This band’s Kickstarter has been sitting at $600 of it’s $3200 goal since last Wednesday (six days). Not only has this thing failed, but nobody is even trying to keep it alive.
The difference between this and other failed band Kickstarters is that the project actually looks great. There aren’t the typical signs of a shitty band, shitty video, or just a general crap job of putting together the Kickstarter. The parts are all here. So what did they miss?
View the Kickstarter
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DOES NEW BAND = NOT ENOUGH FANS?
It’s easy to assume that these guys don’t have enough fans because they’re brand new (early 2011). But we’ve seen plenty of examples of new bands raising money for a debut record achieving the $4000 mark or better. As a matter of fact, I think any band, no matter how small their fan base, can raise $4000, but they need three key elements.
The 3 Elements of a Successful Band Kickstarter
- A purpose worth backing
- Solid connection points between you and your potential fan
- A clear understanding of and subsequent plan for maximizing your Circle of Influence
The one thing tying these three elements together is personal connection. This is the most important part a band’s Kickstarter project, but it can also be the most illusive.
Let’s dive into the three things that make up the personal connection element and see if we can find the points of failure in this band’s Kickstarter project.
A PURPOSE WORTH BACKING
Teenage Chopshop’s purpose or mission doesn’t seem compelling to the potential backer. They talk about making their first record with an old school 8 track recorder at their house which established what they’ve done up until this point.
The purpose of this fundraiser is to buy recording gear so they can make their second record…at their house, but with better gear? Lame.
How about a story where you make your first record at home in your basement, but this next record will take you to a whole new level because you’re going to record in New York, in Jack White’s cousin’s basement? Now that would be a Purpose Worth Backing.
CONNECTION POINTS BETWEEN BAND AND FAN
Nowhere in their project do we get a feel for what role music plays in their lives. Do they want to tour? Make a living with music? Carry on a legacy from old uncle Jed? Is this the next big step for their music career? Are they a YouTube star wanting to make the transition to actual recording artist?
Why does this stuff matter?
Because it creates connection points between the viewer and the band. When you show your passion and purpose in specific ways, it allows the viewer to see themselves in you and it gives them specific things to relate to. They empathize with you and want to reward you for pursuing your dream, because they never got to pursue their dream OR they did pursue their dream and would never want you to have to stop short of pursuing yours.
If you show them why you’re passionate about this dream, and it’s a Purpose Worth Backing, they’ll help you.
CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE MISSHANDLING?
Teenage Chopshop doesn’t have a fanbase per se. But they do have a Circle of Influence.
Each of the four members need to reach out to parants, siblings, extended family, friends, and co-workers as well as weekly Facebook posts on their personal profiles. If you’re truly excited and passionate about what you’re doing and your project doesn’t suck, you will absolutely raise more than $600 between the four of you.
When interviewing The Bischoffs about their successful Kickstarter, here’s what they said about this idea:
Our fan base is our friends and friends of friends. So we’ve mostly reached out through Facebook posts. But I’ve also gone through my entire Gmail address book and have sent a personalized note (with form letter below) to dozens and dozens of people—selecting the ones I think are most likely to give something. It’s been a really good strategy and well worth the extra time to personalize each letter. I know when I get a mass email, I ignore it and think that hundreds of other people are receiving it and my response isn’t that important. But if someone reaches out directly to me, I always respond.
CONCLUSION
Teenage Chopshop has a cool name, they’re graphically savvy, their music is great, their video rocked, but they sorta missed the point of Kickstarter.
That video, although great, left out the Personal Connection and didn’t show the viewer any reasons to believe that this is a Purpose Worth Backing. On top of all that, it’s obvious that all four members aren’t passionate enough about the project to put the work in to raise the funds. Doing this would require the uncomfortable task of reaching out to people individually and showing your passion for the project.
I think the above article is partly correct. Although I don’t think you know what kind of stuff we were doing on a physical level. I also wonder if you know anything about Gainesville music scene? We had press, we had graffitti(I’m a street artist) and wheat pasting. Throwing promotional shows, giving away free merch and Kickstarter promo fliers. We don’t have anything, I moved to Gville with a carload of stuff and no music equipment. I shot our video on an iPhone. We were trying to rely on the young people at UF and music lovers, and music scene in this town to help us!!! Obviously the scene and our promos weren’t strong enough. We give everything to strengthen the scene hoping that it will strengthen us! We work full time jobs to support what we do! We also promote other bands shows, produce their records, work with only local artists and so on. I never keep my paychecks, it all goes to other bands, venues, artists an equipment. We put out of town bands up for the weekend, feed them, get kids to their shows, supply equipment and photographers. This is why there is no stopping us. When this music community is booming in a year or two and we are at the head of table, so to speak, we will be where we want. We have only been in Florida for about four months. Check back in a year and see where we are! The fact is we dont need Kickstarter. Our talent, persistence, attitude, hardwork, and love for what we do will take us where we need to be. Kickstarter is just one chip in the marble block that will eventually be the sculpture of David that will be TCS. We are going to take over this country, one scene, one city, one kid, one touring band at a time. We don’t pay anyone to do anything for us. We do it ourself and we do just as good of a job. We only get better every time we do it. If more bands had this attitude, not only would their success be more rewarding, but their music, product, and fans would be of better quality and appreciated more. The most important part is that we do this for ourselves, for the kids, for the love of music, and we wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. We work 40 hours a week on this music scene and our band and we are progressing quickly. I understand what this article aims to do, I appreciate that. For me though, it does something different. It stokes the flames of my passion and my need to prove that ones ability to make a successful Kickstarter project says nothing about ones entrepreneurial skills as a musician, level of talent, or passion and hard work. I don’t believe this article helps artists rather helps Kickstarter users. Many of who are using it and doing all the wrong things for the wrong reasons. We only hoped that our community would see our hard work and why we deserve the rewards. Like I said we dont need KS for that. We have proved that to ourselves and many music lovers and supporters. We will continue to do so forever, there is literally nothing that can stop us!!! Thanks for the kind words though! Thanks for what you are trying to do here. If you care, like us on Facebook and catch our show when we come to your town! Thanks again!
-Charlie Chopshop
Ps. Sorry for the poorly written paragraph above. Its hard to write this shit on an iphone. Also, we didn’t reach out for support from our families because all of our parents died in a fiery car crash at the grand canyon when we were kids… You prick!
http://www.TeenageChopshop.com
http://www.facebook.com/TeenageChopshop
http://www.teenagechopshop.tumblr.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Coolicide
Check this article out http://m.alligator.org/mobile/the_avenue/music/image_e74ec31e-1e54-11e2-b8aa-0019bb2963f4.htm