Members CicadaLeatherDesigns Posted July 11, 2012 Members Report Posted July 11, 2012 Hello, My name is Mia. I have loved this forum for all the help its given me. So much to learn! In order to make my business into what I dream I need some support. I have aKickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds. My goal is $2000. If I do not reach my goal I do not get any money. The funds will go towards buying desperately needed new tools and American-made supplies. If you back my campaign you get awesome leathergoods. Also you get a shout out on Twitter and Facebook. And your name and website will be listed as contributors on my site. With your support you can make this happen. A dollar helps. Sharing on Facebook, a tweet, or a conversation with a friend all help. Lets get the word out! Thank you very much. I cant do this without people like you. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/267599142/cicada-leather-co-artisan-leathergoods-made-in-ame
Members Tzalabak Posted July 11, 2012 Members Report Posted July 11, 2012 (edited) I honestly wish you the best of luck, but, I think I remember there being something in the Kickstart ToS about funding having to go directly towards a specific product, not just an overall business start-up fund or for getting supplies. I genuinely hope that they have changed their rules to make that a more accessible goal for people, but I think they might take issue with your goal. Admittedly, I am remembering this from looking through their ToS from several months ago, so my info might be outdated. Edited July 11, 2012 by Tzalabak
Contributing Member Ferg Posted July 11, 2012 Contributing Member Report Posted July 11, 2012 (edited) Hi Mia, I know absolutely nothing about "kick starter". When I began my foray into the art of leather my income was $72.00 per month. Admittedly, that was a long time ago. The point I am making is, I had little to nothing as far as money. I did have a lot of " Get-up and Go". I ask for nothing. My question is this, " Why do so many expect so much monetarily?"I have no problem with offering info, I do have problem with asking for handouts. BTW: I have given several folks that were down and out, materials and tools. ferg 1342031372[/url]' post='256027']Hello, My name is Mia. I have loved this forum for all the help its given me. So much to learn! In order to make my business into what I dream I need some support. I have aKickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds. My goal is $2000. If I do not reach my goal I do not get any money. The funds will go towards buying desperately needed new tools and American-made supplies. If you back my campaign you get awesome leathergoods. Also you get a shout out on Twitter and Facebook. And your name and website will be listed as contributors on my site. With your support you can make this happen. A dollar helps. Sharing on Facebook, a tweet, or a conversation with a friend all help. Lets get the word out! Thank you very much. I cant do this without people like you. http://www.kickstart...ods-made-in-ame Edited July 11, 2012 by 50 years leather
Members CicadaLeatherDesigns Posted July 11, 2012 Author Members Report Posted July 11, 2012 Thanks for the 'best of luck'! Kickstarter reviews all projects before they go live. They not only approved my campaign but honored it as a Staff Pick. But thanks for the heads up. I honestly wish you the best of luck, but, I think I remember there being something in the Kickstart ToS about funding having to go directly towards a specific product, not just an overall business start-up fund or for getting supplies. I genuinely hope that they have changed their rules to make that a more accessible goal for people, but I think they might take issue with your goal. Admittedly, I am remembering this from looking through their ToS from several months ago, so my info might be outdated.
Members CicadaLeatherDesigns Posted July 11, 2012 Author Members Report Posted July 11, 2012 I am not asking for handouts. Kickstarter is a wonderful community of people who enjoy supporting artists and musicians. In exchange for backing a project, a person receives rewards including products, publicity and the deep gratitude from creative folks. Its not about handouts but rather about encouraging and funding artistic endeavors that otherwise would go unnoticed. In today' s world, part of "get-up and go" includes the social media and included in that is crowd-funding. I think its a wonderful thing that despite the depression we are in, people still want to see the little guy make it. Mia Barrett Hi Mia, I know absolutely nothing about "kick starter". When I began my foray into the art of leather my income was $72.00 per month. Admittedly, that was a long time ago. The point I am making is, I had little to nothing as far as money. I did have a lot of " Get-up and Go". I ask for nothing. My question is this, " Why do so many expect so much monetarily?"I have no problem with offering info, I do have problem with asking for handouts. BTW: I have given several folks that were down and out, materials and tools. ferg
Members Tzalabak Posted July 11, 2012 Members Report Posted July 11, 2012 Thanks for the 'best of luck'! Kickstarter reviews all projects before they go live. They not only approved my campaign but honored it as a Staff Pick. But thanks for the heads up. Ahh, I'm glad to hear that it is approved. I didn't know how they did the approval process, so, it's good to hear that they had already had it approved, hehe.
Moderator Art Posted July 11, 2012 Moderator Report Posted July 11, 2012 Hi Mia, I think I'm in with Ferg on this. Personally, I generally do not send money unless I know exactly how it is spent. As Ferg said, we have never seen an outright solicitation for funds here on Leatherworker.net. We have been asked for personal support, and support for a business, but not funding. There are a few folks here who will support someone with tools or even cash at our own discretion, but that support is never solicited (some folks make it hard on us and won't even put their names and location in their profiles, but eventually they give us a clue). Everyone is hurting in this economy, but if you want to do serious leatherwork, it can be done. I would recommend you post your work here and accept help from the pros that hang around here in just about every discipline. Their advice and guidance are worth far more than $2000. We have folks on here that can do as much with 3 or 4 modelers as I can with a pretty fair complement of Bob Beard tools. Leatherworker.net is the most free flowing resource there is, drop by often and show us your work. Art For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Members cem Posted July 12, 2012 Members Report Posted July 12, 2012 Mia I hope you do well I know how kickstarter works I've followed a few things there myself and was quite pleased when quite a few achieved their goals, but I also agree with Ferg and Art in that here isn't probably the best place to try and round up some funding. One problem is a lot of people here know how to make the products you are pledging and will make it themselves before going to someone else to do it. Information on the other hand is something we give freely and love to help with, I would stick to advertising your campaign outside of facebook and twitter to forums where people like to buy handmade stuff not necessarily make them. With the things I've followed these campaigns have had the most success ie go to where the end user hangs outs. Like Art said this hasn't popped up here before but I have seen it on some Artist forums where artists are trying to drum up kickstarter funding from other artists and it didn't go down well. So if you have any questions on how do any leather work stuff fire away we are all definitely happy to give pointers on that more than you probably need on some things. Best wishes, Clair
mlapaglia Posted July 12, 2012 Report Posted July 12, 2012 (edited) I'm confused, It seems like you have the basic tools, and leather. You know how to stitch it. What exactly is the 2000.00 going for? Is there a list we can look at? Since you already seem to be making leather goods what is the purpose of the money? Edited July 12, 2012 by mlapaglia The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. Bruce Lee
Members shtoink Posted July 12, 2012 Members Report Posted July 12, 2012 A portion of the funds raised will go to developing my online store. I will purchase a camera and photography equipment so I can better represent my products. I will expand my shop on Big Cartel. Business cards, promotions, city licenses, and domain names will be purchased. This is right from the Kick Starter page. I too have mixed feelings about this. The manager at my local Tandy store put it this way: "If you were a pool hustler, you'd have no issues beating me at pool with a broomstick even if I had a $10,000 cue." It translates into many other areas, as it's the skills that make the outcome good not necessarily the equipment. That isn't to say that better tools can't help. In other words, if the super powers were built into the suit, then anyone could be a super hero. I think that you really risk insulting forum members by asking them for monetary help, especially when they are here giving advice and tips away for free. It does like good intentions, just misjudgement on where to advertise. I can see the need to raise funds for domain names, hosting, website building, shopping cart, and the like, but I highly recommend using the tools and resources you currently have until it is absolutely necessary to upgrade. It comes down to optimization of the resources you have. Don't mistake words of caution as any form of discouragement. I'd hate to see enthusiasm squelched on account of it. Anyway, that's just my two cents. For what it's worth...
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