It's because they spelled "donors" wrong.
I do the same as I do with beggars or buskers, walk on by.
Unless they're really belting out something worth stopping for.
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GoFundMe to Pay for Gear?
- Thread starter 48thStreetCustom
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It's because they spelled "donors" wrong.
I do the same as I do with beggars or buskers, walk on by.
Unless they're really belting out something worth stopping for.
Don't kid yourself - these bands are far less marketable than Taylor Swift. If they have a large enough fan base that's willing to put up some money (IN RETURN FOR GOODS AND/OR SERVICES) to fund an album/instruments/whatever, I fail to see anyone getting taken advantage of.
You don't have a problem with record companies funding an album/instrument purchase, but you do have a problem with fans doing it (IN RETURN FOR FUTURE GOODS AND/OR SERVICES)?
Beggars aren't going to give me an awesome album/merch/tickets to a show I want. This isn't begging. Begging is asking for a gift/charity. This is absolutely NOT a gift/charity. This is paying in advance for goods/services. Period.
All that needed to be said.My immediate reaction to that kind of GoFundMe appeal is to think GoFYourself!.....
Oooooh, I think you might have just poked a hornets nest, my friend. (I'm kidding)
Seriously though, I know people who used crowdfunding to pay for the production of comic books and art books. Successful GoFundMe campaigns spend BIG money on their videos so they show up on the front page and go viral. Nothing new there. That's advertising/marketing. But what's different is that they often feature the founders of the company who are asking for the funding. In other words, the videos are as much personality driven as product/services driven. And that's why they're called "campaigns" and donors are called "backers." Because you're meant to feel like you're investing in the company. There's an emotional element to them.
So re: your comment, to me it IS a new form of marketing that more closely resembles one of those old Sally Struthers commercials about starving children in Africa than a Crest toothpaste commercial that is driven by the benefits of using their product.
So, the fans put the band on retainer.
What happens if the album sucks? What if there IS no album? Do you get your money back? Do you get a say in their career, since you are an investor?
You release the product, then the audience gets to judge if it's worthy of their money. That's how it works.
Do you go to work, and get paid before you do anything, or do you get your pay after you've performed?
Ehh, people giving or taking money with full consent and disclosure so you can't get too mad. Honestly, I would feel awkward and cheap asking for money for an instrument in this manner if I were in their shoes. All I can say is "probably wouldn't do it if it was me" *shrug*
Upon further thought, I think it is a combination of the above two items. There is changing economic model, with a change in the timing in the exchange of money for goods and services. There is also a change in the marketing and interaction of artists and their fans. It creates a new layer and method for contact and involvement. Now if you web-search for a band, you don't just get the home page for the band. You get their Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Twitter, etc. pages. Having a presence on GoFundThis, or any other such sites is akin to all the stores selling music gear, which also have eBay and Reverb stores. The bass I just bought is one I found on eEbay. Then I saw it on Reverb. I eventually just called the store selling the bass directly and ordered from them, and skipped the eBay middle man. With this OP kind of "crowd source my instrument" promotion, it is a way for a band to promote themselves "right now" (via multiple outlets) when they don't have a new album or current tour in the works.
Edit - I think people who grew up in the era of "I pay you for a finished product, once you've finished it" have a harder time with this model than younger generations who grew up with the "you fund me now, and I'll give you a product tomorrow" model. In either case, there is an exchange of capital for a unit of utility. The difference in timing is representative of the present/future value of money. An artist can take less money today or more money tomorrow (assuming inflation and not deflation). Economically, you arrive in the same financial position. The issue becomes the liquidity of the fan base, and their time tolerance and elasticity.
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That's the risk you take. You clearly aren't willing to take that risk, and that's fine. I've backed a few projects (and received my perks); one of my buddies backs one of his favorite bands whenever they are coming out with a new album, and he's gotten some really cool stuff (limited edition signed Vinyl, backstage passes, etc.). It works for a lot of people, and allows people to fund projects they would otherwise not be able to.
That's how it used to work. Times are changing, and in many cases this to the benefit of the band as well as the fans.
No, but that's not the agreement I have with my employer.
Meh. It's not like they're taking someone's money without permission. It's like a charity. They don't make you donate.
They might be thinking there is an adoring fan out there willing to fund them for things they need on their next album. I helped fund an artist once for that, the band was Einstürzende Neubauten. Although I got a CD out of the deal so I'd hope the funding parties get something for the money.
I find it a little hard to believe someone needs a custom instrument for that, that seems a little distasteful. However if it were someone asking for a mid-range model because they didn't have a bass, or their bass broke, well, it's fair game IMHO.
The only time I really have a problem with panhandlers is when they're aggressive or ungrateful. Who knows what sort of life circumstances led them to the place they're in. Im sure any one of us could have something bad happen where we're desperate enough to beg. People who are hungry don't put a higher priority on pride, which is understandable in my opinion.
I saw a woman the other day who was panhandling with her 1 year old. She was apparently staying in a shelter for women with children. I got to thinking, maybe the guy she was with before (assuming she was) was a wife-beater and she is just doing her best to make sure her kid is safe and has what they need.
Yep.
The only people that I can think of that would do something like this, are societal leeches without enough pride to make their own way in this world. If they want a new bass that badly, they should shut off their computers, go upstairs, and ask mommy that, if they do the dishes, and take the garbage out everyday for a couple months, would she buy him a new toy?
Simply pathetic.
Like Barnum said: "There's one born every minute."
One of the GFM campaigns says he'll write a haiku on any topic you chose for a $5 donation. Maybe I should have him write a haiku about using GFM to buy a new bass.
BTW, he's raised $2,745 of $5,000 goal, so fair play to him. His fans like what he's doing.
BTW, he's raised $2,745 of $5,000 goal, so fair play to him. His fans like what he's doing.
I'm fine with it. Nobody is forcing anyone to donate.
It's not at all like a charity.
Proper charities fund the less fortunate. Not people who want a new bass.
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Potentially a valid point about GoFundMe, though most of the pages I've seen are for personal bills, usually medical or disaster related.
Crowdsourcing like the OP is referring to is in no way a "donation" though; it's an exchange of goods or services for money, just like any other market place.
funny you bring this up.
never heard of it until a few months ago- when my ex sister in law started one on FB asking for donations to send her terminal mom back across the country so she could die there.
what pissed me off was that she has always been that kind of person. her mom died quickly before she made the trip. always looking for an easy out.
I bet the farm she didn't refund anyone's money.
I find it really poor taste to do this sort of thing; it is panhandling except you can do it without the shame or guilt. yeah for a good cause? sure.
never heard of it until a few months ago- when my ex sister in law started one on FB asking for donations to send her terminal mom back across the country so she could die there.
what pissed me off was that she has always been that kind of person. her mom died quickly before she made the trip. always looking for an easy out.
I bet the farm she didn't refund anyone's money.
I find it really poor taste to do this sort of thing; it is panhandling except you can do it without the shame or guilt. yeah for a good cause? sure.
Look, you do you ... but no need to be condescending about it.
I've already explained how it has been beneficial to both artists as well as fans, but apparently that's falling on deaf ears.
1. Get off my lawn
2. I don't care if it has a catchy, new name
3. Okay, it's more like virtual "let me squeegee your windshield for spare change"
4. Seriously, get off my lawn
Some charities don't even do that! There is a fair number of rich folks or celebrities that use their charities for personal PR and only donate a small fraction of the funds they raise to any cause.
I'm just using that as an analogy. Charities don't come to your door and rob you, that's all I mean. You make the choice to donate or not.
In this case you can make the choice "Screw this guy, he doesn't need a free bass so he's not getting my money".
So it's not worthy of complaining in my opinion. I'd chalk it up to wishful thinking for the most part. It's not like a welfare program where you might be upset that some people are gaming it when you are forced to contribute.
