By this point you’ve read a billion think-pieces on crowdfunding. Is it saving art? Is it the worst thing to happen to art? You’ve seen Veronica Mars and Reading Rainbow come back through it. And whether you like it or hate it, there’s no denying that crowdfunding is a major force in the creative world today and it’s going to be a tool that artists of all mediums utilize for the foreseeable future. Here’s the thing: there are so many weird and cool and thought-provoking ideas out there, but somehow the vast majority of the comedy projects out there have been the variations on the same theme: “Help me make my webseries.” “Help me make a short film.”
Hold up. I’m not saying webseries are bad. (Hey! Check out my author blurb at the end of this article to go watch mine!) They’re not. But they’re just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what can be done with crowdfunding. So, to highlight some of the amazing stuff that can be done in this medium I’ve selected some really creative projects to inspire you. And, great news! They’re all still active so if you like it, put a ring on it!
Are you inspired yet? Ready to make your own dumb thing you’ve had kicking around in the back of your head? (If yes, go to next paragraph. If no, keep reading.) There’s a whole world of crazy projects out there! Like Nicolas Cage tea-towels, a gummy bear candle that burns down to reveal a creepy gummy bear skeleton, and green plastic army men in yoga poses! And if that’s not enough, Taylor Moore, a comedian and curator at Kickstarter pushed for a specific tag to highlight and recognize these projects. “[Kickstarter] has decided that it’s time to feature and support comedians the same way it’s supported writers and filmmakers and game designers. Not only that, but the comedians who’ve answered the call are doing so much more than the usual web series. They’re really experimenting and playing with the conceptions of comedy…” So get out there and start making your live performance of John Cage’s 4’33” with multiple performers a reality!
Cool!
Ramsey Ess is a freelance writer for television, podcaster and a guy on Twitter. His webseries “Ramsey Has a Time Machine” has a very self-explanatory title.