It seems like most of the information about crowdfunding comes from — er…crowdfunders. So when Karen Sperling and I exchanged tweets about our crowdfunding experiences we decided to collaborate on a crowdfunding blog from an audience member’s perspective. Even though I’ve reached out to audiences for contributions to my film project, Legend of Black Lotus, I am also, in fact, an audience member who has contributed to several film projects.
Between us, we don’t have an Internet radio show or five-digit twitter follower counts. What we do have is immense respect and fondness for independent film. We are two sides of a coin, and the coin represents the individual who will support, watch and buy your film.
From Karen
5 tips for crowdfunding on Twitter Although I’m working on several scripts and novels, I offer these ideas not as a filmmaker, but as an audience member. I have no proof of what works and what doesn’t, I just know who I’m likely to support and why.
1. Don’t beg, borrow or steal. When crowdfunding turns to plain begging in the form of tweets saying please help me, I’m less likely to respond. I’d love to have the money to make movies, too, so your begging me to help you make movies doesn’t motivate me.
2. The big picture. Then what should you tweet about to get crowdfunding? In my opinion, tweet about other things besides your fundraising. What’s your movie about? Why do you love it so much that you want to make it? Why am I going to love it? Where are you with it? What’s your background? Why should I want to fund your movie? And like I say, because you want to make movies isn’t enough motivation for me, I want to make them, too.
3. Do unto others. It seems to me the most effective use of Twitter is getting retweets (RT’s), where others promote your project. And it seems to me the quickest route to getting RT’s is to do them yourself. Promote others’ projects and they’ll promote yours.
4. Non-filmmakers are people, too. If artists, writers, photographers, musicians, and others RT you, you can RT them, too. That way everyone’s audience grows, including yours. Don’t limit RT’s to other filmmakers. The filmmakers I RT the most are the ones who promote my projects, too. There’s a method to this altruistic madness. You look less self-centered to your audience and people are more likely to help you. I’ve become friends with filmmakers from around the world on Twitter because I promote their films and they promote my books, dvds and art. Who in your audience is really so benevolent to contribute to your movie and to RT you all the time with zero acknowledgement in return? Put yourself in your audience’s shoes. How much would you want to help someone whose only interest was in himself or herself?
5. Without them, you’re nothing. Sandra Bernhard got it right, you’re nothing without your audience, so take an interest in them. It’ll pay off for you. This can range from getting to know your followers to tweeting about what tangible items your audience will receive for funding your movie to RT’ing them. Edward Burns recently did a poll on Twitter asking what his followers would find the most valuable in crowdfunding HIS movies, which was a brilliant idea, I thought. He not only got valuable information, but he also found a way to engage his followers in conversation about his movie.The followers told him they’d like a signed script. Find out what your followers want from funding you and then tweet about it. I did this to crowdfund the publication of my book, Painting for Photographers. I offered “free” digital tutorials for donations—actually, my digital tutorials at a discount. My audience felt good about helping me to publish my book, but also got in return for their “donations” my fee-based digital tutorials. You can go to the other end of the spectrum by offering an emotional connection for supporting you.
Lady Gaga is probably the most successful crowdfunder of all time. She reaches out to her Little Monsters on Twitter, who support her and by the way, pay good money to go see her in concert. Her message is that she was thought of as a freak in school and is reaching out to kids who feel the same way. She appeals to their wanting to belong and being her fan gives them that feeling of belonging. I also think that Lady Gaga’s fondness for her fans is genuine, but she does recognize how they feel about her and she encourages it. Paris Hilton saw this, and for awhile was calling her Twitter followers Little Hiltons. Though her message wasn’t as clear, and she seems to have given up on the moniker, she also was appealing to her followers’ wanting to belong. You don’t have to name your followers, but do take an interest in them, and find out what they’re looking for, instead of just paying attention to the other filmmakers who follow you, or yourself, and connect with your audience, and you’re bound to get further with your crowdfunding.
Karen Sperling is the author of the Painting for Photographers book and companion DVD, available at Amazon and the Artistry web site http://artistrymag.com/. She has exhibited her art in New York and during Art Basel Miami http://karensperling.com/, and she currently has several scripts and novels in development. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KarenSperling.
From Angelo
Here’s my main Don’t based on what I’ve witnessed from in promoting their work before and after launching a crowdfunding campaign.
Don’t forget that contributions come from individuals who, by virtue of their contribution, desire a connection with you and/or your film. Don’t take the money and disappear, leaving only boilerplate, template emails and tweets in your wake. If you do, you’re likely to alienate the very people who helped your project come to life. Communicate with your fans, supporters and friends. Status updates are cool and informative, but real life anecdotes and front-line stories are more personal. Thus, if you’re promoting your project with daily tweets numbering in the triple-digits then suddenly you vanish after reaching your financial goal it feels…well, weird. Granted, you may be neck-deep in pre-production and rehearsals but the average movie-goer doesn’t know about or care about pre-production woes. However, if you want to reveal a more personal side, posting a picture can speak volumes. Don’t limit your communication to emails and text-based status messages. Show “us” your face in a picture or video.
Karen (@KarenSperling) and I (@AngeloBell) are interested in knowing what you think. What are your crowdfunding/crowdsourcing experiences? Leave a comment or Tweet us and tell us about it
