"don't forget to include the note"

8/10/2018

1. I promise a friend that I’d snail mail some of my new stuff. While they live about 40 miles away, we’re on opposites ends of a very large city. I figure that the postal carrier will know how to get it there more quickly.

2. Of course, I have to wrap the hell out of it. I’d hate for the cd to get damaged.

3. Then I realize I forgot to include this tape!

4. So, that gets wrapped up

5. and affixed to the package containing the cd.

6. There!

7. Well, almost.

8. Then there’s this nice brown paper…

9. gotta tape that up, too.

10. And it’d be really bad if I didn’t include another note

11. which at this point, seems to have an un-apologetic vibe.

12. And then I remember this OTHER tape… can’t let that one slide by.

13. Add it to the pile, secure it with cardboard

14. and more packing tape, but this time with the sticky side out

15. so that I can drape it in some nice, plush toilet paper

16. and swaddle it

17. with even more reading material, pages from Vanity Fair, I think (?)

18. and a red balloon …

19. an old block print,

20. this festive woodcut of a cabin,

21. and a xerox originally intended for a tape release from some years ago.

22. Next, wind it up with some freshy, minty dental floss

23. and don’t forget the note… jeez.

24. I have to wrap the crap out of that, too — hate for the note to get lost.

25. But will it fit into a standard 8.5 by 11 envelope?

26. Oh, you bet!

18 Comments

Crank Sturgeon

stir an urge w/ eons
then sneeze

I've attached springs to my feet & attempted to play the trombone (naked), amplified sharpie markers & countless yards of packing tape, fingerprinted several hundred middle fingers, turned google search headings into short stories, instructed folks to help me carry paper bags full of water, and once tried to sell a cardboard condominium (but the police showed up).

website

C. Goff III link

8/10/2018 16:53:55

You've got the biggest thumb I've ever seen! We met at the first Denver Noise Fest, 2010. Nice to see you here. Questions:

1 Is an artistic applique applied to the envelope before mailing?

2 Your desk seems very set up for mailings -- do you apply weigh packages and apply stamps at home too, or do you bring your unique wrappings to the USPS to determine their transport fees?

crank link

8/10/2018 17:30:21

Ha! Thanks. And yes, I probably have larger-than-normal thumbs.

I'll attempt to answer your questions:

1. No, no artistic appliqué is applied. I prefer to leave the exterior of the mailing as bland as possible, leaving nothing to the imagination as to its contents.

2. My desk is almost entirely dedicated to 2D workings, which include mailings. I do a lot of shipping as part of my day job, so yes, I have a scale to determine costs. Everything is packaged at home, weighed out, and bicycled to the local post office.

Penny

8/19/2018 18:49:32

Wow!!! That looks fun to open.. Welcome to EC!!!
I loved your long arm set.. U always amaze me. The first time i experienced u was at SPNF ..you had all those ping pong balls falling out of your outfit..then everyone was throwing your balls around. What a great set. I ended up with some of your balls, and have used them in my sets as a percussion instrument. I do tell the story of how i got em. Thank u for all u have crafted.
Penny

Adam J Naworal

8/10/2018 17:39:36

Welcome aboard, Crank Sturgeon! Excellent first article (informative and funny as well)! Expect Aimee and I to purchase some stuff from you in the near future ;)

8/10/2018 18:40:24

Hey Adam! Thanks -- and nice to hear from you!

8/11/2018 11:24:04

Let me know if you'd like to be part of The ANIEC Project :D
https://www.electroniccottage.org/adam-naworal/the-aniec-project-adam-naworal-interviews-electronic-cottage

8/12/2018 02:25:54

And true to our word, we just ordered a Multi-Plunk Pocket Gamelan :D

William Davison link

8/10/2018 19:30:46

You're hired!

8/10/2018 20:52:29

My e-z office packing strategies aim to keep your clientele guessing, flummoxed, and perpetually confused.

Rafael González

8/11/2018 06:23:51

Great!!!!!! Welcome!

Aimee Naworal

8/11/2018 11:27:40

If I got something from you I would exacto knife right down the middle so I could salvage some stuff in the layers XD That is so cool! I am so glad you joined I have heard about you and seen the cool stuff you make :)

Chris Phinney

8/11/2018 12:58:23

Welcome to EC! Hilarious article love it!

Frank

8/12/2018 20:38:01

Welcome Crank! I would like to take the opportunity to tell you that I love your MOMA contribution!

8/12/2018 21:22:00

Hey, thanks everybody! I'm thrilled to be a part of the EC world. Whew! So much nicer than the other outlets. And huge props to Hal for getting this going!!

Jeremiah Paddock link

8/20/2018 11:59:29

Love it! Got weird looks at work as I was snickering while reading it.

8/21/2018 19:07:56

LOVING the Multi-Plunk Pocket Gamelan!

8/29/2018 01:29:25

Crank,

The package has arrived! Thanks a lot, I am sure I will enjoy it very much. Also, I am gonna enjoy the unwrapping of the package twice! Today, my mom told me it has arrived, and as usual, she opens whatever got send for me.

Mom:"Frank, a package came for you... how was that packed!? I had to use a knife and scissor! It took me a long time to open it"

So, that already made me laugh. She wrapped it again, so later I can have the joy to.

Thanks again and take care

Atomizador link

5/24/2019 01:27:55

Crank Sturgeon is so inspiring! I'll never forget something he told me when he played in Madrid a few years ago: "I only play where I'm invited" (I don't remember the exact words, but that was the message). That changed my perception of playing live. His show was absolutely amazing. So much fun to know how he package his tapes!

"don't forget to include the note"

Leave a Reply.

Crank Sturgeon

Archives