James Portnow, Seattle-based game designer and co-creator of Extra Credits, a web series on pro-social game design.
Raised over $125,000 from over 4,000 people.
James and Extra Credits were featured at SXSW, Gamasutra, and the homepage of Reddit.
Meghan Sebold, Brooklyn-based social entrepreneur and designer.
Raised $5,000 for a sustainable clothing line that uses the textiles and talent of Ghana, West Africa.
Her fashion line, AFIA was featured in EcoSalon, TreeHugger, Refinery29, and is now available in boutiques across NYC.
Aram Bajakian, NYC-based avant-garde guitar player.
Raised $4,000 from fans and strangers to fund his album.
Lou Reed heard Aram and chose him as his new guitarist while Aram's album is now released by John Zorn's Tzadik record label.
Darko Lungulov, Serbia-based award winning international filmmaker.
Raised $9,000 from movie buffs for feature film project Here and There.
Film won "Best New York Narrative" at Tribeca Film Festival, featured in Variety, L.A. Times, New York Times, and was a top-10 indie box office theatrical release.
When Last We Flew, NYC-based Off-Broadway theatrical production team.
Raised $7,000 from theatre fans for the premiere Off-Broadway run.
Show sold-out at NYC Fringe Festival, won a GLAAD Media Award, and was featured in New York Times, Bloomberg, and American Theatre Magazine.
Regan Wann, Kentucky-based small business owner.
Raised $5,000 to expand her tea shop business.
RocketHub campaign featured in the Wall Street Journal exposing her business to millions.
Laura Boyd, NYC-based portrait and landscape photographer.
Raised $6,000 architectural photography project on location in Paris.
Photos featured in Artsicle Photography Show in the heart of Chelsea, NYC via LaunchPad.
Joshua Reuben Lewis, NYC-based singer-songwriter.
Raised $7,500 to record his first album.
Showcased at The Gibson Showroom and made A&R connections at Sony, Warner Music Group, and EMI via LaunchPad.
Paul Davis, Berlin-based fashion designer.
Raised $8,000 from fans and strangers for a new fashion line.
Clothing line featured at Berlin Fashion Week.
Caira Conner, Tennessee based NYU Master of Science.
Raised $2,000 to study Brazilian land and infrastructure development.
Featured in Americas Quarterly, completed innovative research, and submitted successful academic thesis.
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Support Status
Time Remaining
Any contribution of $5 receives: Love Across the Interwebs: Your name listed on my website as part of a dedicated donors page as well as a shout-out praising your generosity and touting my love and adoration for you on the social media platform of your choice! 1 Fueler!
Any contribution of $10 receives: 3-Song Demo CD: I'll snail-mail you a copy of the 3-song demo CD, in all its professionally designed glory (thanks to identifiDesign), complete with liner notes! Plus the social media shout-out and your name on the donor page of my website. 21 Fuelers!
Any contribution of $25 receives: Get Prettied Up: You'll get artist-designed wallpapers to pretty up your iPhone, iPad or desktop! My talented illustrator friends have donated their designs and illustrations for this project. Plus you get the snail-mailed 3-song demo CD, the social media shout-out and your name on the donor page of my website. 18 Fuelers!
Any contribution of $50 receives: Limited Edition 7-Song EP: I'll snail-mail you a copy of the short-run 7-song EP, which contains 4 additional tunes than what's on the demo! I'll include a thank-you note with a custom haiku. Plus the wallpapers, the snail-mailed 3-song demo CD so you can share the tunes with a friend, the social media shout-out and your name on the donor page of my website. 9 Fuelers!
Any contribution of $75 receives: Old-School MP3: I'll email you the professionally recorded downloadable MP3 of my award-winning tune that was the catalyst for my moving to New York City, "From You I Learned," sung by me! Plus the wallpapers, the snail-mailed 7-song EP and the 3-song demo CD for sharing, the custom haiku, the social media shout-out and your name on the donor page of my website. 1 Fueler!
Any contribution of $100 receives: Birthday Serenade for You or Yours: Thomas and I will call or Skype you on your birthday to serenade you! Or, have us call someone you love on that special someone's birthday! What better way to show someone you care than to have us sing "Happy Birthday" at the top of our lungs? Plus the "From You I Learned" MP3, the wallpapers, the snail-mailed 7-song EP and the 3-song demo CD for sharing, the custom haiku, the social media shout-out and your name on the donor page of my website. 7 Fuelers!
Any contribution of $500 receives: Dinner + Ancient Demo Revealed: If you’re in the NY tri-state area or plan to visit NYC, Thomas and I will wine and dine you at our place and then pop in the AUDIO CASSETTE of my very first demo (c. 1996) and you'll hear my overdramatic tune "Everybody Has Soul." I'll also show you my collection of Sinatra ornaments (w/his inimitable voice). Plus the birthday serenade, wallpapers, the snail-mailed 7-song EP and 3-song demo CD, the haiku, shout-out and your name prominently placed on my website.
Any contribution of $1,000 receives: The Song Is You: Thomas and I will write a custom occasion song or parody for you or yours — name the occasion or what you'd like to spoof and we’ll make a professional recording for you! If it’s a wedding or an event in the NY tri-state area, we'll don dapper duds and perform it live! Just be sure to put us on the list or it’ll look like we're crashers. You’ll also get the wallpapers, the snail-mailed 7-song EP and 3-song demo, haiku, shout-out and your name prominently placed on my website.
Started by Carla Fisher September 10th, 2011
I'm a songwriter who is super close to finishing my film & TV demo! If you've got 10 bucks to help me get these CDs made, you'll get a copy, plus some cool rewards! I've got less than 30 days to make this happen, so check out my RocketHub campaign today!
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Dear friends, colleagues and patrons of the arts (woohoo!),
After years of balancing day job, budget and life happenings with my songwriting, I'm now asking for your help with my goals for the latter — here's why:
PUTTING MY MUSIC FIRST
In 2005, I began recording a demo of tracks as part of a new direction for my songwriting: to license my songs for use in film and TV. Stories onscreen have helped shape who I am. It moves me every time during the last three minutes of an episode of Grey's Anatomy or any J.J. Abrams show and a montage carries the characters through their respective epiphanies while an introspective song plays. The placement of the song elevates the scene so the acting and the dialogue combine with it to rattle me in ways that may not have been possible had music not been present. It's like Yip Harburg discussing how songs in a scene go further and make you "feel a thought." I want my songs to do that. And by the response I'm getting from industry friends, I know they can!
I'm happy to report that after six years, a move to Harrison, N.Y., and thousands of dollars spent, Thomas Fisher (co-writer of 3 tunes) and I are in the home stretch: The last remaining major cost is to get the demo printed, pressed and duplicated. We got 7 tracks mastered, of which the 3 strongest and most cohesively representative of my songwriting will make the official demo. Knowing we can't afford to professionally print and press the remaining 4 tracks, we're planning to do a short run of an all-inclusive 7-song EP, printed at home with a simple label.
You can hear all 7 tunes on my ReverbNation page by clicking here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP (AND GET REWARDS!)
We've come too far to stop now! That's why we've chosen to do this campaign on RocketHub, to garner support from those of you who've been asking me for years what's happening with my music. The goal is to raise $2,200 to have these CDs made.
Since every little bit gets me one step closer to the finish line, I'm only asking for $10 from each of you — and you'll get a copy of the CD in return! You're certainly free to give more, and there are some lovely and fun rewards based on your donation amount. If you can't donate (I totally get it, believe me), I'd love it if you could spread the word to your friends across social media and your email contacts.
To donate, click the red "Fuel This Project" button, then on the next page, click the red "Sign Up Now" button under "New to RocketHub?" After you register (it's free), you'll reach the page where you can input your credit card information.
NOTE: If you prefer to send a check and don't have my mailing address, send me an email and I'll be happy to oblige!
HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED
The money raised from this campaign will be used for the following:
+ Printing, pressing and duplication of 1,000 custom-designed 3-song demos (short runs are more costly, plus it means I'll have plenty to give away as rewards to you all)
+ Printing, pressing and duplication of a simple-label short run of a 7-song EP (also available as an even bigger reward)
+ Mailing supplies and postage
+ Industry fees and costs associated with attending songwriter and film events to get my songs in the right hands
+ Business cards with the logo used on my demo
HOW I'LL THANK YOU
In case you're not familiar with RocketHub, it's not an investment or charity — RocketHub is an exchange: funds from fans for rewards from me. Rewards are tiered based on your donation amount. While I'm not an artist who plays out and has fun T-shirts and such, I can share with you the songs themselves, some creative keepers and my ability to write custom songs, so check out the rewards you can get! Chances are, you'll also experience an inner glow from helping a friend go for her dream. (It'll be noticeable and you'll get compliments on your youthful good looks.) Plus, you'll receive lifelong gratitude and champion status in my eyes.
If you've read this far, you've already lifted my heart. I can't thank my friends and family enough for all the support you've shown for my career these past 10 years. I love you all and thank you for your generosity. I'm happy to do the same for you in your pursuits:)
xoxo,
Carla
"Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song in a [scene]* makes you feel a thought. And that is the great advantage."
—Lyricist Yip Harburg
*the original quote pertained to musicals, which I sometimes write as well.
Since some donations have come in by cash or check, click here to see a complete list of donors on the RocketHub page of my Web site.
To hear my tunes, click here to visit my ReverbNation page.