Crowd-funded video shoot- thoughts?

[nachtjaeger]

Hey gang!

I'm thinking of doing one more video shoot this year, and I'd like to make it a good one. However, my household is currently experiencing a cash flow problem- the flow is slow. Seriously, I'm not going to have the extra cash in hand to do the shoot before the weather gets too cold without incurring additional debt- which would get me flayed alive by my Lady Wife (aka the Weredragon, aka "She who must be obeyed.")
There was some discussion on the MPV forum about crowd-funded scenes- what about a crowd-funded shoot?

Here's the idea: I do a Crowdfunding campaign to raise the cash to pay the models, get a better video camera, upgrade the pits, etc.

With Kickstarter, If I don't hit the goal by the deadline, nobody's credit card gets charged, and I don't do the shoot.

With GoFundMe, I'd get whatever you folks chose to kick in up front, with no guarantee I'd get enough to make the budget. In that case, I would donate any contributions to my favorite charity (horseback therapy for brain-injured and developmentally challenged kids and adults.)

I'd rather set a short deadline with Kickstarter, as I want to lock in the models' schedules, airfares, motel rooms, etc. early.
In return, I would shoot a "thank you" scene and post it for free on YouTube (watermarked.) Folks who contribute will be given a download link to a non-watermarked full quality version of the scene. Maybe folks who kick in above X amount get outtakes & cleanup footage also. Other suggestions are welcome. If I do this, I'll give folks regular updates. You'll get to see the shoot budget, be able to check out the Charity, etc.

So, thoughts? Could this work? Kickstarter or GoFundMe? What sort of rewards for folks who kick in? What to put in a "Thank You" scene (besides gorgeous women and deep mud?)

[Duncan Edwards]

Since it appears that nobody else is going to speak up I'll give you my thoughts. It's a noble effort but I think the "crowd" in crowdfunding wants to save this option for those opportunities that are really special, go the extra mile, totally over the top. Sounds like you are suffering from a financial condition that can only be improved by profiting from what you've already created. Sink a busload of cheerleaders or Kate Upton and I think the crowd will come forth. Otherwise the other producers are releasing stuff in a steady stream that people don't have to wait for and it costs no more than any likely contribution.

Keep up the good work. It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and debt. You'll get there.

[Viridian]

You have to be realistic.

How much of a crowd is out there for this particular fetish? How much do you honestly, realistically expect to raise from the community? What can you provide that we, as consumers, can't already get through purchasing a video, that would justify us donating more money? Sure, there may be five people who might chirp up about donating, but how many will actually put (substantial) money where their mouth is?

The reality is that most Kickstarter projects fail. There isn't enough demand out there for obscure items and projects with no marketing potential. A lot of people fall back on using crowdfunding as a solution to obtaining funds for projects, for the wrong reasons and motivations, thinking that it is an easy way to get money. You have to be careful about setting yourself up with the image of being someone in need of charitable donations (and especially your GoFundMe, in which you propose giving away our money to charity). I'm still stunned that producers of adult fetish material would ask for donations.

One item that is conspicuously absent in your suggested rewards is whether donors actually receive the scene(s) that you shoot. Past a certain threshold, a donor expects to be given a courtesy copy, otherwise you are double-dipping (we're giving you money AND you expect us to buy each clip). Of course, providing a complimentary clip (or more, depending on funding level) would cut into the money you ultimately gain, but while the purpose crowdfunding is essentially to get people to donate (with token rewards whose cost is absorbed into the project), as consumers of adult material, we're more likely to think, "I'm giving $500, plus I have to pay $10 for each video anyway". Considering that many people in the community are very selective with their purchases due to limited funds, this is asking a lot of your existing market.

I'm not 100% against crowdfunding. There is potential. However, to have even a 1% chance of meeting your funding goals, your target audience needs a clear sample of what product you will end up making for us to consider the value and viability of the project. While I'm against the idea on principle, if something looks good enough to make me go, "Holy shit, I'd pay to make that happen", I'll give more than what the end-product would be worth.

If it's "just another scene", I'd rather just buy what's on offer if I like it. I'm more open to paying premium price for a high-quality shoot, but I'm reluctant to fund a project upfront if I don't know or don't like what I'm getting.

[Fred588]

It is my personal belief that the principal differences between those who go ahead with producing and those who do not are, to a small extent, having the resources to do so, and, to a much larger extent, having the willingness to do so in spite of the very low probability of recovering the necessary investment. I do not know of a single producer in this genre who actually turns a genuine profit. For most, and probably all, of us I think we do it because we want to and we would do so to the extent we can anyway. Things such as crowd funding, donations of wardrobe or props, sponsorships, partial custom scenes, custom scenes, joining a crew, and more are ways in which people who perhaps do not have the resources to be producers in their own right can at least be, and feel, involved.

It is also my personal belief that things such as discussions of scene ideas, pit materials, devices for making certain things happen, etcetera are also a way for people to be involved. Usually nothing will come of such discussions but sometimes something will, but the discussion itself is good regardless. In such discussions there is an important role for critical thought. Pointing out why something is, say, impractical, is good because it helps advance things. On the other hand, comments such as "What a stupid idea!" is not helpful because it tends to stifle the conversation. [It might be better to say something like, "I think the idea is foolish because ......".

The above is, of course, only my personal opinion.

[nachtjaeger]

Thanks for the good feedback, gang.

[Viridian]

Deleting comments that you don't personally agree with also tends to stifle conversation. Pointing out why something is, say, impractical, is good because it helps advance things. [It might be better to say something like, "Thanks for the suggestion, but this is outside of my..."]

The above is, of course, only my personal opinion.

[Duncan Edwards]

It is my personal belief that the principal differences between those who go ahead with producing and those who do not are, to a small extent, having the resources to do so, and, to a much larger extent, having the willingness to do so in spite of the very low probability of recovering the necessary investment.

A lot of what he just said. Really.

[Nessie]

I do not know of a single producer in this genre who actually turns a genuine profit.

Well, that kind of depends on what you call a profit. I got back a lot more than I spent making videos, but I always had to have a job too.

Hint: When I look at my spreadsheets every quarter, it's always the same two girls whose clips sell every time.

So my advice is to stay in your budget but do your best to get gorgeous girls who come across well on-camera. They do not need experience. You already know quicksand, so teach them. Time is only money when you spend money, so don't be afraid to dig around online and try different ways of reaching out...and interview. Never skip the screening part, because you do have to make sure you can work with them.

I used to take the chosen actresses to the thrift store right before the drive to the quicksand, and dress them on the spot.

Hiring stars is expensive, so create them instead.

Nessie

[nachtjaeger]

??? Did I delete somebody's comment? I have no memory of so doing.

"You're a little confused, man." says you.

"No, I'm a large confused man." says I.

Deleting comments that you don't personally agree with also tends to stifle conversation. Pointing out why something is, say, impractical, is good because it helps advance things. [It might be better to say something like, "Thanks for the suggestion, but this is outside of my..."]

The above is, of course, only my personal opinion.

[nachtjaeger]

I actually have two local ladies (both longtime friends) who are interested. If I can't afford to bring in a Nyssa Nevers or Sarah Michelle next month, I can definitely afford to pay them for their time. And of course nobody likes "quicksand virgins" doing a screen test.

I don't always use amateur models. But when I do, they're orphans with no dependents. And I only use them once.
Stay creepy, my friends.

Great idea on taking them on a Shopping Spree at the thrift stores! I actually had fun shopping by myself. Found a skirt that Nyssa loved so much she traded some wardrobe she brought for it. (I offered to give it to her, but she's the old-fashioned sort.)

I do not know of a single producer in this genre who actually turns a genuine profit.

Well, that kind of depends on what you call a profit. I got back a lot more than I spent making videos, but I always had to have a job too.

Hint: When I look at my spreadsheets every quarter, it's always the same two girls whose clips sell every time.

So my advice is to stay in your budget but do your best to get gorgeous girls who come across well on-camera. They do not need experience. You already know quicksand, so teach them. Time is only money when you spend money, so don't be afraid to dig around online and try different ways of reaching out...and interview. Never skip the screening part, because you do have to make sure you can work with them.

I used to take the chosen actresses to the thrift store right before the drive to the quicksand, and dress them on the spot.

Hiring stars is expensive, so create them instead.

Nessie