> From: "Rich Peet" <>
> Subject: Re: Walt's Frogs CD
>
>
>>> The rather restricted method of sales has to do with what a
>
> individual
>
>>> state agency can do here. Other methods were available, but would
>
> have
>
>>> put the money in the state general fund, not back where it will
>
> help the
>
>>> non-game research program. Even the CD's going to state parks will
>
> only
>
>>> return them the wholesale part.
>
>
> For those of us to follow. Do you agree a specific designation to use
> of funds is needed by the recordist? Would you do it again without
> having control of where all funds went?
I trust those involved in this project to do their best to keep the
funds in the non-game work. These are folks I know very well and they
too were very determined that it fund the program.
I'd do it again, it is a important thing to me that it contributes to
the program. It would do that even if it did not return a dime. It's
educational benefit is very high. One of my particular personality
quirks is to teach. I'm teaching in doing this. I get tremendous
satisfaction from every note I get thanking me for providing info on
frogs either via the CD or my website. Many of those are from teachers.
Each recordist has to make their own decision as to how their recordings
are used. I do not believe just money is involved. You have to be
comfortable with the arrangements, usually once they are made it's hard
to change them.
> And the hard question. Do you regret not having a % return for the
> recordist.
No, I don't regret that. I might could have asked for one, but it was
not of high importance for me. I did think carefully about that.
Remember, I'd just completed 5 years as a volunteer herp survey
participant. All my life I've participated in various volunteer
activities, also part of my nature. In a lot of ways the CD was just a
continuation of the herp survey effort. The majority of the recorded
material came out of recordings I'd done for the survey. It's part of a
larger picture that will produce considerable material for distribution
out of what was learned in the survey (and since).
For those who think they can make some money at this, that CD sold the
first run of 1000 in a month. And that was off season. I'm really
curious to see how well it does this next year when the frogs are
calling. The flip side of that as far as making money is the material on
that CD took 7 years of intensive effort to gather. Many, many miles on
my vehicles, motel bills, food etc. To say nothing of equipment. I'm
really glad I'm not trying to make a profit.
I do have some ideas for a more elaborate production along the lines of
a multimedia DVD. It will take some time to gather the material for
that. Don't know if DNR will be interested or if I'll do that one on my own.
In final analysis my nature recording is a retirement hobby that's a
outgrowth of my field biology. I do not look at it as something that
will make me rich. You can really spoil a enjoyable hobby when you try
to make a profit off it.
Walt
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