Hi, everyone. Thanks for visiting this page. For those of you that don't know me, I'm a professional drummer based in New York City. Some of you may know that I have been dealing with depression for some time. Since 2008 my illness has become pretty severe. Because of the freelance nature of my work, it has affected my ability to generate income and so I've experienced serious, ongoing financial hardship.
My housing situation is urgent. I am at risk of being evicted from the apartment where I have lived for over eleven years. I've been told by my landlord that I will be served an eviction notice if I fail to pay rent for this month of April. I did manage to pay rent for March, but I am currently five months behind - further behind than I have ever been. My gas has been turned off as well, making it hard to cook meals. I am humbly asking for funds to help pay my back rent. I'm out of time and out of resources. I have exhausted most sources of charity, resulting from four previous instances since 2009 in which I received financial assistance. I'm posting this fundraising page as a last resort.
I'm also raising money to obtain a TLC (Taxi and Limousine Commission) driver's license, which will enable me to get plenty of work to supplement my music income as needed and become financially stable. Details of my campaign budget are below.
I would be extremely grateful to anyone who is willing to help. I've had many years of constant struggle with this illness - loss of income, loss of sleep, loss of productivity, loss of social life - too much to describe in full. It would mean a great deal to me to avoid losing my apartment. It's been a long, hard road. However, as you'll see below, I am finally seeing the light of recovery.
I want to mention that my landlord is a good guy, by the way. He's been flexible with me through my financial ups and downs. I have rented from him since the year 2000. My landlord is not the issue here, lol. He is waiting longer than most owners would before serving an eviction notice. I did, after all, pay my rent on time steadily for ten years before I really started to struggle.
Now, some GOOD NEWS:
Just a few weeks ago, I finally obtained health insurance and started back on the best medication I've had so far.
From January 2013 until last summer I received free, limited psychiatric care through Columbia University, since I was without health insurance. Just as my doctor was considering that I might need to be hospitalized, we found the right dose of the right medication that resulted in MAJOR improvement. For about six months, I felt and functioned better than I had in many years! I cannot tell you what a huge relief it was. So, things are not all gloom and doom.
While on that medication I finally became able to put forth some effort needed to supplement my music income. I found some part-time work as a designated driver and delivering flowers, among other things. I'm still in excellent standing with those employers, but work is very sporadic. Unfortunately, when my treatment ended I went without care or meds for several months and was once again in rough shape by the end of last year.
Right now, my music schedule is uncomfortably thin. However, I do have some great gigs and solid ongoing musical relationships. I am glad to say I have a darn good reputation as a drummer. Fortunately, I don't have any trouble when it comes to performing as a musician or doing any of the odd jobs I currently do. Anyone who has worked with me on or off the bandstand will tell you that. I've received a lot of unsolicited positive feedback from my fellow musicians, and those good vibes have been very "instrumental", if you will (ha ha), in helping me push onward.
Here are some video and audio links, if you'd like to check out some of my gigs and recordings. It's an eclectic mix:
Jazz trio
Live original pop/funk/R&B
Production show promo
Soundcloud page, w/ various live jazz gigs, plus some unreleased gems
***
Any amount you can contribute will be deeply appreciated. Your donation can be made anonymous to the public, if you prefer.
Please help spread the word and share this campaign on Facebook, or via email, word of mouth, etc. HOWEVER, I do ask that everyone try their best within reason not to share on Facebook directly with musicians based in the New York City area, since that involves my line of work. I won't be announcing this campaign directly to the majority of my musician friends, just on the off chance that some folks might mistakenly have doubts about hiring me due to my illness. Use your best judgement. Thanks for your discretion and understanding!
I've created a select list among my Facebook friends who will see my GoFundMe posts. Here's a link about some Facebook options that enable you to choose who can or cannot see a particular post/share:
http://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/203604464-Can-I-send-an-update-to-only-certain-Facebook-friends-
The Details:
I've set up a Dropbox folder containing some documents that show that my illness is legit. There's an informal rent statement signed by my landlord as well. All rent payments and fees will be documented as they are made and included in the folder as well. (FYI: the date for the April 16th rent money order is visible below the yellow area, after the "D".)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xgx7m8kdhlo3yk4/AACS6LoybYh4GFhGTWAoQ8ira?dl=0
My $5,000 budget for this campaign includes:
5.5 months X $750 per month = $ 4,125 in back rent
$ 5,000 X (5% GoFundMe fee + 2.9% WePay fee) = $ 395
TLC license fees (various, such as license fee, drug test) = approx. $475
So, $ 4,125 + $ 395 + $ 475 = $ 4,995 which I have rounded up to $ 5,000.
Depending on how things go, I will probably portion out funds for two or three months' rent before I use funds to obtain the license. I may also need to use a small portion of the funds for one of three things I cannot do without, due to the nature of my work: cell phone, car insurance, and my internet connection. I'm on (ugh) food stamps, in order to help free up as much cash as possible. That's a first for me. I'm grateful for the program, but I hope I won't need it for long.
***
It is incredibly uncomfortable to ask for financial help this way. It might be worth mentioning that I've never had any issues whatsoever with alcohol or drug abuse, in case anyone is concerned about that. I hope that the fact that I'm on effective medication and have a plan to become financially stable will make people feel better about donating. I don't want anyone to feel they are giving to a lost cause!
If any one wants to contact me with questions, comments, concerns, ideas, general love and support vibes, or leads on gigs/jobs (even better!), feel free to get in touch.
Finally... if you are reading this and think you may have depression, I would recommend reading Feeling Good by David Burns for starters. Find a psychiatric professional who will help you try medications until you find one that works. And find a good therapist who practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT.
Thanks so much for your time and consideration!
Humbly yours,
Tom Pollard
tomdrum (at) verizon (dot) net
My housing situation is urgent. I am at risk of being evicted from the apartment where I have lived for over eleven years. I've been told by my landlord that I will be served an eviction notice if I fail to pay rent for this month of April. I did manage to pay rent for March, but I am currently five months behind - further behind than I have ever been. My gas has been turned off as well, making it hard to cook meals. I am humbly asking for funds to help pay my back rent. I'm out of time and out of resources. I have exhausted most sources of charity, resulting from four previous instances since 2009 in which I received financial assistance. I'm posting this fundraising page as a last resort.
I'm also raising money to obtain a TLC (Taxi and Limousine Commission) driver's license, which will enable me to get plenty of work to supplement my music income as needed and become financially stable. Details of my campaign budget are below.
I would be extremely grateful to anyone who is willing to help. I've had many years of constant struggle with this illness - loss of income, loss of sleep, loss of productivity, loss of social life - too much to describe in full. It would mean a great deal to me to avoid losing my apartment. It's been a long, hard road. However, as you'll see below, I am finally seeing the light of recovery.
I want to mention that my landlord is a good guy, by the way. He's been flexible with me through my financial ups and downs. I have rented from him since the year 2000. My landlord is not the issue here, lol. He is waiting longer than most owners would before serving an eviction notice. I did, after all, pay my rent on time steadily for ten years before I really started to struggle.
Now, some GOOD NEWS:
Just a few weeks ago, I finally obtained health insurance and started back on the best medication I've had so far.
From January 2013 until last summer I received free, limited psychiatric care through Columbia University, since I was without health insurance. Just as my doctor was considering that I might need to be hospitalized, we found the right dose of the right medication that resulted in MAJOR improvement. For about six months, I felt and functioned better than I had in many years! I cannot tell you what a huge relief it was. So, things are not all gloom and doom.
While on that medication I finally became able to put forth some effort needed to supplement my music income. I found some part-time work as a designated driver and delivering flowers, among other things. I'm still in excellent standing with those employers, but work is very sporadic. Unfortunately, when my treatment ended I went without care or meds for several months and was once again in rough shape by the end of last year.
Right now, my music schedule is uncomfortably thin. However, I do have some great gigs and solid ongoing musical relationships. I am glad to say I have a darn good reputation as a drummer. Fortunately, I don't have any trouble when it comes to performing as a musician or doing any of the odd jobs I currently do. Anyone who has worked with me on or off the bandstand will tell you that. I've received a lot of unsolicited positive feedback from my fellow musicians, and those good vibes have been very "instrumental", if you will (ha ha), in helping me push onward.
Here are some video and audio links, if you'd like to check out some of my gigs and recordings. It's an eclectic mix:
Jazz trio
Live original pop/funk/R&B
Production show promo
Soundcloud page, w/ various live jazz gigs, plus some unreleased gems
***
Any amount you can contribute will be deeply appreciated. Your donation can be made anonymous to the public, if you prefer.
Please help spread the word and share this campaign on Facebook, or via email, word of mouth, etc. HOWEVER, I do ask that everyone try their best within reason not to share on Facebook directly with musicians based in the New York City area, since that involves my line of work. I won't be announcing this campaign directly to the majority of my musician friends, just on the off chance that some folks might mistakenly have doubts about hiring me due to my illness. Use your best judgement. Thanks for your discretion and understanding!
I've created a select list among my Facebook friends who will see my GoFundMe posts. Here's a link about some Facebook options that enable you to choose who can or cannot see a particular post/share:
http://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/203604464-Can-I-send-an-update-to-only-certain-Facebook-friends-
The Details:
I've set up a Dropbox folder containing some documents that show that my illness is legit. There's an informal rent statement signed by my landlord as well. All rent payments and fees will be documented as they are made and included in the folder as well. (FYI: the date for the April 16th rent money order is visible below the yellow area, after the "D".)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xgx7m8kdhlo3yk4/AACS6LoybYh4GFhGTWAoQ8ira?dl=0
My $5,000 budget for this campaign includes:
5.5 months X $750 per month = $ 4,125 in back rent
$ 5,000 X (5% GoFundMe fee + 2.9% WePay fee) = $ 395
TLC license fees (various, such as license fee, drug test) = approx. $475
So, $ 4,125 + $ 395 + $ 475 = $ 4,995 which I have rounded up to $ 5,000.
Depending on how things go, I will probably portion out funds for two or three months' rent before I use funds to obtain the license. I may also need to use a small portion of the funds for one of three things I cannot do without, due to the nature of my work: cell phone, car insurance, and my internet connection. I'm on (ugh) food stamps, in order to help free up as much cash as possible. That's a first for me. I'm grateful for the program, but I hope I won't need it for long.
***
It is incredibly uncomfortable to ask for financial help this way. It might be worth mentioning that I've never had any issues whatsoever with alcohol or drug abuse, in case anyone is concerned about that. I hope that the fact that I'm on effective medication and have a plan to become financially stable will make people feel better about donating. I don't want anyone to feel they are giving to a lost cause!
If any one wants to contact me with questions, comments, concerns, ideas, general love and support vibes, or leads on gigs/jobs (even better!), feel free to get in touch.
Finally... if you are reading this and think you may have depression, I would recommend reading Feeling Good by David Burns for starters. Find a psychiatric professional who will help you try medications until you find one that works. And find a good therapist who practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT.
Thanks so much for your time and consideration!
Humbly yours,
Tom Pollard
tomdrum (at) verizon (dot) net