Now, there are some who perhaps hope that I get nothing. And perhaps the pool of people who support me is a small number, too small for this to work. I accept that. But if I can't get an ask this small off the ground, then I find myself re-evaluating this whole thing. Not just the menu, but all of it.
I've banked on the menu being the lynchpin for a host of plans to follow. Without backing, I'm very concerned with going forward ... since who knows what the market would be. If it weren't for Covid, and I could arrange to attend some game cons, I think I could pull through even if the capital were tight; but I've run the numbers and without this support, I'd be crazy to go ahead. I'd be risking more than my online presence and reputation.
I'm going to suggest something that is a risk. A great many of my readers already support me through Patreon. Right now, that support would be better placed on my kickstarter than on my Patreon. Therefore I'm asking ... and damn, this could be burning down my future ... that you stop supporting me on Patreon and put that money towards my kickstarter.
In fact, I'm asking that you find the will to give me two months support that you would normally give me on Patreon, through Kickstarter. In the meantime, I'll ask you to reduce your Patreon support to $1, keeping your account alive. I will not change your status if you do. Then, on December 1st, if you would kindly renew your support on Patreon, I should have reached my goal on Kickstarter safely.
That's the plan. Of course, the plan could have dire consequences, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. If my Patreon dries up permanently, well ... I'll certainly have some thinking to do about that. Right now, the Kickstarter is the focus.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Original Carl left this message, which I clicked accidentally and deleted:
ReplyDelete"Perhaps you could offer a PDF option for $15? You've only a couple of price points and they are $10 for goodwill, $50 for 6 coasters and $100 for a fauxleather-bound four page folio of a gorgeous fantasy tavern menu. A cheaper option (or options) might help get you a few more backers.
Consider also that most Kickstarter action happens in the first and last weeks. You're probably in the lull period between peaks of interest.
Good luck, Alexis."
Without a doubt, Carl, the menu is a luxury item. But if you look online, you'll see that it's approximately the same price you'll pay for a well-made poster, or a large poster frame; it's the price you'll pay for a good soft-cover book. It's the price of any well-crafted item on the internet. I don't intend to provide a version that can be copied and spread throughout the internet for free, for a nominal up-front fee of $15 for a few honest persons.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I don't see how the price of the object has anything to do with it. I've been told many times, "Alexis, you've written so many great things; you make me think; you've changed the way I play the game; I want to see you do well; I want you to go on producing." That's what I'm doing. I'm living up to the expectations of my readers. Don't think of it as supporting a single object; see it as the gateway to many more things, for once I'm financed, there's no end to things I can make - or ways I can spread the benefit around.
You know what I'm doing today? I'm writing free content on the Authentic wiki. Because that's what I've done for 12 years, and will go on doing. But to make this object, this menu, I have to pay through the nose to get the authentic, glossy, faux leather folder in which my menu fits. This means buying in bulk, carrying a large stock of the item, physically sending them out by mail and occasionally eating the cost when the shipping fee isn't enough. You can't ask me to take a cheaper option, when fineness and quality is the goal.
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly the C$100 price is for yours faithful supporters to deliberately spend extra money in order to help get the menu made at all, but after launch the price will be more like C$50.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little confusing that you don't have a C$50 option which just represents paying regular price for the menu, like a typical preorder. That way anyone who wants to purchase, but doesn't want to have to remember several months later that it's now available, can put down their cash now.
(Presumably one benefit of backing the C$100 tier instead of a hypothetical C$50 tier is that orders at C$100 would be filled first.)
(prices in my previous comments were approximate, and I forgot about the coasters. but I think my point stands regardless of specific prices.)
ReplyDeleteYep, that's right Maxwell.
ReplyDeleteI realize the internet makes it's own reality, but the way that business works, you raise the capital first, THEN you go into production, THEN you sell the product. I know Disney and Amazon get to break that rule, but they have shit-tons of money and can deliberately lose 20 billion any time, where as I have this tiny, tiny pile and I actually need to make sure I have enough before going into production. I think you understand this, Max, but those who feel they have a right to buy the product, NOW, in an online format, will just have to wait.
Nothing I can do about that.