Dadster | 13 Nov 2018 6:06 p.m. PST |
Call me naïve, call me dumb, call me Ishmael, however I am looking for some sound advice… I am in the process very soon of introducing the first wave of a pulp line that contains 33 figures – so it's a pretty serious undertaking, regarding work accomplished thus far, sculpting, casting, painting, and yikes a bit of cash was used in getting to this point. Having been a wargamer for most of my life – (got my first set of Scruby figures 52 years ago!) After ahem a couple years late…I wanted to do more – something that wasn't quite on a grand scale – something along the lines of skirmish or pulp where one figure represents one real person. So, I decided upon this line, it is a line that to the best of my knowledge has not been represented yet. So, the uniqueness is there. Is anyone going to be interested – hmmm… that remains to be seen, Here is my dilemma – where do I go from here – a Kickstarter? While I could do this I am not really looking for funding to create a new line – I have already done that. If I did do a Kickstarter it would obviously be to introduce the line, try to recover some of my substantial costs, and collect funds for further development of the line. So it would not be a Kickstarter in the classic sense it would be more of a Kick Enabler or Kick Continuer (for future releases to the line). And frankly from what I have read thus far it is a little intimidating….
Or do, I go with a my own subscription set up to the line? Sort of the same deal as the Kickstarter regarding price discounts over retail and goal rewards – but done without the clout of a huge well tried and true money raiser (if you do most things right). Or go with the old fashioned way and just set up an online retail store –which has already been done. The big 800 pound gorilla in the room is how best does a little guy starting out get the word out that he has something unique that gamers might want to try and enjoy? Any and all advice/responses welcome…. I can't tell you too much more as there is still some product being sculpted and needs to be cast – but it will be soon. Thanks, Frank |
Twoball Cane | 13 Nov 2018 7:06 p.m. PST |
Kickstarter is great if you can balance realistically your goals. Start small. Pop the cherry maybe with 10 miniatures, then do another Kickstarter 4 months from now. If you shoot too big, you'll be stressed trying to deliver. Blind beggar miniatures does a nice job of releasing small themed batches. He has a unique style and a following…enough that he gets funded. So I'd check his style of Kickstarter out. Plus you'll get practice on how to run one. Black earth in 15mm did a nice one for a not too big but not too small Kickstarter but big enough. They have been honest about delays and I think most people are patiently awaiting delivery soon.
As for pulp…there is an audience for it. I'm sure we are intrigued as to what it is….remind us here when you are gonna spill the beans. My 2 cents: make sure the minis scale well with pulp figures and can be used in other games like pulp alley. You'll attract more folks. I'm gonna guess your doing 33 versions of Elvis? |
Wildman | 13 Nov 2018 7:25 p.m. PST |
What ever route you take, advertise, advertise, advertise. Get the word out. You already have castings, put up pictures wherever you can. Let people know what you have. Good luck, I look forward to seeing your figures. |
Dadster | 13 Nov 2018 7:29 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the advice Twoball! Damn! Who let you in on the Elvi!? LOL Close but nah not an Elvis in the batch… I think certain people will stomp me into atoms if I release them via Kickstarter in sets if 8 – 10 at a time every six months – the other 20+ will be getting dusty… But thanks for the input – Oh, the angst of it all…. All will be revealed soon…. |
Dadster | 13 Nov 2018 7:31 p.m. PST |
Thanks Wildman! Will do – lots of photos of nicely painted figures… |
Twoball Cane | 13 Nov 2018 8:09 p.m. PST |
Good luck! I'll be looking for your post. |
nevinsrip | 14 Nov 2018 1:02 a.m. PST |
Well Dadster, I did it without Kickstarter. I own Kings Mountain Miniatures and financed the whole thing myself. The first thing you need to know, is that you are going to lose money. If you're not doing this because you want the figures for yourself, then don't bother. The second thing you need to know is that you're going to lose money. I estimate that I sold enough product to make up about half of my total outlay. But, I wanted the figures for myself so it served it's purpose. Perhaps speak to Jim Purky, from Fife and Drum, and see what advice he has to offer. If you want to PM me, we can discuss things further privately. |
FusilierDan | 14 Nov 2018 5:56 a.m. PST |
Though I've no experience with this I would suggest a Kickstarter. You've down most all the ground work so investors/purchasers have low risk. You'll know how you will need to produce initially and it will be funded. |
The Shadow | 14 Nov 2018 8:07 a.m. PST |
>>>The big 800 pound gorilla in the room is how best does a little guy starting out get the word out that he has something unique that gamers might want to try and enjoy?<<< If you already have some "greens" done, why not show photos of a couple of them here and see what the reaction will be? You may be a genius, but you may also be totally off base. |
Dadster | 14 Nov 2018 10:40 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the advice Nevinsrip, FusilierDan and The Shadow. Shadow I am past the 'Greens' phase with half the line already been master cast in pewter. I am literally waiting for last 4 of 18 figures to be sculpted, and then on to the caster for master, approval or adjustments and casting. |
Dadster | 14 Nov 2018 10:44 a.m. PST |
Lol and I am no genius. Just wondered why only one area of a historic time period had been covered. Also, I did indeed want to have these figures for my own enjoyment. They were to some extent designed to work with an existing fairly newly published rules set. |
wargamingUSA | 14 Nov 2018 11:54 a.m. PST |
@Dadster, with the wide reach of internet sites and blogs you can get your word out and can be sucessful without k'starter. I disagree with the poster who said you better love this project because you will loose money. Not necessarily. That said, it is next to impossible to profitably sell small-scale figures if someone else is doing your casting. In the miniatures realm, owning the means of production is a must. Best of luck with your endeavor. |
Dadster | 14 Nov 2018 12:53 p.m. PST |
Hi Bill/wargamingUSA, Thanks for the input. I do see what you mean re having the means to cast, though I am getting an excellent price per figure cast. Would love to talk some more: frankxmcgovern at gmail dot com |
Cyrus the Great | 14 Nov 2018 10:09 p.m. PST |
@ Dadster, I suggest you contact Dr. Mike Burns who owns Dark Fable Miniatures. I think he would be a great fit for any questions you might have. |
Walking Sailor | 15 Nov 2018 8:46 a.m. PST |
Besides Kickstarter there is also Indiegogo indiegogo.com . I don't know the difference between the two (if any). To me they look the same, but see which offers the better deal. I vote for the young (slim) Elvis. |
Fitzovich | 15 Nov 2018 1:55 p.m. PST |
First of all Good Luck with your project! I hope you do very well. As a former Game Retailer (from eons ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth). My advice is to market in any and all ways that don't cost too much (it was once upon a time known as Guerrilla Marketing). In today's world that might mean hitting every Facebook Group that might apply to your line, demos at any local hobby shop (and buttonhole the owner/manger for advice and contacts), local and regional conventions and as advised above perhaps a kickstarter (but, I have never as a customer had good luck with them and would never participate in one again). If I can be of any assistance let me know via the message thing or here, I will check back periodically. Again Good Luck! |
Dadster | 15 Nov 2018 5:18 p.m. PST |
Cyrus, Sailor and Fitz thanks for the advice. Fitz, have no idea how to contact you other in a post like this. Please send me your email, mine is frankxmcgovern at gmail dot com |
joedog | 17 Nov 2018 9:22 a.m. PST |
I am new to kickstarter projects (from the consumer end) and am just getting to see how frustrating and even deceptive they can be. Kickstarter is supposed to be (at least it has been marketed as) a way to get your business or product line started – and not the only sales/distribution plan for the product. Kickstarter is supposed to fund your start up costs, and then you move to a more traditional model – i.e. you get preorders to cover your start-up costs, and if your kickstarter is successful, you should be able to go into regular production and distribution of your product. With some of the producers using kickstarter, it seems that they have no intention of ever going into (or attempting to go into) regular production, and that if you come in on a later "wave", you miss the opportunity to ever purchase earlier products. That has to hurt long term sales, since it makes it difficult – if not impossible – to replace buyers (effectively subscribers) who drop out along the way. It also means that backers who want additional copies of something that they invested in getting onto the market may have no means of getting additional copies of the product once they have the initial copy – and many of us like to have a sample in our hands before ordering multiple copies. Others like to see how other hobbyists are using a mini/model and get inspired by that. Of course, if that's the business model that works for them, they will continue to go with it as long as it meets their needs. |
Dadster | 18 Nov 2018 8:52 a.m. PST |
Joedog, Thanks for your opinion. My intent is indeed to offer what I am originally offer on Kickstarter on a webstore. You will be able to buy the figures after the KS but at slightly higher prices. I self funded the entire start of the line of 33 figures. They will be in effect ready to ship when they are offered on the kickstarter. So there should be no delays in shipping. As soon as the KS is has successfully ended,figures will ship. The funds I raise will be in part to reimburse me part of the substantial amount I invested and to continue the line with new releases. Thanks again. |
ced1106 | 19 Nov 2018 10:16 p.m. PST |
Take a look at the "Kickstarter Best Practices" FB group, run by James Mathe. It's for boardgames, but I figure miniature lines could benefit as well. KS is more of a cumulation of the advertising you already have done. You should build up interest by posting pics of your greens and casts on various forums, such as TMP and Lead Adventurers, and maybe Reddit minipainting. Johnny Lauck's model was to use KS to recoup costs, such as the metal material. Maybe you could contact him and talk to him for various suggestions! |
Dadster | 20 Nov 2018 9:09 a.m. PST |
ced, thanks for the terrific tips. Looks like Johnny Lauck actually was putting a KS guide together but I have only been able to find parts 1 – 5 to what was supposed to be a 10 parter – not sure he finished. Also sent him an email – hope the address is right – I haven't seen anything current about him seems to have stopped in 2017. Will check out the Kickstarter Best Practices as well Thanks very much! |