Working document · Version 0.3 · September 8, 2026
The Imaginary Budget.
A $20,000 working plan to turn my original songs into a 60-minute live performance, capture material worth sharing, and begin building an audience.
This is a working document based on assumptions that have not yet been reviewed by professors. Those meetings are upcoming. These figures are starting points for discussion, not validated costs, quotes, agreed fees or promises. The plan will evolve with their guidance, collaborator input and actual pricing.
$20,000 initial funding plan · 60-minute show goal · $5,500 protected reserves
All $20,000 is provisionally allocated, including reserves. Actual spending and commitments are not yet reconciled. These planning figures do not represent a verified current bank balance or a claim that nothing has been spent.
Current planning allowances
| Category | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Core bandGuitar, keyboard, bass and drums: preparation, rehearsals and performance/capture sessions. Fees and session counts need agreement. | $5,000 |
| Musical direction & arrangingRepertoire planning, playable arrangements, charts, revisions and rehearsal leadership for the 60-minute show goal. Scope needs pricing. | $2,000 |
| Rehearsal space & artist preparationRented rehearsal space and targeted vocal or stage preparation. Access, session frequency and coaching needs remain to be confirmed. | $1,200 |
| Showcase venue & live productionRented showcase venue, essential sound, equipment and crew. Confirm setup time, recording suitability and what the venue includes. | $1,600 |
| Content capture & editingSelected professional performance audio/video, photographs and edited social clips. Agree deliverables and revisions; band fees are counted in Core band. | $2,500 |
| Artist-led marketing & audience developmentI lead publishing, outreach and community-building, supported by modest paid promotion and materials. Review results before expanding spending. | $1,000 |
| WardrobeSelective purchases, sourcing and alterations, using existing clothing where possible. | $400 |
| Website & digital toolsDomain, necessary website tools and mailing-list support. | $300 |
| Administration & logisticsTransport, incidentals and session support; confirm event-specific requirements. | $500 |
| ContingencyProtected planning allowance for unexpected costs within the agreed first phase. | $2,000 |
| Future-performance reserveProtected planning allowance for subsequent shows, paid-booking costs and opportunities after reviewing first-phase results. | $3,500 |
| Total, including reserves | $20,000 |
Build the full show
The intended first-phase outcome is a rehearsed 60-minute live performance. These songs have not yet been rehearsed or recorded within Project Ravicens. Repertoire, arrangement requirements, my preparation, rehearsal schedules and quotes will determine whether the proposed allowances can deliver that goal. If they cannot, I’ll revisit the plan before making commitments.
The core is guitar, keyboard, bass and drums, with me on lead vocals. Ideally, the musicians also sing backup. Separate backing vocalists and horns remain optional later additions. A full album is a separate future undertaking.
Make performances support audience development
Showcase venue, band and capture spending supports both the live show and promotional material. Each expense is counted once, even when it serves several purposes. Before booking a capture session, we’ll define the finished videos, audio, photos and clips, along with editing, delivery and agreed promotional use.
Marketing led by the artist
I’ll lead regular publishing, outreach and community-building. Everyday rehearsal clips I capture myself will supplement selected professional sessions. The $1,000 marketing allowance supports modest promotion and materials; it does not assume a paid team or a professional crew at every rehearsal.
Promotion will connect people to the music, the mailing list, showcases and booking opportunities. Spending can expand in stages as we learn what attracts lasting interest and paid demand.
Protect the next step
The $5,500 in planned reserves represents 27.5% of the total: $2,000 for unexpected first-phase costs and $3,500 for subsequent performances or opportunities supported by what we learn. Administration is budgeted separately. The future-performance reserve is not an automatic allowance to make the first show bigger.
University support: an opportunity to confirm
Upcoming professor meetings will help test the assumptions and explore collaborators, rehearsal space, venues and equipment. University access, subsidized pricing and departmental participation are not confirmed. Any savings will enter the plan once access and terms are established.
What still needs confirming
- Song selection, arranging scope, revisions, musician fees and rehearsal/session counts.
- My vocal and stage preparation needs, and suitable rehearsal-space access.
- Venue pricing, setup and teardown time, equipment, crew, ticketing and event-specific requirements.
- Capture deliverables, editing, file delivery and permission for promotional use.
- Which university resources and collaborations are actually available.
How estimates and actual spending will be tracked
Estimates, agreed commitments and amounts paid will be distinguished. A payment against a commitment is not an additional expense. Revising this plan does not change agreed fees or authorize extra work.
Aggregate actual spending will be added after reconciliation. Personal receipts, payment details and individual compensation remain private by default.
Revision history
Version 0.3 · September 8, 2026: Made the 60-minute show the intended outcome; allocated $5,000 to the core band and $2,000 to musical direction and arranging; adopted artist-led marketing with $1,000 direct spending; protected $5,500 in reserves. Professor review is still upcoming.
Version 0.2 · September 8, 2026: Earlier allocation: $6,500 live preparation, $3,500 content, $6,000 marketing/digital and $4,000 reserves/admin. That shorter-show approach has been superseded.
Version 0.1 · September 8, 2026: Initial allocation: $12,300 live preparation, $2,000 content, $1,200 marketing/digital and $4,500 reserves/admin. All versions total $20,000.