Boskone Panel Notes: Crowdfunding and a Community of Caring

[skogkatt]

This panel took place on Saturday at 3pm. I was a bit nervous going in since I was the only panelist who had no experience running a fundraiser, but it turned out that was a good counterpoint because I could speak comfortably as a backer and participant, and I also had relevant questions. The other panelists were all great, and I learned a lot in

Comments

[sartorias]

A clear goal and measurable way to get to it seems important, but also how one propagates the word. That 4 paws lady has a great idea, but has so bombarded the net with constant pimpage that I've finally blocked her from a couple social media sites.

[skogkatt]

Hmmm, yeah, the need to balance promotion with not overwhelming everyone is pressing and tricky.

[mroctober]

And alas, the drive to save ICARUS failed miserably so the magazine will close at issue 20. No one wants to read gay spec fic, I guess. Or, at least, what I think of as good stories. I think my time as editor is nearing an end.

[skogkatt]

I'm really sorry to hear that, Steve. Have you considered anything like a Kickstarter?

[mroctober]

I actually dislike the Kickstarter concept for books or magazines. For things that are apt for stretch goals (like games or art-heavy projects) it makes sense. But to me it's begging for money. If I cannot find readers the normal way, what makes me think I'll be able to do so through crowd-sourcing.

[skogkatt]

Hmmm, for me, I feel like it's a reasonable way to basically take pre-orders. I like to support anthologies because it makes me feel like I am part of the reason the book exists, and then sometimes I forget all about having supported until a package arrives in the mail. Then it's a fun surprise.

BTW, I am interviewing Christopher Barzak about Before and Afterlives for the March OA Podcast. Great collection!

[csecooney]

You must tell me all about your Boskone experience sometimes. I love any panel Picacio's on, generally. What a cool topic for a panel; thanks for taking notes! I cannot read them all right now but I will BOOKMARK THEM!

[skogkatt]

If you are reading them later, you'll be better able to see how UNTRUSTWORTHY my reporting is...

Boskone Panel Notes: Crowdfunding

[anonymous]

Great job, Julia. Very handy notes here! :) A couple of addendums to share

Re: Boskone Panel Notes: Crowdfunding

[skogkatt]

Oops! Sorry about that, John.

As for the first point, I just tried to make sense of very cryptic notes after the fact. I am completely fallible. I'll add your correction to the text of the post.

As for the second, I clearly assumed something incorrectly there. I can correct that in the entry if you'll tell me how.

[asakiyume]

I'm fascinated by the crowdfunding model and by what Kickstarter and the like have made possible. I've watched with interest as some projects succeed beyond anyone's wildest dreams (like Ryan North's Kickstarter for a choose-your-own-adventure version of Hamlet, which has reachec $500,000, or Andrew Hussie's Homestuck video game Kickstarter, which I think may have reached a million dollars)--and yet, as other projects founder and quietly fold. I'd say something cynical like "It seems that those with an established fan base can succeed whereas those without one don't," but that's not entirely true: people without much of a fan base *do* often succeed, and sometimes/often it comes down, I think, to other factors--like some of the stuff you guys talked about. Really knowing exactly what you want to do, and having a good sense of budgeting seem key

on the topic of really knowing what you want to do

[asakiyume]

Frex, I think the desire to make hotels more accessible is praiseworthy and understandable, but I feel like it would be complicated, because you'll be dealing with all these different corporations, and how, exactly, would the person proposing the project propose to accomplish such a huge goal? Whereas, if the goal were to work with a particular chain, or even just a particular hotel, I could see people being more likely to believe in the goal's achievability. (But then, maybe I'm too pessimistic...)

Re: on the topic of really knowing what you want to do

[skogkatt]

Honestly, on that one, there's got to be a very specific goal in mind. Or else it needs to be a big non-profit org like the ACLU, something that exists to advocate and takes in general donations instead of project directed ones. Kickstarter is best for specific, measurable projects as far as I can tell.

[skogkatt]

Hmmm, yeah, I think separate Kickstarters for different stages is really risky. I've seen magazines trying to fund individul issues, and I don't think that's the best model. Better to fund for a whole year. That way people can feel like it's a solid subscription they're getting and not an invitation to pledge more money in a couple months.

The mine-clearing device sounds like a very good idea, and I can see how they'd want to ask for money in increments, but I tend to think people are more interested in backing something that will yield a complete product.