A virtual private guitar lesson with Bobby Weir and a virtual piano lesson with Amy Lee of Evanescence are among the prizes in a series of online sweepstakes supporting HeadCount, the nonpartisan voter registration organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy.
Additional prizes include roundtrip travel accommodations and meet and greet with Incubus, show tickets plus a signed merch package from Billy Strings, and a virtual hang with Jason Mraz (for a winner and 9 friends).
Each experience is staged through the digital fundraising platform Fandiem. Prizes also include a limited edition D’Angelico HeadCount SS guitar signed by the associated artist.
Fans can donate to prize drawings here with proceeds supporting HeadCount’s upcoming “Save The Vote!” campaign to protect voting rights. The series will run for 90 days.
This marks the first time Weir or Lee have ever offered a lesson to fans. Weir, of Grateful Dead and now Dead & Company, is a founding member of HeadCount’s board of directors. Lee is a classically trained pianist whose band Evanescence will also welcome a winner and guest to a soundcheck on their upcoming Fall tour. Both lessons and the hang with Mraz will take place virtually on Lively, an online experience platform.
“Hosting these incredible musicians on our platform, to support such an important initiative, brings together two of my great passions,” said Marc Brownstein, co-founder of both HeadCount and Lively and also the bass player for The Disco Biscuits.
Tying all the individual contests together are prizes of signed D'Angelico guitars, made especially for HeadCount. Each Premier SS features a custom two-tone American Flag top design, as well as custom inlays reminding fans to "VOTE” – view images here. D’Angelico and HeadCount have been aligned since the 2015 Fare Thee Well Grateful Dead reunion concerts when Weir played a D’Angelico guitar on stage that was auctioned by HeadCount to support various Grateful Dead-affiliated charities. Later, D’Angelico produced a series of signature guitars for Weir.
"Our partnership with HeadCount is one of our most cherished,” said Ryan Kershaw, D’Angelico Executive Vice President, Product. “Their commitment to their mission is unrivaled, and it's a true honor to aid in it. We're proud to offer the Limited Edition HeadCount SS as both a custom, unique art piece that helps spread their democratic message and a highly playable, versatile instrument for the gigging musician or passionate collector.”
About:
HeadCount: HeadCount is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes participation in democracy through music, culture, and digital media. Since 2004 the organization has registered over one million voters and worked with a long list of musicians and partners including Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Dave Matthews Band, JAY-Z, Beyoncé, March for Our Lives, RuPaul’s DragCon, MTV, and Dead & Company. With 40,000 volunteers, street teams in most major U.S. cities, and a presence at more than 1,000 events each year, HeadCount ranks as one of the most active grassroots civic participation organizations in the United States. Following COVID-19 restrictions, the organization quickly pivoted to an all-digital approach that led to innovation and online initiatives to fill the needs of the public in using their voices in democracy. HeadCount Founder/Executive Director Andy Bernstein and Chairman Peter Shapiro were recently featured in Billboard’s inaugural ‘Change Agents’ issue for the organization’s pro-democracy mission during 2020’s unprecedented election season. For more information, HeadCount.org.
D’Angelico Guitars: Founded in 1932 by John D’Angelico, D’Angelico Guitars is a New York City-based guitar brand built on the history of one of the most revered luthiers of all time. Committed to maintaining the legacy of its original founder, D’Angelico intends to both honor its roots and offer forward-thinking instrument design for the modern player.
Lively: Lively is where creators and fans connect, live and in real-time! From Music Lessons, Wellness Workshops, and Cooking Classes to Athlete Meet & Greets, Private Virtual Concerts, and more - this is where the world’s best entertainers, artists, masters, and makers create unique live experiences with their fans.
Fandiem: Fandiem is a digital contest fundraising platform that harnesses the power of the fan community to do good in the world. With their donation to a selected nonprofit, fans are entered to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences with their favorite artists, festivals, athletes, and creators. These are the opportunities that were previously available only to a select few but through Fandiem are awarded to the everyday fan at the heart of the community.
The Fandiem Foundation is a project of The Giving Back Fund, a national 501c3 organization that encourages and facilitates charitable giving. The Giving Back Fund grants donation proceeds to each campaign's partner nonprofit. For more information on Fandiem visit www.fandiem.com.
