I got a kick (pun intended) out of Tosh.0's spoof on how Kickstarter is just a breeding ground for lazy pseudo-creatives who want you to give them your hard earned money. He wants to become the world's first trillionaire, but he has a poor work ethic, so he needs you to give him your money. Then he'll purchase and shred the Mona Lisa, buy up all the tangerines in the country, and myriad other shenanigans.
Funny, yes. And sure, Kickstarter is ripe with some of what he describes... But you can say what you will, there are some really remarkable projects, too. Like Wollstonecraft, a girl-power, steampunkesque adventure featuring Ada Lovelace and Mary Shelley as young girls running a detective agency in 1826 London. The "Airship Ambassador" set out to write a book for his nine-year-old daughter, seeking just $4k to help with the expenses. Now, thanks to almost 3,000 backers and $91,751 in funding (that's 2,293% funded), he's developed an entire series, teacher curriculum guide and has more on the way.
Need more evidence of valid, meaningful and creative projects. Look here, and here and discover some on your own, here.
Sure, these are among Kickstarter's most funded, but there are many small projects (like ours) that make hay and, while they don't enjoy the runaway success of some of the previous examples, are still going to go on to produce thought provoking results in publishing, art, media, technology, etc.
That's the power of "crowd-sourced" funding with sites like Kickstarter. You can reach the people you know already know will support you - friends, family, fans and the like. But the real magic comes when strangers with money burning a hole in their pockets see your project, believe in what you're doing and fork over cash to make it a reality. There are limited resources in the world, but even more limited are the paths to obtain those resources. Kickstarter and their competitors are opening the door for projects that would otherwise shrivel on the vine.
We've got about a month left on our project, and we've already reached our original goal - and are a good way on the way to our new, "stretch" goal. I can't wait for the final finish line - and while I'm thrilled with the money, the most exciting part is when my inbox pings and I don't recognize the name of the person who is happily parting with $25, $50 and even $100 for Indigo Ink.
(via Wollstonecraft by Airship Ambassador — Kickstarter)