Digital Comic Museum
General Category => Comic Related Discussion => Topic started by: tbdeinc on September 26, 2013, 05:37:48 PM
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Greetings everyone!
Just got into the groove on my latest project...
and its a biggy...
some of which is related to a previous thread about public domain bad guys.
I launched a KickStarter campaign and would like any thoughts/impressions on it, specifically the comic stuff...
if you have the time... I would value the thinkings from DCM.
Not asking for donations... just thoughts on the project.
http://tbdeinc.com/ks/ (http://tbdeinc.com/ks/)
Much thanx,
GPG
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If no one else will tell you, the emperor has no clothes.
Your Kickstarter video is overlong, rambling, vague, and boring to the point that I didn't finish it. I was never clear what exactly it was that you felt was innovative about your project. Sorry. Hard to get excited enough to pony up money when you can't figure out what for.
Peace, Jim (|:{>
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Thanks for the feed back...
I was not asking for donations from anyone on DCM... just thoughts on the project.
It's very helpful as an opinion/thoughts outside my field of business associates and friends.
VERY MUCH appreciated.
AND... (update as of 12:25 est.)
I've cut the video down from 10:40 to 3:40... the Comic and 3Dfilm are separated into their own videos... and simplified the music... the 3Dfilm video is at the bottom with the higher milestones... A much better video(s) I think... Thanks to Jim!
Sincerely,
George
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The first thing that leaps to mind is to "get to the point". I had to read several paragraphs or watch video to understand what your PRODUCT was. That should literally be the first thing you say - the Kickstarter campaign is to produce a 150 page comic book. You know what it's about, your reader and potential backers don't.
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First, I'm speaking generally, because I'm not particularly fond of the idea of renting out the community here as a focus group. I know nothing offensive is meant by asking the question, but there are a lot of people who'd be very happy having people here spin their wheels to make a few bucks. Historically, the "right" way to handle this has been to have a project website or use social media and offer to discuss it there.
Anyway, that's become something of a trend on Kickstarter that I've noticed. There was recently a failed campaign for software I knew about, and the video confused me.
For what little it may be worth, after tossing a few dollars into many, many Kickstarter projects (more than I'm willing to talk about...), what I think many creators miss is that...well, I don't know how to say this nicely, so I'll be extra mean to make the point: I don't care about the creator, except my confidence that the money will be well-spent.
The pitch I always want to see is something like:
- This is the project.
- I, the viewer with wallet open, should care about the project because...
- I can trust the creator to:
- Finish the project. I've been waiting three years for a short book to finish.
- Produce something I'll enjoy. There are a lot of people who want money, after all.
- Spend the money wisely. A project I actually like and have given money to in the past wanted to buy some high-end computers for...I dunno, some reason.
- Communicate something other than "thanks for the cash, suckers!" while we wait for an invisible ship date.
- Tell the story. I am never going to tell someone else about a project unless the project has a good story. I don't mean the plot of a book, but why this book, why now, why this creator, why this technique. I may not tell people about a project to get them to contribute, but I very well might tell them about it if there's something interesting to tell.
- If that doesn't seem long enough...
- It's plenty long, trust me. I probably have another dozen to get through.
- Walk us through the budget, schedule, and story.
Also important to me, though maybe not to everybody, is that a crowd-funding pitch should be a human interaction. I basically move on if...
- The project is run by a "company." Write a business plan, get a loan, and pay it back out of the profit like an adult.
- Celebrities are spearheading the campaign. Celebrity involvement, fine. Celebrity-run, why do you not already have the money?
- No or (frankly) boring campaigns supported in the past. Oh, you bought a macrame hat and a candle holder made out of typewriter parts all in the past month? Why no, that doesn't look like you're trying to quickly establish an identity at all...
- There are no project updates or the updates are about how much money has been raised so far. Fundraising is exciting for the recipient, not the donor, and not knowing the difference doesn't speak well for putting out an interesting product.
- A human being isn't telling me the things on the first list.
- Special case: You call yourself a film-maker but don't have a video for the pitch. I mean, come on.
My experience (again, I've seen a lot of projects go by, but it's only my opinion) has been that the items on that list generally indicate that the project isn't about the audience, just the money.
Me, I'd lose the tinny Muzak and pop-ups. Just talk to the camera (which clearly exists) for a couple of minutes about the actual project. If you really want music, hit up the Free Music Archive (http://freemusicarchive.org/), Magnatune (https://magnatune.com/), or Musopen (https://musopen.org/) for something appropriate (and free/cheap) and add the track quietly.
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I am grateful for the comments!
And I have implemented changes to the KickStarter page.
the interesting thing for me is...
I never analyzed the projects I backed in any methodical way.
I picked up what was interesting... comic, show, movie, product... chose a reward level and donated.
Stepping back and asking here about it really gave me the booot of clarity to the head.
Much thanks.
GPG
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Oh and something that I had done at the very beginning of the KickStarter planning was to make a spread sheet on how and where the money was going to the production, to the rewards and across the 5 month timeline...
http://www.tbdeinc.com/ks/ksp.jpg (http://www.tbdeinc.com/ks/ksp.jpg)
Cool eh?
( my best Canadian accent )
George
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I liked seeing the breakdown, interesting
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After reading these comments, I'd just like to be a fly on the wall when each of your missus asks "Does this dress make me look fat?". I admit not a very constructive observation to the matter in hand.
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After reading these comments, I'd just like to be a fly on the wall when each of your missus asks "Does this dress make me look fat?". I admit not a very constructive observation to the matter in hand.
Fat!!! you look bloody ginormous, you silly moo.
>:D
Oh and tbdeinc you've handled the criticism wonderfully well. well done for the enthusiasm for your project.
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Oh and tbdeinc you've handled the criticism wonderfully well. well done for the enthusiasm for your project.
Right you are Zog. There are few people who could handle it so well.
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Wait WHAT!!?
I thought this was Albuquerque!
DAMN IT!!! I shoulda tooken that left turn!
GPG
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Fat!!! you look bloody ginormous, you silly moo.
>:D
LMAO!
Zog, no way you live 2 more minutes after saying anything like that!
But I would salute you at the funeral.