GETTING AN "EID"

Yes Virginia, is does sound like a venereal disease.

or a contraceptive.

Ok, seriously.

Since I recently registered the name of my production company (Parting Glass Productions) with NYS...

and since i wanted to open a bank account specifically for Parting Glass Productions-

I was told that I needed an "EID".

An "EID" is an Employer Identification Number with the IRS.

Heads up....

If you go all the way to your local IRS building in the freezing cold and post-blizzard slush, to get a "SS-4" form, they will most likely say to you, 

"You know, you can do this online in like, ten minutes. If you do it here, you'll wait for at least an hour and the paperwork will take up to 4 weeks. You might as well just go home."

So.

Just go to www.irs.gov and have at it.

Search for an "SS-4 form", or "EID" on the site-

go through and answer all the questions and that's pretty much it.

No fee or anything (which was shocking to me).

Literally, in ten minutes, I had an EID number and was able to print it out to bring to the bank to open a 'business account' specifically for Parting Glass Productions.

When I file my taxes...

I honestly don't know what I claim all this under...

a 1099?

a W-2?

a 24601?

i have no idea.

God bless my accountant.

How does this affect when I apply for unemployment?

I have no idea.

God help me when I open my new post-BILLY claim.

I will keep you all posted as we go into this 'businessy-business' part of the production company bit....

in the meantime-

i hope you're all having a marvelous holiday season!

xoxo

dl

NICE ARTICLE ON BACKSTAGE!

WHEE!!

Thanks Hillary!

The Professional Bathroom Singer 

Broadway star Donna Lynne Champlin goes DIY for her first solo album 

By Hilary Tuttle 

December 18, 2009 

Recording a solo album on a "Trading Spaces" budget 

does not sound like a Broadway star's groundbreaking 

personal project. Yet when Donna Lynne Champlin 

fractured her ankle in "Billy Elliott," that is exactly what 

she did. The result—"Old Friends," which dropped Dec. 

1—challenges the traditional recording system and 

makes Champlin almost as happy as the hours spent 

singing in her bathroom and agonizingly mastering 

tracks did. She set out to prove that it she could 

accomplish a professional-sounding labor of love one a 

budget of $1000. But the experience also served as a 

lesson in making a profit by making herself happy. 

When Champlin decided to record, mix, and master her own solo CD, she had no idea what she was 

in for. "I started this because I wanted to prove that it could be done and I wanted to lay out the 

groundwork for anyone who wanted to do it themselves," she said. "I figured, stocking stuffers for my 

family and a CD [to sell] to stop looking like a jackass at those Town Hall things. I figured that 

basically anyone could scrape that budget together over the course of, say, a year, like I did." 

In her budget, $1000 is sufficient for the project if only 150 physical copies are ordered. Though, with 

digital, she learned, only about five are really needed. "You can send it to CD Baby and they sell it all 

digitally. And then with Amazon and iTunes, you're set. You don't need the company anymore." 

When Champlin, best known as Pirelli from the Broadway revival of "Sweeny Todd," got the idea, 

her brother suggested she push her effort with an accompanying blog. She was shocked when 

readership quickly grew beyond her brother and mother. But she stayed honest with everyone.

"In marketing, you're supposed to point to the good stuff," she said. "And the blog was very 

antithetical to that. But that's the whole point. For other people to not do what I did and make my 

mistakes and to know how hard it is. I think that's why people are so willing to help me—it's clear 

how helpless I am!" 

Help poured in from friends, fans, and absolute strangers. After repeated inquiries, Champlin 

accepted donations for a publicity fund. She also got offers of production assistance, from graphic 

design to technological equipment to professional mixing—by Terrence Darby, who mixes Moby and 

Beyonce, no less. 

You would never know the vocals were recorded in her bathroom. "I recorded there because it's the 

only room I have with a door," she says, laughing. "Mastering songs, there were times where it was 

so bad that my notes were literally, 'Good luck.'" 

While her self-taught mixing and mastering skills paid off in the final product, that last technical 

process drove her the craziest—and made her appreciate the professionals. "This is where they 

deserve the big bucks," she said. "I did it, and it's doable, and I showed it could be done, but to make 

the experience perfect, I probably wouldn't. That was where, if I could have given someone $1 

million to just do it for me, I would have, and it would have been worth every cent." 

Technical difficulties did not wreck the experience, though. In fact, Champlin describes the whole 

project as an exercise in making herself happy at every step. 

"I decided to make a CD that I would enjoy listening to," she explained. "So I would finish a song and 

sit there, and I would say, 'What song, of all the songs I know, would I like to work on now? What 

song would make me happy?' And that's how I picked the songs. I can't tell you how many times in 

this whole thing people said, 'Well, that's not how people do it.' And you know what? I don't care. I 

don't owe anybody any money; I don't have to meet anybody's bottom line." 

Financial and artistic freedom made the experience. As a veteran of the stage, Champlin asserts that 

actors get too conditioned to accept direction. She loved making the creative calls that made her 

happy, and she relished the ability to go against conventions just as much. 

"I've broken a lot of rules with this," she said. "Happily, because I can." 

Picking happiness has paid off for the star. With 200 preorders, she not only recouped all of her 

money, but made a profit even before the official release. 

At the end, Champlin offered advice to artists considering making a solo CD—either with the DIY 

approach or more conventionally. With her new insight she said, "You need to do this for artistic 

reasons only, because if you do it for commercial reasons you're not going to make it—you'll go crazy 

and it'll be miserable.

"It really was incredibly fun, the whole thing," she added. "It was maddening. But I haven't been this 

artistically happy in years." 

 

 

Find this article at: 

http://www.backstage.com/bso/news-and-features-features/the-professional-bathroom-singer-1004054600.story 

 

A BUSINESS CERTIFICATE ADVENTURE!

Heya my little toymaking elves!

SO.

Today was the day.

It was the day that I went down to The New York Supreme Court building and adopted my bouncing baby production company.

Something i really should have done before i ever released anything on my 'label' because until you go down to the court house and pay your $120 and make sure that no one else has a company called, oh i don't know...'Parting Glass Productions'...you're playing with legal fire basically.

Here's the drill.

You go to your local courthouse that gives out BUSINESS CERTIFICATES.

In my case, this was 60 Centre Street.

On pretty much THE coldest day of the year.

First thing you do is go to the records room (in my case room 117B in the basement) and see if anyone has ownership of the name you want for your company.

Of course, I get down to 117B and there's a note scrawled in insane asylum penmanship on a piece of cardboard that says, "CLOSED".

No REASON...for 'CLOSED'.

Just....

closed.

awesome.

and of course, you can't do this shit online cause that would be...

ya know...

20th century stuff.

Heaven forbid the court system get out of the horse and buggy age.

I look through the window to see if there's anyone in there that could tell me what to do now...

and I swear to God, it looked that that last shot in the original Indiana Jones movie? Where the ark is crated up and put inside this massive room that looks like where Overstock.com went to throw up?

Honestly, I might not have gotten out alive, had it not been 'CLOSED'.

So.

I can't really check in room 117B so i go to the next step which is:

Once you have determined (in the 'CLOSED' 117B room of hieroglyphics and curses) whether or not the name you want is even available...

you go to room 109B, conveniently located a few doors down.

I go to the desk-

big line.

Now...

i KNOW that....

actually the NEXT step after the Temple of Doom room is-

if your name is available to go BACK up to the lobby 'candy stand'-

i'm not kidding...

the 'candy stand'...

and go buy the official form for which you will apply for the name of your business.

I look at the big line in 109B-

knowing full well....

that it's a waste of time really since they'll be wanting me to have the right form by the time i get to the desk and figure 'fuck it, i'll go get the form now, and pretend that my PGP is available'.

As I'm heading out of 109B-

i run into a really nice police officer.

i explain to him about 117B and he directs me BACK to the desk in 109B but to the other side.

A really tired and fed up woman steps up to 'help' me.

bless.

I explain the situation and she has me write down the name of my company-

and just goes to the COMPUTER (so you CAN check online but...only if you work there?)-

looks up and says, "It's taken".

Aaaaaaaaaannnnndddd then i shit my pants.

I then ask the question all public servants LOVE to hear,

"Are you SURE?"

*intense glare from said fed-up woman

"Oh fucking hell. Well...shit. Ok."

I'm now roladexing all the things I've sent out with PARTING GLASS PRODUCTIONS emblazoned on it.....

all things now...

that i could be sued for.

YES!

SWEET!

I stand there...

slightly paralized...

and try desperately to think up another name that's similar enough but won't get me arrested by whomever owns the 'real' PARTING GLASS PRODUCTIONS (which at this point I'm pretty sure is a bunch of wankers who have a crappy irish band that they formed sophomore year in college and probably don't even use anymore. Fuckers.)

I ask her if there are any 'tricks' to this-

can i put at the end 'LTD' or "Associated" or SOMETHING that will let me keep PARTING GLASS PRODUCTIONS.

A flat "no".

fuck.

fuck.

fuck.

fuck.

As i stand there...

a really cute guy comes up and asks if i'm having trouble thinking of a new name...

i explain the situation and how I've slightly screwed myself by doing this all ass-backwards and he says,  

"Let me check it again."

He looks...

and he says, "No, it's available."

WWWHHHHHAAATTTTTTTTTT????

Yeah.

Cranky, old, fed-up tired lady figured that PARTING GLASS RACING was the same as PARTING GLASS PRODUCTIONS and...

ya know, i don't know really what the rest of her thought process was beyond that.

Obviously---

a sports company is going to have a LOT of interest in my tiny independant artistic label.

SO.

upshot....

I am now the proud and official and LEGAL owner of PARTING GLASS PRODUCTIONS.

Yay!

To run you through the rest of it-

once you know that your name is available-

you go back upstairs to the 'candy stand' and buy your "X201 Form" for two dollars.

Then you go back down to the basement...

fill out the form-

pay $120 (the $100 is for the certificate which they keep and the extra $20 was for two copies for me)-

and then you're done!!!

Before i left, i asked them if the number on my new license which reads:

"PARTING GLASS PRODUCTIONS: A recording label for audio CDs, DVDs, and other promotional material pertaining to the Arts. This is an "independant" production company"

was my official "DBA" number (which a few online selling sites have asked me for).

Of cooouuurrrrrssseeeeeeee...

it's not.

SO.

COME MONDAY.....

I will go get my official FEDERAL TAX ID# which can be found at 110 West 44th Street apparently.

After which i will go and open a new bank account purely for PARTING GLASS PRODUCTIONS!!!

So a busy-

and slightly pants-crapping stressful day-ish....

but ultimately...

I am now the OWNER of my own PRODUCTION COMPANY!!!!

Life is good.

And now i am off to dance for the peoples.

xoxo

dl

OLD FRIENDS IS ON AMAZON.COM!!!!

Finally!

Here's the thing...

i went through CDBABY thinking it would be FASTER?!!!

uhm.

HELLS to the NO on that.

They have for some reason, dragged their feet for WEEKS and then just sent me an email today saying 'oh we JUST sent it over...it could be another 2-4 weeks'.

well.

fuck that.

I just went on there and opened my own goddamned account.

and now i will write to cdbaby to ask them to REMOVE their request to sell it on amazon.com

i don't know how that will go but Jesus H Christ..

i could have been selling these CDs on amazon.com from like- DAY ONE!!!

SO...

lesson learned everybody.

When it comes to amazon.com?

Do it your damned self.

It's basically like the Pay Pal situation.

They handle the orders-

and you end up shipping everything out.

but that's what I've been doing all along so...

that's fine with me.

Ahhhhhhhhh, someday I'll know what the fuck I'm doing..

in the meantime-

IT'S ON AMAZON.COM EVERYBODY!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Friends-Donna-Lynne-Champlin/dp/B003183QLI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1261124403&sr=1-4

whee!!!!

xoxo

dl

PETER FILICHIA AT THEATREMANIA GIVES OLD FRIENDS A FABULOUS SHOUT-OUT!

God bless ya Peter!

You're the best!

http://www.theatermania.com/peterfilichia/permalinks/2009/12/14/the-presents-very-pleasant/

"CDs? Let me recommend one by Donna Lynne Champlin. The noted singer-actress found she had an extra $1,000 to spend. (After all, she is making a Broadway salary each week in Billy Elliot: The Musical.) She could have rented one of those newly refurbished rooms at the Plaza Hotel for a night. Or she could have bought a business class flight to France on a minor airline that needs the business. Or she could have gone to Sofrito and had Chef Ricardo Cardona’s famous $1,000 paella, replete with black truffles, sea scallops, baby squid, baby eel, mussels, cherrystone clams, king crab legs, mini-chorizo sausages, octopus, lobster tails, and prawns. 

But the room, the flight, and the meal would have been gone in no time. So Champlin decided to spend the money and the time doing something that would last substantially longer: A solo CD. 

Could it really be accomplished for $1,000? Champlin knows how expensive renting space is. Carnegie Hall, where she appeared in Very Warm for May, was definitely out. So were the studios where she recorded My Life with Albertine. And while Champlin wanted instrumentation to accompany her, she didn’t need to hire musicians. As her many fans know from her stint in John Doyle’s Sweeney Todd, Champlin can play piano, flute, accordion, among other instruments. So she’d lay down the instrumental tracks, and then start singing. 

In her bathroom. But as the best artists can tell you, acoustics tend to be quite wonderful in the bathroom. 

Given Champlin’s theater-centric career – she’s won an Obie – she’d included many off-the-beaten-track theater songs that don’t get their due, from First Lady Suite, The Blue Flower, Love, Jerry, Das Barbecu, The Last 5 Years, and The Zero Club. Considering that Champlin had a Broadway success with Hollywood Arms, she acknowledged Hollywood, too: Songs from films as far back as Modern Times to such recent entries asAnastasia, A Walk to Remember, and Toy Story. Rounding out the disc are ditties from songwriters ranging from Stephen Foster to Kate McGarrigle, with a traditional Irish tune to boot. 

Here’s the result: Old Friends, the album that Champlin was able to do for one grand -- and the result is one grand album. CDs are $15. ($18 including shipping and handling) Old Friends is available on cdbaby, amazon.com, and itunes. Visitwww.donnalynnechamplin.com."

WRITE A REVIEW FOR 'OLD FRIENDS'

one more thing...

my darling Christmas Trees....

If you have heard the CD-

and thought it was cool....

PLEASE DO write a customer review of it at either

CDBABY:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/DonnaLynneChamplin

OR

on ITUNES:

www.tinyurl.com/dlconitunes

or BOTH!!!!

it would really really really help us get the rep and word out there!!!

If you have already written a review for Old Friends-

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

WHEE!!!

xoxo

dl

MY DARLING SUGAR PLUMS...

I REALIZE I HAVE BEEN SO NEGLECTFUL in keeping up this blog the past week.

I'm SO sorry.

I owe you all the final three song posts for Parting Glass, When She Loved Me and From God's Arms.....

I will get to them i promise.

but i also don't want them to be a all ass cheesed because I am so FUCKING busy right now my eyeballs are about to pop.

"Why do busy?" you ask?

Well, firstly- it's December.

And December is the holidays.

And the holidays for any sort of performer are insane.

I literally will not have had a Monday off for 5 weeks until Christmas because 'tis the season' for benefits and end of the year concerts, readings and round-ups etc.

So...

Momma is Bi-ZEEEE.

Secondly, after the CD release party on the 29th- 

there were two more sleepless nights getting everything ready with all T's crossed and all I's dotted for the official CD release on 12/01/09.

And then, well....

there's BILLY ELLIOT rehearsal, and shows, and rehearsal, and GYPSY of the YEAR, and rehearsal....

and CHRISTMAS...

and I'm still sending CDs out with orders through my website (which is AWESOME!)...

and...

it's a lot, my lovely egg nogs.

so...

my head's just been a tad UP my ass the past week or so.

and i am really so very sorry to have neglected you, my blog babies.

but some UPDATES!!!!

as you know....

OLD FRIENDS is now available via my website (hardcopy):

http://www.donnalynnechamplin.com/buycd.html

BIZMO (digital):

http://www.thebizmo.com/user/store/donnalynne

CDBABY (digital and hardcopy):

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/DonnaLynneChamplin

FOOTLIGHT RECORDS (hardcopy):

http://www.footlight.com/product.cfm?product_id=39324

BUT!!!!!

what you DON'T know is that my CD is now...

AVAILABLE ON ITUNES (digital)!!!!!!!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/once-upon-a-december/id345480399?i=345480599&ign-mpt=uo%3D6

we are hoping that it gets on AMAZON.COM very soon...

preferably before the holidays are over.

heads up fellow indie CD makers....

GET YOUR SHIT TO CDBABY TWO WEEKS PRIOR to your release date-

because it takes a couple weeks for them AFTER they put up your CDBABY site to send and get all your stuff approved by CDBABY and AMAZON.

Rookie mistake #879823409234 for dlc.

So....

know that I am thinking of you...

and I will get back to the blog officially and substantially- 

hopefully within a couple days.

In the meantime...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the love and support!!!!

it means the world to me!!!!

all my lerv-

dl