Raising Funds for Gotmead. A brainstorming session.

[Oskaar]

Also just let me add that I'm here on my own. I have no affiliation with the site in any role other than unpaid volunteer. This is Vicky's baby, and she is good enough to let me play here. This site is a zero sum gain in the monetary department for me. That being said, I get to swap ideas, methods, recipes and other benefits that you can't really put a dollar sign on. The real kicker is having a forum to interact with some of the best minds and mazers in the mead community.

Further, I have no interest in any proceeds from the site, to me this is a labor of love and I'll be here whether or not the site goes subscription, or if it stays as is. If it looks like it's going to go tits up, I'll jack a bank or stick up a 7-11 or somthing to ensure that it doesn't.

Subscription to Gotmead.com: $20
Trip to the Mead Festival: $800
Getting to tool on Pewter in a public forum . . . priceless!

Just kidding there Pewter, believe it or not I enjoy reading your posts and have learned a few things from you! And that's the truth

Cheers,

Oskaar

 

[winethief]

hey, all, i'm just a newbie here, but thought i'd chime in.
does the fund-raising have to be *all one thing* or nothing? seems like financial advisors are always telling us that diversification is the key to healthy money-management. and we've all heard that many hands make light work.
what about the idea of forming local chapters of the GotMead Guild? I'd pay to be a member -- probably even more than $20 a year! -- and vicki could set things up so guildmembers automatically get subscriptions to special content. I happen to live in northern Illinois, and know there are mazers around Chicago and Milwaukee who'd be interested -- right, wrathwilde? dan? angus? mouko?
if you live someplace where there aren't enough members to meet locally, you could maybe form an online chapter.
seems like maybe each chapter could sell one or two or three $20/month ads on the site to LHBS owners, no? and to local breweries, where that's appropriate? or specialty pubs that have mead on tap? and/or local chapters could do fund-raising activities on their own, like the mead raffles someone else mentioned. proceeds go to vicki and gotmead.com.
also, i can't think of a better way to spread the good word about mead than having a presence at festivals and such, where appropriate. the more people we can draft into guilds and membership, the more vicki benefits.
maybe put that special content in a monthly e-newsletter for subscribers only?
i happen to write about food for a living, and though i just *know* i'll regret this, i hereby volunteer my time to edit recipes and content if anyone wants to publish a cookbook.
i'm of mixed minds about special content for subscribers only. on the one hand, it does seem to go against the original spirit of the internet. on the other hand, i work in "old media" (a newspaper), and know that trying to make web presences self-supporting is a headache for everyone who tries to make a go of it.
i would hate to lose this site, its content, and the contact with the good people who frequent it.
cheerio,
'thief

 

[Scott Horner]

Hi all,

Back out of lurk mode for a few seconds. I post here from time to time, and read here always. I do love this site and I respect our Meadwench for all her hard work. I get paid for what I do for a living and if Vicky wants to do this for a living then so should she. I would be more than happy to pay money for a subscription to this site, and I am lucky enough to be blessed with a job that pays me well enough to afford it.

I think $20 bucks a month is not too much to ask for, although it may be a little steep for others. One of the things that I would like to see though is that subscriptions not be all that elete. I like the idea that the forums (all the forums) are open to all people. They can read them and post there at will. My ideas of "Perks" for subcription would be something more in line with maybe a special tag line "Got Mead Supporter" or maybe only "members" get the cool Icons next to their names, or that full color poster of the Meadwench (ducks the large tankard thrown his way) Or Oskaar in a speedo (ducks the other tankard). I would be in favor of perhaps a member only section where we can visit. Perhaps Ken or one of your other professionals could contribute an article or two, or perhaps lessons on how to better our brewing.

What ever happened to the whole shop idea? I sure have no problem thowing you a few bucks over what I pay at my LHBS for stuff. While that would not pay the rent Im sure. Its another source of income that I think could add up quickly knowing how much some of us like to brew.

So here are the 2 cents of someone who has every intention of becoming a member.

Keep the forums free! They attract new visitors, who will eventually become adicts, and thereby members.

Have a members only space but keep the forums out of it. Have usefull articals and teachings there.

Offer little perks for the members. Special tag lines, only members get cute icons on the forums, (sees the knives being sharpened and decides not to mention the posters). Perhaps a discount on all store and got mead items?

Put the pay pal icon back up! And change the tagline to "become a supporting member of Got Mead"

Come on people you pay that much for Starbucks every month !

Scott

Soon to be Got Mead supporter.

P.S. Contact me offline to discuss putting up a link on your site. (not that it would help my business but hey it could be a tax writeoff)

 

[mouko_yamamoto]

Well, if nothing else, we have to have at least one members only forum where we can discuss lewd acts. Ya know, stuff the general populace shouldn't have to be subject to access to.

 

[Holly]

Winethief may be on to something here! I am the treasurer of a local dog club and we have a SMALL membership, but our dues of $10/yr for singles and $15 for families (which wouldn't apply here really) bring in a couple hundred dollars a year. We/you (Vicky) would have to look at how that might work...hmm...

My thought (ok opinion) of what should be public is a little different than Mouko's and Scott's. I found got mead by looking for recipes (Heather Metheglin to be specific). I got sucked in when I went to actually make it. So look at what draws people to the site - where are the highest volumes of initial hits if you can, make that free. Once you drill down further, that is were it gets to being paid...Sucker I mean suck us newbies in and lock us up! LOL

Diversification is the key.

 

[Pewter_of_Deodar]

I'd be interested in comparing the other pay sites that were mentioned by Oskaar and others in terms of what is charged and how many members they have. I am a firm believer in making a job out of doing something you love even though I have never managed to do that myself. I wish Vicki all the luck in the world in doing that with Gotmead.

My son is trying to do the same thing with his rock band. But there is a reality there that I think applies here. He cannot be a nationally touring rock band with a fan base of something like 1,000 people. My gut feeling is that Gotmead is kind of in the same situation where it needs to grow about tenfold before it can be what Vicki wants/needs it to be. It would be a whole different animal with 8,000 people (or even 25 percent of that number) paying $20 a year.

The way to get the tenfold increase should be by recruiting people to use this place, not charging the amount 10 (or 12) times a year. Even for me, and I am blessed with a good paying job, $20 a year is trivial but $20 a month is not. We do not have cable TV to save money, have a child in college with his tuition twice a year, etc. I am trying to be open about my threshold of pain though I am sure most people here have some limit in mind as to what is reasonable and what is not...

So how do we increase user numbers tenfold in order to keep the price down? My first suggestion would be to gag Oskaar and tie him in a corner... ;D ;D ;D

 

[lostnbronx]

The $20/month figure isn't supposed to supply *all* the revenue, just some of it.

I think $20 bucks a month is not too much to ask for, although it may be a little steep for others.

Even for me, and I am blessed with a good paying job, $20 a year is trivial but $20 a month is not.

Before this gets perpetuated further -- and NOT to speak out of turn, or for anybody else -- I'm interpreting the original quote by Vicky of "$20/month" as a misprint, wherein she meant $20/year as had previously been discussed. Please correct me, though, if I'm wrong (and apologies in advance if this is the case).

-David

 

[CheshireCat]

$20 a year seems very reasonable to me, and I'd gladly pay that. I'm all for a GM guild, it's hard enough to find local homebrewers as it is. (our LHBS guy only sells one pitiful book on meadbrewing *cry*) GM would be a nice hub for local meetups and such. But, of course, that would require even more time to be put into the site. (and I'd be hardly qulified to be a local mead making guild leader)

 

[Oskaar]

OK Pewter and everyone else, take one giant step back.

Vicky just made a simple typo. She's not thinking of $20/month.

Once again, that's $20 per year for the subscription, not $20 per month.

Just wanted to make that clear, she's running on no sleep, too much mead and Fest-Burnout!

If you're gonna gag me you'll have to keep me in one place long enough to do so, LOL. I move around more than a honey bee in a flower shop!

Cheers,

Oskaar

 

[Brewbear]

I too understood that Vicky was talking about $20/year!
In either case, I'll pay the price for my addiction, push come the shove I'll quit smoking and pay for GM :-\

Cheers,
Brewbear

 

[pain]

Hi all,

Finally back home, and still tired as heck, but I just wanted to say sorry about the typo! I did mean $20/year, not $20/month. Heck, *I* wouldn't pay that, I can't afford it!

That being said, I am really interested in the GM Local Chapters thing. Yes, it will require more work on the site (local sub-sites and such), but I suspect that local chapters will also turn up some folks that can help a bit with the coding, submission of articles, finding ads, etc, and if the subscriptions are coming in, I'm getting some recompense for my time, and will be able to afford the bandwidth, so I'm game, if we can work it out (hows *that* for a run-on sentence?).

Now, to the question of subscriptions as the only income: Nope, I'm looking to diversify, as you said. I figure between ads, subscriptions, and if I'm lucky, 1-2 mead-related commercial websites a year, I can make a living doing this (not a lot, but I don't need to make much, just to hold up my end in the family), and so keep expanding GM. I've had several days to think and pound this thing out with Oskaar, and we think it can be done, tho it will take time. If y'all will work with me here, I think I can keep GM going.

A number of people have sent funds via Paypal and checks, and I want to say THANKS! I'm making a list, and will be creating a new level called 'patrons' that you will be elevated to. The first premium you can expect to see will be access to the new 'reviews' section. In this section will be reviews on meads, meaderies, honey and yeast. There will be a lot of detail, and links to where to buy the reviewed items. This will, with luck, be online in about 3 weeks (I'm out of town visiting family Feb. 21-Mar 1 and won't be programming much).

Let me say this: GM will NOT be going away, not if I can help it. I will go down fighting every step of the way. GM is my baby, and all y'all have shown me that friends are the greatest asset a person could have. Thanks for your show of support, both in the past and now. I'll do whatever it takes to keep GM going.

Now for the hard part: I'm going to craft the subscriptions system next. I'm leaning very much towards keeping the forums open, as that seems to be the consensus here. However, parts of the site will be going 'premium'. In order for this to be workable, I need to wrap the forum. I'll work on a layout that is easier on the eyes than the last iteration was, so those of us with old eyes (me!) can read it better. But realize that there are limits to what I can do, and I *must* keep the ads visible to draw in the advertisers.

Premium areas will be things that are coming from this point forward. The parts of the site that are currently free will stay free. But new stuff like some of the articles I have coming in from bee experts, the old American Mead Association articles, the review system (with user comments), and other *secret* toys and info will be part of the premium. Non-patrons will get a 'free' period to check it out, but will be required to subscribe after that.

What I need from y'all to make this all work:

1. Keep the ideas for other avenues of funding coming in, I'm liking what I'm hearing

2. Lets start a serious discussion of the concept of Got Mead Brewing Clubs. There are lots of homebrew clubs out there, and some do mead. But what about a *meadbrew* club? This can be a stand-alone group, or a sub-group of an existing group. Such a group would have a GM sub-site to post their local activities, their own forum area, and other group-only premiums. The group would establish a membership program that would pay a fee, part of which goes to site upkeep, part to the club for expenses. That's what I have so far, run with it and tell me what y'all think, and if it could work.

3. Articles! If we're to support GM with premiums, we have to make it worthwhile. Do you know anyone who might like having their info on GM, and sent out in the newsletters (also coming soon, as a premium)? Or do you have something to write? Get your name in print, and as GM gets solvent, we'll be able to pay for submissions.

4. Advertising - if you know a meadery, winery, brewshop, honey provider or equipment supplier that sells to
meaders, tell them about GM. I'll put up the advertising area this weekend, so they can see what the costs are. Part of my funding problem is that I spend so much time on site upkeep, I can't do the legwork to bring in the necessary advertisers, so if *you* can, I get an advertiser, lessening the burden on the GM members. I'm working on a cool gift for those who send me ads, probably a copy of Miriams' book and other cool things.

5. A recipe book - I've been toying with the idea of writing a Charlie Papazian-style mead recipe book for a while. Are y'all ok to have your recipes in a book? (a real, printed book you can get mead stains on) Full credit will be given to those who created the recipes, and it will bring funds to the site. Additional editions will be published as recipes become available, with the eventual hope that there will be a Got Mead Recipes: Melomels, Got Mead Recipes: Metheglins, Got Mead Recipes: You Put *What* in your Mead? and so on, with side notes on best yeasts, techniques, etc. Lemme know what you think.

Thats what I've come up with so far, and Greenblood, thanks for starting this thread. I owe you, and as soon as I get the dang meads bottled, you get one of each (plus some cordials as an extra kiss in thanks). Oskaar, it goes without saying, dude, you've been my best bud, putting up with my fits of pique on this thing. Bottles will wing their way to those who've done so much. You know who you are. Its not much, but there is a lot of love in those meads, and for now, at least, it will have to do.

Vicky - trying to figure out how to ship mead to Israel

 

[Angus]

Welcome back Vicky,

1. Idea - The GotMead Brewing Notebook. Professionaly bound notebook consisting of 100 Mead Log sheets (to be designed), a blank index page at the front, SG/Brix/ABV tables and conversion tables in the back, Yeast ABV tolerances, etc., and the GM logo on the cover. Even possible to add cut out coupons for discounts from Meaderies and Brew Supply stores.

2. Brewing Clubs, great idea. I know there is already a group of us in the Chicago/Milwaukee area who are going to meet. Let's make it official and start recruiting.

Angus

 

[The Honey Farmer]

Hey Vicky, You go girl!!

Got mead recipes: You put WHAT in your mead? I'll buy the first copy of that, so please put me down for it.

Dennis

 

[memento]

The mead recipes book will be great. With my name a recipes in a published book, I would certainely be buying a couple copies.

I love the idea of a brewing notebook, but I wouldn't use it. I'm computer based with a powerbook in the kitchen. But I know others that would. Especially if it is useable for winemaking as well. On the other hand, I could find the tables very useful.

Mead Brewing Clubs - not enough demand in my neck of the woods. General homebrew club, yes, but they'd be focused on beer - which I don't do anymore.

 

[Mynx]

LOVE the recipe book idea!

In Vancouver, there's already a mead club...it's kinda still finding it's legs, but I think I can talk to Kelly once this gets realized and work something out with her. Also, I'm more than happy to talk to the 2 (!!!) meaderies we have in BC and see if they'd be interested in advertising here.

/waiting for her credit card payment to go through...

 

[CheshireCat]

The first rule of Mead Club is you don't talk about Mead Club.

You could make the GM podcast part of the premimum membership. That would be a nice extra.

 

[pain]

Yep, the Podcast will be part of the Patron-level. As will (so far of the new things in my fertile brain):

- mead reviews with patron comments
- honey reviews
- meadery reviews
- celebrity articles from Giants in the Field
- the GM newsletter

...............................I've other things brewing (LOL) and will put up a full list of Benefits of Patronage as soon as I've gotten it done. The subscription button and donation button will go up this weekend.

And finally, the forums (as they are today, I make no promises on new boards) will stay FREE. You've all convinced me that that is key to the growth of Gotmead, and if I'm to be able to introduce all the new toys I've got planned, then growth needs to happen.

*But*, if you want in on the new toys........that will require a patronage. A number of you have already put in, and I really appreciate your show of faith. I won't forget that as I ramp this up.

Keep the revenue ideas coming, I'm taking notes.......

Vicky - very much relieved that it looks like the patient will live......LOL

 

[Brewbear]

Hi all,
While I agree with the fund raising concept, I think that having the podcasts a Patron-level (with pay)perk and not available "internet-wide" is not a very good concept. The podcasts available thru iTunes are free and more importantly, they are a vehicle of disseminating information whilepromoting and advertizing a particular site . So far, all the podcasts I have listened to have several self promoting spots and mention articles available for sale on a web site. Another way of "spreading the word" is by posting on as many forums related to brewing as possible. So far the model has been to have the podcasts available via iTunes and linking back to the website (GM) where they are also available for download as mp3's. In this way the listeners are guided to the website and exposed to all the resources available (store, forums...etc.)
As for a book of recipes....When is it available,PLEASE!!!!

Cheers,
Brewbear

 

[Miriam]

I like both the recipe book idea, and Angus's notebook idea, too. I would be happy to write up a summary of safe brewing guidelines (you may consider the entire article too long).

Vicky my sweet, don't send mead to Israel: it's illegal to ship alcohol out of the U.S., and if they catchya, you have to pay a humongous fine. Jack Keller commented on having made that mistake once; don't remember if in his blog or on another forum. I just hope someday to meet you in person and THEN you'll see what a hug you'll get.

Miriam

 

[jab]

The podcasts available thru iTunes are free and more importantly

Hey BB, don't get too comfortable with the 'free' podcasts on iTunes. They already have the infrastructure in iTunes to charge for them. Rumor has it they are just working out the details of how the owner would get paid. That isn't to say there won't be free ones because there will be but don't be surprised when some of the best who don't have huge public backing start costing you money.

I for one don't have a problem with the podcasts being a member perk. You have to have decent content for the subscribers or they won't subscribe.