Elliot Racine

When I was an 11-year-old kid, begging my parents to get me an electric guitar for my 12th birthday, it wasn’t because I wanted to make a bunch of money. I didn’t have the language for it—because I was 11—but I knew that I could express myself through music, and find my confidence, and inspire others to do the same.

I succeeded in persuading my parents to get me the guitar. I remember them asking me if I was actually going to play it and me telling them that I was. On my 12th birthday, they took me to the Guitar Center in Santa Clara and got me a white Strat, a GX-15, and a purple Guitar Center 1/4”, all of which I still have, and all of which I have either recorded with or will record with.

I immediately started taking lessons, forming bands, and practicing all the time. It didn’t take me long to understand that one of the things I loved about music was that it was something that I could have completely on my own terms, even as a 12-year-old kid, and to this day, I make music the way I want to.

I make music the way I want to, and fitting in with a lot of the norms and conventions in the music world has never been a huge concern of mine. The making of my music has always been very grassroots, and it is only natural that the living I make from my music is also very grassroots. When I learned about Patreon, and I realized what it could be for my music, I knew it was a perfect fit, and here we are.

I will be very clear about this. If you become my Patron on Patreon, you will be helping me make a living from my music. That’s great for me, obviously, but of course it brings up the question, what’s in it for you? When I was a kid, sometimes music was the only thing that got me through the day. Somewhere there is some other kid who is counting on music to get them through the day too. I’m making music for that kid. If you become my Patron, if you become one of the builders of the financial foundation that me and my music need to survive, you will be helping the music get to that kid. You will be helping that kid make it through the day.

Of course, if you become my Patron, I have all kinds of cool tangible benefits for you, like free stuff, discounts, and special access to things. I will appreciate your Patronage more than words can say, and I will want to offer my gratitude in whatever tangible form I am able. I don’t want to downplay the significance of any of that.

If you become my Patron, in addition to receiving a bunch of cool tangible benefits, and in addition to giving $30, $20, $10, $5, or $1 a month, you will be giving so much more and receiving so much more. If you become my Patron on Patreon, you will be helping to bring music into the world. What you get from that will be priceless. Trust me, I know. I’m an expert.

Thank you.

Milestones

When I have 200 Patrons
I will get an electric car to drive to and from my local performances, rehearsals, and other events.

When I have 100 Patrons
I will have as many of my live performances as I can professionally recorded, filmed, and photographed.

When I have my first Coda Patron
I will start giving my workshops.