Re: HANASHIR digest 72

[Cantor Neil & Katie Schwartz <schwartz...>]

>
>So, we as songleaders, are trying to make a CD to sell.  We are going to
>give all of the money we make to Camp Jenny to try to send more kids.  It
>costs $150 to send one child to camp Jenny.
>
>The reason I am writing this to you is to ask your help in making this CD.
>I am not asking you to give any money or anything, just advice.  We face
>the problem of copyright.  I have heard that since we are making this CD
>for a non profit purpose, we do not need to pay for copyrights.  Is this
>true?  We would like to record some songs in the chordster that are popular
>in NFTY. Those are written by Debbie Friedman, Jeff Klepper and Julie silver,
>>to name a few.  How do we go about getting permission to use these songs?
>I know that we are able to use the NFTY song competition winner because it
>was written by (my best friend) Lara Aronoff who is in SEFTY!!!  (yay!)
>

  Since these people are all alive and well, and most of them are former
NFTY folks themselves, why don't you write them each directly to describe
your project and ask their permission?  I suspect that most of them would
be delighted to be helpful, as long as no one uses this as an excuse to
"rip them off".  Yes, you need permission.  Once you receive it, simply
stating on the card inside the CD case that you received permission from
the composers to support your cause will do two things:  it makes you
look good in the eyes of us who worry about royalties being considered,
and it makes them look good for helping your cause by waiving royalties.

                                                Cantor Neil Schwartz

P.S.  Some of these composers have agents and such who handle financial
     matters for them, but since this is a NFTY project you can probably
     deal with them directly as former (or even present) NFTY members.
     Just make sure you put everything in writing, so you're covered.
     Also, a cover letter from an adult staff member to vouch for your
     project will probably be helpful in persuading them to help you.