Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Shaw.
Hi Jack, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started Goodmood as a boutique booking agency in 2019. I booked bands in small clubs all throughout the country, and had a fun time doing it! Once the pandemic hit, though, I had to cancel tours left and right for my roster because the whole world shut down. Live music was no longer happening.
I was heartbroken to see the artists on my roster lose their main bread and butter: performing live. A lot of them also lost their side hustles and ended up scrambling to make ends meet. I realized that the pandemic is just one of several emergencies that can upend a touring musician’s life– a life that is already fragile to begin with. A death in the family; a car accident; a cancer diagnosis; medical bills not covered by insurance- these are all crises that can turn a life upside down. Many musicians who cut their teeth on the road are often forced to abandon the road when crises like these occur.
So, I decided to transform Goodmod from an agency to a charity that provides financial grants to touring musicians in times of need. Our goal is to be their safety net so they don’t have to abandon the road when a crisis hits. We aim to provide musicians with the security and resources it takes to recover so they can get back on the road in no time. Most artists, no matter how established now, started out scraping by on the road, so we want to do whatever we can to sustain that ecosystem.
We’ve officially been operating as a charity since 2021. So far, we’ve distributed over $18,000 in grants that have helped struggling musicians pay for bills related to cancer treatments, therapy, rent/mortgages, utilities, injuries and several other needs. While we’re based in Atlanta, our reach is nationwide. We’ve helped musicians from New York to California and everywhere in between. We feel so honored and humbled to be working with so many talented musicians.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been relatively smooth but not without its challenges. Vetting grant applications can be particularly challenging since there is so much nuance to each applicant’s situation. Getting the word out about our charity to musicians in an organic/ grassroots way can also be challenging. But, we’re very lucky to have several artists, venues, record stores and other small businesses spread the word about our mission to their own networks!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As founder/director of Goodmood, I focus on fundraising, grant processing and marketing for our cause. I spend a lot of time creating campaigns designed to invite more musicians to apply for our grants. I also curate benefit concerts called Good Shows as a way to raise more money and awareness. We’ve already hosted Good Shows in Atlanta, Charleston and Nashville. We’ve got a few more in the pipeline too (next one is July 16 at Radio Room in Greenville, SC). These Good Shows are especially fun because we get to enlist so many talented artists in each city to perform. We also find wonderful shops and small businesses to sponsor the events. These shows have been an exciting way for everyone to come together.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
In terms of books, “Our Band Could Be Your Life” (Michael Azerrad) and “Wild Thing” (Ian Copeland) have really informed my approach to Goodmood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goodmood.fund/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodmoodfund/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodmoodfund
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodmoodfund
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM_f-xb8WTFz6sqW7BspISw
Image Credits
Nick Rhodes (for all photos)
