As I promised in the LiA fundraising thread, I’m getting ready to launch a major new phase for the site and for myself – commissions. And to help me nail down what this is going to look like, I need your input on a few questions. I’d be very grateful if you share your thoughts in the comments below.
In the first place, I have a couple of larger projects in mind that I’m going to finance through the traditional “all or nothing” crowdfunding method (look for the launch of the first one very soon). But there’s more wiggle room will smaller ones – anime and manga series reviews, editorials, etc. With that in mind, I’d love to know your thoughts on the following:
- Do you prefer an all or nothing (pledges only go through when the funding goal has been reached) model, or a pay as you go model – for example, if I was trying to raise XXX dollars to fund a series review of, say, Touch (just as an example)?
- Would you prefer an open-ended system where individuals can pledge towards any project they’re interested in, or a system where I choose specific titles/themes (series, manga, films, etc.) and start a campaign around those?
- What are your thoughts on the idea of a “slot” system, where every season I choose one of each type of project and let supporters choose to pledge towards it for that season?
Just generally speaking, I’d love any input on how to structure this because it’s new territory for LiA. Also, please feel free to suggest some specific campaigns you’d like to see – anime, films, essays, whatever you got. If I get the feedback that there are specific topics a lot of people want, that makes it easy to start a project based on those.
In addition to the above, I’ll also be offering individually-funded custom-tailored content. If someone wants to commission me to write something, long or short, that will always be an option. That part seems pretty straightforward to me – I set some basic rates, and you contact me to arrange whatever work you want to subsidize. And needless to say, any bespoke projects – be they individually or group-funded – will always carry benefits for the patrons involved (exclusivity, acknowledgement, etc.).
So to sum up, I see this as being broadly split into two umbrella categories. First will be crowdfunded projects, and second will be individual patron commissions. Figuring out how the specifics play out (especially with the first category) is the challenging part.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Mercesoul
October 8, 2022 at 10:38 pmI’d prefer an all-or-nothing system tbh. But perhaps you could split it. If it’s a long show, maybe an all-or-nothing for each cour. But, not episode by episode preferably.
Would you prefer an open-ended system where individuals can pledge towards any project they’re interested in, or a system where I choose specific titles/themes (series, manga, films, etc.) and start a campaign around those? I’d prefer an open-ended system where you can pledge towards any project.
Slot system sounds like a great idea.
Guardian Enzo
October 9, 2022 at 1:59 amThanks for the input, much appreciated.
Stephen
October 9, 2022 at 9:48 amAll or nothing for a series of bonus features would be preferable for me anyways.
The thing I would pay for is some sort of series review for classics ie Touch or some sort of pre2010 top 10. You helped me found so many hidden gems like morobito!
Guardian Enzo
October 9, 2022 at 9:55 amVery good feedback, thanks.
Alejandro Viayra Villaverde
October 10, 2022 at 5:58 amSee below
Patchy
October 12, 2022 at 2:07 amAh autocomplete doxxed me and didn’t even notice, can you erase my previous comment? Leaving here the original under the usual alias:
I think the system could work both ways, All or Nothing for not-currently airing series that would entail to find time between the rest of the blogging to do, but there could also be an open ended system to give some bubble or watch-but-not-blogging shows some limelight.
I do think you should be the one to place the works you’re willing to work on, because if you don’t really click with a show it may turn complicated for both the patrons and you.
Currently I don’t have money to spare, but may be willing to go for the all or nothing old gems or even more tier lists.
Guardian Enzo
October 12, 2022 at 7:37 amBelieve me, I will set some guardrails in the beginning. I’m not going to take commissions for something I can’t work on sincerely.
Riv
October 12, 2022 at 2:06 amI’d prefer the all or nothing model.
In regards to individually funded, custom content, I would be interested in either essays or YouTube vids that explore particular topics. Similar to what you were doing on the Notaku podcasts, which I enjoyed a lot. For example, your take on a particular genre, like mecha, and how it has changed over time. Or a discussion of a particular studio and their works. I could see it working as either the patron suggests the specific topic or you suggest a list of potential ones.
Guardian Enzo
October 12, 2022 at 7:35 amThat’s definitely on tap.
Elia Notari
October 12, 2022 at 9:09 pmOk, Something’s off about the site, it’s said that there are 8 comments under this post, yet somehow I can only see 6
Guardian Enzo
October 12, 2022 at 9:28 pmOne comment and one reply are not showing, I have no idea why.
Edit: Fixed. It was a problem of deleting a parent comment.