The website Kickstarter seems to be a rather ‘hot button’ issue in Kalamazoo as of late. After having some in depth conversations on the subject with various friends, I’ve decided to share my thoughts publicly. This is not meant as an attack on anyone and I only hope that reading this will inspire, educate and promote a healthy community.

For those of you that don’t know, Kickstarter is a website where anyone can set up an account and create a page where fans are encouraged to donate money in support of an endeavor. Most often this is used for musicians looking for help with a tour, recording, getting/replacing instruments and gear, etc. The artist sets a goal and is given a time frame in which to reach it. If they get enough pledges in time, the money is theirs. If not, back to square one. Rewards are offered based on the pledge amount just like an NPR drive. As I understand it, Kickstarter also keeps a small cut of the donations. I will use musicians as primary examples in this article but the ideas apply to any artist or self starter.

Kickstarter is great tool for the DIY musician and its popularity speaks for the giant shift the music industry has undergone in the last decade. It allows people to remain truly independent and not rely on big record labels to front money in exchange for creative control. It can also be used in hard times when the van breaks down before tour or someone decides to steal the band’s gear. The best part of it all is it’s 100% democratic. No one is forced to donate. If the project isn’t worth supporting or the rewards aren’t enticing, then the band is forced to re-evaluate. The problem with this system is it often promotes laziness. Usually the bands that get the best results are the ones that already have a great deal of success and may not need any help.

If a band is going to use this tool and ask for money, I want to know they have earned it. I want to see them work hard. I want them to do everything in their power to accomplish the goal on their own. If someone is going to claim to be a full time musician, then let’s see the 40 hours a week they’re putting into it. Everyone that decides to pursue a career in music has to make sacrifices. That could mean taking a low paying job in order to get time off for tour when needed or going without a great deal of comforts to lower the cost of living.

There are also many many ways a band can get around spending tons of money to reach their goals. The DIY lifestyle has been fine tuned for decades now and there are plenty of resources and ideas floating around in zines, the blogosphere, forums, community based websites and more. Reach out to friends and fellow touring bands and see what works for them. It’s surprising how much money can be saved when you DO IT TOGETHER.

This being said, a well recorded album can be very expensive and a long tour can easily leave a band with less money than they left with. Thousands of bands have recorded albums on their own for almost no money. Many of these sound great and have sold very well. However, to really create an album that can compare with anything on the radio, it can cost more money than most of us have ever seen in one place. Even if you have a friend with a professional recording studio, that doesn’t always mean they will record you for free. If someone is trying to make a living off their services, it’s important to be respectful of that. Be sure to research what kind of sounds can be achieved without going to an expensive studio. Some might find that a lo-fi sound is actually preferable.

If a band gets in a position where they can’t accomplish their goal without kickstarter, then it’s a good time to really consider whether it’s something they NEED to do. I understand that it’s almost impossible to get an album made without label support that’s worthy of heavy radio play. But if the band is putting the album out alone, do they really have the capability of getting this much attention? Plus, there are now more small independent record labels than ever before. Working with a label is no longer synonymous with compromise. It’s still important to be careful, but there are plenty of people out there that are interested in helping fund and promote good albums without getting in the way of creativity and often without making bands sign anything. Not to say that this will be an easy find. Be prepared for hundreds of emails with no responses. Again, let’s see some HARD WORK.

I encourage anyone thinking about donating via Kickstarter to really understand what they’re supporting. Is the band giving full disclosure? Are you helping someone that is truly about community? If a band does not have a realistic and honest breakdown of where all the potential money will go, that should be an immediate warning flag. Vague and ambiguous intentions leave too much room for dishonesty. As the saying goes, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Everyone is susceptible to greed. I’ve seen multiple bands where everything on their merch table is sold on donation and they simply list how much was spent on each item. Integrity such as this is something we should all strive for.

At the end of the day, this all boils down to personal choice. Some might wonder what harm there is with a band having many fans willing to give them big money for recording, touring, promoting or reaching the ‘next level’. The problem I see is a slippery slope. It’s well known that laziness is detrimental to creativity. Turning to community for money instead of services can be dangerous. It’s the point where people turn into dollar signs and bands start to lose track of why they should be making music in the first place. When too many bands get into this frame of mind, it can ruin an entire community by creating a spirit of competition and greed.

If you’re going to be actively involved with art, DO IT FOR THE LOVE. Surround yourself with people that share your values. Keep your integrity at all costs. Respect others. Respect yourself. This is a new age of the music industry and anyone can be a strong positive influence. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

DIT OR DIE