Funding a CD from gig money is all very well, but if you're a professional musician trying to live off gig money with not much left to set aside it could take a long time.

There are several ways to fund a CD:

- Find a generous sponsor who will pay for it
- Get a recording contract with a record label
- Save/borrow the money and hope to recover it from sales. However that can mean a big outlay of several thousand pounds which some can't afford, and given the nature of this music it can take a long time to get the money back
- Ask people to pay in advance. This removes, or at least reduces, the cash-flow problem but of course you then have to deliver the goods.

Crowdfunding depends on an element of trust, that if you contribute you will in time get something back for your money. If you're not confident that will happen then don't contribute. It's not compulsory.