I have mentioned that he is preparing to launch a new CD, Third World Symphony, in a previous post. I have already listened to it all the way through and I am excited to get my copy of it.
If you'd like to listen to his new CD or buy a copy of your own, check out the links below:
The album player: http://soundcloud.com/
Where the album can be purchased: http://shaungroves.
So, without further ado, here are my questions and Shaun's or Mr. Groves' answers. (Are we on a first name basis now? Shaun seems too personal, but Mr. Groves sounds like he's my music teacher. Hmmm??)
1. Why did you choose to start blogging?
"I started blogging in 2005 when my record label wouldn't update the news section of my website. I was already on my site's message board for an hour every day so I saw blogging as the same thing but more focused. It was a way for me to connect with an audience, practice writing daily, and learn from commenters."
"I started blogging in 2005 when my record label wouldn't update the news section of my website. I was already on my site's message board for an hour every day so I saw blogging as the same thing but more focused. It was a way for me to connect with an audience, practice writing daily, and learn from commenters."
How did it evolve into you becoming the trip leader for the blogging trips for Compassion International?
"Back in 2007 the music industry was contracting rapidly. My record label had gone under the year before. Many friends were losing their record deals as well. When the music industry began to implode it wasn't just a problem for people who work in the music business, but also for those who depend on that business. Many thousands of children were sponsored at Compassion International through concerts. As concert attendance plummeted and the number of artists on the road dropped as well, I was thinking hard about how Compassion might be able to replace the sponsorships they would inevitably lose from this crash.
I suggested to a friend who works at Compassion that bloggers could be treated like artists. They could go on a trip, like artists do, see the ministry of Compassion for themselves and, if they believe in it, they could support it on their sites. Well, be careful about having ideas. Because they might become your new part time job. Lesson learned."
2. Who did you think your blogging audience originally would be? Was it who you expected?
"I thought my blog audience would be my message board participants. I knew them pretty well. Almost entirely women ranging from high schoolers to forty-somethings. And I was right. While some of those original message boarders left and haven't come back - some had their feelings hurt that I did away with the board - the thousands who've come along since then are cut from the same cloth. I'm not theological enough to attract many Christian men on-line. And I'm fine with that. Christian blogs mostly read by men bore me to tears. So impersonal. So much brain and not much heart. Sadly. So, yes, I'm proud to be a mom blogger - the best kind of blogger there is."
3. What do you think people's biggest misconception of the work that Compassion International does or that you do for them?
"I truly don't know. But that's never stopped me from an answering a question before so... Maybe it's a financial misconception. People have implied that they think Compassion doesn't need their money - that Compassion is so big and so rich that it's doing just fine without you or me sponsoring a child. But the truth is that Compassion doesn't take government funds and relies almost entirely upon the generosity of individuals - sponsors like you and me. As a result Compassion is smaller than some of its well known peers.
And people have criticized me once or twice - anonymously, of course - for speaking and singing on Compassion's behalf. Their theory is that I'm a rich rock star getting even richer helping the poor. First of all, I'm not a rock star. I'm a soft rock star. And not much of a star at that. I certainly am rich though. Wealthier than most of the planet. As are those two critics, who also live here in America. Am I getting rich from helping the poor? I make about what a school teacher in my city makes - after cost of business like airfares and payroll. Rich is relative I suppose. I'm thankful for music, speaking and Compassion - because of these three I have more than I need and plenty to share."
"Back in 2007 the music industry was contracting rapidly. My record label had gone under the year before. Many friends were losing their record deals as well. When the music industry began to implode it wasn't just a problem for people who work in the music business, but also for those who depend on that business. Many thousands of children were sponsored at Compassion International through concerts. As concert attendance plummeted and the number of artists on the road dropped as well, I was thinking hard about how Compassion might be able to replace the sponsorships they would inevitably lose from this crash.
I suggested to a friend who works at Compassion that bloggers could be treated like artists. They could go on a trip, like artists do, see the ministry of Compassion for themselves and, if they believe in it, they could support it on their sites. Well, be careful about having ideas. Because they might become your new part time job. Lesson learned."
2. Who did you think your blogging audience originally would be? Was it who you expected?
"I thought my blog audience would be my message board participants. I knew them pretty well. Almost entirely women ranging from high schoolers to forty-somethings. And I was right. While some of those original message boarders left and haven't come back - some had their feelings hurt that I did away with the board - the thousands who've come along since then are cut from the same cloth. I'm not theological enough to attract many Christian men on-line. And I'm fine with that. Christian blogs mostly read by men bore me to tears. So impersonal. So much brain and not much heart. Sadly. So, yes, I'm proud to be a mom blogger - the best kind of blogger there is."
3. What do you think people's biggest misconception of the work that Compassion International does or that you do for them?
"I truly don't know. But that's never stopped me from an answering a question before so... Maybe it's a financial misconception. People have implied that they think Compassion doesn't need their money - that Compassion is so big and so rich that it's doing just fine without you or me sponsoring a child. But the truth is that Compassion doesn't take government funds and relies almost entirely upon the generosity of individuals - sponsors like you and me. As a result Compassion is smaller than some of its well known peers.
And people have criticized me once or twice - anonymously, of course - for speaking and singing on Compassion's behalf. Their theory is that I'm a rich rock star getting even richer helping the poor. First of all, I'm not a rock star. I'm a soft rock star. And not much of a star at that. I certainly am rich though. Wealthier than most of the planet. As are those two critics, who also live here in America. Am I getting rich from helping the poor? I make about what a school teacher in my city makes - after cost of business like airfares and payroll. Rich is relative I suppose. I'm thankful for music, speaking and Compassion - because of these three I have more than I need and plenty to share."
This is the cover art for the CD. If you know me, you know that I am a little crazy about recycling and reducing waste in general, so the way they are producing the CD also is important. In his own words, "We’re cutting cost and waste and petroleum and saving some trees all at the same time by going with a sleeve package made from recycled materials and fully recyclable itself."
Thank you Mr. Shaun Groves for being a Compassion advocate, a talented musician, and a kind and humble member of the blogosphere. I appreciate three questions worth of your time (with 2 bonus questions cleverly hidden in between).
1 comment:
Great questions!
I keep forgetting to do this - I wonder if it's too late to ask my questions.
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