I’ve been mulling this topic over for a while. I’m sure, given that you’ve memorized all of my posts, you can recall my first (and only) Public Service Announcement. “Is that the anti-guilty pleasure?” I’ve wondered. “Charitable acts? Something you feel good about liking/doing? Or is it something that brings you displeasure? Like dieting.”
I’m pretty sure it’s the former. (And as a [self-proclaimed] subject matter expert, let’s just go with what I think.)
To that end, I’d like to talk about Kickstarter! It’s kind of the coolest thing ever. I had no idea what it was until a musician I adore, Charlene Kaye, started sending out Tweets about backing her next album. Kickstarter, according to their home page, is ‘a new way to fund and follow creativity.’ It’s very similar to how you might support someone in a charity walk, minus the depressing statistics and self-righteousness. Each artist has their own page where they can include background info, videos and details about what you’ll receive depending on how much you donate to their next/current project.
This week, thanks to 342 backers, Charlene reached her 30k goal (she hit her original 20k goal so quickly she upped the ante) and I’m going to make out like a bandit! I get an advanced autographed copy of that album I helped fund, for starters, along with a host of other goodies, like an exclusive mp3 and sticker/button set, the value of which certainly exceeds the $35 I donated.
The greatest reward, of course, is knowing I helped a struggling/up-and-coming artist get by without having to resort to things like prostitution. Or waitressing. And when they hit it big, I can take some of the credit! (Okay, so maybe there’s a little self-righteousness in this after all.)
I’d love to hear about any of your Kickstarter (or similar) experiences, as well as your thoughts on the anti-guilty pleasure!
Now please, enjoy a live performance of the title track of Charlene Kaye’s next album, Animal Love:
Go Jules Go 
This is awesome. Im gonna check it out now. I can haz moneys?
I would totally support a ‘kickstarter’ who created a page for LOLCats. I wonder what their first project would be…
I love Kickstarter! I backed a friend of a friend in Providence who is making a film about singer/songwriter Peter Kelly. It’s called The Man Is Dead.
That’s great! It’s such a neat, unaggressive way to raise money – a lot of these folks have genuine fans all over the world who can now easily contribute to their favorite artists’ careers. Yay!