Sharing a Dream: FAQ

 
Where is my money going?
How do I help?
How can I follow along?
How else can I help?
Why should I help?
How do I know this is legit?
What do you specifically need money for?

Where is my money going?

Easy. I will be posting things as proof of where the money is going. When I get new headshots, they will be posted. I might even post a few new ones, and have my "sponsors/fans" choose which one I should use! I will be photo documenting everything, and posting the pictures on the site and me in acting class, me working out with the trainer, me kicking butt in capoeira, me in the recording studio, etc. If necessary, I can also scan the receipts for everything I pay for with your money, and post pictures of the receipts. I am willing to offer whatever proof I can as to where your money is going. I have no desire to "pull the wool over" anyone's eyes, only a desire to succeed and with the kindness of strangers! I want my career to take off, I DON'T want a Coach purse!

My ultimate goal would be to also "raise" enough money to help pay for my rent and some living expenses that pertain to my career, because the cost of living is soooo high out here. These things are directly related to remaining in LA to pursue my dream. No, I am not quitting my job. I intend to continue to work full-time until it interferes with auditions and stuff, and then work part-time, more than one job, whatever it takes. I am not going to sit on my butt and watch Court TV while you guys pay my way through life.

Should you want to be extra sure you know where your hard earned money is going, if you want to "ear mark" money, we could arrange for any specific person to pay for any specific thing directly and send my landlord a check, send the acting school a check, send 24Hour Fitness a check for the training sessions, send the recording studio a check and directly, no middle man. I would not be insulted by anyone wanting to be cautious. You want to specifically pay to have my demo made, arrangements can be made for you to pay the recording studio directly, and YOU get the first copy! I haven't figured out yet how to make a demo, since I don't write music, cause it costs LOTS of money to buy the rights to sing covers. Anyone want to donate original songs for me to sing, in exchange for writing credit? Pop music, please. My voice isn't very "rock!"
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How do I help?

There is a PayPal link set up for different forms of donations. You can get set up for a monthly donation, in any amount ("gonna give you this much a month, Cassie!"), or you can be a lump sum donor ("here's X amount of money, that's all you're getting "sister!"), which also includes those who want to bookmark the site and donate whenever they are able. You can specify where you want the money to go, or just say "wherever it needs to go," with the knowledge that if you DO specify a specific purpose for your money -- especially in the beginning -- money has to go where it's needed most, first. I will probably add on more and more classes as I raise more money, so if you are a martial artist and want to donate money for me to take a martial arts class, it would be great if you were willing to have it go to acting classes or headshots first, martial arts classes when I am able to add that in (there are primary needs and secondary needs).

I don't like having my credit card or bank account info on PayPal, despite how safe it is, or online at all, but I'd still like to help. So how can I?

Again, you can pay for services directly -- sending the acting school or recording studio or photographer a check or money order directly, or you can mail a payment to a PO box that I have set up for this purpose, for mail-in donations. I am going to set up a whole separate bank account for this project, too, so you'd probably be able to wire the bank money directly. If you want to do that, contact me, I will research it. Any reasonable accommodation will be made to meet your comfort needs. I don't want you to help me and sacrifice your comfort and security in the process.
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How can I follow along?

In addition to photo documentation of everything possible, I will occasionally be either directly posting videos (of me in classes, etc.), or posting links to videos on youtube.com for your entertainment. I will also be keeping a (hopefully) daily blog on this site, to keep everyone updated. It might be slow and boring at first, until this really takes off. You can also email me, but when this site DOES takes off, it's going to be difficult to directly answer every email. Popular questions will be added to this FAQ section.
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How else can I help?

There are many ways to help me, many not involving any cost. In addition to donating money, as mentioned before, if you are a LA area vocal coach, acting school, personal trainer, photographer, etc., you can donate your services, in exchange for (a) knowing you are helping a struggling artist (good karma!), and (b) having your name/school/company mentioned on this site. I expect this site to grow like crazy, so that could be quite lucrative. But the bottom line is, you'd be helping. Are you a musician? Can you write me songs to sing on a demo, in exchange for writing credit and the potential to get your stuff heard (PS I liken my voice most closely to Jewel). Do you work for a magazine, newspaper, TV station, or have a site of your own? Then promote my site! Send viewers/readers my way. Maybe you can't afford to help, but you can reach those who can. Heck, post the link to my site on your MySpace page, or in a MySpace bulletin! Maybe you can't help, but some friends of yours can! ANY publicity I can get is helpful. Word of mouth is powerful and tell your internet and non-internet friends about this site. Spread the word! It's free to do that (unless you take out a sky-writing ad and I hear that's expensive!). Since people are able to donate by mailing in a check, they don't even have to have the internet to help. Local papers, local radio and TV stations and publicity, publicity, publicity. Write a letter to PEOPLE magazine, encouraging them to run a story about my site and the quest for my dream. The more publicity, the better. The more traffic to this site, the better. When word of this site gets out, movie/TV casting directors, producers, directors, and agents will read about me, hear about me, see my face and name, learn about my quest and I could get acting jobs, auditions, or a recording contract just from publicity! I purposely made this site name easy to remember. GET THE WORD OUT! Some rich benefactor may find out about this site through you, and pay my acting tuition for a year, or tell his Hollywood producer/casting agent buddy about me, etc! Never underestimate the power of words! Publicizing this site for me is a free and easy way to help. Buy a t-shirt, wear it out in public! I plan to have things for sale to publicize the site, such as t-shirts, hats, mugs, pens, silicone bracelets, etc.
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Why should I help?

Because you can. Because you have been financially blessed and want to pay it forward and help someone who is struggling to realize a lifetime dream. Because you want to feel like part of the quest for a dream, part of an adventure. Because you had to give up YOUR dream and want to help someone achieve hers. Because you are fascinated to see how this turns out. Because you think I am cute. Because you are curious. Because you are a giving person. Because you want to help, and can afford to. Because you want to feel like you are part of something, particularly something that has the potential to be huge. Because you want to SHARE THE DREAM!

When I become a successful actress in film and/or TV, or become a hit recording artist (preferably both!), every time you see one of my movies or watch my TV show or hear one of my songs or see my pictures in a magazine, you will know that YOU had a hand in making that happen. You will know YOU were a part of this. That'd be a pretty cool feeling, wouldn't it?

I won't forget anyone's help, even it's a one-time donation of $1! Every little bit helps. Almost anyone can spare $1 for a dream and right? Please don't think, "I can only spare a dollar, so I won't even bother to donate." If 10,000 people donated just $1....you do the math!

I believe in myself, and am looking for others to believe in me, too. I know I can reach my dream and with your help. Let's make my dream a reality! Together, we can do it!
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How do I know this is legit?

Do a search for me on IMDB.com. I already have some movie credits. If you live or travel to the LA area, you can watch me perform 5 days a week at Knott's Berry Farm, singing, dancing, and acting. You will see that I AM pursuing this dream, I AM serious about it, and I DO have talent. And as previously mentioned, you are going to watch me progress, via videos, blogs, and photos. This IS legit. Watch it happen! Be part of it!
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What do you specifically need money for?

This section will be constantly growing and changing. More and more expenses will be added, such as additional acting classes (I'd like to take a film acting class, and a class at The Groundlings, etc.), I will add a voice lesson class expense when I find one I like. Class prices/money needed will constantly be added, as I find ones I need to take and get price quotes. Check back for updates

Beverly Hills Playhouse: $320 for the 1st 4 weeks, $320 for the last (the non refundable deposit) and $115 for materials. So, $755 to start. Then $320/month.

New headshots, Shawn Flint Blair Photography: $525.00.
Headshot prints: approx. $115.00 for 300 copies.

Dance classes at The Edge: around $100-275 a month, depending on how many I take. It's $100 for 10 classes a month, $275 for 30 classes a month. I think I would start with 2 classes a week, ballet and hip hop, and add on from there.

Hollywood Aerial Arts: approx. $200-300/month.

Recording studio: $15/hour (have to figure out what I'm going to sing and how before I can record anything!
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