Author Topic: CALLING ALL MEMBERS, you need to read and please reply with feedback (Read 623 times)

dela217 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 28, 2009, 10:32:54 AM »

What about an instrument to be built AFTER the winner is chosen? That way it will be up to the individual.

I also don't think that $100 a shot is out of the question. But who will hold the funds? Alembic?

senmen · « **Reply #16 on:** April 28, 2009, 10:46:29 AM »

John, Guys,
really cool idea. And 100 bucks is not that big thing for everyone.
I like the idea of having it buildt after the winner was chosen.
Cheers
Oliver (Spyderman)

jedisan · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2009, 10:54:21 AM »

Count me in... although I think John should be the overall designer, and maybe a few details left to the winner. Heck, it even sounds like John has a quiver of designs that the winner could choose from as well.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2009, 12:42:32 PM »

Well, I for one would find $100 to be prohibitive. I know it isn't much in the grand scheme, but it just isn't within the means of my budget at the moment. It would certainly limit the number of tickets/improve the odds of winning if the price was $100, but I don't think it would be that hard to sell 2000 $10 tickets either. Maybe impose a 10 ticket per member limit. A winner could be drawn after all tickets were sold, with construction to begin thereafter upon the instrument type of the winner's choice, with all final design choices left to John except those related to playing ergonomics (no need to damage anyone's hands).

Anyway, just a thought.

lowlife · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2009, 12:56:47 PM »

I have to agree with Hydrargyrum. $100 for a ticket is not in my budget at the moment either, but I could certaily scrape up enough for 1 or 2 $10 tickets. And construction after the drawing also makes sense to me.

Just my 2 cents (2.2 cents Canadian)

lbpesq · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2009, 01:30:35 PM »

Not to throw a wet blanket on the excitement but, as someone who has done some fund raising, I suggest to you all that selling 2000 tickets will be quite an undertaking and an extremely optimistic goal. And many seem ready to cut out the guitar players right out of the gate! Perhaps this thread should more aptly be in the dreaming section?

Bill, tgo

David Houck · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2009, 02:18:05 PM »

I just wanted to quickly interject that Olie makes two important points. If you sell 2,000 tickets at $10 each, the winner will have taxable income of $20,000. Depending on your bracket and your state, this could mean between $4,500 and $8,000 out of pocket to the winner. His second point is that this sounds really close to violating gambling laws; thus part of the $20,000 may need to be spent on an attorney to make sure that the contest is set up properly.

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #22 on:** April 28, 2009, 03:37:47 PM »

1) Yes, I would love a John Judge-designed double-neck for $10-100!

2) Yes, I would much rather have my own design for $10-$100 (& it might well be a guitar)

3) Yes, this is probably the only way I'll ever get either, so if Olie & Dave's concerns can be addressed, I'm definitely in for a few $10 chances - I'd have negotiate pretty hard w/SWMBO for a $100 one, though!

4) Yes, keep it in the club - we're a pretty nice bunch, whereas the Youtube thing could get ugly (though I'm sure none of us has ever met an a**hole musician!)

5) So, in conclusion, winner-designed, low ticket price, members-only, if the tax/gambling crap can be sorted.

Peter

Oh, one more concern - we'd need a mechanism for refund if the ticket sales were insufficient.

kenbass4 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 28, 2009, 03:49:06 PM »

Yeah, I think there are certainly a lot of issues that would have to be resolved first, and I think that if it does happen, it would need to be winners choice to allow EVERYONE to participate. (Hey Bill, you could play the top half of my doubleneck choice, doesn't that count? :-) )

I do think this is more of a dreaming thread, but it does have some interesting ideas coming out in it. I'd be in for a few $10 tickets, or even 1 $100 if the timing's right.

gyonnii · « **Reply #24 on:** April 28, 2009, 04:02:38 PM »

No refund, if there are not enough ticket sales generated than we divide it up into prize raffle and use it to purchase maybe a preamp from Alembic 1st prize some strings and T shirts 4&5 etc...

As far as the money thing goes there would be no taxable income if we can get the mothership to set up a trust fund and then it just becomes a purchase by the owner the only taxes that can possible happen that if the winner ends in California or if Alembic chooses that the Bass goes through a authorized dealer than you would pick up your instrument at that dealer and have to pay sales tax on it...which I would gladly do for ownership for am Alembic
so lets see if we can work it all out and if we can then lets go for it I say $10.00 a pop limited to 10 tickets per member no more...I will call a friend of mine who is an attorney to research to see if it is possible...if it is legal then we go for it and if it's not then we don't and yes the winner gets to pick final design approval wether it has 10 necks or 1 whether it's a guitar or Bass etc...as long as the money is there or they are willing to add the difference.

rami · « **Reply #25 on:** April 28, 2009, 06:28:57 PM »

Guys, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.
I think the winner should sign a claim form stating that he/she understands that there may be taxes and/or duties involved that are beyond the control or responsibility of Alembic. With that said, if he/she refuses or cannot pay these potential charges, he/she forfeits the prize and it is reclaimed by Alembic and is awarded to a new winner by the same random process. No refunds. Simple. Accept the terms or don't participate. No coddling or special exceptions.

Leave the design 100% in the hands of the genius designer (John Judge) and let's not impede his creativity with details. Let the artist perform his craft. When he comes up with his final design, we can jump in and buy our tickets (before it's built).

gyonnii · « **Reply #26 on:** April 28, 2009, 06:41:11 PM »

Ok this is what my friend found out so far... Private lotteries

There are three sub-categories of private lottery that qualify as exempt lotteries:

Private society lottery ? these can only be promoted by authorised members of a society, and tickets can only be sold to other members of that same society, or to persons on the society premises. The lottery may only be promoted for a purpose for which the society is conducted, and the society can be any group or society, provided it is not established and conducted for purposes connected to gambling.

Examples of this type of lottery would include those limited to members of a working men?s club or a sports club, where guests at the club would not be permitted to participate.

In other words as a society or club, it would have to be conducted as a lottery within the club or society and the prize must be something that pertains to the club such as a Bass or guitar and as long as the club or society is not formed for purely gambling we should be OK,

No money can be awarded if there is not enough to complete the custom, then a preamp, or strings etc..Is fine because it pertain;s to the club, anything with Alembic on it. And who ever collects the money can not retain it past the set drawing time otherwise that becomes something totally different and the IRS then comes into play unless you are a tax exempt organization.

Last but not least we have to make sure that Lotteries are legal in the state of the money Custodian..My friend is going to research it more for us but this is what he has come up with so far and the only other way is it to be in the form of a contest with an entree fee within the club with no outsiders, anyone outside the club makes it Illegal
So it has to be called a Lottery or a contest, based on Knowledge or skill etcc... but cannot be called a raffle

rami · « **Reply #27 on:** April 28, 2009, 06:52:21 PM »

I just hope we're not setting the management of Alembic up for a MAJOR HEADACHE!

Sorry Mica! This just came out of my Doubleneck Dream thread. I wouldn't want a dream to turn into a headache.

gyonnii · « **Reply #28 on:** April 28, 2009, 08:13:25 PM »

Agreed! Thats why John wanted to clear it with Alembic and get some of there input on the idea first. If we can come to an agreement on the legal way to do it and the mothership is comfortable with it then John will do it full blown otherwise he will drop it like a hot potato, The whole idea was it to be hassle free and something nice from the club to one lucky person.

I just talked to him by phone approximately 1 hour ago and told me that he will contact Alembic personally on friday morning when he gets back.

room037 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 28, 2009, 08:31:54 PM »

It's available for worldwide under dealership, isn't it ?

I agree somepoints.

1: It will be raffle. $10/1 ticket, 10 tickets/1 persons.
2: The designer is Mr. John Judge himself. This is his premium.
3: I wish to be controled under membership. Because I hate the winner sell it for the money.

If Alembic will support officially, I wish the custom option ticket for second prize.
It wiil be invitational tickets for new custom owner.

I don't know the gambling laws in USA or international, but I wish it will be done.

Eiji from Japan