Monthly Archives: November 2014

Development, Inspiration

Asphalt & Dirt & Multiple Sclerosis

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I posted a few times on Twitter and I was surprised to be contacted by Aaron Heinrich, the publisher of the motorcycle website Asphalt & Dirt. He somehow found Popp Over America in the vast sea (some might say cesspool) of social media. Aaron called me yesterday for a preliminary interview about my ride and TV show. After a few verbal exchanges, I felt like I was conversing with an old friend rather than an interviewer. We talked about the concept of the show at first, but then we quickly spun into other topics – music, relationships, food and life.

Aaron asked me if I ever considered riding for some type of cause. My girlfriend Jenny also made this suggestion which I dismissed. I told Aaron (as I told Jenny) I didn’t want to appear that I was using a cause to raise money for my trip. I stated the fact about how many charities give little of the money raised to the causes they are supposedly supporting. But Aaron quickly convinced me that the goal should to be raise awareness and not necessarily collect money for donations. This concept is great for all parties involved. Not only would I be doing good for my own soul, but I would be helping others while blasting over the roads of America.

But what cause?

Jenny was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010. When she suggested that I ride for a cause, she never mentioned her own disease as being that cause. She is such a generous and giving person that the letters “MS” never crossed her lips when I argued with her about the subject. But a light bulb went off in my over-sized melon when Aaron hammered on about having a cause. “MS, my girlfriend has MS. I could ride to raise awareness for that!”

Aaron brainstormed with me for a few more minutes before hanging up the phone. What started as a brief interview turned into a 36 minute inspirational therapy session about a whole new way to view Popp Over America. Motorcyclists are an interesting breed. We are brothers in arms, welded together by the simple commonality of riding in the wind on two wheels. We help each other. Aaron helped me.

I am no longer riding for myself. I’m now riding for Jenny and her brothers and sisters in arms – those who have been affected by MS.

Music

So where’s the music?

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Joe Popp at SHRINE. Photo credit Stacey Salter Moore
Joe Popp at SHRINE. Photo credit Stacey Salter Moore

I am doing Popp Over America as a 48 state non-stop tour as a singer-songwriter, and even though I have played hundreds of solo shows, I have never released a solo acoustic album! To remedy this glowing problem, I will be recording and mixing an album of songs that I will play on the tour and release them as they are finished.

The first song is a tune I wrote earlier this year called “I Don’t Hate It Here.” The song is about how living in NYC wears on my soul, but just when I think my brain is going to explode, I am reminded by some small event how lucky I am to reside in such an amazing place.

The song is available on the Popp Over America Bandcamp page. You can “name your price” to download it (yes, even zero cents!) with all contributions going towards production costs of the show.

Click here to get “I Don’t Hate It Here”

 

Inspiration

Sherman’s March

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sherman's marchFollowing  the advice of my friend Mark Fason, a talented film editor, I watched the movie Sherman’s March. This 1986 documentary has little to do with the military career of William Tecumseh Sherman and more about the filmmaker Ross McElwee‘s relationships with women. He is poised to shoot the documentary about Sherman’s famous march when his girlfriend breaks up with him sending him into a search for a new mate. He follows Sherman’s path and films the people he meets along the way.

The film inspired me in several ways. Most importantly, it appears to be shot entirely by McElwee himself. As a lover of the D.I.Y. ethic, I found this an amazing feat. Sure, I would love to have 2 chase vehicles and a helicopter capturing me on carbon fiber EPIC-M Red Dragon cameras for the show, but if I can’t raise any funding, I now know I have the ability tell a compelling story while shooting the show myself on a GoPro.

Another element from the film that struck me was that even non-famous people are interesting. McEwee points the camera and let’s normal people talk about their lives and experiences. Gathering different perspectives from these unknowns is compelling reality television before that became a buzz word .

Lastly, I was moved by the director sharing his vulnerability so openly in the movie. He has had a lot of trouble maintaining relationships and watching him work through the process of seeking a new mate provided for a good story.

With Sherman’s March, McElwee proves what can be done with one guy, an idea, and a camera. Great inspiration.

Development

Editing a teaser

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My makeshift edit room located in a secret bunker deep below Central Park West

I have written a short script for a teaser video about the show. I am going to use this video to build interest in the project. I recorded the voiceover in my best “radio guy” voice and I am editing new an old footage to the track. It’s a little tongue-in-cheek but gets the message across. I digitized a bunch of old VHS tapes today to use in the video which brought back a lot of fond memories. I vow to have fun doing this show every step of the way!

I am ordering stickers, guitar picks, and T shirts to use for rewards when I launch a Kickstarter crowd funding campaign. My best friend and the “Jimi Hendrix of Graphics” Tylor Durand did all of the artwork for me. I am realizing how lucky I am to have so many friends who believe in this project.

I also applied for sponsorship from GoPro. I will be using their mini cameras for action shots and on-bike footage. They seem pretty cool about funding smaller projects so I have my fingers crossed hoping they will help me out on Popp Over America.

 

Development

I need you now.

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Me with Eric Bell at the last open night of Smith's
Me with Eric Bell at the last open night of Smith’s

I remember when my band in Tampa was starting to get a bit of local attention, I had a co-worker ask me, “Will you hire me as a roadie when you are famous?” I replied, “I don’t need you when I’m famous – I need you now.”

Finding people who will actively support a creative idea before the money and the fame comes along is a rare thing. More often then not the idea never amounts to any monetary compensation. The beauty is to discover those individuals who see into the distance and understand the heart of what is trying to be accomplished aside from any financial gain. Unbelievably, they are out there.

When I first posted the idea for my show on Facebook, I was surprised at the amount of support. One person who came forward almost immediately was a former student of mine Eric Bell. After graduating, Eric became an Emmy winning video editor (twice!) for SNY, the Met’s Network. He has since gone on to work for many other major networks including NBCSN, ABC, A&E, MSNBC, PBS, and AMC.

Besides his knack for editing, Eric is also a talented drummer and has toured the world. When he came forward to offer his assistance with the project I was flattered.

We met a a classic New York bar called Smith’s that Eric had played at with his band, If But When. He picked this location because the bar was closing and he wanted one last visit before the place was shuttered. While sitting with Eric drinking a couple of Buds, the old cliche popped into my head, “One door closes…”

We talked extensively about the project and he is onboard to edit the pilot episode which I am planning now. To say I am excited is a gross understatement. The pieces of this journey are falling into place.

Development

Connections and finding the soul.

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Me with Stacey Salter Moore.

I am loosely planning my pilot episode and I am considering Philadelphia as a primary destination. A photographer friend of mine from The City of Brotherly Love, Stacey Salter Moore, was in town for the PhotoPlus Expo with her company JPG photography. We met up at Javitz and walked to one of my favorite Hell’s Kitchen watering holes the Holland Bar to blab about ideas for my new show.

Much to my surprise Stacey invited Food Network Star Russell Jackson to join us in the discussion. Both Stacey and Russell gave me great ideas. Russell hammered home the point that the content is everything and admitted to shooting much of his web footage on an iPhone. He showed me some time lapse video that he shot of his underground restaurant and I had to agree.

Russell also discussed the idea that my show doesn’t even need to end up on a network station. He told me about many shows that are strictly web based and are very successful. He posed the question, “Do you want to be famous or make money? Because you will make more money on the web.” I thought about this and realized I wasn’t overly concerned with either. My goal is to share a story that will be inspiring to others. It’s about conquering fear. It’s about going for it.

I am learning there is no single way to create an episodic show. As corny as it sounds, I need to follow my heart and let the content ring true.  Good storytelling doesn’t need to be complex or technically advanced. An old Harlan Howard quote comes to mind. When asked how to write a great country song, Harlan simply replied, “Three chords and the truth.”