Coffee: brewing the music video

my name is Steve Young,
I'm a spoken word / hip-hop artist in NYC,
and I love to tell positive stories with my music.

I'd like to take that a step further and tell a particular story through visuals, which is how we ended up here.. with a goal of raising $5,000. The money raised in this campaign will go toward properly compensating a well-equipped crew and basically shooting a 6-minute movie to one of my most meaningful songs. 


some background:
Let me start with the big picture..
Early next year I will be releasing my next music project! a four-song compilation titled, An Opportune Displacement.
Wait, even bigger picture.. less than a year ago I was living in Philadelphia, intermittently releasing music and performing at small, local venues. And about a year before that, I had just started saving up so I could move to NYC to pursue my music in these avenues (one of many "displacements" in which I'm seeking "opportunity" right now!). 

Living in Queens, fairly acclimated - I'm back to performing in local venues, and my next music release is being mastered as we speak! Displacement typically has a negative connotation, but this project is about staying positive, finding the hidden opportunities in a situation, and applying them toward growth. The project's opening track, "Coffee," metaphorically takes us through the cyclical process of a relationship as we move from one cup to the next, looking for that right "cup of tea." (metaphors!) 

here's a snippet of me performing "Coffee" at the Power is Industry showcase, hosted by Power 105.1:


why the SONG is important to me:
Coffee is the song I will be using for my music video (with your help). It is my strongest and most likable song to date. The beat is great with the Sylvan Esso sample, the wordplay/metaphors are on-point, and the story arc develops tremendously through the verses. 

why the VIDEO is important to me:
Since moving to New York, I have not had any major releases. Just a lot of yada yada on social media about "upcoming projects". I intend to release the OD project and the video around the same time, and these pieces will serve as my basis of work released as a "New York" artist. And what's more, having a visual release has become so much more impactful than having a mixtape/album release, especially for a new, young artist. In fact, it's become imperative.

why your donation is SO important to me:
I want to save money in all the areas I can, but I also understand that at the end of the day, you get what you pay for. Sometimes art is free, and sometimes it's an investment. This is an investment, and I want you to trust and believe in it just as much as I do.

This song has outstanding potential, and I want to see it reach its full potential. It's like this song is my child, and I want to make sure I send it off to the BEST university (more metaphors!) That being said, I don't believe we're making a music video, I'd say we're making a six-minute movie. In order to do so, we need the proper equipment, and we need to pay the people operating the equipment. This is a production. And this is why I need your help bringing it together.

logistically $peaking..
Ideally, we would like to begin shooting this coming December/January.
coffee, romanticizing, broken hearts = winter. 
The following is a rough breakdown of how the money from this campaign will be allocated and how exactly your donation will be helping us..

Crew Position                                       Rate/day        Total
Director of Photography                  $300                  $600
Assistant Camera                                 $250                  $500
Gaffer                                                         $250                  $500
Key Grip                                                    $200                  $400
                                                                                                 $2,000
Miscellaneous 
Camera/Equipment                       $1,000              $2,000
Food Costs                                              $200                  $400
Editing / Post Production                                              $400
NYC Shooting Permit                                                      $300
                                                                                                 $3,100
TOTAL                                                                                 $5,100


credit where credit's due:
This entire production is so important to me.
I've spent probably over 30 combined hours in the studio with my engineer, Kenny, trying to make sure this track sounds perfect. Kenny knows how meticulous I can be. I know he must think I'm crazy sometimes, but I also know that he knows I have a vision for my art and how I want it to turn out. That being said, it's equally important to me that I give credit to every single person who helps me turn this vision into a real thing.

Everyone who donates any amount will have their name appear in the music video. 
donate $20+ and I'll send you a physical copy of "An Opportune Displacement" when it's released!
donate $30+ and I'll send you an AUTOGRAPHED copy of the CD with a cute, little, personalized note!
donate $60+ and I'll send you a "Steve Young - Opportune Displacement" t-shirt with your CD package!
donate $100+ and you can be in the music video with me!
donate $200+ and I'll write a mothaf*cking theme song for you to play at a bat/bar mitzvah, wedding, or any celebratory event of your choosing! (great for the kids!)