Kickstarter Campaign Managers - Yet Someone Else Trying to Make a Quick Buck

After starting my kickstarter project to fund my next comic, The Pink Pantser, I was immediately contacted in Kickstarter by someone offering to help me:

Hi NiCheng,
I wanted to get your best contact/email. Let me know if you would like some extra assistance in driving more support. I think I have the perfect audience in mind. Shoot me your email when you get a chance.
Thanks!"

Since I had posted about Pink Pantser on the Ultimate Superheroine Forum, and Superheroines In Bondage forum, I had figured it was someone from that community who was trying to be supportive of the little guy (me). So I responded, but didn't receive a reply.

Then the following day I received this message in Kickstarter from someone named "Madison Meyer":

Hi NiCheng ,
I wanted to compliment you on your campaign. You should commend yourself for getting this far with it. Let me know if you want some help in reaching the right audiences. I'm always looking to help out crowdfunders like yourself. Let's get in touch

At this point I grew suspicious...this sounded less like people interested in helping me achieve my goal as much as it sounded like someone hoping to part me from my cash. I replied asking if they were offering some kind of service. I never received a response. Madison Meyer's kickstarter account is now deleted.

Since I had tied my Facebook account to the Kickstarter project, at the same time I got a message from someone named "Diana J. Simpson" from a group called "Get Me Crowdfunded". She started off saying this:

I’m sure you get plenty of messages regarding your campaign, some compliments, and many trying to sell you something…The truth is you’re here to develop funds, not spend them.

 She then proceeded to tell me all about the services they offer, for the sale (this week only!) price of $199.

While it's hardly surprising that the success of kickstarter has created an entire cottage industry of "kickstarter-starters" it's still a little disappointing to put a lot of effort into one's project just to be pounced on by all the sharks waiting in the shadows.

If you're running a kickstarter campaign, then you've probably already run into these electronic snake-oil salesmen. I don't trust them, certainly not for an erotic kickstarter project.

In the meantime, I continue to look for ways to promote my erotic kickstarter project without having to pay someone to spam it for me. Any suggestions? Only 40 days left!

Kickstarting Erotica!

Creating PowerChick: Destablized was a lot of fun and very educational, not to mention a big checkmark on my bucket list. However undertaking it has made me want to do more comics, better comics, bigger comics! Comics that are all tied together via a massive story arc and tell an incredible story filled with heroes and villains, corrupt politicians and activists, all with erotic and fetish undertones. So big is the story I want to tell that I've already started a new website dedicated to these comics: Omega City Stories.

The next story I'm going to do in the Omega City universe before continuing the PowerChick story arc (which will take 3 more comics to resolve) is a separate series called "Tales From Omega City". The first issue (#001) is entitled "The Pink Pantser" and is the story of how corrupt Omega City mayor Samantha Dawg enlists the help of two superheroines to catch a kinky but elusive activist who likes to humiliate the greedy and corrupt by stripping them nude in public! The story will feature several locations, several models, nudity, light bondage, a light chloroform scene, and lots of witty dialogue!

And I already have the main cast lined up:

These comics aren't cheap to make, though. PowerChick was done with two models and a hair and make-up artist in a single studio and still cost me a pretty penny. The end result was worth it, though. But to go bigger and better, I'm going to need some help.

Enter Kickstarter.

Kickstarter is a site where people like me can pitch projects to the public in order to crowdsource funding, and offer rewards based on the amount pledged. I have set up a project for The Pink Pantser, and the funds requested will go towards getting us the equipment we need to properly shoot on location, venue rental, producing physical copies of the comic, and, most importantly, paying our beautiful models.

So if you'd like to help us create high-quality, Winnipeg-based erotica, check out our Kickstarter project. The rewards range from getting an electronic copy of the finished product (for cheaper than the final retail price!) to being able to have dinner at a Winnipeg restaurant with the four beautiful women above! If you're particularly brave, you can even become part of the comic by submitting a photo of yourself nude or in your underwear to be listed as one of The Pink Panter's wealthy victims (see our project for details)!

Thanks in advance for your support and please spread the word! Together we can make an incredibly fun and kinky story!

Coming Soon...Omega City Stories

Today I purchased the domain name http://omegacitystories.com/ and put a placeholder graphic up there. What this site will be is a promotional tool for all the Omega City comics/books (PowerChick included), and will ultimately link back to Mall of Erotica.

And on Saturday we have our book signing! Sisi as Cantonessa and Leya as PowerChick will be there, so if you'd like to meet the lovely ladies behind the masks, come on down! 88 Albert St. (in the Exchange) from 2pm to 5pm!

See you there!

A Photoshoot with Miss Heather

We're in the works on our second erotic comic set in the Omega City universe at Mall of Erotica, and for this one I needed to find a model who was mature (40+), fit, and comfortable with being in a superheroine outfit and then subsequently out of said superheroine outfit. ;)

Enter the gorgeous Miss Heather, a Winnipeg-based, adult masseuse with 34F beautifully-sculpted breasts who had contacted me back in 2012 about doing modelling for Mall of Erotica but things didn't work out then. When I needed to cast for my new comic she was who I thought of for the role of Bindella, the older half of a superheroine duo. I reconnected with her and delightfully she was on board with the project. She never had professional photos taken and I needed a headshot for some of the promotional material I"m working on so she invited me to her house for a photography session. Coincidentally she lived very close to a place I lived in a number of years ago, so I easily found my way to her quiet street and went up to her unassuming house.

Now as I've said before I've led a sheltered life, and while I've shot a few girls nude the actual number of naked women I've been around is quite low for someone who is technically a pornographer. So I was a little suprised when Heather answered the door wearing nothing but panties and a pink robe. But it wasn't nearly as surprising as when she introduced me to her husband who was in the room next to her dining room where we did most of the shooting! He was a super cool guy and helped her with her outfit changes between shots.

In the 2.5 hours we were shooting we took around 250 photos; less than what I normally take, which I'm interpreting as a sign that I'm getting better at photography. Indeed, the first few I've processed since yesterday look terrific:

So I know what you're thinking: you want to know why I haven't posted any pics of those delicious-looking 34Fs bare and out there, right?

Well I'm keeping those under wraps until the next comic is complete! Rest assured, not only will Miss Heather's character of Bindella have to bare her boobs, she will most likely be losing her panties, too! ;)

Until then, you can help me get Miss Heather nude by going and buying a copy of PowerChick: Destablized from Mall of Erotica, or by coming to The Boutique (88 Albert St.) on Saturday, June 21st and buying a physical copy, as PowerChick, Cantonessa, and I will be at "Reading is Sexy" to do the whole booksigning thing!

See you later!

PowerChick Comic Book Signing Event

If you're going to be in Winnipeg on June 21st, then come on down to Fantasy Boutique, 88 Albert St. at 2pm where I will be there to promote PowerChick: Destablized, along with Sisi and Leya, the gorgeous stars of the comic!

Meet PowerChick stars Sisi and Leya!

In addition to us, local erotica authors Peyton Sloane and K.L. Silver will be there to promote their books, too!

So come on down on the 21st, meet the girls behind the masks, and pick up a signed physical copy of PowerChick: Destablized!

I hear there will be naughty cupcakes there, too! ;)

If you're on Facebook, here's the link to the event. Hope to see you there!