Comments on: Grass Roots Movement http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/ Wit Without Discretion Is A Sword In The Hand Of A Fool Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:56:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Teresa http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-142 Teresa Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:34:09 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-142 Hey Josh: thanks for volunteering me! Twist my arm some more why don’t ya! ;) heh heh Of course I will “willingly” help *mumbles under breath* “like I have a choice” JUST KIDDING WIT! I agree with others that I think the grassroots movement has already started…now it needs to be taken to the next level. Do we NEED to be knocking on editors doors via email? Or would it all be in vain? I like the postcard idea that was suggested to be distributed by fans. As for items to purchase: I like the T-shirt idea (MAGNETS or a coffee mug too even) and I like the thought of getting something in print (collection of strips). Another card would be nice. But which holiday? Or wait, not even a holiday, what about a “friend related” type card. You know, a general “Just thought Id say hi” type thing. I would save the selling of signed prints for when you’re rich and famous. And if that doesn’t happen within the next 2 years, well THEN you can sell them to make money! HAHAHAHA jk That's all I got... Hey Josh: thanks for volunteering me! Twist my arm some more why don’t ya! ;) heh heh Of course I will “willingly” help *mumbles under breath* “like I have a choice” JUST KIDDING WIT!

I agree with others that I think the grassroots movement has already started…now it needs to be taken to the next level.

Do we NEED to be knocking on editors doors via email? Or would it all be in vain?

I like the postcard idea that was suggested to be distributed by fans. As for items to purchase: I like the T-shirt idea (MAGNETS or a coffee mug too even) and I like the thought of getting something in print (collection of strips). Another card would be nice. But which holiday? Or wait, not even a holiday, what about a “friend related” type card. You know, a general “Just thought Id say hi” type thing.

I would save the selling of signed prints for when you’re rich and famous. And if that doesn’t happen within the next 2 years, well THEN you can sell them to make money! HAHAHAHA jk

That’s all I got…

]]> By: tyler_durden http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-141 tyler_durden Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:18:34 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-141 i think a signed limited edition litograph would do awesome.as for selling the originals, i would would love to have one but in the larger world that we live in, i think selling them is a bad idea. i think a signed limited edition litograph would do awesome.as for selling the originals, i would would love to have one but in the larger world that we live in, i think selling them is a bad idea.

]]> By: Wit http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-140 Wit Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:26:51 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-140 "I would put your fans up against any rockband groupies….ever." - That gave me a big ole' smile. I love what people are suggesting. Keep 'em coming. How do you guys feel about selling original artwork or signed prints? I feel a little squeamish about selling "autographed" stuff. But that's me. The thing that sucks about my originals is that there are no letters on them. However, If people wanted them I'd probably put them up for sale. “I would put your fans up against any rockband groupies….ever.” – That gave me a big ole’ smile. I love what people are suggesting. Keep ‘em coming.

How do you guys feel about selling original artwork or signed prints? I feel a little squeamish about selling “autographed” stuff. But that’s me. The thing that sucks about my originals is that there are no letters on them.

However, If people wanted them I’d probably put them up for sale.

]]> By: Scott http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-139 Scott Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:48:43 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-139 This kind of direction is the way to go. Pinkerton could (and should) be in newspapers but as we all know it's a crapshoot--and I am often baffled at the kind of strips that get syndicated and ones that get rejected. If Pinkerton got picked up tomorrow, you'd still want a Pinkerton 'street team' to spread the word, email newspaper editors, etc. As for my plan, soon I'm going to print postcards with a color Stewart cartoon on the front along the website URL (and the typical postcard setup on the back)--then distribute them at cafes around San Francisco. I have used this technique for another project a few years ago and it works very well. Mike's suggestion about flyers is also a good way to spread the word. I like postcards because people can take them and use them--if the cartoon is funny, people take a few and give (or maybe even mail) to friends. This kind of direction is the way to go. Pinkerton could (and should) be in newspapers but as we all know it’s a crapshoot–and I am often baffled at the kind of strips that get syndicated and ones that get rejected. If Pinkerton got picked up tomorrow, you’d still want a Pinkerton ’street team’ to spread the word, email newspaper editors, etc.

As for my plan, soon I’m going to print postcards with a color Stewart cartoon on the front along the website URL (and the typical postcard setup on the back)–then distribute them at cafes around San Francisco. I have used this technique for another project a few years ago and it works very well.

Mike’s suggestion about flyers is also a good way to spread the word. I like postcards because people can take them and use them–if the cartoon is funny, people take a few and give (or maybe even mail) to friends.

]]> By: Mike S. http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-138 Mike S. Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:33:27 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-138 I think a grass roots movement to draw more attention to your comic is a great idea. I wrote a blog post awhile back about some unconventional ways to get the word out about your web comic. One of the ideas was to print up flyers and stick them up everywhere, sort of like something a band might do to attract people to their shows. Maybe the Pinkerton army could be tapped to do something like this. I think a grass roots movement to draw more attention to your comic is a great idea. I wrote a blog post awhile back about some unconventional ways to get the word out about your web comic. One of the ideas was to print up flyers and stick them up everywhere, sort of like something a band might do to attract people to their shows.

Maybe the Pinkerton army could be tapped to do something like this.

]]> By: Kevin http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-137 Kevin Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:03:19 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-137 I think you have the grassroots movement started. I would put your fans up against any rockband groupies....ever. OK, maybe not Elvis's fans, but just about anyone else. I think the only way you are going to succeed from a business standpoint (without involving a syndicate) would be through merchandising. The money earned by most web sites comes from ad revenue (sorry, but your site doesn't have the draw of myspace or youtube), or from selling a product. That product could come in the form of original art (I'm sure most of the nuts at the asylum would love to purchase one), T-shirts (just make sure they fit over the strait-jackets), or of course books (though I would suggest making them water proof to hold up to the drool that will no doubt be poured on them). The Christmas cards were a great start, so I am sure your next avenue will go even better. I think you have the grassroots movement started. I would put your fans up against any rockband groupies….ever. OK, maybe not Elvis’s fans, but just about anyone else. I think the only way you are going to succeed from a business standpoint (without involving a syndicate) would be through merchandising. The money earned by most web sites comes from ad revenue (sorry, but your site doesn’t have the draw of myspace or youtube), or from selling a product. That product could come in the form of original art (I’m sure most of the nuts at the asylum would love to purchase one), T-shirts (just make sure they fit over the strait-jackets), or of course books (though I would suggest making them water proof to hold up to the drool that will no doubt be poured on them). The Christmas cards were a great start, so I am sure your next avenue will go even better.

]]> By: stephen (ML) http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-136 stephen (ML) Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:54:38 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-136 as a semi-unprofessional economist in a past life i'd imagine it works something like this - the 'syndicates' tie up the regular distribution channels by resting on the rep of the names of previous greats, using this as a spiel focussed on convincing the financial backers of the lack of risk. it also inhibits competition because it creates the illusion that you can't be a success but through them, so it ties up the artists too. then again tooning is a form of entertainment; so without a structure like this the market would be flooded with incerasingly populist material of no substance, and monetary returns would be minimal at best. the point being that the scale side of things probably won't work. that just leaves hyper-agressive marketing - ie. scope. i like the xmas card idea, hey it worked for the far side. independant action can be good for quality work with an established niche; but that is obviously a hard road and requires balls of steel (so to speak). i don't know just keep the pressure up, word of mouth is fine until some momentum is built. letting the residents loose on the street may not be a good thing. set up a mirror site if our comments are preventing an air of respectability. and last but not least DO NOT EVER listen to anything i say - in that past life i shortly became a semi-unemployed economist 0,0 as a semi-unprofessional economist in a past life i’d imagine it works something like this – the ’syndicates’ tie up the regular distribution channels by resting on the rep of the names of previous greats, using this as a spiel focussed on convincing the financial backers of the lack of risk. it also inhibits competition because it creates the illusion that you can’t be a success but through them, so it ties up the artists too. then again tooning is a form of entertainment; so without a structure like this the market would be flooded with incerasingly populist material of no substance, and monetary returns would be minimal at best.
the point being that the scale side of things probably won’t work.
that just leaves hyper-agressive marketing – ie. scope. i like the xmas card idea, hey it worked for the far side.
independant action can be good for quality work with an established niche; but that is obviously a hard road and requires balls of steel (so to speak).
i don’t know just keep the pressure up, word of mouth is fine until some momentum is built.
letting the residents loose on the street may not be a good thing.
set up a mirror site if our comments are preventing an air of respectability.
and last but not least DO NOT EVER listen to anything i say – in that past life i shortly became a semi-unemployed economist 0,0

]]> By: trueheart78 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-135 trueheart78 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:02:52 +0000 http://mikewitmer.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/grass-roots-movement/#comment-135 So far you've got a fan-site and a fan-myspace, as well as an asylum of fans that I'd be a little hesitant to put out as a "street team", but as long as they leave their straitjackets on, all should be ok. I think a Pinkerton Army would be interesting. I already attempt to spread the word, and I know Teresa does as well. I'm sure we'd do more (yes, I just volunteered her - that's the cost of custom icons! ;P) if it would help out, just let us know :) Viva La Pinkteron! http://pinkerton.joshuamills.net So far you’ve got a fan-site and a fan-myspace, as well as an asylum of fans that I’d be a little hesitant to put out as a “street team”, but as long as they leave their straitjackets on, all should be ok.

I think a Pinkerton Army would be interesting. I already attempt to spread the word, and I know Teresa does as well. I’m sure we’d do more (yes, I just volunteered her – that’s the cost of custom icons! ;P) if it would help out, just let us know :)

Viva La Pinkteron!
http://pinkerton.joshuamills.net

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