Sacrifices for art
Meaghan Blanchard sells wedding dress to fund her new CD, due out in January
Meaghan Blanchard knows the cost of making music. And ECMA award-winning singer-songwriter will go to any lengths to achieve her goal – even to the point of shocking fans when she put her wedding dress up for sale on Kijiji recently.
The online announcement left Prince Edward Islanders wondering why she was selling her cream-coloured dress with the sweetheart neckline, lace cap sleeves and long flowing train.
It’s all about finances, she says.
“The expense of creating art is so high. And with my new CD coming out in January, I have to find a way to pay for it,” says Blanchard, who received some funding from F.A.C.T.O.R., but it wasn’t enough.
“So I started collecting things around my house that I could sell.”
One day while walking by her spare bedroom she spotted her wedding dress hanging in front of the window.
“I thought, ‘well, that could go.’ I realized that I probably wasn’t going to wear it again and thought maybe someone else could use it.”
So she wrote an ad and posted it on Kijiji.
“I made it personal and I think that’s what made things take off,” says Blanchard. Meaghan Blanchard, shown in this wedding photo with her grandmother, Glenda Blanchard, and husband Thomas Webb, sold her wedding dress recently to fund her upcoming CD. The ad received 14,032 hits on Kijiji.
Her creative writing skills worked. The dress recently sold for $1,200, after the ad received 14,032 hits.
Understandably, the bride-tobe who purchased it wishes to remain anonymous.
“I’m happy to know that it will be used to help someone else have a happy day,” says Blanchard.
She plans to use the money to help fund her new album, “The Great Escape”. Her producer just finished mixing the 10-track CD the end of November.
So far she’s put $15,000 into
it and needs another $10,000 to print the CDs and do the marketing.
Blanchard says today’s music industry is challenging artists to be creative in their fundraising.
“CD sales are significantly lower since the ‘90s. Yet, it’s just as costly to make them. But no one wants to be the one to admit that they have to make significant financial sacrifices to do what they do… but they do like every other business owner. So artists have to make sacrifices.”
Even a songwriter like Lindi
Ortega, who has been on a major label, has said she doesn’t think that the old model is working any more.
“I just saw online that she’s doing a kickstarter campaign for her upcoming record, ‘What a Girl has Gotta Do.’”
Blanchard will be doing the same thing very shortly.
“So I realize that we’re all in this industry feeling the same way.”
sally.cole@theguardian.pe.ca
Borden-Carleton Playgroups
Playgroups hosted by Family Place at Community Library in Fire Hall, 244 Borden Ave., Fridays 9:3011:30 a.m., until Dec. 22. Children and grown-ups can connect and socialize. Crafts, educational toys, healthy snack and circle time. Drop into Family Place, Summerside, call 902-436-1348 or familyplace@ eastlink.ca.
9:30-11:30 a.m., Dec. 15
Seasonal Music at Library Knit, Crochet and Chat
Enjoy knitting, crocheting or other needle crafts? Want to learn? Whether experienced or beginner, bring in your project to O’Leary Library, get ideas and socialize. Fridays at 2 p.m.
2 p.m., Dec. 15
Summerside Christmas Cantata
Summerside Fundamental Baptist Church, 200 MacEwen Road, presenting cantata “From Christmas to Calvary.” All welcome to attend this free event.
7 p.m., Dec. 15
Legion Darts
Darts at Summerside Legion Fridays at 7:30 p.m., also Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 12 noon. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 15
Chase Ace and Karaoke
St. Eleanors Lions Club Chase the Ace draw. Tickets: $5 each, available during week at the club or online at acechaser.com until draw at 8 p.m. Friday. Don’t have to be present to win. Followed by Karaoke with Yogi and Booboo from 8:30 to 12 a.m.
8 p.m., Dec. 15
Evangeline Chase The Ace