Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 02:22 PM

I'm not suggesting you should spend more than you need to. However if you haven't got the money to make it the way you want, cutting corners (which some appear to have been suggesting) is not a satisfactory solution if the option is there to obtain the funding from other sources.

I fail to see why seeking funding, whether from conventional financial sources or through crowdfunding, might be considered unethical. It's no different from any other enterprise which needs capital. Kickstarter exists to bring together people who need money for a project and people who are willing to invest. Alternatively you could approach people directly, in the real world or online (like Anne did on Mudcat). Just as with a conventional loan, you're only likely to raise sufficient funds if the lenders or crowdfunders have confidence in you to deliver.

Of course, you have to approach potential funders in a way which will leave them well-disposed towards you and willing to invest (unlike Phil Cooper's FB friend). That's understandable that complaints arise from situations where this hasn't been handled very well, but it doesn't invalidate the method itself.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: meself
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 05:07 PM

I don't have any particular opinion about the use of Kickstarter or anything like it. If you have the chutzpah or self-esteem or organizational fortitude or whatever it takes to make use of it, why not? sez I. But I don't think a person's merit as an artist should to any degree be judged by their ability to raise funds.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 05:27 PM

Plenty of great bedroom recording 'artists' uploading their tracks to internet free music showcase sites...

...all that requires is a minimum expenditure on equipment.

..and fingers crossed 2 or 3 more people apart from your mum and nan might ever bother to listen to it...


Might be even lonelier for our age group.
My nan passed away 25 years ago, and mum is nearly 84 and hasn't a clue how to use the internet....

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Mar 16 - 03:08 AM

When I was young we were brought up with the maxim "Never a borrower or lender be." We were always told we could buy something when we had saved up for it.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: Janie
Date: 26 Mar 16 - 09:37 AM

As a consumer, not a maker of music, I have no problem with crowdfunding requests.

If it is a project I am not interested in contributing to, then I don't.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 27 Mar 16 - 10:42 AM

"I don't think a person's merit as an artist should to any degree be judged by their ability to raise funds". However their ability to raise funds might be judged by their merit as an artist.

On the other hand, neither should a person's merit as an artist be judged by whether they have sufficient savings to fund the CD themselves.

When you purchase a CD you're contributing towards paying for the cost of making it. Why should it make a difference if that contribution is made before the CD is made, rather than afterwards?

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 Mar 16 - 10:59 AM

Consider the old guard of prog rock / heavy rock / etc, bands now in their later years,
who all lost recording contracts when the industry abandoned them for boy and girl bands.


Some famously big ex album chart topping names now depend on their loyal fan base to commit to advance funding their next CDs.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: meself
Date: 27 Mar 16 - 09:37 PM

"Why should it make a difference if that contribution is made before the CD is made, rather than afterwards?"

My earlier comments had to do simply with the question of the necessity of expensive vs. cheap recording, a bit of a side issue. I have no problem with crowdfunding a CD if someone wants to give it a try; I just don't think a person should feel that they can't record or publish until they've come up with ten thousand dollars one way or another.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: Stower
Date: 28 Mar 16 - 08:34 AM

Some large projects would be impossible / too risky without a backer, crowdfunding being one widely-spread alternative to a single flush person or entity. I've recently contributed to the first ever Medieval Music in the Dales , a huge financial undertaking for the 2 lovely people involved. It's worked, I'm delighted to say, and I am personally chuffed to have contributed.

I've never given crowdfunding any thought before this event, and it's only arisen because it's something I really want to succeed and will go to. As Janie said, if I don't want to support something I won't. Since we all have that choice, I'm genuinely wondering what the overall issue is.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: DebC
Date: 28 Mar 16 - 09:15 AM

It is always a choice as to whether or not to fund/purchase/support art. I think many of us are uncomfortable with just asking; I know I am, but when I did crowdfund (and BTW-we called it "CD Pre-Orders"), I felt a tremendous responsibility to those that did Pre-Order because I also felt that by taking their $$, they deserved to be informed as to the progress of the project every step of the way.

Many of us do go into debt to create our art and for myself, putting that kind of money on a credit card isn't for me. That third CD cost about $30,000 and about $10,000 was raised in crowd funding. The rest came out of some mutual funds I had, and that turned out to be a decision that came out pretty well in the end. You can read my blog post about it HERE.

Yes, it's a lot of money, but I don't regret paying a single penny and I am extremely proud of that recording. The experience of working with such fantastic musicians and delivering an album that many people enjoyed, not to mention giving me a modest career boost, was worth it.

Debra Cowan

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: GUEST,steve baughman
Date: 28 Mar 16 - 04:41 PM

Debra, you and John sounded great here in California last year, or was it the year before? House concert at Charlie's in Oakland.

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: DebC
Date: 28 Mar 16 - 09:52 PM

Awww, thanks Steve! We'll be back in the Bay Area in November on the Balclutha, Nov. 12 I think. I'll get in touch with Charlie and see if he'll have us back.

Great discussion and thanks for starting it!

Debra

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Mar 16 - 01:05 PM

Debra, Bring that ultra-sweet banjo you had last time. Wow!

Sorry to start thread creep in my own thread, but the discussion seems to have wrapped up.

Thanks everybody for it.

sb

Subject: RE: Uncomfy with Kickstarter appeals?
From: DebC
Date: 31 Mar 16 - 07:43 AM

The banjo is John's department, but if he got it on the plane then I am sure he'll bring it in November.

I join Steve in apologising for the thread creep as well.

Debra