The Game Whisperer

Funding the Dream on Episode 136: Ali Spagnola and the Freedom Victory Tour

On Episode 136, Richard talks to Ali Spagnola, Funding the Dream’s first legitimate rock star: Ali Spagnola.  Ali is using Indie Go-Go to crowdfund the “Freedom Victory Tour” of her rock show “Power Hour”.  She has raised over $30,000 toward her goal of $40,000, and has over 1,000 backers. 

Ali is a great guest, and her story is compelling.  As a young person, she quit her job to take her Power Hour show on the road full time, and to sell her albums online.  Then, a Trademark Troll registered (wrongfully, as it turns out), the mark “Power Hour”, and sent her a Cease and Desist letter.  Which Ali ignored.

But Apple and Amazon and the other online retailers could not ignore the trademark registration, and her albums came down. 

Ali did not crumble and say “oh well” and go back to her day job.  Ali fought for her art.  Ali hired a lawyer, and three years and $30,000 later, she won.  The Trademark Office admitted that the name “Power Hour” was not properly trademarkable, and Ali was free to resume her tours and album sales.

This Indie Go-Go campaign celebrates her legal victory, and Richard talked to Ali about several interesting parts of her campaign.  First, she makes great use of video, and Ai talks about how she used a YouTube Channel of her project videos to reach fans and funders.  Next, Ali used even the $1 pledge level to give funders the opportunity to vote on where her tour should play (a pretty cool idea), and finally, because her project – a music tour – can play in one place or in many, Ali used Indie Go-Go rather than Kickstarter, for its Flexible Funding feature.  With Indie Go-Go, a project owner can choose the Flexible Funding option and get to keep the money pledged, even if the total does not reach the funding goal.  This was perfect for Ali, because missing her goal did not matter that much – she could simply tour fewer cities. 

Richard asked Ali her advice for running a successful crowdfunding campaign:  Be passionate about what you do, and that will come across to your audience.  Great advice!

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~ Scott Pfeiffer is a business consultant at Marshall Fredrick & Company  (www.marshallfredrick.com ) and is the Lead Writer for the Funding the Dream-Team.  Follow him on twitter @fscottp, or link with him at www.linkedin.com/in/scottpfeiffer/

Also read Marshall Fredrick & Company's Blog: "On Business"  

Funding the Dream on Episode 135: Kicking Back with Jonathan Liu

Jonathan Liu is exactly the reason why Kickstarter works.  Jonathan, Senior Editor of GeekDad on Wired.com , has backed 182 Kickstarter Projects.  Kickstarter works because people back projects they think are cool or interesting, and not just ones where they want to purchase the product or know the creator.

So, what does a seasoned Kickstarter backer like Jonathan look at FIRST when he sees a new project?  He looks at the box on the right, just beneath the “Back This Project” button, and takes a look at the number of Kickstarter projects the creator has backed.  Jonathan wants to know if this creator has backed other projects, before launching his own. 

Why is this important?  In this Episode, Jonathan tells us that project creators learn important lessons by being project backers on other people’s projects before they become project creators on their own.  Creators who have been backers know the joys and frustrations of the backer with delays, updates (or lack thereof) and someone who has backed other projects perhaps knows more about Kickstarter and is less likely to make frustrating rookie mistakes.

 

Jonathan has created, therefore, his own new pledge: Kicking Back.  By Kicking Back, a project creator pledges that he has already pledged an amount equal to 5% of the expected net profit of his Kickstarter project before the project is launched.  Note that Jonathan does not mean 5% of the amount you raise on Kickstarter, but rather 5% of the profit you expect to make off the project after all of your costs and expenses are paid.  It is for you to decide how much that is: the point is to show you are committed to the Kickstarter community as a backer before you go to the well as a creator.

Any project owner can join Jonathan in Kicking Back by (1) copying the Kicking Back logo shown above and pasting it into your project page, (2) putting a link to the project creator’s Kickstarter profile – so potential backers can see what projects you have pledged (Jonathan’s is here), and putting in a little text that explains what Kicking Back means.  By way of example, you can check on Jonathan’s blurb on his current Kickstarter Campaign: The Emperor’s New Clothes.  And back his cool project while you’re there!

Thank you to our Sponsor: Ares Games, for your support of Funding the Dream.  Check out Ares Games exciting Kickstarter Project Sails of Glory, and support our sponsor.    

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~ Scott Pfeiffer is a business consultant at Marshall Fredrick & Company  (www.marshallfredrick.com ) and is the Lead Writer for the Funding the Dream-Team.  Follow him on twitter @fscottp, or link with him at www.linkedin.com/in/scottpfeiffer/ 

Free Kickstarter Conversation

I love hearing about Kickstarter stories. The passion and enthusiasm are infectious. 

That's why I've opened up my calendar to invite Kickstarter lovers to give me a call and talk about our favorite topic.

If you have a question about Kickstarter, or want to talk about your Kickstarter project, then give me call. I've set up a few appointment slots for a short 15 minute call to have a one-on-one discussion and answer your questions about Kickstarter. 

It is on a first come first serve basis. If it works out we will do another one. Be sure to sign up for the Funding the Dream mailing list to be kept informed about the next one that we will be doing.

Here is the link you can follow to sign up for your free 15 minutes to talk about all things Kickstarter.

Free 15 Minute Kickstarter Conversation

I look forward to speaking with you soon,

 

Richard Bliss

Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Ep 101 City Hall with Michael Keller

 

Timing is everything. And for Michael Keller and his Kickstarter project it was a matter of a trifecta of bad timing. After months of planning, preparing and working on getting his project ready, including listening to all 100 episodes of Funding the Dream on Kickstarter over the past year, he was ready to launch his game project.

He took it live and all looked great...then two other mega game projects went live, stealing away a little bit of the buzz of his own project, and then that same week someone named Sandy came to visit NYC where he lives.

While he was unaffected personally, many of his friends were impacted dramatically. In addition, his work took a hit when it lost power.

Bad timing. But, he is persevering in the face of these challenges. His game is getting great reviews, and he is steadily gaining backers and moving toward his goal.

Take a list to Michael and I on Episode 101 of Funding the Dream on Kicktstarter

Visit his Kickstarter project and show some support for City Hall

 

Glory in the Morning - Going from Zero to Funded on Kickstarter

Sue Shanahan is a children's illustrator and author. Her art has received national attention, primarily from Oprah, who liked her work and brought her on the show to talk about the impact of her art on children. She appeared as a guest on Funding the Dream on Kickstarter episode 91.

I invited Sue on the show because she was new to Kickstarter and was going through basic steps to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign. She and I talk about the steps she took to prepare for the launch of her Kickstarter.

Nearly all first time Kickstarter project owners have the same questions. How to start, how to find backers, how to grow your presence. Sue addresses how she approached her topic, which doesn't have a large following to start with. But by leveraging those who do have large networks and are interested in her type of work, her project has found success.

Sue turned to traditional marketing such as press releases as well as going online and asking questions in forums, specifically on Linkedin, where she became active in the Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Linkedin Group. She contributed, asked questions, and shared her experiences.

Sue's project has done well since it's launch and she has worked tirelessly to gain meaningful exposure. 

You can listen to Sue and I discuss her project here on Episode 91 of Funding the Dream on Kickstarter

International Toy & Game Inventors Conference. The place to be to get published

 

The International Toy & Game Inventors Conference is the best place to be to make the connections to get your latest game invention published.

You don't have to trust my word for it. My guest for Episode 88 of Funding the Dream on Kickstarter is Kim Vandenbroucke, a professional game and toy inventor. Her analysis for new game designers looking to make the necessary contacts is that the International Inventors Conference is the single best place to make the contacts necessary to get in front of the major board game and toy publishers. 

Kim is well know through her Game Aisle presence where she blogs about the toy and game industry. You can also follow her on Twitter at @thegameaisle

This episode of Funding the Dream is packed with great content. Kim and I cover the challenges faced by board game designers trying to break into board game publishing space.

And Kim talks about the special opportunity that is targeted specifically at Kickstarter project owners who have a game or toy that has funded this year or is currently live on Kickstarter.

Here is the link to Kim's 

Here is a link to Episode 88 of Funding the Dream on Kickstarter with Kim Vandenbroucke

Here is a link to the International Toy & Game Inventors Conference Page

Cengiz Dervis, Weapons Expert, discusses Kickstarter from the UK

It isn't very often that I get to meet a true to life combat weapons expert. Well, virtual meet anyway. Cengiz Dervis and Laurence O'Brien (Yes THAT Laurence O'Brien) join me on Funding the Dream to talk about launching Kickstarter projects from the UK. 

Kickstarter now offers projects to be created in UK although they can't be launched until October 31, 2012. 

Cengiz and Laurence have just launched their own Kickstarter project, the Drake Files, and we discuss the success of the project.

Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Ep 86 Cengiz Dervis and Laurence O'Brien The Drake Files 

The Drake Files Kickstarter Page

 

Tom Vasel discusses @Kickstarter Ep 85 Funding the Dream

Tom Vasel knows games. He certainly has one of the most recognizable names in the board game industry and is the identity behind the Dice Tower, the most popular board game review site on the Internet.

Tom is also known for having strong opinions on a wide range of topics. In this episode of Funding the Dream, Tom and I sit down for a discussion on Kickstarter and the impact it is having on the board game industry. We discuss how everyone isn't in agreement on whether Kickstarter is a good thing or bad thing for board gaming. 

What Tom and I both agree on is that it is having an impact and changing the board game industry. This was an enjoyable conversation for the both of us and you will enjoy it as well.

 

Episode 85 of Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Listen here

 

Getting your Kickstarter Game into Game Stores - Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Ep 83

Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Ep 83 with Aldo Ghiozzi

How many copies of your game should be printing? If you just funded your game on Kickstarter and you are wondering how many copies you should print and how you are going to get them to market, this is the episode for you.

Aldo Ghiozzi is the owner of Impressions, Inc., a company that specializies in getting indie publishers into the hands of distributors and retail stores. Aldo is a wealth of information and provides some clear guidelines for those wondering what their next steps should be to get their game to market.

In addition to being a great resource and guest on Funding the Dream on Kickstarter, Aldo and I also provide commentary for retailers on new games coming out in the market. If you have a game you will want to watch the vidcast to get an idea of things you can do to help promote you game and increase its chance of success.

Here is the Video

 

Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Ep 81 Story Realms with Angie Hickman

Six months ago Angie Hickman wanted to launch a Kickstarter project for her board game Story Realms. The game had been in development for years and was ready to go to market. 

Rather than immediately launching and hoping for the best, Angie set about building a presence and a fan base online through active social networking. She didn't spend her time pitching her game, but instead focused on building a rapport with the community, finding resources she could use, and when she could, giving back to the community.

This long view of social media has paid off for her as Story Realms has done very well on Kickstarter, raising more than $30,000 in the first two weeks.

Listen in as we discuss how to maximize Social Media for your Kickstarter campaign.

Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Ep 81 Listen here

Story Realms Kickstarter Page