The Sword and Laser discussion
What rewards would you want from a Kickstarter?
T-shirt would be a good reward -- I would love to have a S&L shirt! For entry level backing, maybe a themed bookmark (?). For higher bids, maybe (if possible) a "goodie" bag from various authors. Those will interest me. :)
What about a free exemplar of the upcoming S&L anthology (highest bid)? Themed kindle covers would be a good one also. For lower bids, t-shirts, mugs or even a kind of S&L card.
In no particular order:A e-copy of the anthology.
Signed something from the authors-or maybe a tier for each author so you could pick which ones for so much a piece, then one bigger one for all the authors?
Short stories from the authors
Signed photo of you and veronica with Lem
Love the tshirt idea and bookmark idea.
I would back it!
I'd back it with rewards but I love the idea of bookmakes and t-shirts. Maybe a jump drive with all the Season 1 episodes? Maybe a few different bookmarks, so they can compromise a collection...
The big prize should be picking a book for the club.
Mod
For higher end maybe autographs from some authors, either copies of their books, or on pictures of Lem Dragon/S&L logo to keep your costs lower.
If you do go for the book pick idea, make it cost a whole lot of money, and you might need to attach some caveats or at least final approval.
Mod
If you could get authors or maybe Felicia Day to do something like that as well all the better.
I think a shout out during an episode would be a good reward, and maybe for an extra $10 Veronica could even pronounce your name correctly. :D
If you included the ebook in a $20-$25 tier I could see myself going for that.Might I suggest that you keep physical rewards to a minimum? I have backed a good number of Kickstarters (30 something I think) and followed a lot of others and I have seen it happen/mentioned a number of times that underestimation of shipping costs (especially international) and the work needed to produce, handle and send all the physical rewards has lead to successful fundraisers keeping a lot less of the raised money than they thought they would.
T-shirts and bookmarks are pretty safe and logical options though.
I've seen some video related kickstarters offer special behind the scenes clips as downloads with an access code emailed to backers. If you did the pictures of Lem, you could have them at several tiers: a cheaper one plain, a higher one signed by our esteemed hosts, and still higher maybe one or two per episode signed by the authors. A 5x7 is a good size for keeping postage regulated, it fits nicely in with a shirt or other small items.
I like the idea of picking a book for our monthly read, though it should be in the fifty/hundred-dollar range so it means something. I also wonder if you couldn't offer to get a signed/personalized book of the backer's choosing? I mean you guys have a few contacts that you might be able to call upon to get a book signed/personalized. The idea of a show shout-out is kind of interesting, might be worth thinking about. What about Veronica sending out a bottle of wine? Tom could send out a case of beer? Is there anything from the old set you could use as a prize? What about having Tom and Veronica follow someone's reviews for a month or a year here on Goodreads as a reward?I don't know, just a few ideas. I'll support you guys regardless.
How about having Tom or Veronica perform an unabridged audio recording of a book of the backer's choosing? Goes without saying that Tom or Veronica could veto anything they felt was inappropriate.Or...
How about having Tom or Veronica record your outgoing voicemail?
Example:
"Hello. Casey isn't here at the moment. He's off fighting cybermen, slaying dragons, drinking wine and loving women. Leave your message, winter is coming."
Ty wrote: "nd maybe for an extra $10 Veronica could even pronounce your name correctly. :D "But the whole fun of a shout out from Veronica is incorrect pronunciation! Alas, for my name is easy to pronounce. :(
Does anyone know how Kickstarters works internationally? I mean, if incentives are items which need to be posted, it's got to be more for shipping if you live outside of the US. Or are Kickstarter's things limited to one country? I don't have much in the way of disposable income (at the beginning of the year, I lacked any income whatsoever!) so I've not had much chance to try out this sort of thing, but I'd like to support if I could. I agree that digital or very cheap to post incentives will probably be the smarter way to go, though I did rather lust after the S & L drinking stein, so if there is a way around postage complications that's be cool too.
Mod
I too would love a copy of the anthology as a backer reward, but would it be feasible to give away copies of something that they have to pay royalties on to the authors?I would definitely spring for a bookmark/bookmarks. Or bookends.
Otherwise I think the best bet is some digital goods and/or seeing if some of the more frequent guests would donate signed books.
Oh, something I would definitely back would be a reward level where Tom and Veronica each send their favorite book, maybe with a little note on the inside cover "enjoy this book, it's great because ________. Best, tom/Veronica"
Be careful with the physical rewards, every single kick starter I've been a part of, including massive ones that hire fulfillment companies (like the Veronica Mars movie for example) have run into delays and higher than expected costs for physical goods.
Maybe a level where you get to pick a couple words for Veronica to attempt to pronounce? ;)A guest spot on an upcoming podcast/hangout?
I also like the idea of a custom recording that people could use as a voicemail message or ringtone.
Hangout-a-thon as a bonus if the kickstarter is funded?
Autographed Sword & Laser bookmarks?
S&L related merchandise sounds like a good idea but if you're going to go that route you might as well just have a shop on the website where fan's can buy merchandise whenever.I copy of the anthology sounds like a given. Ebook with the option to upgrade to a print version.
There are a lot of writers on the forum so why not have a reward where Tom and Veronica will write a review of one of your books and tweet it to their followers. Another could be Aaron will do a white board book trailer for your novel.
For the readers among us then why not see if audible will donate a few collections of audio books? Or convince your friends in the writing community to donate signed copies of their latest books?
As a high tier reward what about being a beta reader for Pat Rothfuss's 3rd Kingkiller book?
I have seen a few kick starters where the top reward is dinner with the organizers but there's something pimpy about that
Being based in the UK, physical rewards are generally out of the question. Digital is a good option -so how about giving backers from a certain level early access to the videos (say, 24 hours). Not sure if that would be possible. Or have an extended version?Regardless, I will be pledging if there is a kickstarter.
There seems to be quite a few international members so I think physical rewards aren't best. I like the idea of being able to choose the club pick one month. Also joining in on the podcast is a really cool idea. E-book bundles would be nice for lower donations. Maybe an ebook version of a future pick? Lots of good suggestions here.
I think you'd have to be careful with something like book club picks. You might end up with dozens of people waiting years to have their turn.
If you knew which authors you were interviewing, you could have a max 1 or 2 spots on the hangout with them (one for each author), although it would be tricky if they were to cancel.
Author mentoring? The author could be, I don't know, like Pat Rothfuss? :)
An exclusive White-board video, if he's willing to do one for the cause.
I dunno, these rewards aimed at things for authors might turn some people off if they're not a writer or otherwise not interested. I think these types of things have to have a but more global appeal.Low-tier rewards might include something simple such as a shout-out on a show (or at least, the name being read out on the show). EBooks are cool if feasible....but I hope licensing can be worked out. I'd be cool with bonus content to episodes. Like a 5 minute bonus reel to add to each episode. And/or early access.
And I still like t-shirts and bookmarks.
Totally against bonus content. It's putting a paywall up for sword and laser content which is terrible.
Rob wrote: "Totally against bonus content. It's putting a paywall up for sword and laser content which is terrible."I get this, but it doesn't have to be club-related content. It could be an extra swath of news, or a random pointer to something outside of genre. Just trying to think of lower-level rewards that are more broad-reaching.
Ooh or if there was bonus content it could just be a reading if a short story or a review of a gadget. More T&V! ;)
T-shirt, bonus content (I'm thinking things like Behind The Scenes features on what the basic production schedule looks like, maybe actual filmed readings rather than just interviews and discussions though extended interviews are cool too, etc.), maybe an author-signed copy of a book of some of the authors being interviewed or at least talked about. Just some ideas.
This is what I would offer, I included most of the ideas previous people have suggested. Anything marked "limited" would be limited to only that donor level.$1 - Early Access to new S&L videos
$5 - PDF of printable S&L Bookmarks
$15 - S&L Anthology in e-book format
$30 - S&L T-Shirt
$50 - Veronica will (intentionally) mispronounce your name in a thank you to Kickstarter donors on the podcast
$100 - Hardcover copy of S&L Anthology signed by Tom and Veronica
$150 - Tom and Veronica will follow you on Twitter for 1 year (limited)
$250 - Google Hangout with Tom & Veronica to discuss whatever the current S&L pick is at the time, video to be posted to S&L's YouTube channel (limited to 5 people?)
$750 - Pick the S&L book for 1 month (alternate pick?), and discuss it on the wrap-up podcast with Tom and Veronica (limited to 2 people?)
$1000 - Lunch with Tom and/or Veronica at an upcoming convention. (limited)
Mod
I don't mind early access to videos or special features, but limiting them seems bad. Then new members who join after the kickstarter can't see them.
Alex wrote: "Rob wrote: "I'd love to see how she manages to mispronounce Rob. :-)"Robe."
Nice.
"Rub says- Rub? Rab. Robe? Robe. Robe says-""It's Rob, Veronica..."
Rob wrote: "I'd love to see how she manages to mispronounce Rob. :-)"Paul
Mod
I do appreciate the suggestions. Maybe she could pronounce it with a bad french accent like Row-bare.
I do appreciate the suggestions. Maybe she could pronounce it with a bad french accent like Row-bareThat's sexy.
Rob wrote: "Oh, something I would definitely back would be a reward level where Tom and Veronica each send their favorite book, maybe with a little note on the inside cover"That, bookmarks and a signed photo of Tom, Veronica and Lem. The cheesier the better.
Mod
These all sound great! Keep us updated on when you are doing the Kickstarter so I can be sure to participate!
Linking with third parties seems the best way to go. For instance publishers, authors etc all gain readers and sales through the show - people might be willing to pay for a range of stuff linked with the authors and publishers. This could include:-
Review copies (which come out 3 months in advance) for a year from Tor
A personalised answerphone message by Pat Rothfuss
3 months subscription to a magazine (they may give free for publicity and in the hope that readers are hooked - ecopies wont really cost them anything. Obvious choices would be Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Clarkesworld but there are less obvious, less SF linked options too.
I was going to try to think up a bunch of a suggestions, but these are already really good. And lets be honest, you totally have my money anyway.
Mod
I was just out walking my hound through some cedar and pine, and had this idea. Thought I'd share, see what folks think.I assume there's a magic number that S&L is aiming for in order to have a successful Kickstarter, right? So for the sake of this discussion, lets call this magic target number (P). What if S&L agreed to give 50% of everything over (P) to Pat Rothfuss and his Worldbuilders fundraising campaign this season?
Thus if (P) is $10,000.00 and S&L raises $20,000.00, S&L would give $5,000.00 to Worldbuilders. Of course you could fiddle with the percentage of (P) as you see fit. But it might be a way to help out Worldbuilders while helping out S&L at the same time.
PS.I don't know if there are issues with a kickstarter having some of its proceeds go to a charity, if there are, then obviously my idea won't fly.
Mod
I don't know if there are issues with a kickstarter having some of its proceeds go to a charity, if there are, then obviously my idea won't fly."
There is. I know for the NotW playing cards, they gave Rothfuss part of their company instead.
However their are alternatives to kickstarter that might allow that sort of thing.
The top bid perks could be for indie sci-fi authors - a special show interviewing/having a guide to their books. Or maybe you can have three spots for this one and share a special video episode between them. I bet some authors would pay a lot for that. Obviously there'd need to be some kind of quality control so you aren't interviewing anyone whose books are truly awful with no redeeming features...Otherwise, all great suggestions and will definitely be backing.
What kind of backer rewards would interest you?