building a kickstarter - rocket mass heater jamboree movie

Some great feedback here and on the KS page, everyone.  Thanks so much - keep it coming.  We are making a better campaign.

One crucial (and somewhat embarrassing) thing - the subtitle blurb was 9 characters too long to fit! It was supposed to say:

Some call it "carbon neutral" and others call it "carbon negative". Heat your home with yard waste and cardboard while reducing global problems

but instead, it says

Some call it "carbon neutral" and others call it "carbon negative". Heat your home with yard waste and cardboard while reducing global

That won't work!

I'm massaging the character count, and what I have so far is:

Some call it carbon neutral, others call it carbon negative. Heat your home with yard waste and cardboard while reducing global problem

Still need to purchase an "s" from somewhere else in the blurb.

Any wordsmiths have any suggestions for us?

What about:

Some call it "carbon neutral," others "carbon negative." Heat your home with yard waste and cardboard while reducing global problems.

Looks good, Paul. The only thing I saw was the phrasing of the blurb that Sonja picked up. I think you've answered the questions:
'why rmh?'
'what is an rmh?'

but think you can maybe amplify  'how can i get or build an rmh?'

Think your claim about it cutting it down on oodles of energy from yucky sources might need a line of math/ evidence to support the claim. (E.g when it comes to household electricity bills - heating is the biggest amount)

Changing cardboard to paper would save 4 characters...

Mike Haasl wrote:Changing cardboard to paper would save 4 characters...

Thought about that . . .

Think I have it sorted by swapping "others" for "others call it", see above.

Beau Davidson wrote:

Mike Haasl wrote:Changing cardboard to paper would save 4 characters...

Thought about that . . .

Think I have it sorted by swapping "others" for "others call it", see above.

Fresher brain or something this morning, and IF you want one more tweak, you could make it less passive and say:

Call it "carbon neutral" or "carbon negative" but reduce global problems and heat your home with yard waste and cardboard!

Bri Bird wrote:Overall it’s great!

I'm a big fan of overalls.

I think more info on how this angle is different from previous  videos/books would be good.

Maybe I need to watch again but I'm not sure it was clear whether it’s an overview of exciting things one can do, or if it’s a how-to, and if so for whom? Those with rmh experience already, or those who need the basics covered?

Selfishly I’d prefer an overview of the why’s and how-to’s aimed for an audience of people already familiar with the idea (I’ve built two, and always looking for new insights and applications).

So maybe that’s the heart of my feedback:  it could use a stronger declaration of who the audience is.

Here is the general vibe I am shooting for:  

  - try to get a pinch of brain space of a few million people about the value of rocket mass heaters (69 pounds)

  - try to make the $1 level so sweet that we get 10,000 more people backing this kickstarter (34 pounds)

  - we videoed an event and are making a movie out of that video (7 pounds)

David Huang wrote:Looking through the rewards for various levels of support I noticed that at the $100 level you get this "10 hours of video from the event" among other things, which seems like a pretty sweet reward.  However, then for all the higher levels at $400 and up that reward is no longer listed.  I'm guessing that is an oversight and you do want the top supporters to get the 10 hours of video.

Good catch!

Beau, could you edit the $400 and higher rewards so that they read a bit like this:

   o you get the thing at this level
   o + everything in FULL-EVENT
   o + everything in PLANS
   o + everything in HD-DOWNLOAD
   o + everything in TINY-DOWNLOAD
   o + everything in MOVIE
   o + everything in THANKS
   o + everything in CANDY

Paul Canosa wrote:I would say

"This kickstarter is about editing the stock footage into a movie that can help to change the world. Please help us spread the message to as many people as possible."

I don't know about anybody else, but when a youtube video says "like, comment, subscribe ..."  I kinda get set in a tantrum of "NO!  YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!  I'M NOT YOUR TWISTED SLAVE!"  - which is why i don't do that in my videos.  For a while i sent dailyishes with a new video asking for that stuff, but I can't even do that anymore.  It just feels skeevy.  

What I do no is just hope that I make something cool enough that people want to do all that stuff including share it.  This is how we affect change in 2022.  And either my stuff is good enough, or I need to figure out how to make it good enough.  And hopefully you all will guide me to something that might really go viral!

Roy Sullivan wrote:Think your claim about it cutting it down on oodles of energy from yucky sources might need a line of math/ evidence to support the claim. (E.g when it comes to household electricity bills - heating is the biggest amount)

Hmmm ....  

Maybe we need a graphic that shows "the average american carbon footprint" and then an american map that has a big blue zone on the colder parts and then a second footprint graphic that says "the average cold climate american carbon footprint" showing that heat is FAR bigger.  And then do the same thing but say "the average cold climate american greenhouse gasses footprint (due to methane leaks from natural gas)" and then yet another graph where the heat is with a rocket mass heater.  ??

This is a cool project and I plan to back it.  I'm excited about this one.

QUESTION:  But in one of the paragraphs, there is a comment that to get the early bird stuff, you have to support the project before some time on May 10th, but it doesn't say WHEN that time starts to be able to do so, and it is not available to do so now.  So when does that date/time start?

Are we going to have an hour to do it, or a day, or what?  Thanks.

Roy Ramey wrote:This is a cool project and I plan to back it.  I'm excited about this one.

QUESTION:  But in one of the paragraphs, there is a comment that to get the early bird stuff, you have to support the project before some time on May 10th, but it doesn't say WHEN that time starts to be able to do so, and it is not available to do so now.  So when does that date/time start?

Are we going to have an hour to do it, or a day, or what?  Thanks.

We are scrambling in the hopes of getting this kickstarter started on tueesday at 2.  The earlybird stuff would run for 72 hours.

I think a thing that is super important to push for right now, is the idea that people click on one of the kickstarter buttons "notify me on launch" or "remind me" - that way, they don't have a huge slice of the 72 hours eaten up by how long it takes our first mailing to go out.

Kickstarter page feedback:
Typo at bottom of second paragraph of the Story:  feature-length

In Risks and Challenges I think there's something in English about the word "myriad" that isn't being done right in this case.  Something along the lines of "I have myriad problems" is correct vs "I have a myriad of problems" being incorrect.  I think....

Maybe "I (and my peeps)" would sound better as just "I" or "My collaborators and I".

I'm not sure this sentence helps.  It might actually hurt the sales pitch "And we keep doing kickstarters in the hopes that one of these kickstarters will "go viral" and we will then make a big difference."  Seems kinda like you're trudging along and are asking for more money to try just one more time.  Kinda defeatist or Debbie Downer...

$65 level - if you know which ones the plans will be for, it might help to list them somewhere

$100 level - First bullet has Your capitalized unlike the other bullets (maybe deliberate?) and has a period at the end unlike other bullets (same on all the higher $$$ levels)

$3000 level - I'm assuming this is aiming for a big contribution from a single awesome person.  Why not make it $5000 so that it stands out a bit more?  They're probably so awesome that they don't care what the first digit is.

In the $65 pledge do you get to choose which plans you’d like or are they pre-selected?

You will get "all of the plans."

We need to add some details for the rewards in "the story".  The current plan for plans is:

               - lorena PDF plans
               - solarium PDF plans
               - sauna PDF plans
               - red cabin PDF plans
               - Bartell's Bunkhouse PDF plans
               - solar dehydrator with rocket boost PDF plans

So, all six plans at the $65 level.

... with all of the rocket mass heater information shared in the "Thanks" pledge category, it seems like this movie would be somewhat redundant. You don't say enough about why the info in the Kickstarter is that much more informative/important. I think that you should explain more about that.

I think it is fair that a lot of people will be perfectly happy with the stuff at the $1 level.  We will be working today on expanding "the story" in the hopes that it says even more about the movie contents.  And making some improvements to the kickstarter video to highlight the movie contents.

I do however like that we're now seeing more projects geared towards moving to self sufficiency like the food dehydrator with rocket assist and the cooktop (see my IMO post for what needs to change in future to make that more.... legal) but are those plans part of the 3d plans for contraptions? There's not really a 'list' to describe what's included.

We will be adding detailed descriptions for the plans to "the story" today!

Having a smattering of rewards that aren't RMH related would help get support from loving permies who don't/won't do a RMH but still want to support you.

$3000 level - I'm assuming this is aiming for a big contribution from a single awesome person.  Why not make it $5000 so that it stands out a bit more?  They're probably so awesome that they don't care what the first digit is.

Mostly because in all the times I have offered this, nobody has harvested it.

Maybe a better question is:  should we just remove it entirely?

Mike Haasl wrote:Having a smattering of rewards that aren't RMH related would help get support from loving permies who don't/won't do a RMH but still want to support you.

What do you have in mind?

paul wheaton wrote:

Roy Sullivan wrote:Think your claim about it cutting it down on oodles of energy from yucky sources might need a line of math/ evidence to support the claim. (E.g when it comes to household electricity bills - heating is the biggest amount)

Hmmm ....  

Maybe we need a graphic that shows "the average american carbon footprint" and then an american map that has a big blue zone on the colder parts and then a second footprint graphic that says "the average cold climate american carbon footprint" showing that heat is FAR bigger.  And then do the same thing but say "the average cold climate american greenhouse gasses footprint (due to methane leaks from natural gas)" and then yet another graph where the heat is with a rocket mass heater.  ??

I like this! You could also make it a simple column graph. 2 & 3 could be collapsed into column. Putting it in dollar terms as well will help reach a wider audience. I like how you expressed it in your backyard book re: whether you believe in climate change or not - this is a much more efficient use of resources.

paul wheaton wrote:I think a thing that is super important to push for right now, is the idea that people click on one of the kickstarter buttons "notify me on launch" or "remind me" - that way, they don't have a huge slice of the 72 hours eaten up by how long it takes our first mailing to go out.

The Remind Me button is not active until launch - for the pre-launch, make sure to use the "Notify me on launch" button at the upper left.

paul wheaton wrote:

Paul Canosa wrote:I would say

"This kickstarter is about editing the stock footage into a movie that can help to change the world. Please help us spread the message to as many people as possible."

I don't know about anybody else, but when a youtube video says "like, comment, subscribe ..."  I kinda get set in a tantrum of "NO!  YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!  I'M NOT YOUR TWISTED SLAVE!"  - which is why i don't do that in my videos.  For a while i sent dailyishes with a new video asking for that stuff, but I can't even do that anymore.  It just feels skeevy.  

What I do no is just hope that I make something cool enough that people want to do all that stuff including share it.  This is how we affect change in 2022.  And either my stuff is good enough, or I need to figure out how to make it good enough.  And hopefully you all will guide me to something that might really go viral!

Paul, I think you misunderstood what Paul C was recommending.  It seems like he is recommending that you change the language as to what you are actually doing to start with.  You are not doing a kickstarter to "make a movie".  You are doing a kickstarter to "edit video footage INTO a movie".  

The distinction being that if you didnt have the footage, youd still have to shoot all of the video, THEN still edit it for the movie.  But instead, you are already further ahead because in fact, you only need to edit the footage into a feature length film.  I think you said that very thing somewhere I've read, but I agree with Paul C that THAT is what your goal is, and what you are asking of the backer/customer.  That is your bottom line up front.

QUESTION:  Do you have any plans for Stretch Goal offerings?

You have had some very amazing stretch goal offerings in the past and it seems like each KS projects gets bigger as you go.  So it's very likely that this one might blast over the moon and back.  I'd love to hear what some of the extras might be and at what level.  I'm guessing maybe the $65 level like before, if any?  Thanks.

Roy Ramey wrote:QUESTION:  Do you have any plans for Stretch Goal offerings?

You have had some very amazing stretch goal offerings in the past and it seems like each KS projects gets bigger as you go.  Do it's very likely that this one might blast over the moon and back.  I'd love to hear what some of the extras might be and at what level.  I'm guessing maybe the $65 level like before, if any?  Thanks.

Your confidence is encouraging, Roy!

paul wheaton wrote:

Roy Ramey wrote:This is a cool project and I plan to back it.  I'm excited about this one.

QUESTION:  But in one of the paragraphs, there is a comment that to get the early bird stuff, you have to support the project before some time on May 10th, but it doesn't say WHEN that time starts to be able to do so, and it is not available to do so now.  So when does that date/time start?

Are we going to have an hour to do it, or a day, or what?  Thanks.

We are scrambling in the hopes of getting this kickstarter started on tueesday at 2.  The earlybird stuff would run for 72 hours.

I think a thing that is super important to push for right now, is the idea that people click on one of the kickstarter buttons "notify me on launch" or "remind me" - that way, they don't have a huge slice of the 72 hours eaten up by how long it takes our first mailing to go out.

Thanks.  I have selected the Notify me button so I'll be looking for that.  So it looks like around May 7th-ish to start the early bird stuff.  Great.  Looking forward to this.

Roy,

Take a look at this poll we did a couple of months ago:

https://permies.com/t/176456/kickstarter-rocket-mass-heater-jamboree

We will be damn lucky if we get funded at all.

It looks like 80 people have clicked on the "notify me" thing - so THAT is encouraging!

What format are the 3d designs in?

They will be PDF

Don't like the call to action, "Learn about accountability on Kickstarter"

That's part of the kickstarter stuff - we cannot change that.

Perhaps the focus of the Kickstarter, and specifically the editing of the hours of video should be not just how great RMH are, but how they can actually be retrofitted into an average home.

I think we have covered that in a lot of previous movies.  See https://richsoil.com/wood-heat.jsp

I like this version of the movie much better than the first. I think it will get the attention of a lot of people and make them think. Even people outside this circle. So I do have a question, not a complaint, I'm just confused. First I thought it was a book. Then it seemed it was just an excerpt from a book. Now it appears to be a movie. Could you clarify what the kickstarter is for.  

I have now set the title of the kickstarter to "a movie about free, earth-friendly heat" - does that do the trick?

paul wheaton wrote:Roy,

Take a look at this poll we did a couple of months ago:

https://permies.com/t/176456/kickstarter-rocket-mass-heater-jamboree

We will be damn lucky if we get funded at all.

Well I'll just have to share it with my circles.  Also, I'd highly recommend to get on an episode of TSP or at least do an Expert Council segment update about this project specifically.  And even get an interview with Nicole Sauce on LFTN.

Roy Ramey wrote:

Well I'll just have to share it with my circles.  Also, I'd highly recommend to get on an episode of TSP or at least do an Expert Council segment update about this project specifically.  And even get an interview with Nicole Sauce on LFTN.

Noted, we'll keep Jack in the loop, and I'll look into Nicole Sauce.  Looks like she's from my old stomping grounds in Middle Tennessee . . .

Thanks, Roy.

The whirly text circling the planet promises an Earthly Paradise, yet fails to mention the 4 features most important to the average paradise-dweller:

Whiter, brighter teeth!
Hemorrhoids shrink without surgery!
Men freed from pattern baldness!
Women often mistaken for their teenage daughter!

Beau Davidson wrote:

Roy Ramey wrote:

Well I'll just have to share it with my circles.  Also, I'd highly recommend to get on an episode of TSP or at least do an Expert Council segment update about this project specifically.  And even get an interview with Nicole Sauce on LFTN.

Noted, we'll keep Jack in the loop, and I'll look into Nicole Sauce.  Looks like she's from my old stomping grounds in Middle Tennessee . . .

Thanks, Roy.

Yes, Nicole is on Jack's Expert Council and publishes her own podcast as well, Living Free in Tennessee.  And she conducts workshops at her place.  Many duplicate listeners from TSP but she has her own following too.  Shes fantastic.

https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/

I enjoyed watching the video. But...

who are you selling this to? The output isn't 100% clear, and neither is the benefit of the output to target audiences.

If to me: I'm already sold on RMH but I need practical guidance so I can build and retrofit my house.

You know who I think is primed to consider RMH in their homes? Any home owner facing the 200% increase in fuel oil and natural gas prices from the last year. But... a)this prelim video doesn't really emotionally sell to these people who have a personal, painful problem with heating bills. Also, b) most of these people don't want to (or don't have the skills) to do it themselves.

I personally think the true problem isn't "how do we showcase how we built various RMH examples" but actually: lack of demand for RMH. If people were sold on their benefits and were clamoring for RMH to solve a personal, painful problem to them, there would be a heck of a lot of financial demand in multiple areas, but right now it's bleeding edge, which for most people means it's "fringe."

I don't think you're going to like my suggestion... but I recommend your kickstarter develops a full scale marketing platform to build demand from people who are really feeling the fuel crunch. This should drive interest in building RMH, which would drive interest in technical skills to build RMH, possibly even certification. Which then puts you in a position of developing a lot of things, not just the single latest video.

I recommend, as oddball as this might seem, really looking at some of these direct-to-consumer powerhouses and how they are selling their products. Suze Orman has a Will & Trust Kit. Dave Ramsey I'm sure has lots to sell as well.

Since a marketing campaign isn't really a kickstarter-type output, what about a true-blue "this is why RMH is awesome" video? Think a shorter version of "The Game Changers" for RMH.

I agree that what it needs is a mega marketing thing.  

Unfortunately, I know nothing about how to do any of that.  

So what I have done, with all of my stuff, it set it all up with a 50% affiliate fee.  That way, the people that are marketing savvy can harvest more coin than me.  

Further, for this kickstarter, we have set up a fat kickback https://permies.com/kickback

a) I *think* (subject to other folks' input on this thread) that for 3rd party re-selling purposes, an emotional video yet with a clear focus on RMH empirical benefits incl. real life in situ examples and overcoming housing code challenges would be very useful, vs. an experiential, experimental-type video currently proposed.   As has been pointed out many times before, people simply do.not.believe the reduction in cost.

b) broken record here:  get a non profit started to suck up monies and pay for someone to develop a shamwow type program with associated packaged products.    To that end, I will commit $5,000 to a non-profit once it is set up, as I already have $$ set aside in a Donor Advised Fund.   Would even put in some time to achieve that end, but as you know harder to find time during spring/summer planting season.

-C

a) can you give me an example-ish idea of what this might look like?

b) does this mean you are now setting this stuff up?

a) what this might look like.    Short answer: A much shorter version of The Game Changers movie (which advocates veganism; I think it's on Netflix if someone on the team subscribes).  If you watch the first couple of minutes and then skip into the middle to a couple of spots you'll get a really good feel for what I propose.       Long answer: if I were to write an equivalent position paper that didn't have the emotional/marketing stuff in it, it would be something along the lines of "Examples and evidence of RMH usage to reduce heating consumption up to 90% in residential applications, including sample build instructions."  or "Critical analysis of RMH in retrofit residential applications to heat homes using yard waste."          

a.5) Is anyone doing any academic-type papers on RMH?  

b) setting this stuff up: Ha.  I have (like many many people) taken a tax deduction in a prior year by setting up $$ in a charitable Donor Advised Fund.  It no longer "belongs" to me, but I can direct its use.  Therefore, as long as there is a legit nonprofit to which I can direct the $$, I would be making a donation using dollars I already "donated" to the fund.        Regarding setting up a non-profit, I have zero experience in that area, but as I mentioned could be persuaded to support an effort.

CindiD,

I think the concept you describe sounds smart, effective, and like a huge undertaking.  I would like to see it exist.

I think what is in process here is already a huge undertaking, and very different from what you describe.  

There are likely people who are active in the RMH forum that may be familiar with the relevant academic papers, and who may have some idea if there is an organization like what you describe already in existence.  

Or it is possible that I don't yet understand exactly what you propose.