I was talking with a friend who is a Spider Robinson fan and an aspiring SF Writer. He tipped me to the information at the end of Spider Robinson’s latest podcast.

Spider Robinson, with 25 books in print, has a long-standing, well-established fan base. He solicited donations for his podcasts. According to his calculations, direct donations provide $2 per hour of compensation.

Undiscussed is the conflict between entitlement and reciprocity.

If I buy a book, the author gets his share (not a fair share, but that is another discussion). He wrote, I bought and read. Transaction closed. I might be a fan now, but I am not entitled to a second book.

What if I listen to Spider’s podcast, and decide to buy Variable Star, a book he co-authored with the deceased Robert A. Heinlein, a real life testament to the power of SF? Again, Spider wrote, I bought and read. Transaction closed.

But what about his gift of a free podcast. Was buying another Spider Robinson book appropriate compensation? Perhaps. But if the podcast provided value, shouldn’t I honor it the same way I am compelled to honor the effort he takes to write a book. The difference is I can freeload.

I believe I have the responsibility to pay for the podcast even if I buy a second book. Two separate transaction.

Also, I try to buy books from the author’s web page so that they earn an affiliate royalty which often is larger than the payment for writing the book.

—
My friend’s usual lament is, “I know I can be better than Cory Doctorow.” He won’t show me much of his writing, so I cannot handicap that comparison. But at $2 per hour for a reasonable SF author, maybe it’s time to pick a different genre or job. Or get around the we-take-92% book publishers.

“I can’t wait for Little Brother. I’ll write circles around that.” Wishful thinking, to be sure.

I don’t think Cory is worried yet. See Cory’s full catalog.

Remember: Doctor Who? Doctor Oh!
—
The plug for Spider Robinson’s podcast, found conveniently on iTunes:

2/01/08 - Mindkiller
© 2008 Spider Robinson

In Spider on the Web #20 (Stories and Strings) I read you excerpts from all three of the novels represented in the LIFEHOUSE TRILOGY, the new hardcover omnibus just out from Baen Books. Because I was reading excerpts from all three books each one of them had to be very short and I ended up cutting at least one of them a lot shorter than I wanted to. I’ve decided to revisit it now: the short story “God is an Iron”, which later became the second chapter of the novel MINDKILLER. Musical selections will be performed by Spider Robinson. WARNING! Explicit language!

The Halo Effect is one part branding, two parts permission seeking, and many parts authenticity. The Halo Effect is the means of brightening your presence in the minds of your audience so that when you have something you want them to buy, they are maximally disposed to purchase. It’s what Merlin Mann does so well. We’ll talk more about Merlin later.

Instead, one more scene from Almost Famous:

Dick Roswell, Band Manager: Well, it seems the rumors were true, the record company has sent a big time manager here to try to talk you into replacing me. His name is Dennis Hope. I know you’ve all heard of him. He’s got all the big bands. And he’s outside right now, and he wants 5 minutes with you. And I, well, I think we’ve got to do this.

Russell Hammond: Well send him in.

Jeff Bebe: Yeah. Bring him in. We’ll send him out on a rail.

Seth Godin is the Dennis Hope of my story. He has a great body of work that provides significant insight into how an artist leverage the web. Seth Gogin is my replacement. I was just the old friend and hack band manager.

The Dennis Hope scene continues:

Russell Hammond: We already have a manager. [Thanks for the support]

Dennis Hope: Respectfully. We all have our roots. I believe in bands holding on to their roots. Those roots need to be augmented. Your manager here, needs a manager. [Unfortunately, I do]

Seth Godin wrote the book, Permission Marketing. Its subtitle is, “turning strangers into friends and friends into customers.” Doesn’t that sound exactly what a band or an author should do? I will quote the book for this piece. Please do me and Seth the courtesy of buying it. Here is the link on Seth’s website.

As if requested, he updated his blog with a summary of Permission Marketing. A quote:

Permission is like dating. You don’t start by asking for the sale at first impression. You earn the right, over time, bit by bit.

One of the key drivers of permission marketing, in addition to the scarcity of attention, is the extraordinarily low cost of dripping to people who want to hear from you. RSS and email and other techniques mean you don’t have to worry about stamps or network ad buys every time you have something to say. Home delivery is the milkman’s revenge… it’s the essence of permission.

Seth Godin is Dennis Hope, and he has chartered a plane.

———
Some points on Almost Famous.

Jeff Bebe is the frontman of Stillwater, and therefore the frontman for Rock & Roll. He greets Dennis Hope by remaining prone on the couch. He won’t even sit up. Dennis gives his awesome permission seeking, “respectfully” speech, a stirring affirmation of the power of professional management. By the end, Jeff Bebe has fully sat up. He expresses complete agreement with Dennis Hope even if it means abandoning Dolores, their bus - the home and soul of the band.

Dennis Hope gets them to abandon Dolores, which is brilliant:

dolorous |ˈdōlərəs|
adjective poetic/literary
feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress.

———
This concludes Part 5 of:

All I Needed To Know About The Value Of The Web I Learned From Russell Hammond

Or

Why Merlin Mann Should Write, Fear & Loathing At The Algonquin Round Table.

Earlier Parts:
The Halo Effect
Merlin mann Is Emily Rugburn
All Halo Merlin Mann
Feather Boas, Yeah!