After 71 immersive shows of The Blues Opera, produced by Juggerknot Theatre, it's time for the stories to grow and live again.

I've written a book. It's a more indepth version of The Blues Opera where I tell the stories of my parents, Sande & Victor Garcia. I tell the stories of our battles with my mother's Early Onset Alzheimer's & my father's physical deterioration and relavations after that. All the while you learn of my role as a caregiver and journey as a Blues man and son.

The book also contains Blues folklore woven into it's fabric. It's called "Uncle Scotchy & The Time Thief".

The book is being edited and published by The Jitney and will be released by the end of the summer....but now the real work begins......

I have already begun planning for a larger, theatrical version of The Blues Opera. This one not be "immersive", but it will take place in a proper theatre.

Adapting the book and play into a theatrical script, working with a director, marketing the book, recording the soundtrack to go with the new play, and the expenses that this project has begun to incur has brought me to a crossroads and I need your help.

I set up a nice plan for us to do it together. Hopefully you can join me for this journey.

Of course, anything you can give will be much appreciated, but I set this up to give you something for you help as well 🫶

REWARD TIERS

$100 — THE READER

Signed copy of Uncle Scotchy & The Time Thief upon publication.

$150 — THE STUDENT

One hour harmonica lesson with Uncle Scotchy — via Zoom or in person at The Jungle House.

$200 — THE COLLECTOR

One original piece from Sande Garcia's personal art collection.

$300 — THE BELIEVER

Everything above — signed book, harmonica lesson, original art from Sande's collection — plus the lyrics to Sande's Song typed by Uncle Scotchy on handmade paper, and two tickets to the Blues Opera theatrical premiere.

This is literally "my life's work", and this summer we can make it a reality.

List of fees I'll need these resources for:

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Look, I'm going to be straight with you the way I always am. What you're really funding here is a window of time — the time it takes to get this from my hands into the world, and then onto a proper stage. Here's exactly where it goes.

Book Launch & Promotion

• Book launch event — venue, sound, and promotion

• Press and media outreach

• Author photography and updated press materials

• Book layout artist fees

• Kickstarter reward fulfillment — shipping signed books, art, and handwritten lyrics

Website & Online

• Website updates and maintenance

• Online platform and distribution fees

• Social media promotion

The Blues Opera — Script Development

• Director search, meetings, and selection

• Director fee for script collaboration

• Scriptwriter fee for theatrical adaptation

• Script development and dramaturg consultation

• Venue and theatre search

• Licensing and rights fees

The Soundtrack Album

• Studio recording time

• Session musician fees

• Mixing and mastering

• Album production and distribution

• Music licensing fees

The Investor Pitch

• Investor deck design and production

• Outreach and meetings to secure full theatrical production funding

• Dinner meetings and development expenses

Operating Runway

• Living and working expenses during the focused development window — the time required to execute all of the above without interruption

Miscellaneous

• Unforeseen costs that arise during an active creative development process of this scope

The Great Blues Opera fundraiser