently became one of the charter members of CIA (Christian Independent Alliance). It is through the CIA website that your contribution is made. CIAis set up as a 501c3, therefore donations are tax-deductible and receipts can be issued.

Your contribution does not go to CIA’s general fund. Rather, the money goes into an account that is designated solely for my ministry. This way all the contributions are accounted for, earmarked for ministry-oriented use, and sent to me.

We will truly be partners together in ministry. Over the years, many of you have been financially supportive through your generosity in many ways without having record of it. Now this is possible through an exciting development. In the past, I have been unable to develop a scenario to make tax-deductible support possible, now CIA is simply enabling me to present this as an option.

Please know that your contribution will not go towards diapers, movies, or carpet cleanings. Rather it will be in direct support of my calling. It will help fund things such as:
-Tour and travel expenses
-Musical and sound equipment
-Tour Vehicle maintenance
-Payments to tour musicians
-Promotional efforts (radio, publicity, press/info packets, posters)
-Recording costs

The CIA site is very user friendly, and I can really appreciate the short amount of time that it takes to fill out the simple form and complete this process. It only takes a minute.

A little background about my situation…to hopefully bring some clarity to the reason I am asking for your financial support. For all intents and purposes, I am independent. This is nothing new, rather, it’s the position I have been in for most of my career. I funded my latest CD, Love Will Rise, and gave it to Surrogate Records in return for promotion. Their role was to promote Love Will Rise in ways that I could not. As many of you know, Surrogate Records has been unable to put what they had committed to and intended to into the life of the CD due to financial difficulties.

Please understand that I am NOT badmouthing Surrogate. I am thankful for our relationship and for the hearts behind the company. Many good things are happening for Love Will Rise in the worlds of radio and publicity. It costs money to keep that momentum going. Surrogate introduced me to those worlds like never before, but now I am funding those pursuits myself.

This (along with the general operating expenses that have always existed) has motivated me to call on the generosity I have experienced from so many of you in the past.

This is my vocation. I have no other source of income. This is an investment in me. I take that very seriously. Why? Because it is actually an investment in what the Lord is doing. The Lord has given much. The Lord has entrusted me with gifts. Now, you are coming along side me to encourage and enable my response to God’s faithfulness.

Your tax-deductible support can be a one-time donation, or it can be long term.
If you are willing to commit to making a contribution each month, each quarter, bi-yearly, yearly, etc, simply respond to this email and let me know of what you are willing to invest and what time frame you would prefer to use. A reminder email (that will double as a general update) will be sent to you at the first of each month.

This is not in the name of business. Rather, it is in the name of being faithful to what the Lord is doing in me. I am not interested in riches or fame (If I were, I would find something else to do). I am trying to make a dent for the Kingdom.

The world is used by money. Contrarily, the Kingdom of God uses money to further itself. It is for this reason that I believe money is even more important in the Kingdom of God and needed even more than it is in the world. I want to be about the building of the Kingdom. It costs money to make a dent. We are told in the scriptures that the return is a hundred fold. I would be honored if you came along side to partner with me in this work.

God uses us all in different ways. I am ecstatic to be used in this manner. God calls us all in different ways to different things. I am grateful for the Call. I don’t use the word “call” in a hyper-spiritual way, but in the way Frederich Buechner defines the word. He says, our call happens when the world’s greatest need and our greatest joy meet.

For me, that’s it. I know the last thing the world needs is another Christian musician. But, I DO KNOW the world needs the truth. I am using the means I have been given to put the truth out there and direct people’s attention towards the truth. I love doing this.

Thank you in advance. Please ponder prayerfully…
I am grateful for whatever you can contribute to what I am doing…for whatever you can contribute to what the Lord is doing.
Peace of Christ
Mitch McVicker
P.S Please contact me if you have questions or concerns.
mmcpromotions@aol.com

Indieheaven.com/The Christian Independent Alliance, the leading Christian independent musician resource held their 5th annual CIA Summit conference on March 28-29, 2008 in Franklin, TN. The Summit has established itself as an event that focuses on the independent musician, encouraging attendees to create momentum, and to pursue passion and excellence in their music mission. The event is quite different than other industry style music seminars, as no talent contests are held, or battles of the bands competing for industry attention.

CIA Summit founder Keith Mohr states, “There are plenty of idol types of contests and seminars, but our focus has been and will always be to renew the artist mind that they can be successful as an independent artist if they create content of excellence, have a strong work ethic, and engage in community with other independent artists. We are seeing many success stories from artists joining and using our Indieheaven.com organization, and cultivating strong relationships on our Indieheaven Network.

Hundreds of independent artists from around the globe assembled for the CIA Summit. Teachers and speakers included: Indieheaven/Christian Independent Alliance President, Keith Mohr, Sue Ross of The Inner Vizion, Charlie Peacock, Zoro The Drummer, mainstream music guru Bob Baker of The Buzz Factor, Rick Cua, Tom Jackson, Robert Beeson of Advocate Entertainment, Eric Copeland of Creative Soul, Brad Mathias of Infinity Music Distribution, Warren Barfield-Essential Records Artist, Kevan Cyka, Robert Anthony, and many more

In the days leading up to the CIA Summit, Tom Jackson shared his vast knowledge of live performance tips in a special one day seminar on March 26, 2008. On March 27, 2008, CMS Productions held their 2nd annual Nashville Songwriters Bootcamp, with Charlie Peacock and representatives from the CCM industry including EMI, Provident, Integrity and others. Songwriters had their songs critiqued, and learned about the craft of writing from a seasoned panel of industry pros.

In a time of rapid change in the Christian music industry, independent artists not only must be talented, they must also be educated on how to succeed as an independent, since 99% will remain indie. The CIA Summit equips, empowers, encourages, and delivers the truth about serving Christ through the medium of music.

For more information on the CIA Summit and all of the events, visit the Summit website at: www.ciasummit.com

The 2008 CIA Summit was sponsored by: Indieheaven.com, Mission of Mercy.

Leading independent Christian organization announces winners at their annual conference

Indieheaven.com/The Christian Independent Alliance, the leading organization for Christian independent musicians announces the winners of the 2008 MOMENTUM AWARDS. The Momentum Awards, now in it’s 3rd year, are the premier award recognition program for Christian independent artists. Previous award winners have seen opportunities for advancement in their music and mission because of the recognition the awards garner. Some have moved into the CCM Industry, while others have continued to see success as independent artists.

Indieheaven president, Keith Mohr states, “as the music industry continues to change and more and more artists are either staying independent or going back to their independent roots, it is important to recognize the pursuit of excellence in this growing indiestry. The basis for the Momentum Awards is not competition, but comrades applauding and encouraging one another to create momentum in their music missions. We teach indies that momentum is paramount to success as an independent artist.”

Fan voting and a panel selected the winners in 15 categories. 4 special awards were also handed out. The Momentum Awards were cosponsored by Christian RadioWeekly

2008 MOMENTUM AWARD WINNER

Urban Artist of the Year Award
Alyce Metallo

Southern Gospel Artist of the Year Award
Cathy J. Reynolds

Jazz Artist of the Year Award
Drew Davidsen

Instrumental Artist of the Year Award
Della

Blues Artist of the Year Award
Gypsy Carns

Country Artist of the Year Award
Steven Coy Cook

Acoustic Artist of the Year Award
Chris Lucas

Worship Artist of the Year Award
Broken Vessels

Inspirational Artist of the Year Award
Sean Smith

Rock Artist of the Year Award
Mile7

Contemporary Artist of the Year Award
Jennifer Austin

Female Vocalist of the Year Award
Kristyn Leigh

Male Vocalist of the Year Award
Bill Petty

Song of the Year Award
Brad Reynolds- Anyway

Album of the Year Award
Donna Kay - Finally Letting Go

Special Awards

Hardest Working Indie Artist Award
Bread of Stone

The Indie Friend Award
Rockin’ Ron Corino

The Indie Spirit Award
Harry Offutt

The Indie Perseverence Award
Mark Cable

About Indieheaven
Indieheaven.com is a Christian independent musicians resource agency dedicated to the advancement of independent Christian musicians and the independent Christian music scene. Indieheaven.com partners with its members to help them increase the scope of their music missions, providing: tools, distribution (100% going to the artist), mentoring, community, and other services. For more information, visit www.indieheaven.com

About Christian Independent Alliance
The CIAlliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to Christian musicians, singers, bands, songwriters and others, who are impacting people with their music and message worldwide. For more information, visit www.cialliance.org

FRANKLIN, TN JANUARY 11, 2008–Indieheaven, the leading Christian independent musician resource announces the next chapter in their 10 year history, “The Christian Independent Alliance.” CIAlliance founder, Keith Mohr states, “After working with thousands of independent Christian artists and musicians since 1997, I believe artists of faith should be sent to the church and world by an organization who has a proven history of supporting independent Christian artists and musicians. We will accomplish this through our new non-profit, assisting members with fund raising, grants and scholarships for recording new music, and other services they need. The model is based on partnerships, memberships and strategic alliances with individuals and companies we know and trust.

Members of the CIAlliance receive 1 year membership to Indieheaven.com, discounts to CIAlliance conferences and events, the ability to raise support through the non-profit umbrella, and be eligible to receive matching grants for services offered through the alliance.

The CIAlliance is holding their 5th Annual CIA Summit conference in Franklin, TN March 28-29, 2008. The conference focuses on teaching independent artists how to be successful in their music careers. A wide range of topics will be covered, featuring mainstream music guru Bob Baker, well known stage performance coach Tom Jackson, Essential Records founder, Richard Beeson, Platform Artist Management’s Darren Tyler, Rick Cua, and many more.

Also held during the Summit is CIAlliance’s 3rd annual MOMENTUM AWARDS , which recognizes the pursuit of excellence in independent Christian Music. The awards show will be held at Building 8 at The Factory in Franklin, TN on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 7:30PM and is free and open to the public.

On Thursday, March 27, CMS Productions will hold their 2nd Nashville Songwriter Bootcamp with many notable Nashville area songwriters and publishing personel. Featured mentors are Charlie Peacock, Casey McGinty of EMI, Chad Segura of WORD, Steve Rice of Integrity, Scott and Christine Dente, and many more. For More information on this event, visit: http://www.songwriterbootcamp.com

On Wednesday, March 26, Tom Jackson will hold an all day seminar where he will share his proven techniques on connecting with an audience and crafting your live performance to maximize impact. Tom’s seminar is highly educational and entertaining. Tom will also work with a band onstage and transform their live show. For more information on this event, click HERE.

For more information on the CIAlliance, go to:
http://www.cialliance.org

For more information on the CIA Summit, go to:
http://www.ciasummit.com

For more information on Indieheaven, go to:
http://www.indieheaven.com

For more information on the MOMENTUM AWARDS, go to:
http://www.indieheaven.com/momentum_awards.php

The CIA Summit is sponsored by:
Mission of Mercy
Visit their website to learn more:
http://www.missionofmercy.org

We are so excited about what God is doing through our organization and through many Christian musicians worldwide. We sense that revival is coming to this earth through His chosen minstrels. There is a new wind blowing, and many changes are now taking place in how music is created, produced, distributed and consumed. We know that God is behind it all, and we are looking forward to the future!

I have worked with thousands of independent Christian musicians since 1997. So, even though the CIAlliance is a new organization, the folks behind it have years of experience and a wealth of information to share! Check out our website for Christian indies over at www.indieheaven.com

Feel free to post any comments you wish. We are working on an extensive FAQ Section here on the Alliance website to answer your questions on how to join, our benefits, and policies. As we field more questions, we will add them to our FAQS.

We hope you are as excited as we are about the Christian Independent Alliance!

I think I know what makes indies tick, and have witnessed the same patterns over and over again. Most bad patterns can be avoided with some common sense and realistic expectations.

I often tell indie artists, “Be an engine, not a caboose.” That means making sure you are creating momentum in your mission. The worst thing you can do is to sit and wait for something to happen. Most times nothing will happen, even if you read the “Prayer of Jabez” book that was so popular a few years back. That is not a guidebook for a marketing and promotional campaign.

Unfortunately, some artists I run into seem to want it all right now, and on their terms. If they don’t get what they are after, and get it fast, they stop revving their engine and sit like a caboose on a track. They end up waiting for something to back up to them and pull them down a track. That is a serious mistake; waiting for something to come along that lines up with their own will. It appears the Lord’s will may not quite fit in with their game plan.

I also see artists who produce a CD before they are ready, thinking that once they make a CD, they will be a household name and play main stage at a major festival for thousands of screaming fans. They use their CD like a very expensive worm and cast their bait out into the sea we call the CCM industry. They throw their line out hoping to catch a “big one”. After the first cast, they reel it in, see there is nothing, and cast once again. They reel it back in and may have a minnow on the hook, but they were hoping for a whopper. Some give it one more try, but many end up putting their bait into their garage or basement closet and never cast again.

That is sad because artists you hear on the radio or see at a large concert rarely catch a whopper after a few casts. Repetitive action is key to producing results. What does the word “perseverance” mean to you? The other day, the CEO of Indieheaven (chief encouragement officer) Tim O’Connor shared with me that the word perseverance means “severe persistence”. Pretty strong wording, but it made perfect sense to me. See, in my mission, I’ve had many opportunities to put down my rod and jump out of the river. But I didn’t do this. I stayed in the river and continued to fish. Don’t give up! If you know the Lord has called you to share your gifts and talents, then keep fishing!

The term “All or Nothing” kept coming to my mind as I thought about this article. It saddens me to see young musicians and minstrels with the mindset that they have to be a success in the world’s eyes to be useful to the Lord. That simply is not true. I believe it is a lie from the enemy meant to discourage us. Discouragement is the main reason many discontinue in their mission. Every worthwhile undertaking in life has a beginning, followed by a process as we make the journey. An artist recently shared with me that success is like rungs on a ladder. Each small success adds another rung onto the ladder, and soon you can reach heights never imagined! Now that is encouragement!

I asked my wife to compose a poem with the title, “All or Nothing”. I hope it challenges you to continue on in your mission, and encourages you as you run the race to the finish line.

All or Nothing

Between All and Nothing
there is a place called Process.

In Process there is
grappling and growth,
trial and triumph,
humility and hope.

In Process I learn
that Life is not a destination, but a journey,
and that offering the best of myself
to each moment along The Way
is the only legitimate goal.

In Process I realize
that in order for my art to be blessed,
I must make blessing others my primary artform.

In avoiding Process,
I miss the journey.
I miss the blessing.

Waiting for All,
I experience Nothing.

Cheryl Anne Mohr
12/06/06

Until next time, may your field of dreams be lined with work down first and faith down third.
Keith Mohr

Keith Mohr
Discover the New Music INDIE-STRY
don’t allow pride to be your motivator..